ENGLISH & COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 29, 4 November 1843, Page 3

ENGLISH & COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Parliamentary Proceedings relative to New Zealand. [From the (London) Times.]

On Tuesday-last, a vote of £GI,OOO was proposed to defray the charge of the colony of New Zealand.

Mr. W. Williams said, that really this was an extraordinary item. Why, there were not, he was told, 14,000 people in the colony. Never were officers so highly paid: thei" scale of remuneration was far above that of corporate officers at home. The Chief Justice had £I,OOO a-year. Why, they would get any briefless barrister to take the place for half the money. He thought the Government ought to lay before the House the details of the estimate. If the hon. member had taken the trouble to refer to the bottom of the page, he would have found the explanation which he has asked of the Government. The explanation of the estimates had been before the House since the 23rd of March. Mr. Williams.—But the noble lord certainly oould not expect him (Mr. Williams) to read all explanatory documents laid on the table of the House.

Lord Stanley again stated, that the documents explanatory of the vote to which the hon. member referred, had been laid before the House for the last two months. (Hear.) The hon. member found no difficulty in making complaints, although he professed not to be able to find time to read the documents presented to the House. Mr. Chapman thought that the Colony of New Zealand was in a flourishing state, and deserves every encouragement from the Government. The public money could not be better laid out than in extending the interest of that Colony. Mr. B. Wood hoped that the noble lord would postpone this vote until hon. members had time to read the document to which reference had been made. Lord John Russell thought that the objections to the vote were not well founded. He could not see what other course the Government could have adopted than to ask for the vote, after the explanation which the noble lord had given to the House. The hon. member said, that he had not had time to read the paper. That was no valid reason for either postponing or objecting to the vote. He quite concurred in all that had fallen from the hon. member on the other side of the House with relation to the flourishing state of the Colony

of New Zealand. In 1748 the same sum was asked for the Colony of Halifax. If the objections which were then urged to that vote—and they were of a similar character to those now urged by the hon. member for Coventry —had been attended to, this country would have lost one ot the most valuable of its possessions. He expected to derive from the Colony of New Zealand advantages similar to those which had resulted from the establishment at Halifax.

After a few words from Mr. G. W. Hope, the purport of which we could not catch.

Mr. Forster said, he thought that the noble lord ought to give some explanation of the present state of affairs in that country. Lord Stanley said, that it was not correct that emigration had been put a stop to by occurrences which had taken place in that Colony. Mr. B. Wood said, that he had not had time to peruse the papers which referred to the vote under consideration of the House. He had been out of town and had not seen the document. This was no common vote ; it required looking into. He did not think that such a vote should be pressed until proper explanation was given by the noble lord. The vote was agreed to.

(From the Nelson Exnr ? ner, Sept.'3o) By the arrival of the Tyne from Wellington, we have received the Ursula's mail. The subjoined cii'cul.ar issued from the New Zealand House will, at once show what arrangements have been made between the Government and the New Zealand Company:— New Zealand House., Broad-street Buildiugs, May 12, 1843. Sir, —I am desired by the Board of Directors to acquaint you that s very satisfactory arrangement has been concluded between her Majesty's Government and the New Zealand Company, whereby all doubts and questions affecting the Company's title to lands agreed to bo granted to it by the Crown, have been- removed, and that, iu consequence, the sales of land in the Company's settlements have been resumed. The Court is, therefore, ready to receive applications for purchase of lands in the settlement : of Nelson and New Pljmouth, on the same terms as before the suspension of the sales on the 2nd of February last. I have also the satisfaction to infonn you that her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies has consented to several impoi rant measures suggested by the Company for the more effectual establishment of Law and Goveiiraient within the Company's settlements. The Governor of the Colony is to have the authority to appoint an executive officer, who is to reside at Wellington, and to administer the Government there ; and a Court of Justice is to be established at Wellington, to be presided over by a Judge, having independentjuiisdiction for Cook's Straits. Satisfactory arrangements have also been made for securing the equitable application of aH public revenues raised within the Company's settlements. The appointment of Capt. Fitzroy, R.N., to be Governor of the Colony, has given much satisfaction to the Directors. The high character of that distinguished officer, and the just and liberal sentiments which he has expressed with reference to the colonists, afford the best guarantee that the Local Government -will in future be conducted with a view solely to the well-being of the settlers, and that Colonization will be encouraged and promoted by tho Executive in New Zealand.

With so favourable a prospect in the Colony, and with the assurance of the cor • dial co-operation and support of the Government at homo, the Directors have the fullest confidence of being now able to pursue the Company's operations with vigour and activity. You wi ll . hereafter be apprised more particularly of the arrangements'of the en. suing season; and, in the meantime, you are requested to make known as generally as possible the termination of all differences between the Government and the Company, and the consequent renewal of the land sales. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, John Ward, Secretary.

(From the Sydney Herald, Sept. 8.) Our files of London papers by the Persian extend only to the 6th May ; but we have been favoured by Capt. Oppenheim with a Times of May 16, which he obtained at Madeira. We are glad to be able to announce that there was a decided improvement in trade, particularly in the woollen districts, and the consequence was a rise of upwards of one penny per H> on the finer sorts of wool; and we have before us account sales, which show an advance on a particular lot of three-pence; but we believe the rise, taken as a whole, can only be reckoned at one penny, with an upward tendency. We mentioned yesterday the death of Lord Fitzgerald, the President of the Board of Control; it was generally understood that

he would be succeeded by Lord Ripon, the President of the Board of and that Mr. Gladstone would succeed Lord Ripon, and have a seat in the cabinet. The debate on the Corn Law, to which we alluded yesterday, was a very spirited one, but no new light was thrown upon the) question. Considering the agitation kept up by the Anti-Corn Law League for many months, it is surprising that the ministerial majority was so large, the numbers, after five nights' debate, being— For the motion 125 Against it 381 Ministerial majority 256 The opposition to the Factory Bill, or rather education clauses, continued very violent. Five thousand petitions were presented to the House of Commons in one day. Sir James Graham had substituted new clauses for several that appeared to give offence; but as the principle, that the chief management of the education should be in trustees, (the appointment of whom the clergy of-the established church would have considerable influence) remained untouched, the opposition was not abated by the concessions which had been made. A counter-agitation was being commenced, meetings of the friends of the Bill having been called. Sir Robert Peel had obtained leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the endowment of additional ministers in populous places. He proposed that the sum of ,£25,000 a-year, now accruing from the suppression of canonries, should be devoted for that purpose ; and as that revenue was yearly increasing, he proposed that the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty, who have a capital of £1,200,000, should be empowered to lend one half of that amount on the security of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners' Revenue. The money is to be devoted to the support of ministers, leaving the erection of churches to voluntary contributions. As no grant of the public money was asked, it was supposed that the Bill would pass without opposition. The King of Hannover was expected to arrive in England in the course of the month, to attend the christening of the infant Princess, and the marriage of the Princess Augusta of Cambridge to the Grand Duke of Mecklenburgh Strelitz.

Russian Deserters.—Russian deserters continue to arrive in the Grand Duchy with their arms and baggage. The cartel of extradition being no longer in force, the King had ordered that the arras and other effects brought by the deserters into the Prussian territory be restored to the Russian authorities, but the Emperor having observed, that " since the King kept the men, he might also keep their arms," those articles were, in virtue of an imperial order, sent back to Posen.

France.—We have received by express the Paris papers of Tuesday, with additional letters from our foreign correspondents in Syria, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Malta, Italy, Germany,, and Spain, -which will be found to contain some matter of interest. Admu-al Roussin, minister of marine, presented to the Chamber of Deputies, on Monday, a demand of an extraordinary credit of 5,987,000f. to defray the outfit of the French establishments in Oceanie. He proceeded to state that France had no harbour in the Pacific, where hor military or merchant vessels might find an asylum always open, and a less moveable protection than that of a rival nation ; that " Polynesia, moreover, afforded an extensive field for the conquest of trade and civilization; and that it behoved France, which holds the first rank among civilised and maritime aations, to take an active pai fc in the endeavours in progress, and to rescue from barbarity the inhabitants of that portion of the globe. The minister then described the advantages possessed by those new establishments, and which will be greatly enhanced when a navigable communication should be opened across the Isthmus of Panama, between Europe and the Pacific. The Marquesas and Society Islands will then be a resting-place for navigators proceeding through that channel to the Indian and Chinese seas. In a commercial point of view, these islands are admirably suited to set ve as entrep6ts, whence Mexico, Chili, and Peru may be supplied with French manufactures, which already find such easy sale in those countries. Tahiti, which is only three days' sail from the Marquesas, wiU abundantly supply the wants of the European population settled in those islands.—Rear-Admiral' Du Petit Thouars had called for 900 or 1,000 men, to enable him to occupy the Marquesas, but the Protectorate of Tahiti, which France subsequently accepted, would render it necessary to raise the force to 1,200 men, for,both establishments."—"ln the Marquesas, said the minister, the missionaries have already achieved much by the influence of religion: they wiU continue their pious task. Eight clergymen belonging to the congregation, which has given proofs in those parts of the

•most evangelical self-denial, as well as of the •purest patriotic feeling, compose the religious personnel of those islands. English missionaries have been long established m the Society Islr.nds, and it is their endeavours, which nayo preceded those of our missionaries, that we must ascribe the more forward state of civilization remarked in that Archipelago, as compared with the rest of Polynesia. The good they have already done, and that which they may yet achieve, insures to them a right to the protection of the French government, which they shall fully enjoy. On our side we are happy to think that French influence will find in those missionaries efficient auxiliaries in the work of civilization which we are about to undertake." From Admiral Roussin's statement it further appears, that two iron steamers are to be attached to the station, to facilitate the intercourse between those establishments and the American harbours, and that the remainder of the supplies required are for building and furnishing a house for the Governor, and hospitals and

dwellings for public functionaries. The mincalculated, and concluded by saying, 'fhat the annual expence of maintaining those . • establishment would not exceed 2,000,000f. Although still delighted with their conquests . and acquisitions in Africa and the Pacific, •the liberal journalists express impatience at the very high price they pay for their whistle. , Chronicle, May 6. Parliament, has voted £61,000 to defray the expenses of the Government of New Zealand.

Coal.—From five to six thousand tons of coals are at prersnt wanted by Government, for Hong Kong and other ports of China.

(Fr.m tfie Nelson Examiner, Sept. 3 1 .) The same course can no longer be pursued. An outrage has been committed which cannot be allowed to pass unpunished ; and the conception by Rauperaha of his true position—the knowledge evinced by him in h\& open preparations for a war of extermination, that nothing less than the lives of himself and his son-in-law can atone for . their savage enormity, are the plainest evi- • dences of the falseness of the statements put forth respecting it by the Local Government and its minions. There is little use, then, in blinding ourselves to the fact that' ■open war between at least a portion of the two races is inevitable. Rauperaha, knowing his danger, looks it in the face like a man, though he is a monster, notwithstanding the wheedling of George Clarke and his . subs, for the craftiest chief in New Zealand in not to be out-generalled in dissimulation , even by that useful and disinterested class. * However much we may hate or fear him for ,it, he is at least-pursuing the only course which a brave but wicked man could under similar circumstances adopt. He is fortifying his pah for a determined resistance ; and is using all his influence to increase his allies. . Where persuasion is ineffectual, threats are .resorted to. Every day, therefore, which these murderers remain at large, serves to increase their power and our danger ; and, unless a blow is speedily struck, we shall have the whole native population united in arms against us. The following are the measures which have been adopted by the Committee of . Public Safety, to protect the settlement in the event of on attack from the Maories : To complete the fortification, and render it , a safe place of refuge.—To clear the fern throughout the town, in order that it may affois no protection to the enemy.—To establish an efficient watch at all points where the enemy can approach, that we may not ■be taken by surprise..—To drill and exercise in the use of fire-arms the watch, and all volunteers.— lb.

A memorial to Sir Eardley Wilmot, the I Governor of Van Diemen's Land, has been prepared and signed by our magistrates, and will be forwarded by the Sisters to-day. Its purport is to sho-vv the defenceless state of the colony, and to solicit succour.— lb. ' From the intelligence received this week from Wellington, as well as from the coast, it appeai-s that Rauparaha is still at Porirua. Whether he does or does not really contemplate an attack on either of the settlements is a question of no easy solution; but we are sure that the preparations for defence which the late alarm has caused us to make will be highly beneficial; it will not only convince the old savage' that, if he should come, he will be welcomed in a manner he never yet experienced, :but it will also restore to the public mind that confidence which the late calamity had so completely shaken. Watchfulness and caution are, however, by no means to be abandoned, for, notwithstanding the present calm', the natives on all parts of the cdast aie strongly impressed with the belief that somesmove■meo'i is contemplated by Rauparaha, and thoy only differ as to the place to which his attention is directed. It will therefore be still our .duty to be on our guard, especially

as there is but little Jiope of our getting any protection from Government, or that any steps will at present be taken to bring the murderers to justice.— lbid, October 7.

Address to the Natives. (Copy.—Translation.)* To the Chiefs of the Districts of Port Nicholson, TaranaJci, Wanganui, &c, &c. Friends—l am directed by his Excellency the Officer administering the Government to state that he has received the letter written by Wairarapa, who came as the bearer of a special message from the natives of Port Nicholson, and that his letter will be duly considered. The Governor directs me to write this letter to you to assure you that all he has promised shall be made good. Mr. Spain is now busily employed in completing his report, on the completion of which immediate steps will be taken to settle the question of your disputed lands. The Governor also wishes me to say, he hopes you will not misunderstand his letter published in the Gazette of July, desiring both natives and Europeans to remain quiet, and forbidding them to take further possession of disputed lands. Now his Excellency wishes you particularly to understand that you are not to disturb such Europeans who have already settled on land, their title to which has not been clearly established. Wait quietly until you hear from the Governor again, who, as soon as Mr. Spain's reports are finished, will be in possession of every particular relating to your lands, and he will then decide the question. Mr. Spain also will then return to you for that purpose. But you must not be impatient, as Mr. Spain's report will take some time. Remember, the Governor's word is inviolate, and cannot be broken: he will see justice equally administered to the natives and the Europeans.

From your Friend, Clarke, By his Excellency's command. True translation of native circular. (Signed) George Clarke. A true copy. M. Richmond, C.P.M. We should like to know what some of the Auckland people think of the concluding sentence : " The Governor's word is inviolate, and cannot be broken." Willoughby Shortland's word inviolate! Does any body doubt that? Why affirm it? Is there a "misunderstanding" about that too ?— lbid.

An application was made on Tuesday last to George White, Esq., the acting police magistrate, for a warrant to apprehend Rauperaha and Rangihaiata on a charge of having murdered the late Captain Wakefield and others on the occasion of the late massacre at Wairoo.— lb. October 14. On Thursday, Mr. Fox renewed his application before D. Monro, G. Duppa, C. A. Dillon, and J. S. Tytler, Esqrs., justices of the peace. After some consideration the bench determined that the evidence already before them was sufficient, and a warrant was accordingly issued, and signed by the three latter magistrates.— lb. The following ships are advertized for New Zealand:—The "Mary," chartered by the New Zealand Company, day of sailing not announced. The "Mandarin," 350 tons, to sail on the 15th May ; the "Humayoon," 650 tons, to sail on the 15th June ; for Wellington, Nelson, and Auckland. The "Bengalore," 889 tons, for Auckland, calling at Sydney, to sail on the 31st of May, and under engagement to bring Capt. Fitzroy, the newly-appointed G-overnor. — lb.