NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume I, Issue 13, 17 August 1861, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

AUCKLAND. (From'the 'Nelson Colonist,' August 13.) On Saturday last, shortly after the arrival of the Lord Ashley from the South, a report was pretty currently circulated that the Ministry of a few days had been superseded on the "want of confidence" motion of Mr. Richmond; and although the best authority for the rumour was but little reliable, still it was considered hy many to be somewhat prophetic, if not already accomplished ; and expectancy was on the tiptoe for direct news by the Airdale, whose appearance was delayed until yesterday morning, when she came along side shortly after "10 .a.m. By this steamer we gain particulars to the 7th, and amongst the items we learn that on the Ist insiant the Ministry was re-arranged thus:—Mr. Fox, Colonial Secretary Mr. Sewell, Attorney-General; Mr. Reader Wood', Colonial Treasurer; Mr. Mautell, Native MiniverMr. Crosbie Ward, Postmaster-General and Secretary for Crown Lands. Mr. Henderson aud Dr. Pollen without office. '

On the same day the « want of confidence motion" ot .Mr. Richmond was made in one of the weakest

speeches ever heard from his eloquent lips. He iV '' self most certainly manifested no confidence in his a" 11 chance of success, and his party appeared desirous?* i evade the direct negative which the House was _ |- pared to give, by putting the issue on the necessity f I a coalition, in the existing state of parties. . .If at midnight the motion was lost by a majority of 0 § the division list being as follows:—Ayes 25 Ji es c'e ' I Russell, Firth, Wells, Atkinson, Nixon, Mason, Well I Creyke, Domett, Curtis, Cookson, Wilson, Fraser j I C. Richmond, Colenso, C. W. Richmond, Hall JnlV 1 Dillon Bell, Ormond, O'Neill, A. J. Rich mo :!' * Rowley, Stafford, and Butler. **> Noes 26—Messrs. Williamson, Ward, Carleton ft Graham, Carter, C.J.Taylor, W.Brandon, Whyte E 0 i Kettle, Munro, Henderson, Eyes, Dick, G. Graham I Featherston, M'Glashan, Fitzherbert, Wood,o'ftoil I Rhodes, Renall, Mantell, Harrison, and Saunders. °' f On the 30th, the Attorney-General in reply to }[. «< Mason, said the place of meeting at the next session * of tbe General Assembly was an open question : f war went on it would be held at Auckland; if p eace i was restored the promised session would probably be f held at Wellington. Mr. Fox's Bill for repealing ce t . ) tain sections of the New Provinces Act was read a ' first time and ordered to be printed. I In the House of Representatives, on the 29th ultimo i Mr. Stafford rose to ask if any information had been * received by the late mail concerning the New Zealand I Bill now before the British Parliament, and was ! answered by the Attorney-General (Mr. '-"ox) in th e I negative; most important despatches however bad arrived, he said, and would be communicated to the House that day. This announcement was received ! with cheers, which had scarcely ceased, when tlie Governor's private secretary entered and handed two messages to the Speaker one of which covered a despatch from his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, dated May 25, and received by His Excellency the Governor on July 27. Amidst profound silence and attention the Speaker proceeded to read the following :— Downing-strcet, 23th May, 1861. Sir, —I have perused, with much anxiety the intelligence respecting the progress of the native war which is contained in your despatches recently arrived. 1 cannot but perceive that in spite of some symptoms of a desire on the part of the natives for the restoration of peace, little effect has really been produced hitherto by the military operations at Taranaki, and that, notwithstanding all the efforts of yourself and your advisers, tho disaffection of the Maories is extending itself to those tribes whose amity, or, at least, whose neutrality has hitherto been hoped for, and is assuming a more organized form, and a more delinite object I am far indeed from ascribing this untoward course cf events to those who are responsible for the conduct of affahs in New Zealand. On the contrary, 1 recognise with pleasure the sound and impartial judgment, the integrity, intelligence, and anxiety for the public good, which have characterized your government of the colony for nearly six years. The present conjuncture, however, renders it necessary for Her Majesty's Government to leave no expedient untried which is calculated to arrest the course of events now unhappily so unpromising, and at the same time to provide for the difficulties, which there is only too much reason to anticipate, even if the war should happily be soon brought to a conclusion. Haying regard, therefore, to the peculiar qualifications and experience of Sir George. Grey, now governing the Cape of Good Hope, I have felt that 1 should be neglecting a chance of averting a more general and disastrous war if I omitted to avail myself of the remarkable authority which will attach to his name and character as Governor of New Zealand I trust, therefore, that you will not feel it as any slight to j yourself that I should have determined to place the govern- \ ment cf the Islands in his hands at a moment when your ovra | term of office has all but expired, and you would have no § opportunity of providing against those future difficulties to j which I have referred. I hope that in doing so I shall not deprive the Crown for auy long period of the advantageyour services. 1 have communicated to Sir George Grey my wish that, as the matter is one of urgency, he should lose no time in proceeding to Xew Zealand for tho purpose of assuming the Government. My confidence in your public spirit assures mc that in transferring it to him you will give him every assistance and information which is calculated to facilitate his dealings, whether with the local Government, or with the friendly or hostile Maories. I have only to add, that in case you should be disposed to accept another Australian Government, it may be convenient that, instead of repairing to this country, you should remain for a short time at Sydney, until I am able to communicate with you more definitely upon that subject. I have &c, Newcastle. Cheers and approbation arose from several parts of the House at this verification of the announcement of tho Attorney-General. The Canterbury and Otago Boundary.—This question had been settled the day before the arrival of Mr. Cass at Auckland. The boundary is to run as we have already-stated. All back-rents* due from this province are remitted; and £_,500 of the Canterbnry debt is transferred to Otairo. Mr. White is appoiuted Resident Magistrate fa Port Lyttelton. The following gentlemen have been appointed commissioners for the management of the share taken ty Canterbury in the International Exhibition of 186* His Honor the Superintendent; Messrs. Cyrus Davtfi William Donald, Hubert Greaves, George A. E Ros-'j William Wilson, Augustus White. . , The following gentlemen have been appoints Justices of the Peace for New Zealand. A. R. Creyke, Esq., Cliri,chuich ; F. J. Moss, Esq* Lyttelton ; if. P. M. Aynsloy, Esq., do.; R. Gicavefc Esq, Akaroa; G. Rhodes, Esq., Timaru. A Gazette of July 22 contains a Proclaim 3

dated July 19, dissolving the Provincial Council of aerbury.