MILITARY FORCE AT WELLINGTON.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 39, 28 February 1846, Page 2

MILITARY FORCE AT WELLINGTON.

Staff.— Lieut.-Colonel Hulme, 96th Regt., commanding. Acting Brigade Major, J. M'Lerie, 58th Regt. Royal Engineer, Capt. Marlow. ' 58th Regiment. — Major C. A. Arney ; Captains A, H. Russell, J. H. Laye, and J. P. Hardy; Lieutenants, A. Rush, C. Dre-' sing, C. S. Herbert, and G. H. Page ; Ensigns, J. Pedder, and — Master ; Surgeon, Pine ; 1 3 sergeants ; 3 drummers, and 289 rank and file. 96th Regiment. — Captains W. A. Eyton, and Snodgrass ; Lieutenant Barclay ; Ensigns W. F. G. Servantes, Mundell, and Wilmbt ; 5 sergeants; 4 drummers, and 118 rank and file. 99th Regiment. — Major Last; Captains Reed and Armstrong ; Lieutenants Johnson, Lee, Elliott, and De Winton ; Ensign Blackburne; Surgeon Smith ; 9 sergeants ; 3 drummers, and 240 rank and file. Total. — 25. officers ; ' '27 sergeants ; 10 , drummers ; 647 rank and file.

Lord Stanley's despatch declaring the Debentures not to be Legal Tender. From the latest Rlue Book'

Downing-street, 30th April, 1845. Sir,— I have received your despatch dated 14th Sept., 1844, No. 29, enclosing copies of the various Ordinances, passed during. the then tecent Session of the Legislative Council of New Zealand, and apprising me that by another conveyance, you would forward the necessary remarks and reasom, with the required number of copies. With reference to the great majority of the Ordinances so transmitted, I' must necessarily await your promised explanation. But one of those acts, passed on the 18th May, though not transmitted till the 14th September, is of such a nature, that it hat been impossible for me to defer, for however short a period, the announcement of Her Majesty's decision .respecting it. It is entitled "An Ordinance to authorise the Governor of New Zealand to issue Debentures, and to make the same a legal tender." That Act authorises the Governor to issue Debentures, of which the amount at no on« time is to exceed £15,000, and if provides that a tender of any such Debentuie shall be a legal tender. The 14th of Her Majesty's Standing Instructions, of the sth December, 1840, directs, "that you do not propose or assent to any Ordinance whatever, wheieby Bills of Credit, or other negotiable securities of whatever nature, may be issued in lieu of money,' oh the credit of the said Colony, or whereby any Government Paper currency may be pstablished therein: or whereby any such Bills or any other, paper currency, or any coin, save only the legal coin of the realm, may be in act c or declared to be a legal tender, without special permission from. Her Majesty in that behalf first obtained." The preceding is one of a body of instructions which were annexed to, and which in fact constitute a part of the Charter of the Colony, of the 16th Nov., 1840. The power of Legislation given by that Charter is qualified by the condition that all such laws shall be made in conformity with the Royal instructions. For this leason, if lor no other, it would be impossible that Her Majesty should be advised to confirm this ordinance. It was the assumption by the local Legislature of a power which they do not possess. But the Ordinance was also a direct infringemeut of a principle enacted by Pailiament, in reference to the Trans- Atlantic Colonies,' and co -extensive in iis operations, with the Colonial possessions of the British Crown, — since it is universally prescribed by the Royal Charter or Instructions in those colonies, to which the Act of Parliament does not extend. The importance of insisting on Paper Money not being made a legal tender m the Britii.i Colonies, rests on grounds too obvious to require explanation, and too conclusive to require the support of any reasoning. ; The Queen commands me to signify to you Her Majesty's disallowance of thi» .Ordinance, as opposed to Her Majest>'f Instructions to the rules prevailing throughout the Biitish colonies, and to the real and permanent interests of ller Majesty's subjects in New Zealand. You will immediately cause Her Majesty's decision to be published in the usual and most authentic manner. I have, Sir,

STANLEY. Governor Fitzroy, &c.,&c.

New Zealand Woods.— A parcel of wood arrived al the port of London a short time since from New Zealand, stated to be the produce of that colony, which the importer* termed New Zealand dye-wood, and which they required to be delivered duty free under that bead, being intended to be used for deer's purposes in this country, and not applicable to any other use or purpose. Tim description of vt ood was detained in the first instance by the revenue officers at not being of the same description as the usual kinds of wood imported for dyers use. and admuted duty free as dye-wood, and therefore liable to duty as hewn timber ; but it being found, on a subsequent inquiry, by the 'authorities, that the wood in question is, as stated by the importer«,—a highly tespeclable house — inapplicable for any other purpose than for deer's use, the Customs' boaid have ordered it to be delivered free of dut), as requested. It is understood, that there will be a considerable quantity of this wood brought over to this country, from the colony of New Zealand, if it should be fonnd fully to answer the required purpose. If such should prove to be the case it will no doubt, be an important item in the consideration of the relative value of the various productions of the place.—* Watchman,