New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday July 15, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 100, 15 July 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday July 15, 1846.

On Saturday morning his Excellency left Wellington in H.M. Steamer Driver, for Porirun; and H.M. Ship Calliope sailed the following day for the same destination; having on hoard a detachment of twenty men of the 58th, and forty-two of the 99th, with Major Last, Lieuts. Page, and De Winton, ? and Ensign Blackburn. On Saturday a quantity ofammunition was shipped on board, the Calliope, the longboat of the Tyne was , taken on board, which had been purchased' for the service of the Government, and lengthened 1 by the carpenters of the, galliopel with the intention of its being used as a gunboat in the- event of offensive operations being adopted against Rangihaeata*s pa, and other preparations were made, which clearly indicated that some decisive movement was resolved upon. During the prevalence of the present south-easter it would be impossible to commence hostilities, but on a change of the weather, we may expect to hear news of importance fiom Porirua : we therefore for the present abstain from any speculations

on the subject. We may remark, however, that thife is the third visit his Excellency has made to Porirua ; and after the events which have occurred in the interval of his visits to this settlement — after the attack on the camp, the murders of the settlers, the repulse of the troops, we can hardly suppose his present visit to be one of routine, or, after the preparations that have been made, that something decisive will not be attempted. At present the ordinary occupations of the •settlers and the friendly natives are interrupted by the constant inroads of the rebels, and their defeat and dispersion would relieve the settlement from its present state of apprehension, and be attended with the happiest effects. For the last six years the settlers have been waiting for a termination to the -anxieties and difficulties which have beset them. We may hope that the expedition to Porirua will at least be the means of removing one of the mo.- 1 serious difficulties they have had to contend with.

On Friday a Deputation of the Superintending Committee of the Wellington Savings Bank bad an interview with his Excellency on several points of importance connected with this Institution. His Excellency congratulated the Deputation on the prosperous commencement they had made, which had exceeded his expectations, and which could not 'fail to have -a most beneficial effect. His Excellency promised that the draft of the Ordinance for regulating the Institution should be sent to Wellington for the consideration of the Committee previous to its -being passed, and the Committee were requisted to furnish his Excellency with a copy of their regulations on which, aud on the New South Wales Ordinance, the new Ordinance would be framed. To their request that the Savings Bank should be permitted to receive interest At the rate of 5 per cent, on debentures purchased by them up to the date of fanding, his Excellency expressed himself favourable, bnt declined giving a positive answer. His Excellency consented to their application that the Treasurer of the district should be instructed in case of emergency, to advance funds on the Government Debentures held by the Savings Bank, the Government receiving the interest on the debentures during the time they remained in deposit, and the Bank being allowed to redeem the debentures as soon as their funds would permit, an arrangement which would obviate the necessity of keeping a large balance and allow them to invest to a greater amount in Government Debentures ; and promised to issue instructions to that effect limiting the amount in the firstMnstance to besoadvanced. His Excellency also promised to insert a clause in the Ordinance empowering the Local Government to receive a loan from the Savings Bank in the event of the present debentures being withdrawn by the Home Government. The total amount of deposits is £467:18:8, the amount of debentures purchased by the Savings Bank is £91:5.0. The Institution has been in operation about two months.

We are informed that the Post Office Commissioners have left Auckland and that there is no probability of their visiting this settlement. We would therefore suggest the expediency of a memorial being addressed to his Excellency by the settlers, on the sui ject of the present Post Office regulations, reqnesting that he would endeavour to obtain an alteration in the system, by which the letters and aewspapers intended for Wellington and the other settlements in Cook's Strait are forwarded to Auckland, and the settlers charged double postage for their detention. The postage on newspapers Is a serious tax and peculiar to this colony ; according to the present arrangements, any newspaper either sent out of the colony or received In it is charged a penny postage, and if it is sent by way of Auckland, an additional penny^ is 'charged, while the newspaper is" detained so long that by the time it reaches its destination .' its contents cease to be 1 of any interest. In the first years of the VettlenSent this used not to be?' the 1 case. The present would be ' a good 'opportunity also to to obtain the re-establish-ment oC the overland mail to Wanganui and Taranaki, and from the readiness which his Excellency appeals to receive the suggestions of the settlers, we have no doubt that any representations on this subject vrouM be attended with, good feflfecL^-

The Fisherman which arrived on Saturday from Waikanae, brought a cargo of four hundred and fifty bushels of native grown wheat. This is worthy of notice as the first cargo of wheat which the natives have attempted to dispose of at Wellington, all previous, importations having been usually purchased by settlers on the coast. The Fuherman was aground on Monday night.

having been left without any one on board, but the wheat was landed yesterday without any damage. It will be sold by Mr. J. Wade by public auction to-morrow.

On Saturdoy the new muskets and accoutrements received by the Ra//k tfwao/were distributed to the militia in Wellington. The pieces are with flint locks and are verjr superior to those perviously in use. It is intended to supply the whole of the militia with the new muskets.

Coroner's Inquest. — Yesterday nn inquest was held before Dr. Fitzgerald, the Coroner, at the Crown and Anchor, Lambton Quay, on the body of James Holmes, who was found drowned yesterday morning. The deceased, who was one of the Hutt militia, had leave of absence from his company for a couple of days to come, to Wellington, and it is supposed that . being intoxicated he fell into the sea and was drowned- The body was washed ashore" opposite the Scotch Church, where it was found about two o'clock yesterday morning by two police- men. The jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally Drowned." The deceased has left a wife and four children.

Wellington Savings Hank. — Mr. G. D. Larclue-, Mr. A. Levin, Mr. W. S. Loxley, and Mr. G. Moore, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 18th July, an.l at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 20th July.