Telegraphic Despatches

Southland Times, Issue 985, 13 July 1868, Page 2

Telegraphic Despatches

"WELLnraTOiir, July" 9.— The Assembly was opened at two o'clock by His Excellency Si? G-eorge Bowen .with the usual formalities. The 18th Begiment and Volunteers formed the guard of honor, and the Artillery fired a salute of 17 guns. The Governor delivered the speech, of which the following;; is the [substance: — After announcing his assumption^ of office, and expressing on behalf of the Duke of Edinburgh his regret in, not visiting New Zealand, H>'s Excellency s bated that . he had visited the Northern portions of tha Colony, and proposes at the close of the session to visit the various settled districts in the (Southern portion. The papers relative to the Colonial Treasurer's proceedings in England will be kid on the table. The: prolonged controversy

and constant irritation caused by the non-settlement of accounts between the Imperial and Colonial Governments had been removed by his settlement. The Acfc passed last Session erecting the district of Wes eland into a County, making temporary provision for its Government, was brought into operation on the Ist January, and while working the measure since that date it has shown the necessity for considerable amendments, -which, from its provisional character, might have been reasonably anticipated. The result of this important experiment may on the whole be considered satisfactory. A Bill will be submitted effecting various amendments which experience has shown to be necessary. The Estimates have been resolutely reduced to the lowest amount required to maintain efficiency in the public service. The Governor then said : — " lam happy to be able to inform you, notwithstanding the commercial depression which thi country, in common #ith other portions of her Majesty's empire, has labored under, that if the resources of the coun- i try are not further anticipated by loans, there will be no need to impose additional burdens on the people in order toxnaintain the public credit and an efficient Government. A bill will be submitted for securing rural district powers for effecting public works necessary for their progress, and allotting them their fair share of the land fund. Several very . important bills will also be submitted for amending the consolidating law relative to real property, registration of deeds, police offences, frauds in trade, and other subjects, and for assimilating the law of treason to that of Great Britain. Although laboring under many difliculties, and charged with the solution of intricate political problems, which cannot be dealt with summarily, I have every confidence that the good sense, patience, and mutual forbearance of the people of these islands will secure the happiest results, and will gradually adjust the finances and political constitution of the Colony to the progressive requirements of the people. The Government have not exercised the powers under., the Distillation Act. The report of the Prisons Commission will be laid on the table. The final paragraph of the speech prays for direction in the labors of the session — 7.30 p.m. There was no members from Taranaki or Hawke's Bay present in the House when opened, otherwise there was a good muster. Mr Patterson and one of the Maori representatives took their seats. Meti Kingi, being assessor, conld not take a seat under the Disqualification Act. Mr Stafford introduced a special Bill to enable him to do so, which was read a first time. Mr Stafford intimated the intention of introducing shortly an amended Disqualification Bill which would very considerably extend the limits "within which disqualification shall exist. The House adjourned to three o'clock tomorrow. — The Duke of Buckingham "writes that" the "General "Assembly has no power to separate one part of a Province from the rest, making it into a County with a separate Government, but proposes to introduce an Imperial Bill validating "Westland, and giving the power to the Assembly to legislate for the future. By the mail which left on the Bth May, certain suggested alterations in.the Imperial Bill were sent on by the advice of the Attorney-General, without the insertion of which the proposed Validation "Westland Act would be open to grave doubt. The Duke of Buckingham is asked to legislate quickly to prevent serious results. Prom the iufoxJiation received from the North, much uneasiness is felt by the Government about Native matters at Waikato district. A new superstition has arisen. No dependence can be placed on the present state of quietude. The Government is fuHy on the alert, >but hopes it may blow over. "WEiiLiKGKroir, Friday, — After appointing sundry Sessional Committees, and agreeing to an address of sympathy and congratulation to Her Majesty the Queen, relative to the attempt on the life of His Boyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Mr Bell moved the address in reply to His Excellency the Governor's speech. Mr Heid seconded the motion. Travers, Beynolds, Borlase, Hall, Graham and Haughton spoke to it. The . House then adjourned until 7 o'clock. The speeches of the above named members yr&re all very short, the passing of the reply being apparently considered by all as a matter of course. A Traveller can now perform the journey from the Atlantic seaboard to the Eocky Mountains, a distance of more than" 3000"' miles7~in~6ne~ and the same railway carriage. , The line cresses the Mississippi and the Missouri. I , The English Iron-clad Fleet, up to the fclstof August last, consisted, of thirtyone vessels, which cost £7,248,294. Tirenty-one of the number exceeded - -3000 -tons - each. " -The* : moat tsostly - ship was .the Minotaur, £450,774 ; and the next the Agincpurt, £446,048.

A WOMAN SAILOE. (From the " Times of India.") A rather romantic incident had occurred oa board the Flying Venus, now in the harbor of Bombay. The captain shipped a young fellow at Liverpool, under the name of Thomas Brown, as a seaman, and, after serving for a considerable ti.uo on board the ship, it was only yesterday discovered that he was a woinau. She stated that she left her home at Aberdeen at 14 years of age, through the ili-treatinent of her stepmother, aud having procured boy's clothing went to sea. She contrived to preserve the secret of her sex for five years, and performed the duty of a seaman remarkably, taking her turn at the wheel, going aloft to furl royals, and was quite an adept in the nicer details of the profession. The captain (Mr Litter) on becoming acquainted with the fact of his having a woman on board, was, perforce, compelled to part with her and accordingly he took her to tht, acting chief magistrate on the 13th of December, at the Eort Police Court to ask his advice. At the suggestion of his "Worship, with the kind consent of Mr Bickers, the city missionary, she was handed over to that gentleman, who offered to look after her until She could be provided with a passage home, or some employment suited to her sex should be obtained. The captain seemed loth to part with the daughter of Neptune. He gave her an excellent character, and said she was of a quiet and retiring disposition, and at the same time was one of the smartest hands in the ship. The poor girl was very much chagrined at the discovery of her sex, and seemed very much abashed when questioned as to her past history. It is not intended to make a heroine of the young woman, but, overlooking the peculiar eccentricity which has brought her before the public, it is undeniable that she has exhibited great pluck, spirit, endurance, independence, self-denial, and self-restraint for a long period of time, and under very trying circumstances. On this account, and seeing that she is far from home and friends, it is proposed to find her a moderate wardrobe, and such a purse as will give her a chance of a new career in in honor, having regard to her capabilities and station in life.