New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 9, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 316, 9 August 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 9, 1848.

In our last number we announced the arrival of the Victory at Otakou. We understand she has about thirty cabin passengers, four for Otakou, and the remainder for Wellington, Nelson, and the other settlements in Cook's Strait. It is reported that the Church of England Settlement schSmeT which was talked of some years since, and afterwards laid aside, has been revived by the New Zealand Company; that Lords Lincoln and Harrowby, the Bishop of London, and several members of Parliament, and other influential persons have evinced great interest in the scheme, and an association has been formed to carry it out on a similar plan to that of Otakou. The site of the new settlement is to be in the Wairarapa district ; and if the land be speedily acquired from the natives, it is believed that immediate''measures'will be 1 taken 'for founding the settlement. The- price of land is to be £3 per acre,! — On this and some other points connected with the Company's management, we may take an early opportunity of offering a few remarks. Mr. Godley, who some short time since obtained considerable reputation in propounding a scheme of "Systematic Emigration" from Ireland, in conjunction with Archbishop Whately and other leading men in Ireland, has recently accepted, a seat in the direction of the New Zealand Company, and has again turned his attention to this subject. It is aTsb ? reported that '"New Zea-

landVill be divided into twc^ sees and a Bishop appointed to the Southern Province. The Marriage Ordinance, it is said, has been disallowed. The New Zealand Company have offered to refer all questions and disputes between them and their purchasers in their different settlements to the arbitration of his Excellency the Governor- in- Chief. A very long debate took place in the House of Commons on the, 14th February, on the New Zealand Bill, in which Lord Lincoln, the leader of what is termed Sir Robert Peel's party, made a very long ana able speech. The debate occupies nine closely printed columns of the Times ; as it" is of the utmost importance to the settlers in New Zealand, and any attempt at abridgement would materially injure its effect, we intend reprinting it entire in our two following numbers. Another Blue Book has been published relative to the affairs of New Zealand. It contains the despatches of Lieut.-Colonel M'Cleverty on the Wanganui campaign, which have already been published in the Spectator, and other despatches on the affairs in the Souths with a long Report from Captain Sotheby, detailing the results of his visit to the Bay of Islands. We hope soon to have an opportunity of making a few extracts from this publication.

His Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor sailed on Monday in H.M.S. F<y to visit Nelson and Akaroa. His Excellency is accompanied by his Private Secretary Mr. Gisborne, and Mr. Mantell, who has been appointed Commissioner on the part of the Government to complete the necessary arrangements connected with the recent purchase of lands in the Middle Island, and to mark out the lands to be set apart as Reserves for the use of the natives. From Mr. Mantell's well known geological and other scientific attainments, we look forward to the result cf this commission with considerable interest, and have no doubt that, during the interval of his professional duties, he will collect a variety of important information connected with the natural history of the Middle Island. Mr. Wills -has been appointed Surveyor to the commission.

The half yearly inspection of the Troops stationed in Wellington will take place this morning on Thorndon Flat if the weather should prove sufficiently favourable. The troops will be inspected by Lieut.- Colonel M'Cleverty, Commander of the troops in the Southern District.

The Committee for repairing the beach road met on Monday evening for the purpose of receiving and considering the Tenders for the different works advertized for, when Mr. Hughes's tender for Totara posts, and Mr. Bolton's tenders for the footpath from the corner of Sydney and Mulgrave Streets to the end of the Government Domain, Kumutoto Street, and for three brick barrel drains across the roadway along Lambton Quay, were accepted. The works will be commenced immediately.

Recent Sales op Stock. — The following prices have been realized at the recent sales of stock by Messrs. Bethune & Hunter :—: — Cargo of the Brighlman — 5 bullocks, average £4 :18: 0; 71 heifer cows, average £3:5:0; 74 yearling heifers, average £2:15:0; 225 ewes sold at 10 : 6d. a head, and 75 wethers at 12s. a head. 5 fine large well bred mares brought from £25 to £30 each. The following were the prices of the cargo of the Despatch sold the same day — 21 head of m'xed cattle at an average of £3 per head ; 327 ewes at 7 : 6d. per head. At the sale of the cargo of stock ex Kelso, yesterday, the following prices were obtained — 58 bullocks brought, on an average, £4 :18 : 0 per head; 65 heifers and c^'s £4 : 3 : 0 per head, and 77 yearling heifers £3:2:6 per head. 487 wethers, ex Subraon, which were sold yesterday by Messrs. James Smith & Co. after the sale of cattle, realized 9 : 6d. each.

A Maori's Opinion on European Politics. — The Maories evince nearly as deep an interest in the events which are now agitating Europe as the settlers, and are better informed respecting them, through the medium of the local newspapers, than persons who ha *c never visited New Zealand would be disposed to believe. The following incident is worth' relating, both as illustrating our previous remark, and as shewing the good disposition of the Maories towards the Government. Since the publication of our last number, Henry Martin, Rangihaeata's nephew, who had come from Otaki on a visit to Wellington, called at the office of this paper, and after some conversation on the news recently received, concluded by shrugging his shoulders and saying ; — '.' Well, taihoa all the Kings and Queens Of Europe will be kuapau, and the 'Queen 'of

England will be the only one left ; and she will be the rangalira nui

It is'stated'in the Sydney papers <*th#t war has heen declared between Great Britisjfi* and China. *"-* - '