Sandwich Islands.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 22, 16 September 1843, Page 4

Sandwich Islands.

We mentioned, a few weeks since, that a provisional cession of the Sandwich Islands had been made to Her Britannic Majesty in February last. Tho following particulars throw further light upon tho subject. For some time past, the British subjects residing on theso islands complained of various grievances and unlawful acts of the local Government, for which they could obtain no redress : they resolved on laying their Complaints before the British Government, and deputed their Consul, Mr. Charlton, for that purpose to London. On his route, he waited on the British Admiral commanding on the South American station ; who, in consequence of his representations, dispatched Her Majesty's ship Garysfort, Captain Lord George Paulet, to Woahoo, for the purpose of affording protection to British residents there, &c, where he arrived early in February. He made demands on the Government, which were not complied with, and made his arrangements for enforcing them : rather than subject themtelves to an attack, the authorities agreed so cede over the Islands conditionally "to Her Britannic Majesty, subject to her decision on the receipt of full information from the Hawaiian Government and « Lord George Paulet. On the 25th February, His Lordship took possession, hoisted the British flag on the Fort, an,d subsequently on all the islands ! of the group^ and transmitted despatches to tho British Government and the Admiral, by Mr. Alexander Simpson, the late Acting Consul, who proceeded homewards by the Mexican route. The ' Cray s fort was to remain at Woahoo until further orders. When the Julia left, in March last, the place was in a tranquil | state. — Ib. The affairs of the Church of Scotland were drawing to a crisis. Mr. Fox Maule's motion for enquiry into the dispute between the I 'Church of Scotland and the Government was negatived by a very large majority, the numbers being, for the motion, 76 ; against it, 211. It was stated, that a large number of the ministers would secede and form a "Free Presbyterian Church ;" but this was ridiculed by the opponents of the movement party. Mr. Ward's motion for an enquiry into the particular burthens borne by land ; in other words, for an enquiry into the justice of the corn laws, was lost by the large majority of 232 to 33. Mr. Buller's motion respecting emigration was postponed to the 4th April. The following are its terms : "That an humble address be presented to her Majesty, praying that she will take into her most gracious consideration the means by which extensive and systematic colonization may be most effectually rendered available for augmenting the resources of her Majesty's empire, giving additional employment to capital and labour, both in the United Kingdom and in the Colonies, and thereby bettering the condition of her people." — Ib. Revival op Transport ation. — Although we cannot make up our minds to believe it possible that the Home Government will revive the transportation system in this colony, the report has now assumed such a form .that we think it right to inform our readers of the foundation on which it rests. A gentleman who has recently arrived with a Government appointment, was informed by Mr. James Stephen, that, if he waited a few weeks, he would get him a passage in a convict ship ; and Mr. C. Buller told another gentleman that it was intended to send convicts here. This appears pretty good authority, but, until we see some official statement, we shall still continue to think there is a mistake somewhere. There is nothing, however, in the state of the law to prevent convicts being sent here again. The Queen in Council has authority to determine to what places convicts shall be sent : when it was resolved to discontinue sending convicts here, an Order in Council, declaring to what places conviots should be sent, was issued, in which the name of New South Wales did not appear : from the date of that Order convicts could not be sent hei-e. All that is requisite to make the sending of convicts here legal, is the publication of another Order .in Council including the name of this colony. A few days will most probably settle the question. — Ib.