The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 1854.

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 815, 4 February 1854, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 4, 1854.

Be just and fear not: Let nil the ends thou aiin’st at, be thy Country's, Thy God’s, and Truth’s.

The arrival of the Heather Bell from Sydney lias placed us in possession of the details of English news to the middle of October, brought by the steamer Australian, with a borrowed summary of which we were previously obliged to content ourselves. We, find, however, that on the all-important War Question there is really not much information in addition to that which we laid before our readers some weeks since, (New Zealander, January 11.) We then slated that the Divan, or Supreme Council, of Turkey had decided in favour of a Declaration of War, which there could be little doubt would be acted npon by the Executive Government; and we now learn that teas acted on,— that War was formally declared by the Doric, but that fifteen days bad been allowed the Russians to evacuate the Principalities, if they chose thus to avert the commencement of hostilities. This simply confirms, and carries one stage further, the intelligence already received; but it necessarily excites great anxiety for the news after the 2Slh of October—the day on which this interval of delay was to expire. These are the actual facts of the latest news; but we could easily fill a column from the papers before us with rumours and conj rlures, many of which are so contradictory as to be mutually destructive. Wc here introduce the “ bird’s-eye-view” of the stale ol the question given by the London Spectator of the loth October, llie day on which the Australian sailed :

“ The ‘Turkish question’ occasions a painful duty to the newspapers, which are obliged to write about it daily, as it has altered but little, in essentials, since its opening six months ago. But as sagacious publicists are expected to tell tile public what to think about it daily, the writers are obliged to repeat the same thing six time a-Aveek-And if the device of reporting an assertion one day, and qualifying it with a caution next day, gave a little air of novelty to it at first, even that contrivance has failed ; and a six months’ perusal of half-a-dozen main facts, and half-a-dozen consequent arguments, transposed to the last stretch of political permutation, has become rather fatign* in". Being only obliged to write a sixth time as often, and being blessed with a restriction of space, we are better able to break off atjthe mere’recitaj of the newest turn of the facts.

The Sultan’s declaration of war, then, has been notified to Frince Gortchakoff, with the further intimation that, as he might want further instructions from St. Petersburg!!, he should be allowed fifteen days for the purpose. Prince Menschikoff lias’ been appointed to superintend the government of the Principalities; and the Russian army is moving up the Danube,'.as if to effect a junction with Austria by and by. The Emperors of Russia and Austria have met the King of Prussia at Warsaw, and nothing whatever is known of the result, or of another meeting at Potsdam ; but there is a rumour that Prussia has declared herself neutral. Six regiments have been ordered from Ireland ‘ to relieve’ others in the Mediterranean, —already augmented beyond their standing number, if we mistake not, because certain regiments to be relieved at the first rotation have remained with those that went to relieve them.”

This point as to the ordering of troops from Ireland to the Mediterranean had led to some contradictory statements in the Home Journals. In reference to these the Dublin Keening Mail had the following:—

“We are able to state that, to some extent at least, the explanation as to relief is incorrect. It is a fact that troops are under orders to embark on Friday next from this port, cn route to the Mediterranean ; and further, that the orders were sudden and peremptory, and such as to prevent the slightest leave of absence being given to the officers.”

The Limerick Chronicle adds a particular or two: —

“ The regiments expecting to embark for the purpose of augmenting our forces in the islands in the Mediterranean, are—9th, at present at Clonmel ; 14th, Limerick ; 17th, Dublin ; 39th, Cork ; 89th, Cork; 62nd, Kilkenny. These being sent from Ireland, will not be replaced by regiments from England, as 42 country detachments have been withdrawn in Ireland the last six months.”

Weobservc wiih pleasure and thankfulness llvil the ravages ofCltolera in England had received a decided—we trust it may prove to have been a permanent —check.

The Sydney Herald stales, ilia!, in consequence of urgent representations made to the Home Government by influential persons in London connected with Australian commercial and manline interests, it had been resolved to increase the naval force on the Australian station, and llifli JL M. S. Carysfort, 26 guns, and itie Arab, would he placed on the station forthwith. It is added that Captain John ElphinsionC Erskine is to command th cCarysfort and that therefore “ that gallant and popular officer will be senior on this station.”

The Sydney Banks have, ns was expected, agreed to raise the rates of discount, which, until further notice, are to be, Bills, 3 mouths and under, 4 per cent; 4 months and under, 5 per cent; above 4 months, 6 per cent. Intelligence received at Sydney by the Emily florl and the Ocean , confirms the report of the startling augmentation of the French naval force in the South Seas, and also includes same particulars of the wars, which, we regret to learn, still continued to prevail in IheFegeean and the Navigators Islands.

The noble English ship North fleet, which arrived in our harbour on Wednesday, has brought us a great number of papers from the Southern Provinces. In addition to our file of Wellington journals—which anticipates the next Overland Mail, coming down to the 7th of January—we have the Nelson Examiner from the middle of October to the 7lh of January, the Lyttelton Times from the beginningof October to the 14th of January, and the Otago Witness from September to the 17th of December. We need not say that the principal articles of intelligence from the more distant settlements have already reached us in the summaries and extracts of our Wellington contemporaries; and our present business is to glean and condense the more re ent particulars adding such items of general interest as had not previously come to hand through other channels. At Wellington, the session of the Provincial Council continued lobe characterised by the small amount of work actually performed, in comparison with the incessant flood of speech-making, indeed Mr. Gibbon Wakefield seems both able and willing to supply, single-handed, enough of “ oratory” for any reasonable Council —especially if we add the replies, rejoinders, and counter attacks with which Mr. litzherherl —apparently nothing loth - disputes the ground inch by inch, with the would-be Dictator, The Spectator of the 7th nil. (our latest dale from Wellington) gives the following account of the manner in which business was transacted. We copy it, partly because the stale of things which it discloses will explain the brevity with which we may sum up the proceedings of the Council “ The Deport of the proceedings in Council will shew how business is carried on by those who now represent the Government. On Wednesday four important motions were succesively postponed, because, from the Provincial Secretary’s continued absence, it was impossible to proceed with them. He was engaged in his own private affairs, he had to look after his sheep, so the Council and country members must wait. To make amends, however, on Thursday, on his re-appearance in Council, the appearance of unusual assiduity was manifested, ana an evening meeting was arranged, the Council having adjourned to eight o’clock, At 25 minutes past 8, the Sp aker having taken the chair, there were hut six members present, among whom was not included the Provincial Secretary, consequently the House was adjourned. To make amends another evening was attempted last night, and we believe it is contemplated to sit five days during the week, and commence at 2 instead of 3 o’clock. Thus the public business alternates between needless delays, and reckless precipitancy, at one time the Council after sitting an hour is adjourned from having no business before it, at another measures are urged on with an unseemly haste that argues ill for their future efficiency. In the mean time several important measures, among others the Road Bill, which was to have been brought in three weeks ago, has not yet been heard of, and according to ihe present rate of progress, mismanagement, and want of method, it is impossible to say how long the present session may continue.”

The following is a precis of ihe principal business. 'Hie Loan Bill passed the second reading nnaniironsly, and some of the items in lliesehednle, —including 1200/. for making the Wairarapa Road, and 1000 L towards the erection of a Market House at Wellington were agreed to ... . The Estimates had made some progress. A payment of for the extra expenses of each member of the Council who resides more than ton miles from Wellington was carried,—an amendment, by Mr. Moore, that, “it was inexpedient to pay members extra expenses,” having been rejected by a majority of 9 to 5. An animated discussion—rendered more piquant by the introduction of a spice of the odium iheologicvm —arose on ib 6 vote for the Colonial Uospi-

lal. The sum proposed was only 230 1. I being ihe contingent which the Provincial Government thought should be granted by j the Province towards The support of the. Institution. Dr. Dorset opposed it in Mo, j objecting that the Hospital was under the ; management of one man alone, so as not to , give other medical men fair play, — that 1 incurable patients were kept in it, so as to render it an asylum for paupers,— and that all the servants were Homan Catholics, and the Hospital, as at present conducted, nothing but a Propaganda. The Spectator attributes this opposition to “persoi.al haired” and “professional jealousy,” aid] declares that “a determination is evidently shown, under the plea of re-modelling the Hospital altogether, to get rid of Dr. Fitzgerald by a side wind, and to substitute some one else.” Ultimately the vole was carried, and a committee was subsequently appointed to inquire into the general management of the Institution.... A sum of 600/. was voted for a Lunatic Asylum, and a further sum of 300/. for the purchase of a house at Karori to be used as an Asylum. . . . Several voles for Hoads were agreed to, as was a grant of 2000/. in aid of local assessments and voluntary contributions, it being understood that the Government would insist on the following conditions that the Government Surveyor should approve of the line of road, and exercise some control and supervision over its construction ; that the roads should be district roads; and that ah equal amount should be subscribed to the amount granted in aid ; and, to ensure its being a bona fi e subset iplion, that the amount should bo paid into the Treasury. . . . A sum of 200/. was placed on the Estimates to promote geological inquiries and obtain information respecting the mineral resources of the Province, and 30/. for a Library for the Council .... Mr. Wakefield, in a speech four columns long, brought forward the question of increasing the number of the members of the Council, and a Resolution affirming the expediency of such increase was adopted, the Provincial Secretary not only concurring in the principle but engaging to prepare a Bill to carry it out . . . The Empowering Bill passed through committee, the Provincial Solicitor declaring that be did not see the slightest reason to change his opinion of its legality and was willing to bear all the responsibility of it, and Mr. Wakefield retorting that this assurance would be no consolation to them, if by and by the measure should be disallowed for illegality An Address was agreed to tasking the Governor to place at the disposal of the Provincial Council the funds reserved for Immigration and to the Wardens of Hundreds .... A sum of 350/. had been voted to Mr. Wilson, as compensation for his losses on the Gaol contract owing to the unforeseen rise in the prices of labour and materials .... On the motion of Mr. Bell, an Address to the Superintendent was agreed to requeslinghim to communicate with the Superintendents of the other Provinces with a view of obtaining their co-operation in establishing an uniform system of penny postage, and the use of postage stamps, throughout the colony. Large purchases of land from the Natives in the Wairarapa and its vicinity had been effected, at a cost of 13,303/. to be paid by instalments extending over a period of five or six years. The purchase bad been effected chiefly by the instrumentality of Mr. Commissioner McLean, and a strong desire was expressed that he might be induced to postpone bis intended visit to Auckland until arrangements still in progress were completed, His Honour the Superintendent gave “a sumptuous entertainment” at the Wellington Hotel to the Native Chiefs who bad come to Wellington on the business of those sales, at which the members of the Provincial Council, Col. McCleverly, Mr. McLean, Mr. Bell, and others were present. The Independent reports the speeches of several of the Chiefs. E Tako gave his entertainers a bit of shrewd advice: —“He was glad to see the Superintendent and the members of Council, and hoped that he would follow Governor Grey in the spirit and conduct of his transactions with the Natives, and that no plans or measures of contradictory policy would occur. His Excellency had been a kind friend to them, and his kindness would never be forgotten. If the Governor be carefully imitated, all | would be well.” '