WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue VI, 15 January 1848, Page 179

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

Infrequent Communication with the Seat of Government. — It is now a month since, on the arrival of the Facehorse from Auckland, intimation was given of the Governor's intention of bringing the New Charter into operation throughout the colony, from and after the Ist day of January, 1848. In a few days we shall witness the termination of the Old Year, but no steps appear to be taken towards realizing the promise thus deliberately given. We have lately, on more than one occasion, alluded to the repeated delays of the Governor's visit, and indicated some of the inconvenient consequences arising from this neglect of the Southern Province. These may be shown to exist in a variety of ways, and to a serious extent, even without reference to ±Le_New Constitution, which we were led to expect would immediately be put into operation. To refer to the last session of the Legislative Council, we have not yet received a list of all the ordinances which have been passed, although the greater part of them, we believe, come into operation on the first day of the New Year. Some of these ordinances have reached us, and we may take one of them, the " Marriage Ordinance," as affording a practical instance of the inconvenience caused by the delay of his Excellency's v:sit to the South, and the evils arising from the want of frequent communication between the two divisions of the colony. This ordinance, intended to regulate all future marriages in the colony, was passed the 28th September last, and comes into operation on the Ist January, 1848; and unless its provisions are complied with, the marriages become void. After this date, in all marriages to he solemnized under its provisions, it is necessary first to give notice to the deputy-registrar of births, marriages, and deaths, of the district. But .this official has not yet been appointed ; he still remains in his chrysalis state, waiting until the sunshine of patronage shall call him into existence. But if this difficulty were obviated, another, as great or greater, still remains. The ordinance defines who are to be considered " officiating ministers " within its meaning, and before they can officiate, a return must be made by the heads of the different religious bodies enumerated by the ordinance to the registrar-general, who must prepare a list of such persons, which is to be published in the , Government Gazette. It is possible this may have been done, but if so, no official information of it has been given in these settlements. And where the Government interfere, as in this ordinance, with the most intimate social relations of life, and undertake to prescribe and regulate the manner in which these relations shall be entered into, it is but reasonable to expect a little more attention in preventing confusion, and in the requisite adjustment of details, than appears to have been shown in this instance. The ordinance itself is full of the inconsistencies and mistakes which seem peculiar to New Zealand legislation. For example, it legalizes all marriages celebrated up to the time of its passing, and regulates all marriages which may take place after the Ist January, 1848 : but what becomes of those celebrated between the two intervals? Again, it prescribes who shall be considered "officiating ministers," and the names of these ministers must be sent to the registrar-general by the heads of the different religious bodies in the colony to which they belong, before they can officiate — sed guis custodiet ipsos custodes ? — if any of these heads refuse or neglect to make the requisite returns, where is the remedy? Several other poiqts might be noted, but we have said enough to draw attention to the subject. If the other ordinances of the present session are of the same stamp, they will afford abundant materials for illustration to any one who desires to write a work on the Curiosities of Colonial Legislation. — Spectator, December 25. Wanganui. — Letters received lately from Wanganui, state that the influenza is very prevalent among the natives there. A detachment of the troops had lately been employed in cutting a road along the banks of

the river, at some distance from the camp, and in setting fire to the fallen bush, the fire spread rapidly, and communicated with some native burial-places in the neighbourhood, all the monuments or memorials in which were burnt down. One of the3e was in memory of the father of the chief Dawson. Our readers may remember that Dawson was very active in the service of the Government in the late disturbances at Wanganui. — Ibid. Suicide. — The body of a native woman was found yesterday near the Waiwetu river ; the deceased, who belongs to Pipitea pa, had been at work up the Hutt, and had been missing from her companions for some ■Jays. Search had been made for her, and at length the body was found in a decomposing state, and in such a position as to leave no doubt that the deceased had committed -suicide. Jealousy is supposed,, to have been the motive which impelled her to self-destruction. — Ibid., December 29. Fire-Engine. — Among the stores sent out in the Ralph Bernal by the British Government, is a large fire-engine of very powerful construction. It is about nine feet long, and appears to be very complete in every respect. This will prove a most valuable acquisition to the settlement ; and in the event of a fire in Wellington, if such a calamity should ever occur, we may hope that by its means any serious mischief would be effectually prevented. — Ibid. Survey of the Coasts of New Zealand. — We are glad to find, from the following official communication, that this important work is to be undertaken immediately by officers appointed by Government. It will be a most important benefit conferred on the commerce of New Zealand, and will materially promote systematic colonisation, particularly in the South Island, offwhich our present knowledge is very imjperfect :— Copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Admiralty to the Secretary of the New Zealand Company. — "Admiralty, sth July, 1 847. Sir — I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the information of the Deputy- Governor and the Directors of the New Zealand Company, that two officers have been appointed to survey the coasts and harbours of that colony, and will shortly proceed there. I am, sir, your obedient servant (signed), H. G. Ward.'£— Ibid. Governor Grey and the New Charter. — "The Ides of March are come." The period appointed by Captain Grey for bringing the New Charter into operation throughout the islands of New Zealand, has arrived, but we have heard nothing more either of the Governor or the Charter. The general expectation has been raised only to be disappointed. Without indulging in a spirit of harsh or ungenerous criticism, it may be reasonably inferred, from the numerous delays that have occurred in bringing the Charter into operation, that the New Constitution is not regarded with especial favour by his Excellency : but these delays are productive of serious inconvenience to the southern settlements, and have very much the appearance of neglect of their interests, and of indifference to public opinion. We have lately, on several occasions, pointed out the mischiefs arising from our present makeshift sort of Government, the effects of which are felt through every department of the Government as well as by all classes of settlers. It looks almost as though an attempt were made to forward the interests of Auckland at the expense of the southern settlements. We lately took occasion to show the inconvenience arising from the Governor's prolonged absence in its operation with regard to the new "Marriage Ordinance," and incidentally glanced at its provisions as a taste of the quality of the ordinances passed this session. When an opportunity is afforded us of learning the names and nature of the others, we shall be in a position to pronounce an opinion on the labours of the Legislative Council. Enough has been said to show how the set tiers have fared from the Governor's neglect. If we turn to the natives, the case does not appear to be mended. A peace has lately been patched up with the rebels

at Wanganui, the provisions of which remain to be confirmed by the Governor. We believe that the natives at Waikanae were led to expect that some definite arrangement would be made in respect of their claim to the Waitera district at Taranaki, and that the time appointed by the Governor for making this arrangement has long since passed. If these natives should grow impatient at the delay; if their supiciout natures should be roused by the Governor's neglect of his appointment, and their confidence be shaken : if fresh disturbances should break out at Wanganui ; will the blame rest entirely with the natives? It is possible that some pressing emergency may have arisen to prevent his Excellency from fulfilling his engagements, and which will satisfactorily explain his prolonged absence. We shall truly rejoice to find this to be the case ; but we are bound as honest journalists to point out the injurious effect of these delays, which are calculated to lessen the high opinion entertained of him, and the confidence reposed in him by both races. — Ibid., January 1. The New Year. — This day, being the first day of the New Year, will be observed generally as a holiday in the settlement. Thorndon Flat will be enlivened by a variety of English sports and amusements, which will be entered into by the men of the 65th, under the sanction and patronage of Colonel Gold and the officers of the Regiment. There will be three flat races, a hurdle race, matches at quoits, wrestling matches, racing in sacks, and other diversions, for which prizes will be given by the officers. The sports will commence about one o'clock, and the band of the Regiment will be on the ground, and perform a variety of pieces beween the different games. — Ibid.

A Mock Execution. — A strange spectacle wu witnessed on the 9th of July, in Holland. A Catholic priest, named Gepkens, having been condemned to death for assassination, the King commuted the sentence into perpetual imprisonment and the application of the punishment called " brandishing of the axe," which consists in making a prisoner undergo a pretended execution. A scaffold was prepared exactly as for an execution, and a coffin was on it, as if to receive the bloody and mangled remains of the condemned. At 12 o'clock in the day, Gepkens was driven in a cart to the scaffold. His head and neck were bare, he wore no coat, his hair was cut very close, and his hands were tied behind his back. Two priests were with him, giving him religious consolations, and two other carriages contained the officers of justice, and the executioner and his aasisttnts, the latter carrying an axe. A strong detachment of soldiers accompanied the cart, and another surrounded the scaffold. Gepkens ascended to his appointed place with a tottering step. His eyes were then bandaged, and bis head placed on the block. One of the assistant-executioners seized him by the hair, to keep his head in the right position, and two other assistants held him by the shoulders. The chief executioner then took the axe, flourished it in the air, and let it descend on the prisoner'! neck, so as to make him feel the cold steel. The man who held his head afterwards released it ; and for about five minutes, the executioner continued to brandish she axe around the prisoner's head, so close that he could distinctly hear the whizzing. The emotion of Gepkens was so great that he fainted. When the ceremony was completed, his hands were untied, and he was reconveyed to prison in the cart. About 30,000 persons waited from daylight to witness this singular proceeding, the like of which bad not occurred within the memory of man. Previous to the prisoner's arrival the crowd was very merry and boisterous, and roared forth several songs; but, on the conclusion of the mock execution, it dispersed in silence, and apparently feeling strong emotion. — Oaligtumft Mhtenger. Alk. — It is stated that strong and well tasted ale may be brewed from mangel wurzel, at the cost of fivepeuce farthing a gallon. A fossil cherry tree was discovered lately in a bed of sandstone, in the Isle of Wight, 200 feet below the surface of the earth. Tarns Crocodiles. — A frightful event occurred last month at Damietta. Arif Effendi, governor of the town, had two tame crocodiles in his garden. A negro having illtreated one of thorn, the natural ferocity of the animal returned, and he rushed on the governor's child, aged about 12 yean, who was standing by the negro's side, and killed him. — Oaligtumi't Menenger, July 20. Justice. — Justice is as strictly due between neighbour nations as neighbour citizens. A highwayman is as much tt robber when he plunders in a gang, as when single; and a nation that makes an unjust war is onlyagreat gang. — Frmikn. They who seek nothing but their own just liberty, have always a right to win it, and to keep it whenever they have the pewer, be the voices never to numerous that oppose itotm.—Milto*.