THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON,SEPTEMBER 22, 1849.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 394, 22 September 1849, Page 114

THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON,SEPTEMBER 22, 1849.

Journals become more necessary aa men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to tecure liberty s they maintain civilization. Ds TocaußviWC, Of Democracy in America, vol. iv., p. 200.

The. cause is progressing. Veritat vincit, says the proverb : " Truth conquers." The times are not what they were. Injustice and fraud can no longer reign paramount. The still small voice of reason is abroad, and corruption and tyranny quail before it. The wrongs of the colonies, which a few years ago were treated with contempt by British statesmen, and with indifference by the British public, have by long neglect grown to such monstrous proportions, that at last it has been found necessary to pay regard to complaints which it would cot be safe much longer to despise. The "Colonial Question" has therefore become in Parliament almost second in importance to the " Irish Question " — indeed, the Colonies were bidding fair shortly to become so many Irelands. But motion after motion for a revision of the system of colonial government has been dinned into the ears of Ministers, like the ever-recurring blows upon the anvil, until at last the- conviction seems to have come upon them, that it is high time something should be done to allay the rising storm. We see therefore that Mr. Hawes was to bring in a Bill after Whitsuntide, to give " local self-government to the Australian colonies." Most excellent — if the measure itself belie not the words of promise. But British legislators, unfortunately, have sometimes a knack of narrowing the meaning of language when applied to measures of remote application. Thus " local self-government," which promises in words all that the colonies ask for or require, may be made anything but " self-government" by the stupid jealousy of our home rulers and colonial Governors, and the promise kept to the ear be thus broken to the hope. We shall not however condemn before we see cause, but hope that a sense of justice, and a clear perception of right, will govern the Ministers on this occasion, and that the vigilance of our friends in Parliament — the " Colonial Reformers," as they may be styled — will make the proposed measure at nearly a perfect one as it is possible.

The point of immediate interest to ourselves will be, whether Mr. Hawes' measure of " local self-government for the Australian colonies " is to be made applicable to New Zealand, and at what time ? Our Marplot Governor, we know, Canute- like, has bidden the waves of self-government hold back for three years longer, and has tried to cozen the Government at home into the belief, that any earlier recognition of our political privileges would be dangerous to the peace and well-being of the colony. If we are not mistaken, Sir George Grey will have to learn, that public progress is no more to be stayed by the caprice of a colonial Governor, than were the advances of the ocean by the command of the old Saxon King. His Excellency has failed to watch the course of late events — the study of his political primer has not carried him beyond the little words of one syllable. His mind is adapted to a bye-gone age — and his method of governing is that which looks for support from the patronage he wields; rather than from the justice and wisdom of his measures. Hence his £40,000 Civil List, to be placed at his own snug disposal — hence his parry- ! ing off Representative Institutions until a period when he will probably have bade adieu to the colony — hence a thousand tricks which denote a love of power, a jealous self-esteem, and a determination to rule by his own will as long as he can compass the means of doing so.

Another sign indicative of the feeling abroad on colonial questions, is the meeting of the Shareholders and Proprietors of the New Zealand Company, held in London on the 27th of April last. The report we have given of this, taken from the Times, is very meagre, we are told, compared with the accounts given in the other morning papers. But we learn enough to perceive that the aeat of colonial disease was clearly seen by the respectable body of gentlemen who composed the meeting in question. A charter of " tree government " is indeed the remedy, not alone against convictism being thrust upon us, but as the means of establishing between ourselves and the mother- country a proper relationship, and which shall also promote the prosperity and happiness of both.

The news from. Europe, received, by way of Sydney, and brought us by the brig Torrington, is again of the most startling nature. The particulars of the proceedings in Italy we have endeavoured to give in a consecutive form, and at some length, but we can only briefly advert to what has occurred in other parts of the Continent. The success of the Hungarians still continues, and it seems as if the Austrians are beaten in every engagement which takes place. Two-thirds of the Austrian troops in Italy have been recalled to protect Vienna, which was quite at the mercy of the Hungarian general if he thought fit to advance, but his policy seemed to be not to quit the battle-ground he has already fought on so successfully, but to draw the Russians into the same part of the country where the Austrian troops suffered so dreadfully from hunger and fever. The principal supplies of food for the Austrian army were formerly drawn from Hungary, but now all supplies have to be sent there, and should the navigation of the Danube be impeded by the Magyers, the difficulty of provisioning the Austrian army would be greatly increased. The necessaries of life are at almost famine-prices at Vienna, and fodder exceedingly dear. Hay, which usually sold at the rate of from Bd. to Is. per cwt., was bringing 6s. The latest intelligence from the army states that Jeliachich had been cut off, and had to take refuge in Esseg^ and that (Edenburg had been taken by the enemy. Count Stadion, the Austrian Commander-in-chief, had resigned, and it was supposed the Emperor would himself nominally take the command, to prevent the jealousy which might otherwise arise from the Austrian and Russian troops serving together. Several Russian officers had arrived at Vienna, bnt no troops had yet made their appearance there.

An insurrection had broken out in Saxony, and the King had called to his assistance the aid of Prussian troops. His Majesty and hia allies had been engaged in bombarding his own capital, and had destroyed some of his most valued public buildings. The contest was still raging fearfully, but the arrival of a large reinforcement of Prussians was expected to put the insurrection down.

Affairs in Germany are still very unsettled. The Prussian monarch has not given satisfaction to his subjects, having broken the promises which he had made them. Disturbances were expected.

The rebellion which had for some time been raging in Sicily against the dominion of the King of Naples, was reduced to its last stronghold. The city of Catania had been attacked and destroyed by the Neapolitan forces, and the inhabitants butchered in the most frightful manner. The town was given up to the license of the soldiery, who were guilty of all those abominable acts which make humanity shudder. This had stricken such terror into the inhabitants of Palermo, the capital of the island, which is still held by the popular party, that it was expected they would submit to the King of Naples rather than risk such a catastrophe as had befallen their unfortunate countrymen at Catania.

The elections in France had terminated favourably for the cause of peace and order. The new Assembly will contain 511 members of the Moderate party, out of a total of 750.

In England, the Canadian Rebellion was the exciting topic. As we have given a very fully account of this occurrence, it is only necessary to state the circumstances which gave rise to it. We are told that the outbreak was caused by the passing of the Rebel Bill. This was a measure to compensate the individuals who sustained losses during the former rebellion in Canada by taking up arms against the Government. The Loyalists, or " British party," as they are called, were violently opposed to the Bill, and not being able to frustrate it in its pasiage through the Houses of Assembly, they resorted to violence on the GovernorGeneral giving it his assent. This outbreak must be a perplexing subject to the British Government!

The intelligence from China tells up that the Celestials are again tempting their fate, and by refusing to fulfil the terms of their treaty, will be likely to force the British into another war, which will lead probably to the occupation of some part of their territory. The affair is referred to the Government at home, but the course of events clearly indicate that the Anglo-Saxon will eventually become the master throughout the East. In India, the annexation of the Punjaub to the British dominion has caused no dissatisfaction to the inhabitants of the former territory, as they feel that they will enjoy much greater freedom under our rule than under that of their native princes.

We received Wellington papers last night to the 15th inst. A communication from Mr. E. G. Wakefield to the Colonists of New Zealand, of great interest to ourselves, appears in the Spectator. As we intend printing the document next week, we shall say nothing further about it at present. The Independent has published a series of Resolutions from the Settlers' Constitutional Association, on the subject of Sir George Grey's Nominee despatches — these also, though of great length, we shall feel bound to lay before our readers. We are sorry to see that two of the Wellington coasting craft have been lately lost. The schooner Comfort was found keel upwards in the Straits ; she had sailed for Port Cooper, and had seven persons on board including passengers. The schooner Gipsy also had been compelled to run on shore in a south-easter at Cape Turnagain, on the East coast, to save the lives of the crew, where the vessel became a complete wreck. Experiments have been made in smelting the iron-sand, the result of which is said to be very satisfactory. Burglaries appear to be becoming frequent in Wellington, two having been perpetrated lately. Mr. I M'Donald, the Manager of the Union Bank, having been removed to Adelaide, his friends in Wellington gave him two public dinners previous to his sailing, and presented him with a handsome silver salver. Both dinners were well attended. By a veisel from Kawia, Auckland papers had been

received to the 28th of August, which are said to be principally filled with the proceedings of the General Council. No extracts are given. We have seen however by a Sydney paper, that the Governor has proposed to construct a public wharf at) Auckland, at a cost of £9,000. The Mariner was to sail about the middle of next week, so that it is probable letters for England, sent by the Torrington on Monday, may be in time to catch her. The Pilgrim was also laid on for England, and will return from Auckland to load.

The cutter Catherine Ann, which we announced a few weeks since as having been driven on the rocks in Port Gore, has fortunately been got off* and is now undergoing repair. The cargo was all lost, but the damage to the vessel was not so serious as expected.