NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday. August 5. 1854.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 940, 5 August 1854, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday. August 5. 1854.

The harbour of Wellington presented on Wednesday ah unwonted spectacle, out one that could not fail to afford deep interest and gratification to every one who desires the rapid progress of the colony. To see at th§ same time in this harbour two steamers employed in connecting together the different Provinces of New Zealand, and in connecting New Zealand with the adjoining colonies, was an event that but a short time ago could hardly have been a matter Of speculation with the most sanguine, and yet it has become within the last few days a reality, — a sober malter of fact. Those who had the opportunity of inspecting the William Denny on Wednesday, while they were disposed to do all justice to the public spirit and enterprise shewn by the settlers at Auckland in 'Securing, without a moment's delay, the service's of so fine a vessel for their intercolonial trade, must have felt that so favorable an opportunity could hardly have been passed over or neglected by them with any regard to their oWn interests. The least that can be done with reference to the Southern Provinces is, to teee that the proposed arrangement by which they .are to be put 'on the same footing with regard to steam as Auckland, is carried out as soon as possible ; that a vessel of equal power and accommodation to the William Denny is secured for this purpose without any loss of time. Having always strenuously advocated the introduction of steam j as the most powerful agent for developing the resources and prosperity of the colony, it is a matter of the greatest satisfaction to us to witness its accomplishment* It tfulcl be superfluous to dwell on the various advantages which it must be the means of conferring, but there is one to | which we may briefly advert as being probably one oi the immediate consequences of the establishment of steam between New Zealand and Sydney. It can hardly be doubted that very many persons will take advantage of steam communication to eocape from the summer heat of Sydney, with all its attendant disagtieemens, to the more equable anjcl, tem-. perate climate of New Zealand; that the certainty which steam affords in calculaiing the length of absence and tha duration of the visit will most probably occasion during the summer season a la,rge influx of visitors, many of whom, after having seen the colony, may eventually become settlers. Every one is impressed with the conviction that the gr&at desideratum for New Zealand is lo establish the means of communication; the more these are perfected, the more population must increase. And when these two lines of steam communication are brought into operation we may loci: by means of them for a rapid increase of population in New Zealand from the neighbouring colonies.

The Nelson steamer arrived on Wednesday evening from Otago and Port Cooper. There is very little local news from the South : we only received one number of the Otago Witness, and our information of the abrupt termination of the sittings of the Otago Council is derived from the Southern Cross ; the proceedings of Captain Cargill and his Council are a burlesque on Representative Institutions, and place them in a ridiculous light. The Thetis arrived at Otago as the Nelson was going out ; it is greatly to be regretted that her mail was not brought on by the Nelson ; a delay of a few hours to effect this desirable object would have been very excusable.

i On Wednesday afternoon the William Denny was visited by several parties of settlers who appeared to derive the greatest interest from r an inspection of the arrangements of this magnificent vessel, all of which seemed to be complete in every way. Previous' to her departure the William Denny steamed to the mouth of the harbour and back, in order that the visitors, (among whom were a large proportion of the fair sex) might have an opportunity of judging of her capabilities under steam. The visitors left about five o'clock, highly gratified with their trip, and the Williqm Denny took her departure for Nelson en routerior Sydney.

PnoGftAMME of performance by the Band of the 65th Regt, at Thorndon, Saturday, the sth inst. : — 1. Overture— The Sicilian Bride .... .... Balfe 2. Selection — Robert Le Diable Maperbeer 3. The Indian Quadrille ... Jnllien 4. Cavatina and Polonaise — Pierre le Gr&ndJullien 5. Paul and Virginia Valse Jullien 6. La Prima Donna Polka .... Jullien