AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 18, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 697, 18 December 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 18, 1852.

The Will o f the Wisp, from Melbourne the 29th ult., arrived in our harbour yesterday afternoon. Of thirty-six passengers whom she has brought, a considerable portion are relumed fellow-colonisls of our own, whom, with all gladness and, cordiality, we welcome back to New Zealand. We understand that they form only the first division of the body of old friends whom we may expect soon again to see amongst us, many intending to come back by the Spencer. In addition, we are informed, we may anticipate the arrival of strangers, numbers having become (both physically and menially) sick of Melbourne, so as to be determined to leave it as speedily as their circumstances will admit ; arid of these not a few are likely to bend their course to Auckland, — not on account of the news of its Gold Field, which operated on the minds of some of the wealthier classes with a repulsion rather than an attractive influence — but because of its fine climate and other natural advantages, ol which they have become aware partly from the reports of the emigrant visitors from this district, and partly through a perusal of the pamphlet "Auckland and its Neighbourhood," with which most of our readers are acquainted. Some copies of this publication, which had been taken to Melbourne in the Spencer, were lent from hand to hand ; read by hundreds, and sought for with avidity,' additional copies have been ordered, and we are assured that the object of the enlightened and disinterested author has so far been accomplished as that his work has heen the means of placing the Auckland district— the prosperity of which he is so anxious to promote—before numbers in (to them) a new light; — a favourable light, being the light of truth, honestly and ably exhibited. The Gold Field, taking as a whole, did not repay the diggers as at first. In a general summary prepared for transmission to England by the Formosa, the Argus says "The yield of gold still continues very large, although it scarcely keeps pace with the increasing number of diggers. * * The average, gain of the diggers is sensibly diminishing. * * The Ovens Diggings are not proving as productive as was anticipated." A private letter slates that "thousands of diggers are leaxing the mines." Still, however, thousands and thousands were pouring into Melbourne. Ten acres of Government Land in the neighbourhood of the city had been appropriated for the erection of tents and sheds to shelter the house- ! less immigrants. Within the city such ar- | rangeinenls as were practicable were in j progress for their reception. The Argus stales that the "Weslcyan Immigrants House" (ihe first building of the kind commenced in Melbourne) was nearly ready for occupation, and would accommodate about 430 persons. Prices were coming down. Flour had fallen to 2o£. per ton ; Potatoes IoL to 16/. ; Timber also was falling, a great quantity of Memel having arrived, and the quays were iined with timber and framed houses. The bakers had managed, however, to keep bread up to a starvation price. A correspondent of the Melbourne Ilerald of the 24th iHt., who signs himself "Anti-Combination," indignantly exposes the fact that — although tiie corn and hour stores were full, further supplies arriving boyond the market demand, and an early harvest promising — yet a trade combination kept the quartern loaf at the cxhorbitaut pi-ice of two shillings and sixpence ! The price of the loaf had been reduced, at a later date, to two shillings, and a further reduction was expected. Mr. Margraves, "the real gentlemanusher who introduced the people of Australia to her Gold Fields," arrived in Melbourne on the 2oth ult., after making a circuit of the principal auriferous tracts in the colony. The Argus slates that u although Mr. llargra\es belie\es that extravagant yields may not be so common as they have been, he feels convinced of the existence of an unknown extent of highly auriferous land throughout this colony, and has no hesitation in pronouncing it the richest gold country in the world." It appears that on his arrival he found great difficulty in procuring a lodging, and thus '' the singular spectacle was presented of the man to whom Victoria owes so much of her wealth and progress, wandering houseless through her streets, in consequence of the wonderful effects of his own discovery." A meeting bad been called to take measures I for welcoming Mr. Ilargraves to MelbourneInfluenza (which the Argus slates has "visited the whole continent of Australia with greater severity than at any previous time) was very prevalent and fatal in Melbourne. We learn that, on the day before the Will o' the Wisp sailed, thirty-eight died in that city. The epidemic was also scourging the gold fields. We infer from a 'condensed report in the Argus of the proceedings in the Legislative Council on the 2oth ultimo that the Gold Export Duty Bill, after having made considerable progress, had finally been defeated. In committee of the wholcllouse, an amendment that the Chairman report progress and ask leave to sit again that day six months, was carried by a majority of d 2 over 41. A long and warm debate had taken place in the 1 Legislative Council on a motion by Mr. Johnston, invoking a severe and whole-

sale censure on the E\ccnii\e Go\ eminent. The resolution was rejected, but only bj a majority of 15 to 43. The social condition of Victoria did not appear to have improved. "In this respect," says the Argus, " we regret that we cannot speak much more faumrably than before. Crime still continues fearfully rife, and neither life nor properly is imesled with anything approaching to proper security." It may he said that there was no laier English news than that received by the Great Britain, for although there was the name of news to the 28ih of August, rccehed via the Cape of Good Hope, there was no reality beyond a very brief, meagre, and unimportant summary. The reports of the Kaffir war are described as on the whole more favourable than am for some lime.

We have no doubt that we gave expression to the general, if not the universal, opinion of the public, when, we pointed out the importance of immediate effort to bring before the Imperial authorities ihe absolute moral tight of the Province of New Ulster to exemption from all liability in the matter of the New Zealand Company's alleged Debt, and the special obligation resting upon the elected members of the Pro\incial Council lo take the lead in such a movement. In order that this action may meet the exigency effectually, it is indispensable that it should be taken forthwith, as the whole subject of the affairs of the Company in relation to their claim is to be investigated by Parliament during the approaching regular session, to commence most probably early in February, and there is therefore only barely time to forward representations so as (hat they may arrive before the question shall have been settled in some way. We recur to the matter now, partly because ihe Southern Cross of yesterday has put forth views which, if they were acted on, would necessitate a delay that could scarcely fail to render anything that might, ultimately be done wholly unavailing, so far as the proceedings hi the next Session of Parliament are concerned. Our contemporary, in urging that the existing Provincial Council should be convened for the despatch of business, assigns as one principal reason for such a step, the opportunity that would thus be afforded for ghing weight to the people's remonstrance against the iniquitous infliction referred 10. ■ Now, we should ourselves have no objection whatever to the convening of the existing Council, if it were only that the constituencies might havesome practical means of judging respecting the capabilities and conduct of their members, which might serve as a valuable guide in their choice at future elections. But we greatly doubt the cogency of our contemporary's arguments on behalf of his project. lie only misleads, his readers when he tells them that "upwards of seven months from this date must elapse before any Provincial or General Council can be elected under the new Act." The Act provides — not that six weeks must elapse after the receipt of a copy of it by the Governor before it is proclaimed, and then that six mouths after the proclamation wims/ elapse before the writs are returnable— but that these periods respectively are the utmost limits within which it is competent for the Governor (even supposing him lo be bent upon delay) to protract the operation of the measure in these particulars. Should His Excellency see fit, there is nothing lo prevent his proclaiming the Act on the very clay an official copy of it reaches him, and nothing to prevent his expediting the subsequent arrangements so vigorously as that the whole may be completed within a few weeks. But it would only divert us from our immediate object lo speculate on what could or should be done in this case. Our present business is with the steps that ought to be taken with reference to the Company's Debt. Suppose, lheu, that it were in piany points of view desirable to call the Provincial Council together, still considerable delay would be inevitable. The Lieutenanl-Governor has, we believe, undoubted legal authority to convene it ; but it may be more doubtful whetherllis Excellency would judge it expedient (unless some more unforeseen exigency should arise than the New Zealand Company's claim) to take a step of such magnitude in itself, and of such special delicacy in the slate of political affairs produced by the new Constitution Act, without ascertaining the mind of the Governor-in-Chief. If this were so, it would involve delay at the outset. And eve"n if the Lieutenant-Governor decided to take the responsibility on himself, still time would be required to assemble the Council. The distant members must be summoned ; the day fixed for the Hireling must be sufficiently distant, not only lo make sure of their receiving the notice, but to cover a reasonable interval for their leaving home and arriving at Auckland,— to say nothing here on the propriety of calling the members for Taranaki and New Plymouth to legislate for a Province with which, according to the new Act, they will have no more right to interfere than with Canterbury or Otago. And again supposing the Council in session, there would still be delay in discussing and preparing the representations to be sent home. For when our contemporary speaks of the Provincial Council " exercising its legislative capacity" in relation to the ''saddling of the Company's Debt upon every Province of New Zealand," he talks simple absurdity. That Council has not the slightest power lo legislate so as to alter one line or letter of the Imperial Act. It can only slate and remonstrate against the grievance and seek relief from that authority which has sanctioned it and which alone can redress it. While then we readily admit that a representation coming from the Council collccthely and jn session, would be likely to have a greatly augmented force, yet, judging from the information before us with respect to the movements at home, we are warranted in maintaining that there is not, under any conceivable circumstances, the remotest probability that such a representation could be forwarded in sufficient time to overtake the deliberations of the coming session of Parliament. But there is a course

open to the members vAucb, we are satisfied, would exercise a powerful influence. They (we mean so many of them as reside within this district) might forthwith forward Petitions to Parliament suiting the peculiarity of their position — assuring Parliament, as they may most confidently do, that, in this matter at all events, they represent the entire people without distinction lof # class or party— and summing up the clear and irrefragable proofs that no portion of the Company's Debt can be le\ied on this Province without the infliction of a rrjing injustice— a most oppressive wrong. There are members -of the Council who could efficiently draw up such a document as this, even if the Southern Cross and all connected with it should withhold their literary aid, or prove too "slow a coach" for the emergency. Not to name others, Mr. Whitaker or Air. Forsaith could do it, and do it well. There can be no question that it would ha\e weight,— particularly as it has been preceded by the petitions and letters from the great Meeting of February hist, aiut (asweha\e heard) by a strong representation, substantially to the same effect, agreed to and forwarded some months, since by the Executive Council of the Prov nee As " lime is (emphatically) precious" in this case, we can see n good reason why it should not— but, on the contrary, many valid reasons v>hy it should— be sent by the J'oa, which will not sail before Tuesday. Any more general petitions from the public at large might be got up for a subsequent opportuuity, on the chance which would still remain that they may not be 100 late to be of use. If we are earnest and pointed in these remarks, it is because avc are anxious that one mode— and a very important one —of seeking to avert from the Province this enormous wrong and injury may not be neglected until it will have lost most, if not the whole, of its efficacy. We need scarcely say that we have not, or cannot have, any prhate or personal or party interest in the matter,— any interest beyond thai which more or less affects every member of the community. We have neither ibe power to dictate to the members of the Provincial Council, nor the wish to assume towards them, collectively or individually, anything approaching to a dictatorial tone. But we have our own duly to pei form, and a sense of that duty impels us. thus lo remind them that they have just now an opportunity of doing what may prove a great benefit lo their constituents, provided they are prompt and energetic enough in its performance.