WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 158, 19 May 1862, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

(FROM "OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) . . : Wellington, 33th May, 1802, The Wonga sails at daylight to morrow for Lytteltou and Otngo, iv the hope of putting a supplementary mail for England en board your steamer of the 17th ; and, if the mail from England should arrive with you in usual time, will probably bring it on here. It is, however, generally supposed that the arrival of the English Mail at Melbourne will be most irregular now tle-kt a smaller class of steamers aro being- put on that Iffle—the December and February delays being more lively to'be.the rule than the exception. Sir George; Grey is still here, but will probably leave for Outgo.in the Harrier at the end of the week. He held a levee on Thursday, which was very numerously attended, and many were the cordial shakes of the hand which passed between his Excellency and those who attended. With the exception of Friday, nearly the whole of the daytime last week was spent by the Governor, in making calls on old acquaintances, looking about the town, and attending to the many niiuor matters of business •which as may easily be supposed, readily presented themselves. At the levee the Superintendent read the Address agreed to at the Public Meeting last February, and which you have already i>rinted. The following was the reply. Youji Honor and Gentlemen. - I beg you to accept my most cordial thanks for this address of welcome, and for the very nattering reception you have afforded to me on my return to Wellington. I valiib highly your promises of heart}' co-operation and support in the arduous duties entrusted to me. I can only hope to sneceed in these by carrying with me the intelligent and willing co-operation of the inhabitants of these flourishing islands, which appear destined to attain to so high a degree of prosperity. It is .difficulty for me to reply in formal language to an address from those to whom "I am bound by so many remembrances and ties of no ordinary character. I will only therefore say, in conclusion, that, the interests and welfare of the inhabitants of Wellington are now, as formerly, objects of my most anxious solicitude —to promote which, no exertions on my part shall ever be spared, and I only hope that Providence may permit me to be, in some decree instrumental in • advancing your happiness, and in ensuring your security. g, giiey. ' There was also an Address from the Odd Fellows, and from some natives. You will find the former and the reply in the papers, but as 1 fiud space is sometimes so scarce with you that you are obliged to cut my iotters in half, I content myself with referring to tfiein. As anything which confers a distinction is prized by all right, minded iam, whether it be a half-penny worth of ribbon from the hands of a sovereign or a j. P.ship in the colonies, I have no doubt when you find a levee announced, the privilege of private entree will be taken advantage of ns fully as possible ; and as it was accorded heie on tlie most liberal basis, I may as well note, for "the information and guidance" of those who may jiayo to do with it, the offices thus honored—the Superintendent,' Bishops, (Protestant and Koman Catholic), a representative Minister from each of the other agnominations, the heads of the Imperial Military, Naval, and Commissariat department.1?, the Judge, Registrar, Collector of Customs, Resident Magistrate, Postmaster, Provincial Secretary, Sneaker of the Provincial Conneil, and members of both Houses in the General Assembly. Friday was spent up the Hutt, and yesterday the ' Governor, accompanied by the Superintendent, started for Otago. There would be some stoppagcsly the way, at Maori settlements, &c, so tlitit they will not, reach there until tliisaftenioon, and will ictnvu on Thursday. Beyond a conceit at the Odd Fellows Hall, on Thursday evening jast, (which was a very nice affair) there lias been no public demonstration of welcome, Sir George having requested that everything of the kind might be postponed until his return from Otngo, when he will have more leisure time. He was not wtll when lie arrived, and though the bracing air of Port Nicholson lias very much improved his health, it is evident either that he is an older man than formerly, or that he ib still far from convalescent. Messrs. Lyon and Taylor, the Visiting Justices, had, the uay after his arriral, brought under the Governor's notice the niiines of five prisoners'whom they wislied pardoued. Amongst them was that of Captain Stalker, convicted in December 18S9, for manslaughter—a boy named Mr.ir having met his death from much brutality inflicted by Charles Straker, the male oil beard the Snareslirook, and brother to the above John Stniker, wio was master thereof. ■ Similar inst.mccs trie! before the English Courts, have since shown Cfipfau Stinker's sentence to have been beyond all canparifjou severe, he having been eentenced to ;.ix yeers imprisonment. Tlie other four ■wenwfldiers (P. Cnllen, W. Darby. B. Stringer, and 'J. |-x'y). vlose original sentences■ \rcre light, but • • :hnVdjsMfe'been greatly increased by attempts to es"cspe. Jfiv judge was at firat by no means favorable ■ A^k^Siiie ji&lpns being given to these men, but has /^■filid the goodßC-nge to make a virtue of necessity, and now acquies<js both in the exercise of perfect clepiency to theatove and two others, viz. : John Darcy, sentenced in 1854 to ten years penal servitude, fordegertion and ting up in the bui-li the sergeant sent to arrest him, iliicb was aiterwari's increased by an attempt to ceape from gaol; and David Marshall an old mmi upwrds of 60, ivho has been seven years Confined for lanslaiigliler. The- Governor happened

Ito be walking over the Terrace last Wednesday, when the chaiu-gang v.eie at work, when one uf them n.i.aed (iarf'ney a-sked him to take his iroi.s off. He iias lost nothing- by asking. He is a yemug man, (only 23) and wa* committed to take his trial in iSS7, for petty larceny, but before his trial came on ho a'teupte! to set fire to the gaol, nml afterwards* tried to escape. His sentence became unsnuented into penal serviLiu'.u for life : but this has now been reuiiood by Sir George, to seven years from the present month, lie has now a hope that at some future day, not later tluin seven jvars hence, good conduct will sot him .free. diaries Stntker, the mate of the rfuarosbrook, lias also baa his life sentence reduced to a similar one at GftThey's. Last Wednesday, Mr. Wi'liam Arthur Turner, aged 35, assistant surgeon of 11. M. S. Harrier, died from rheumatism in the stomach, and wbs buried in the Cemetery next day with all the pomp that could be displayed. A Company of the 14th assisted and fired three volleys over the grave, to which the body was followed by the officers of the ship, of the 14th, and a. large number of .sailors and marines. The procession was a novelty here, and attracted a good deal of attention. There are some who look upon the pomp which attends naval and. military funerals as a, mockery oi the cold clay which it is professed _to honor; "but those who know anything of the feeling with which the members of these services regard it, must think otherwise. " Victory or Westminster Abbey" animated a Nelson, and the same spirit is sought to be perpetuated, and is perpetuated too, by funerals such as the above. The Bishop conducted the religious service. The Provincial Council is getting through its work as quickly as is consistent with thorough discussion. A Corporation Bill is the only pleasure that has produced agitation outside. An adjourned public meeting was held last night, when it was condemned by an overwhelming majority, and if not withdrawn, the Sill will be thrown out on the second reading, The sum of £'SOO was recommended the other night hy a select committee, to be expended, in improving the ''■ Bellamy'" for the General Assembly. The present refreshment room is too small, and it is thought most desirable to have the members' smoking room as detached as possible, consistent .with affording facilities for attending to the summons of the di/ision bell. Tenders for erecting the building- have been called for. A whole night has been spent in discussing steam. I mentioned in my last that a motion was tabled. It was for a, committee to consult with * Captain Vine Hall, who was supposed to be on board the " Lord Worsley." He was prevented comiiig, but sent an explanatory letter instead, which was laid before tlie Council during the debate last Friday on the following motion of tht Provincial Treasurer.:— " That this Council will assent to the appropriation of tlio sum of £1500 or stteh lesser sum hs may be rcquidte as a SuDsidy to the Coleman Company for a regular line of Steamers between.this Port and Sydney in conjunction with either the province of Kelson or Canterbury until oilier arrangements shall be made by the General Government." The words in italics were subsequently inserted. To this resolution an amendment was proposed as follows by Mr. Duncan : " That the General Government should make such grrangements for inteivbolomal steam communication, as should maintain communication between tliis Port aud either Sydney or Melbourne, without any direct subsidy from this Province: and that until such arrangements are made this1 Council is of opinion that in the granting of subsidies for the maintenance of this steam communication preference should hi given to the local companies." ' ' _ On these a three hours debate ensued, which ended in the Land Commissioner trying to reconcile the conflicting elements by the following, which, strange to say was carried unanimously. How those who .supported ihe latter clause of the amendment could support the Land Commissioners amalgamation, with its reference to all services being open to tender, I leave you to discover, for I cannot. " That this Committee will assent to the appropriation of the sum of £1500, or such lesser sum as may be requisite, as a subsidy for a regular line of steamers between this port aud Sydney in cnnjnnction with either the province of Nelson or Canterbury until other arrangements shall be made by ihe General Government. " And that in the event of otherarrangementsbeing made by the General Government, this Council sanctions the payment of a subsidy to the Coleman Company for a period of four mouths calculated according to the above annual rate. " That in the opinion of this Council the General Government should make sudiarrangements forintercolonial steam communication as should maintain com : munieation between this port and cither Sydney or Melbourne without any direct subsidy from this Province. " " Further, that in the opinion of this Council all steam services provided for by subsidy should be settled by public tender. "Also, that communication should in the meantime be opened with Sydney, proposing that a fair share of the requisite subsidy should be borne by Sydney. Each of the papers has itscliaraeteristie view, of the debate, but as neither of them quotes Capt. Hall's letter I add a copy. " I. It. M. Compnnv. " Sydney, 25th April, 1862. " To His Honor the Superintendent of Wellington. "Sir, —You are doubtless aware of the recent changes in the routes of the mail steamers, aud that the usual steamer from 'Sydney to your port, reaching you with the English mails about the 25th has , been taken off. The general government has allowed the I. It. M. Co. a small subsidy towards the maintenance of a steamer between Nelson, Wellington and Sydney, in the expectation that the government of those provinces v.ould contribute a similar sum (£2OOO per annum) each. Failing this, lam at liberty to take tlie steamer off the line, and place her at the service of the general government. My object then, in now addressing you," is to ask whether in the event "of this company continuing the steamer monthly, the i*ovei-n----menb of Wellington will be disposed to assist with such contribution. I have without hesitation placed the vessel at once upon the line, without waiting for any guarantee, in the hope that my thus endeavoring to avoid inconvenience to tlie public may be appreciated in your consideration of the subject. " I Hoped to have had the honor of coming down to visit you personally, but am for the present prevented. Meanwhile I have instructed Captain Bowden and Mr. Ledger to wait on you -with this communication which I entrust to your favorable consideration. " I have, etc., " (Signed) John VinU Halt.. " General Manager I. 11. M. Co. The only remark I need make on the above is that Captain Hall rather greedily asks £6000 for what Mr. Ward wrote down to say he was willing to do for .•£SOOO. The " Lord Worsley" -was detained until Saturday morning to take the Councils decision. Wellington, 15th May, 1862. As I wrote you on the 13th, I have little to say, more especially as letters, &c-, being delivered at 10 o'clock gives me very little opportunity of picking up news by the time'the post closes, at 11. The Governor returned to town from Otaki last night very much pleased with hi 3 reception. He reached Otaki on Tuesday afternoon. The announcement of his coming only readied there two hours previously. Not very many of the King's people attended, but some did. No business was done. Everything was purely complimentary. The Governor s: emed to know almost all the natives individually. Wi Tako and his Excellency got on famously. ' The Airedale, from Auckland, arrived last night, and the White Swan from the south this morniug. News from the Norfh very good ; soldiers still at work. All necessary preparations are being made for holding the Assembly session here. I presume its meetiug here may now be considered certain, unless the Southern Cross party succeeds in doing what they evidently are striving after- getting up n little row with the native?. The officials are ex pected down by the Bth of June steamer, wttli " all the archives of the colony." Mrs. Layard, the lady of the Governor's private secretary, came down by the Airedale to do the honors of Government House, bringing an establishment witli her. Mr. Billon Bell's services not being required as Native Secretary any longer, he is now busy superintending the classification of the documents to be brought down liere for furnishing returns to all po3 sible motions of honorable members. Mr. Firth, the great wai- spirit, has resigned for Auckland city. A Mr. Watt is said to be likely to succeed him. 1 have seen a letter from a gentleman on whose information full reliance may be placed, in which lie says, '' Don't believe more than one tenth part of what you see about the Coromandel gold field. It is not yet proved to be a paying one. Of 300 people who are there, or have been there lately, only some 15 tfr £0 have touched gold, and though the specimens are extraoidinary, the quantity in the aggregate is small, ar.d would not pay wages It is probable that it may prove a quartz crushing district, but the most intelligent of the dipgers expect-nothing else. In that case its progress may be prophetically quoted as "slow, and no rushes." The district is-not yet acquired, although it is reported on good authority, and generally believed (the Southern Cross to the contrary notwithstanding) that the Governor offered the natives £10,000 for the peninsula, and 10s. per head in perpetuity on all diggers." The New Bank has issued a most flattering report, and declares a Lalf-yearly dividend of 6 per cent. The fourth instalment on shares is to be. paid on 18th August next. The Criterion Hotel, Wellington, recently pur"

chased by Mr. Martiu; has been leased for the purposes of a club, and is now being painted and otherwise put in order. A serious accident occurred last week to a man named Ellis, working on the reclaimed land. A piece of earth, only two or three cubic feet, fell from the top of the hill u-orn whi-h the earth is being excavated. It broke ir.to two or thveo on its way down, and one piece not larger than a double fist struck lallis and broke t:.vo or throe rib*. He was conveyed to tlie hospital, n"-l is still tliere. The Superintendent of Mariborough has intimated to the W.S.N. that the services of their boats will not be wanted after next month—the new steam postal arrangements doing away with the necessity for continuing them • Tlie Corporation Bill nns thrown out in the Comic l last night. Tlivre is every disposition on the varb of the Council to make the three commissioners about to be appointed for managing the town belt and city reserves, elective instead of nominated by the Superintendent aud Speaker, as originally -proposed. The Government will, I believe, readily consent to this, and also to giving them extra powers, so that they may effect all the' purposes fcr which a Corporation can in anywise be at present required. Wo had a grand wedding here the other day, some of the ships iv harbor being gaily dressed, and so forth. I should not have alluded to it, but as it is announced in the papers I may be permitted to extract it:—At St. Peter's Church, Te Aro, Wellington, on Saturday, 10th May, by the Ilev. Arthur Stock, F. A. Krull, Esq., Merchant, to , Keren, eldest daughter of the late P. M. Mureh, Esq." Mr. Krull is a Hamburg gentleman of the Wellington firm of Krull and Co., and is in some measure a public man, having been nominated Hauseatic Consul for New Zealand. All went merry as a marriage bell, though v/e have no bells here to peal out as in the old country— , One—poor—man—undoneOne—poor—man—undone. CORUESI'OKDENT BETEEIf THE SUPERINTENDENT OF WELLINGTON AND SIR It. I. MUKOIIISOK, F.R.S. The Superintendent of Wellington to Sir Roderick Murchisoii. Superintendent's Office, Wellington, (Jth Dec. 1361. Sin—The Provincial Government of Wellington having determined upon having a geological survey of Ihiu Province, executed with as little delay as. possible, 1 am emboldened by the representation!] of my friend Mr. Mantell, to ask you to do me the favor of selecting a competent person to undertake it. I ■ shall be prepared to engage the party you may select, for a period of two years, on the terms specified in Mr. Mantell's note (which I enclose), viz. :— to pay his passage out and home, to give him a salary not exceeding (including allowances) six hundred a year : and to provide an adequate staff. Our chief object in instituting the Survey is to ascertain and develope the mineral resources of the Province ; Gold, Copper, Iron, and Coal, have all been found, but whether all or any of them can be worked to advantage, remains yet to be proved : and we are therefore anxious that the officer you appoint, should lose no time in entering upon his duties. In case I have not specified fully enough the conditions of the proposed eirgageuien't, I must beg- ycxi to Understand that I give you a carte, blrmche,,im& that I shall be prepared to carry out whatever arrangements you may make. Trusting that you will kindly excuse the liberty I have taken in thus seeking your assistance, I.have, &c., (signed) . I. E. Featheustone, Superintendent. Sir'ltoderick I. Murcliison, F.U.S., &c, &c, &c. r Roderick Murcliison ta the Superintendent of Wellington. Geolological Survey Office, 28. Jermyn-st.. S.W. London, 25th Feb. 1862. Sir—ln reply to your letter of the 6th' December, IS6I, in which, you request' me to select a competent person to undertake a Geological Survey of the Province of Wellington, in New Zealand, I beg to make the following statement. In regard to tlie Establishment of which I am Director, 1 find that no one of our practical geological surveyors will accept your proposal. I have, however, in my. mind, twoJcr three highly accomplished young men, who, though not capable of making a complete survey and laying it down on maps, would still be competent to afford to the Government of Wellington, a good report as to Metalliferous Veins and Carbonaceous Deposits of the Colony. Having perused the two reports published in the JVchj Zealand Gazette, by the Hon. James Ooutts Crawford, on the geological structure of the Province, I am of opinion that these documents exhibit such proofs of sound geological views and classification, that what you mainly want under the present conditions is, a clear aud satisfactory report iipon the probable amount and "relations of the mineral productions of the Province. If such on appointment would satisfy you, I shall be prepared, on receiving your reply, to nominate a proper person on the terms proposed in your letter. In doing so, however, I must request you to send, through your agent here, an order for the sum sufficient to purchase an outfit, say £200, and to pay the passage out. ' j I have, &c, (signed) Hod. I. Mukciiison, I Director General, Geological Surveyor, Of the United Kingdom. His Honor I. E. Featherstone, Superintendent of the Province of Wellington. ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. LAND ON DEFERRED PAYMENTS. To tlie Editor of the Otago Daily Times. Sir.—The remarks which have lately appeared in your journal respecting the existing land regulations, show them to be ill adapted to the wants of the people, .but highly attractive to speculators, _ whereas sound policy would so frame the land regulations as to favor the settlement on the land of actual cultivators, of men who would not only purchase the land from Government, but make it their home, and by Hieir labor obtain from it the means of support, for their families. I gather from the Superintendent's avowed favor to free grants of land, that a'-workable scheme of deferred payments, introduced on the Council reassembling, would be supported by Government. While the advantage of deferred payments would allow of an excess of the present upset price of 20s. per acre, it does appear that all other land not so disposed of instead of being- subject to the cramped influence of limited auction, should have the upset price determined by the Executive, and come under the influence of public auction, just the same as our town lands. I propose that the land should be " leased" with " right to purchase" on fulfilment of certain conditions :— Rent (payable in advance), first year, Is. per acre, aud obligation to improve at the rate of 10s. per acre annually. (Note) —Improvements estimated in accordance witli scale annexed to lease; say buildings, quality and dimensions, certain value. Again, breaking up, cropping or grassing, planting, fencing, &c., at certain value per acre or chain. Rent to advance at the rate of Is. per acre annually, aud in the event of non-improvements, -first year's lease to terminate, and a fine inflicted of ss. per acre, recoverable through a court of law; but, after the fiivst year's occupation, should the improvements not be continuous, a fine imposed, but without necessary forfeiture. A printed form adapted for the purpose should be annually returned to Government, declaring improvements, and a responsible officer deputed to report thereon. • v Thus, at the termination of five years, actual imErovements should be equal to 50s. per acre, rent having een paid amounting to 155., which, on payment of a further sum of 15s. per aero, would establish a right to n ciown grant. Blocks rot to exceed 100 acres; objection need not be raised about the extra trouble occasioned. I am persuaded that in a few years, when the best of our lands have gone into the hands of the affluent, the wholesale and comparatively easy legislatiou too much favored at present will occasion;} regret when too late to remedy. Trusting our Legislature may yet pass a Bill embracing some matured plan of obtaining land on deferred payments, I, and many others of the industrial class, may have to thank you, Sir, for your indulgence to E. 13. P. New Caledonia.—The following is an extract from a letter to a gentleman in this city, from a resident in New Caledonia. It is- dated April 3:—"lst. Bydecree of the Emperor of the French, dated 27th January, M. Gnillin, Captain de Vaissau, lias been nominated Governor of New Caledonia, with a salary of £2,000 a-year, under the express condition that he will take with him his family, which is numerous. 2nd. By decree of the same date, New Caledonia is to become a penal settlement. 3rd. M. Guillin was to leave by the mail of the 26tb March, and orders had been given to the French steamer Coetlogon to be in Sydney, at the disposal of the Governor, ou the arrival of the next mail. The French frigate Isis left France in January, with many Government officers, several of them belonging to the civil service. It is expected that a new impetus will be given to colonisation under the new administration. On the Ist January, 1861, the civil population in New Caledonia, according to the cecsus of the French Government, was 467 inhabitants,'and now it is hardly 150. It is to be hoped that by the new measures which have been taken, great commercial intercourse will take place between Sydney and New Caledonia."-r-Syd-my Moinivg Herald, April 31,