NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, October 4, 1854.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 957, 4 October 1854, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, October 4, 1854.

On Saturday we published his Excellency's speech on opening the second session of the New Zealand Parliament. The following- sketch will, with our Auckland news, put our readers in possession of the principal facts connected with the late session. After the turbulent and disgraceful scene in the House of Representatives on the receipt of the Prorogation Message, which terminated the first session, Mr. Wakefield resigned his position of temporary adviser, and his resignation : was 'accepted by his Excellency on the 21st with many expressions of regret; on the 31st Messrs. Forsaith, E. J. Wakefield, W. L. Travers, and J. M< Andrew, were sworn in members of the Executive Council, and became the responsible advisers of the Governor, and acting by their suggestion and advice the second session was opened with the speech published in our last number. On the Ist September, Mr. Forsaith moved an address in reply, echoing the speech, which was seconded by Mr. Cargill; Dr. Monro moved as an amendment an address, seconded by Mr. Carleton, condemning a mixed Executive, and rejecting the policy of the speech, which after a discussion of several hours, was carried by a majority of 22 to 11. The following day the four members, acting on the principle of ministerial responsibility, tendered their resignations to the acting Governor and advised his acceptance of them, at the same time also advising his persistence- in the—policy they had recom- \ mended ; on the 4th, their resignations were accepted under the circumstances by his Excellency with expressions of regret, and with thanks for the support afforded by them. His Excellency then sent a Message to the House proposing certain measures, and promising to send the Appropriation Bill. From this time to the 16th the House was engaged in the discussion of the several measures enumerated in our last, having morning and evening sittings each day. The Waste Lands Bill was brought forward by Mr, Fitzgerald, when the amendments proposed'by Mr. Wakefield in favor of the working settlers, Major Greenwood's amendments in favor of the military "settlers, and Mr. Travers suggestion of the remission of purchase money of land to the amount of passage money in favor

of newly arrived settlers, were all rejected" by the Majority. The Bill was subsequently much ifiodified aWd improved by the Legislative' Couneit, and" the amendments made by them were %*eed to by the other House. In the Appropriation Bill the total amount voted is about £36,000, besides the Civil List £16,000, and the New Zealand Company's Debt £25,000. We have extracted from the New Zealander some of the details of the Estimates as voted, and will' give the remainder on Saturday. !• The report of the appointment of Sir H.. Young to ,be Governor of New Zealand seems to want confirmation. Among other reasons alleged against it is the difference of salary, the Governor of South , Australia receiving a higher salary than that received by the Governor of this Colony. It is said that Sir H. Young will more probably receive the appointment of Governor of Van Diemen's Land.

A dinker was got up on Monday at Barrett's Hotel by the friends of the Fitzgerald Ministry, but from all that we can, learn it does not seem to have been a successful affair. Many ■ of those whose names were included in the list of stewards ' did not attend, and another Chairman, Mr. Hickson, was substituted in the place of Captain Daniell, who had been advertised to take the chair. Every, effort was made to secure a numerous attendance, but we are informed there were not more than about sixty persons present, including those to whom tickets were given. The speeches were all in the same strain, in abuse of Mr. Wakefield, and in praise of the good intentions of the speakers and their own set. We are asked on all sides if the members of the Province really wished to meet the electors face to face, and give an account of their stewardship ; why was not a public meeting called ? They would' then have tested public opinion, although the result might not have been altogether- to their mind, and of this they seem to have had a presentiment — so this expedient was hit upon. .•> The following vessels were advertised for New Zealand: — Messrs. Willis & Co. 's line — The Joseph Fletcher, 900 tons, J. Forster, for Auckland and New Plymouth, to sail June 15th; the Dolphin, 500 tons, J. Turnbull, for Otago, Canterbury, and Wellington, to sail July 5 ; Pudsey Dawson, 1000 tons, ' J. Davies, for Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, to sail July 25 ; Polar Star, 800 tons, H. Walker for Auckland and other ports to sail July 15th, and the Josephine Willis, ]200 tons, R Canney, for Auckland and New Plymouth in August. The Monsoon, 500 tons, Turnbull, for Nelson & Wellington, chartered by Mr. J. Stayner, was to sail early in July. Messrs. F. Young & Co. 's line — The Gipsey, 750 tons, H. Bolton, for Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson, to sail June 24th ; The Royal Stuart, 837 tons, R. H. Goble, for Canterbury, Wellington, and New Plymouth, to sail 20th August.