THE Wellington Independent Wednesday, July 29, 1857. SUMMARY FOR THE "MARCHIONESS."

Wellington Independent, Issue 1218, 29 July 1857, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent Wednesday, July 29, 1857. SUMMARY FOR THE "MARCHIONESS."

A period of three months has elapsed 1 sinco the date on which our last summary (2-sth April) was prepared for England. We have delayed ils continuation in the hope that the publication ofthe Census taken on the 31st Maroh, would have enabled us to have laid before our readers exact data relative lo the progress which this Province has been ranking; but a 9 the various abstracts have not yet been published andas from the omissionof the Wanganui district, the abstracts when published -v.ill be of little practical worth, we avail ourselves of the favourable opportunity afforded by the sailing of the Marchioness briefly to throw together the more important items of interest that have occupied our attention during the past Quarter. POLITICAL. Three matters relating to Politics deseive uotice. When the fourth Session of the Provincial Council terminated on the 20th February, it was fully believed that the members had been dismissed from any further public duties during the few months that still remained of its existence, and it was with no small amount of surprise therefore that a proclamation calling the Council together again, was received by the public—a sur prise, which eventually vented itself in some resolutions ofthe Council smacking somewhat of the ill humour of the members, who had been unexpectedly obliged to give their attendance, more or less to the neglect of their private busiuess, simply because the General Government either chose to throw a -few obstacles in our path, or would not go out of its way to remedy a supposed tecliinical difficulty, which really was no difficulty after all. Four of the Acts of the fourth session were disallowed by His Excellency's advisers, viz., the Passengers' Regulation Act, —the Hutt Compensation Act—the Scrip Extension Act—and the Act for raising a loan of £25,000 to build aLighthouse on Pencarrow Head, at the entrance of this harbour, and bridges over the Wanganui and Waihohine Rivers.

The first mentioned Act was for the purpose of preventing debtors leaving the Province clandestinely, and in its main provisions, authorised an officer to board vessels leaving the port with a view to ascertaining that the passengeis on board corresponded with the list directed to be transmitted to the Harbor Master prsviously, any. extra passengers being required to satisfy the officer that they were not bolters. This Act was disallowed on the ground of its alleged unconstitutional character—a ground we cer tertainly dispute. The Hutt Compensation and the Scrip Extension Acts were assented to by His Honor on behalf of His Excellency. It appears, they ought to have been reserved for the Governor's assent instead of the Superintendent giving his assent subject to the Governor's veto- The former of these two Acts authorised the issue of land Scrip, awarded by commissioners appointed two years ago, iv compensation for losses sustained by the smaller settlers during the Maori War &c, and the rejection on a ground so frivolous, of a measure involving the interests of 200 or 300 of the class mentionei, l did not certainly evince an accommodating, not to say a friendly spirit. Bnt as we showed at the time,the Attorney General made a very stupid blunder—the objection would not hold water, —and any ministry desirous to prevent inconven - ence or delay, would never have acted on a plea worthy only of Dodson and Fogg, on their equally astute brethren Quirk Gammon aiid Snap. The fourth Act, which authorised the raising of a loan of £23,000 for ereoting, among other things, a Harbour light on Pencarrow Head, was disallowed because the Constitution empowers the General Assembly alone to regulate c oast lights. In one of its earlier sessions tfce General Assembly had expressly declared this Light to be a harbour one, and the present light erected by Sir George Grey on the precise spot where the new one is to be built, has been under the Provincial Control for the last fouryears.

In oonsequenoe of the, disallowance of these Acts, the Provincial Couucil was summoned for the 2nd June. The Session lasted but two nights; the only measures brought forward were the Hutt Compensation and the Scrip- Extension Acts, both of which were repassed. The Passengers' Act was not introduced again nor was the Loan Act, but tho latter fortunately remains in full force, so fur as the raising of the loan is concerned, the Governor's disallowance having only a retrospective operation, and before the date (if that disallowance the money had been raised. The Light House itself had been ordered from England snd may be expected to arrive towards the end of the year. Along with ihe disallowance came a Circular direct ing Loan Bills to be reserved in future for his Excellency's sanction—the object of which was of course palpable, and gave ihe Conneil an opportunity of delivering itself of its. annoyance at the caprice which had necessitated the Superintendent's calling them together, by the adoption ofthe following resolutions.

That this C'o.mcil has heard with considerable surprise that the Loan Act, Session IV", No. 9, has been disallowed by His Excellency acting under the advice of bis responsible Ministers.

That it is however a matter of satisfaction to the Council to ascertain that this Province has been rescued by the activity of its Executive

Government from the injury calculated to have been inflicted on it by such disallowance. . That nevertheless, although thus relieved from any present difficulty, this Council cannot fail to perceive tlio drift of the circular issued to Superintendents of Provinces instructing: tbetn to reserve all bills for raising; money, for the 1 signification of His Excellency's pleasure thereon.

That whilst this Council refrains from more particularly designating the, real character of this act of "His Excellency's present advisers, it, is bound to record its opinion that such a course of policy has a most dangerous anti-provincial, | and unconstitutional tendency ; and as their representatives, to express the determination of the Inhabitants of the Province of Wellington, never to abdicate the high trust committed to, them of developeing the resource and advancing the local interets of this Province.

The second mutter mutter relating to Politics is the forthcoming General Elections for this Province. Tlie Superintendent's term of office expired ou the 2nd instant, but as no writ has yet been issued for a new election, His H-onor continues to carry on his duties until the election shall take place. Wo hear that the writs for the Superintendent and Council will be issued on the Ist of August, and tho elections will probably take place towards the end of that month or the beginning of September. The rumour of- opposition to the present Superintendent, mentioned iv our former summary, afforded a Utile paper war, and has ended, as we predicted,—in nothing. Very little excitement will be occasioned, apparently not so much as thorough healthiness in the body politic ought to produoo. The opposition to the party dow in power is entirely deficient in men of political talent and the Government well deserves that the Province should approve the policy it has propounded and carried out. The Vessel ofthe Provincial State has encountered a storm or two, and occasional head wiuds, but she has been well officered and manned and glides gently into port, after her four years voyage, with most of her original defeots repaired and in first rcte sailing trim.

The only other political item to which we think it necessary to refer is the publication of an extract from a despatch by Mr. Secretary Labouchere iv which he contemplates the failure of Mr. Sewell's mission to England. In order to wipe off the debt of this country to the New Zealand Company, (he Colonial oflice offered to guarantee a loan of £200,000 to be raised by the colony to be applied for this purpose. The General Assembly accepted the offer and based its policy on the ability to raise £300,000 additional, under a similar guarantee and at Ihe same rate, viz., 4 per cent. Mr. Sewell was despatched to England for the purpose of raising the loan and arrived there on the 12th, of April, but at the latest Auckland dates no despatches had been received from him. Mr.Labouchere, however, writing iv February, thus expresses his opinion ou the object of Mr. Sewell's mission :—

" I desire to take the earliest opportunity.to inform you that I have no expectation that Her Majesty's Government will entertain and recommend to Parliament the proposal to guarantee a loan of-£500,000 to the Colonial Government. It was only under very special circumstances, as pointed out in his despatches of the 4th July, 1855, that my predecessor, Lord Johu Russell, felt himself warranted in suggesting an arrangement for the settlement of the New Zealand Company's Debt, by means of a loan not exceeding .£200,000, to be guaranteed by the Imperial Treasury on the conditions then specified. No grounds whatever have been stated which would justify an extension of the guarantee proposed by Lord John Russell to the further loans which the New Zealand Legislature desire to contract, and arrangements based upon the guarantee, for £500,000 thus proposed cannot therefore be carried into effect.' The result will be that the whole financial arrangements of the colony will have to be re-adjusted. The appropriations of the General Assembly expired in July, but a three months grace is allowed by the Act, it having been deemed undesirable to meet, until the result of Mr. Sewell's mission became known. After October next, no Appropriation Act will "exist and the Assembly will doubtless be called together again about that date. The contrast between the policy that has broken down nnd the one propounded by the Fox ministry, becomes more ap-j parent every day, though it is doubtful whether the altered relations of the various provinces would permit of its being now accepted in its entirety. We extract from our isstae of the 18th our opinion of the fate that awaits tb,e present ministry in the not improbable event of a dissolution :—

We have no hint yet as to when the Assembly will meet. Those who know Mr. Sewell be.st, predict that if it depends on receiving decided information of his failure froqj himself it maybe years. He will write long letters to his Coexecutives, buoying them up with hopes of what he is to do by negociation in this quarter and that —but it may be months' before this Yon Twitter, this doubter, this great halter between two opinions,, this "juste milieu", man, makes up his mind that he has 1 broken down. In the meantime the Assembly ought to meet by October. The Appropriation Act allows the Ministry three months grace from the first July but wlialtver they spend after that date will be illegal. When it does meet how will existing combinations hang together. There will be three vacancies at Auckland, Messrs. Campbell, Greenwood, and C. Taylor; all supporters' of the Stafford Ministry. One here, Mr. Bell, also a .Staffordite. Rumour says that Messrs. Domett and Travers, also ministerialists in the last session will not be there; whether they wiil resign or not we are not aware. If they should, we trust their constituencies will remember the condcmiition ofthe Sewell policy by their provincial Council, and the defence of it by Messrs. Elliott and Wells—and that they will elect men who will not allow themselves to be led/by the nose by the intriguing gentleman who last session wielded the Nelson whip, and to whomj more than any other, is owing the mess in I which the colony is now likely to be invol.ved

The seats at Canterbury, Otago, and Taranßki are full—and as far us we know their ■memberwill all attend. Out of this may come a defeat ofthe "Stafford ministry,. Will .lie dissolve? We expect he will. ; His " te'to montee" ten.'- ;'. perameilt is such will always "dresji' ' as the drill sergeants' say, by: the; prominent'political adtors of the day— arid,as Lord Palmer-"•. ston has dissolved, my Lord ' Stafford ','\vill •___-.'. I probably dissolve also. Well,let him*try that- * he will perhnps not find himself.-ii...line with/ Lord Palmerston When the election is oyer/. .7 One consequence however will ensue""on*_ dissolution. The Session immediately after the new election must be held nt Wellington. For this wo have the Governor's pledge. Notwitli- * standing the manner in wliich this question was ■dealt with last session, we will not believe ford moment that his Excellency will trifle with the pledge he hss given, or suffer the party action of his ministry to influence him in the maltof. On the whole we think the prospect'" favbroblj to the general good ofthe colony.. The present ministry stands on no principle—it was 'got into office and kept there by party jealousies and appeals to local, selfishnesses. From the day that Mr. Stafford was obliged to take a_ active part in the; business of the Hnuse it began to lose the little popularity" it had. When fit lost Sewell, it lost in him, _ with all his . faults infinitely the best man iv it—and the skeleton of a ministry it.presented in the persons of Staf. ford, Whittaker, and Richmond, was little cal-" culated to attract any very .warm, support. When the Assembly was prorogued, then commenced the exhibition of those admini.trative talents for which Mr. Stafford's friends declared him so remarkable. And certainly a " deader' 1 break down than he has made in' that direction never was seen. No single business great s o_ Small has prospered in his hands—he has failed to buy any quantity of the Waste has failed for months to supply the \vants'6ft__ Supreme and Resident Magistrates' 'Courts while he has apparently gone out of his way to " rite*' eveiy Province except Auckland and Nelson. Witness his proceedings at Canterbury about Resident Magistrates, Local Posts, and Harbour Masters—at Otago, his disallowance of the Appropriation Act—here his conduct in the affair ofthe Lighthouse, the Hutt Compensation and Scrip Extension, and a host of other matters, to say nothing of his undignified proceedings at the Ahuriri—No "courtesy, no tact, not a particle of. desire exhibited to work cordially \Vith the Provincial Authorities. Then his despatches —the veriest'preaching. The reputation, of a man of genius, ability, and solid talent, would have been shipwrecked by such* course, supposing it possible he could have followed it—to one of such superficial attainments as Mr. Stafford, nine months of such an exhibition could be attended with no other than the most destructive consequcaces. When he got his majority of one he was unknown to most of his supporters. -After nine months acquaintance, is there one of them who, if he wonld express his candid mind, retains the smallest particle of faith in their leader, either as a statesman or an official.' We do not believe there is. ' STEAM." ""'■' The Panama Steam question has continued to exciteconsiderableinteres .trod may now be considered as settled for a time. Melbourne refuses to be made enly a branch, considering itself entitled by its population and trade to be made the' head quarters, of the direct line. Sydney has concluded; an arrangement with Mr. Wetton by which it ia agreed that 1. The Government, of New South Walts shall pay the whole of the annual subsidy of-£50,000. 2. Tlie Company shall not to make any nubcontract with'the other colonies or any one of-them, without the aufhority of Kew South Wales. 3. The contract shall be Tatified hy the English shareholders within six months from the date of its acceptance. We are uot olear that New Zealand is not thrown overboard in this arrangement, but as Mr. Bell, the gentleman dispatched by the New Zealand Govern* ment, had previously obtained from the Sydney authorities and Mr. Wetton jointly, the stipulation that Should the Victoria Government not require this branch line, the New South Wales Government to conclude the contract at the original tender of £50,000 a year for sovon yearsAuckland being the port of arrival, and Wellington of departure, in New Zealand, for the steamers from and to Panama,

we suppose the intention of clause T. above mentioned, includes the stipulation just referred to. The share of, our subsidy is still.to bo £15,000 subject to the approval of the General Assembly—an amount originally fixed in the belief that New Zealand was not only to be a point of call for the direot steamers but the rendezvous for the branch Hue to Melbourne. Mr. Wetton has sailed for England to obtain the sanction of his Company to the arrangements he has made." •' .■ x "■■ :-'-v: • • ;;■

The Recessity for Wellington being made th 9 Seat of Goysrament has received an additional force in connexion with the contemplated Panama Route. Victoria, in a recent article in the Melbourne Herald, commenting on the resolution expressed by the Cham >er. of Commerce in that City, relative to the necessity ol any line that body recommended for subsidy, .making. Port Phillip and not Port Jackson the first point of call, proceeds to say. ..•■•-.- ■We need not go into particulars, to prove that under both these aspects, Mr. Wetton s proposal is inadmissible. Sydney is ostentatiously put forward, as the hea"d quarters and terminus of the Grand trunk line. Auckland—which is merely a branch establishment of Sydney, carrying on an ■ extensive btit very minute and peddling traffic with the natives—is to he brought promptly into the same system • and Melbourne —with Wellington and the other four provincial Governments of New to be rendered subordinate and tributary to. the magnificence of the Queen of the South (that faded beauty) and her " little sister"—who renlly labours under the defects nf Iter prototype—in the Shouraki Gulf. What is' the meaning ol t hi s _tbat the offer of the General Government —which this year nieeis at Auckland, arid next year will go somewhere else—to contribute -£15,000, is- preferred ■ to -that- of Wellington, which we have good authority, for saving,.is willing to pay £20,000 a year to have Port Nicholson made the rendezvous, on "both, the outward and homeward voyage,— unless it be that the whole scheme is intended to .bolster tin Sydney and hci blanch establishment Aitckliiii-

at thejexpenso of Melbourne, Wellington, Nelson, and the oilier places which lie in the proper track of navigation ? 'That track is obviously a .lirect one for Melbourne, through Cooks .Strait, to Panama; and, if Wellington—which lies conspicuously in the very line, and besides being the .true geographical centre of New Zealand, contains one of the finest harbours iv .lie w_rld and is the soat of the. greatest wealth in the colony, having laid the foundation of a great wool tr.de—is willing to cash down £20,0. .per annum, which it can well afford to 'do,— why, in the name of common sense, should we prefer £15,000 from Auckland arid have to run a zigzajj voyage round the Three Kings ■and the Northern Cape, unless it be to indulge sOrae vain notion of retarding the commer_ial decadence of Sydney ? We cannot lend ourselves to any such natural or amiable, in those who invent them for their own purposes ,-and we applaud the Melbourne merchants, for the stand they have made in the lite resolutions. They have done no mo.c than assert the natural claims and the jus.t prerogatives of this magnificent and growing colony.,

But tho following letter, written iv Sydney by ah Auckland merchant, Mr. Gilfillian, late candidate .or the Superintendenoy at the latter place, affords one of the strongest testimonies to the central position of Wellington as the Seat of Government) which has yet been presented to the public. If the only hope of Auckland ii the cutting of a ship canal from Manakau to Waitematu, capable of carrying vessols of 2500 tons, the question may be considered s.ttled. Auckland is quite welcome to it when tho canal is finished, if Wellington may enjoy it in the tn'e'ahtitne. .

(To the Editor of the New Zealander.) Sir.—You will be informed by the daily papers that the Executive Government of this .'colony has artanged with Mr. We'tton the pre-limiriai-ies of a c6ntr_6t for a line of steamers from Panama to Sydney. The New South Wales Government has taken the whole of this •ontrac't Ori its own -boulders excepting the New Zealand contribution, of £15,000, and will aira'hge with the other colonies the terms On which ' their mails shall be "forwaVded after the arrival of the stc'_me.s iii Sydney*.

That the opening of this line of communication will be of the very greatest advantage to New Zealand there can be no doubt. Insteid Of being, as hitherto, the most distant of the Australasian colonies, New Zealand will be the nearest to Europe and America, and instead of being at the -xtreme end Of the line, so th&'t it was the last place of call, it. will by this new line be in the very highway to all the rest, so that all the traffic in passeng.rs and merchandize will have to pass it on tbe way to and from Australia.

But this traffic will be so.great, and the impatience of delay in Melbourne and Sydney will be so extreme, that the people will submit with a very bad grace to having the Outward line of steamers call at Auckland. And it is already looked on as a necessary nrrs_ngern_Ht cither that the steariiers should touch at sonle port close to the North Cape to leave the Mails or that they should go through Cook Strait, thus making Wellington the port of dill both outwards and homewards. So much does this latter opinion prevail) that a feeling of speoulatiota in land at Wellington has already mam" fested itself here; and I have been asked forintroduetionsto people in Wellington, that money might be sent down for investment there... Nor will this plan of the passing through the Straits app»ar so unreasonable to you, when you consider, first the saving of time effected ; secondly the advantage to Wellington, Nelson and indeed to all the southern settlements'; thirdly the inducement to the Company which the freight Of gold from Nelson will undoubtedly be, as population thereincreases, and the mines are fully worked. If this route is adopted then, and there are many good reasons foi its being the oiie preferred, Auckland will be left out of sight, and will soon sink into such a- position as Otago at present holds, that is, it will cease to be the capital of New Zealand.ni fact, whether it retains the paltry distinction in name or not. The only method 1 can see of preventing this disas trous result is one which will a. once suggest itself to every one who will give the facts I have mentioned their due weight, and who will at the same time examine the New Zealand map. That method is simply to cut a canal or other sufficient 'communication from the Wailenrnta to the Mairakau, so that the steamers may he able to pass.through without delay and continue their voyage to Sydney. If this were done it would ensure Auckland being the port of call both outward and homeward; for as Sydney must be the port of refit for the vessels there would not only be no inducement, bntthere would be positive loss occasioned by the Cook Strait line being addptedi I need scarcely point out the many and great advantages which would result from the completion of such itil Undertakingi I believe that it would nt once raise Auckland into equal wealtU'nnd with Sydney or dven with' Melbourne. This canal once cut, the highway of nations would puss your very doors ; aud not only would ' you derive till the benefits that the establishment of the Panama route must give to all . le colonies', but' Auckland would be a very tailgate on that highway, levying contpbutions on the whole traffic of Australia.

That the Canal might bo made ready in time for the first of the new line ,to: pass through I have'little deubt. •: The scheme is ono which would commend itself to the capitalists of England and America at once. You have plenty of wast, lands on wliich to issue debentures, nnd you have labourers ready to your hand in the native population". Any. engineering skill or necessary machinery required, ycu might readily get in these colonies 'or from England ; and. so far as I know the, ground, there is no insuperable difficulty either at the Tamaki or the Whau.

Lam afraid thatthe real difficulties are to be found in the want of unanimity of purpose and ifeeling regarding the interests of- the Province which obtains amongst you, and the want of a little oocasipnal recognition of the facts that Auckland is not every-place, aiid: that the rest of the world must and will keep moving onwards, though Auckland does not. ..:..-•

I hope, Mr. Editor, that you asd your readers will forgive this iong Utter andplainspeuking, from one who has all the best interests of the Province very truly at heart, and who is, sir, ......

i- Your very obedient servant, Roil En. GILKILI/AN. Sydney, 23rd June, 1857.

Inter-Provinoial Steam has been stopped by tho departure of the Zingnri for ■ Melbourne.. ..An arrangement has been made with the owners to havo her put into v state of thorough repair aud efficiency, then to run between tho

Provinces for £50,00 annually, an additional £4,500 being offered for a second, which it is much to be hoped may be acoepted. The absence of the Zingnri lias been temporarily supplied by means of tho Honya Wonga, a. small Auckland coaster, but ns her engagement will be !np in another week, the provinces on the Middle Island will be deprived of all I communication with the General Government at Auckland for the n ,xt few months; a stray vessel occasionally leav ing for the Nelson diggings, or for trade with Canterbury, affording the only opportunity of corresponding direct. The Wonga Wonga during her visit to the various provinces, was offered for sale, in consequence of the,refusal of the Provincial Government at Auckland to give a sufficient amount of subsidy to keep_ her running ori the coasts of that province. Wellington has long been wanting ,to purchase a steamer for the trade between Ahuriri and Wanganui, and availing itself of the opportunity, formed a Company arid purchased the Wonga Wonga, for £3,800-—certainly a bargain —the Provincial Government agreeing to recommend to the Provincial Council a vote of £2,500, towards, the cost of running her for the. first, twelve months. The Wonga Wonga.'\s now at Lyttelton, and on her return from thence will in a few days proceed to Auckland for the last time. On her arrival there the will becOme the property of her We'lington purchasers, aiid 'return to this port, whon she will be employed in a trade between Wellington; Wanganui, Ahuriri, and possibly Canterbury and Nelson, calling we presume off tho' Wair'au and the other numerous minor rivers in Cook's Strait. With the aid of the Government subsidy. there can belittle doubt that she will prove a satisfactory investment to her owners. But be that as it may, the benefit which she will confer on Wellington as a postal vessel, by sweeping the coast trade into her ports, and as a rapid means of transit between the places named, nannot be over-rated.

The Auckland "statesmen " have certainly a singular way of promoting the prosperity of their province. Without any overland ruute to their principal outports, Mr. Williamson's government refuses the modest subsidy asked by tho owners of the Wonga Wonga, which had received it from previous governments, and thus cuts off the Bay of Islands and other places from all communication with Auckland, except by sailing vessels. The commercial part of the community at tho same time a>\e raising heaven and earth to establish a connexion with Ahuriri in the northern part of this Province, which would be an immense advantage to Auckland, aud a great loss to us. If the Ahurifi and Bay of Islands had been mado the termini of the vbyages of the Wongii Wonga, Auckland being the home berth, it would have pa.d that province the* cost of the subsidy twiceoverr Now it not only losses the advantage, but we, whose Government has had. the sense to back up the enterprise of the Wellington community, get the services of the steamer aud turn tho current of the growing Ahuriri trude into ils natura channel.

In the meantime, just when the attempted connexion between Auckland and Ahuriri is breaking down for want ■ t a steamer, Mr. Stafford, Mr. Williamson's partner in the Auckland concern, commences an overland road between that place and Ahuriri, a road to finish which will cost far more than the amount of the refused subsidy, and be of no earthly use to Auckland in the absence of an Ahuriri trade.

Well might the Swodish Chancellor call the attention of his son to the small amount of wisdom Wilh which the world is governed. But had ho lived now. and been acquainted with the two Auckland Governments, he would have said not " how little wisdom," but " how much folly." There is in short no .bsurdity which we should not be prepared to expect from the joint action of the Deadlock Government of Mr. Superintendent Williamson, and the deadly-lively government of Mr. Prime Minister Stafford. PUBLIC WORKS. All who have resided in a yoitng colony fully concur in the truth written by Macaulay, " that of all inventions, the Alphabet'and the Printing Press alone excepted, those which shorten distance have done most for the civilisation of our species." The want of communication between the port 3 on the coast and the interior of a country is nhvays a drawback to the rapid developement of whatever resources the country may possess, and the isolation of families "in the bush" and (the consequent degeneracy into which they too frequently fall, are evils witnessed arid deplored by all who have had occasion to travel in colonies where an almost impenetrable bush, numerous rivers and mountain ranges, render the task,one of considerable difficulty. In the early days of this Province even a walk from Wellington to the Hutt and back was not accomplished without a day's fatigue and the certain destruction of a pair of walertights. The rocky high water mark has given place to the carriage road along which the City Cits ride into lown to their daily business. In all directions the country is now being opened up by means of roads, tbo only mode for shorteuinp- space the country districts yet know of, and the developement and growth of civilisation therein | as a consequence, is obvious to the mostcasual observer. Australia has ils railroads and its telegraphs, but wo shall be content for some time to come if the opening up ot tho country by means of)

mads keeps pace with the progress which has been made in this direction since the Immigration from England has been recommenced. We have in the Province upwards of 100 miles of road, a largo proportion being of a throughly substantial! character. .Villi the limited mean's dtid appliances at our disposal, this extent of made roadway is highly creditftbld, as is the determination of the Government to push on with the undertakings in progross. The difficulties of roadjmaking are by no means light, and in some instances they have rhised the cost of construction to £2000 a mile. • The road over the Romutaka, commenced by Sir Georga Grey, crosses that range at an elevation of 2000 feet with a gradient of only I iri 16. Considerable attention has been given to the bridging ol the rivers, where tho com___ii ferry is inconvenient or in tho end more costly. The bridging of the Wanganui, between 500 and 600 feet wide with a draw bridge to admit vessels passing through, is the most extensive yet proposed to be accomplished and for which the money was voted during tho present year. There is some difficulty as to the best kind of bridge ;' models of one or two of tlie designs, emanating in the Engineer's office,are about to be made for the purpose of testing. Tho making, of the roads afford employment lo between 400 and 500 individuals at a monthly cost of from £2000 to £2,500.

By a proclamation just issued, a commencement has been made in the reserving of blocks for way-side Villages. The system has been commenced in the Wairarapa, near to Grey Town, where ten-acre allotments are being surveyed ori the roadside for the occupation of the lAbourers employed on tho Public works in tho District. At this piace the efforts of tbe settlers strengthened by many of th. road party, seem to be moving in the right direction and we note with pleasute the meetings recently held there in connexion witn the educatioual and temperance moYemQn.s.

Several years ago, a portion of the shores of the Harbour near to the commercial end of Wellington, was reclaimed by Sir George Grey. The proposal to continue reclaiming, has been frequently pressed upon the notice of the Provincial Government and we bdlieve at last successfully. .Plans' and specifications have been for some time preparing for this purpose, and the consent of the owners of the properties frorti which the earth for filling in is to be taken, has been obtained. .This work is one, which the demand for labor on the-.Country roads has only prevented from being set on foot, some time ago. That demand being in a largo measure satisfied, the reclaiming from the sea will be at once proceeded with and will not only prove reproductive, but convinced, highly rerounerative. Tlie New Houses bfLegisiiture are being rapidly proceeded with and will be completed during the present year. EDUCATION.

Our Silmmary would be incomplete were we to Omit noticing the efforts that have mad- iri this direction. The want of a first class education for the youth of this province has long been felt, and there seems no prohahility of the want being supplied except by the help of the Government. The Provincial Government have .always been alive to the wisdom of devising liberal things in connexion with Education, and during the first session of the CoUndil a Commission was appointed to report ori the subject as applicable to the, circumstances of this community. The masterly report prepared by the commission recommended the Government to adopt a modification of the Irish system, but in Consequence of the fierce opposition vjith Which it was opposed by the clergy, the Government fell back ou the secular system and tho exclusion of all religious teaching Was made tin element in the receipt of Government aid. In the. fourth session, the Education Act wis altered so as td admit the Bible without note or commenti

Three schools;, ei-roneorisly (lciiominatad public have been established in Wellington city, besides numerous private ones. Two of the three are in connexion with the Church of England Educational Society and the third in connexion with the Roman Catholios. These Bodies cannot receive state aid because their schools are denominational, and they resit all attempts : to establish public schools on the uiisectHi'ian basis. Much discussion has ariseu in consequence and llie youth of this province are forcer) to submit to the inefficiency of the schools as above established. The Other religious bodies, anxious to avoid denominational preferences have been Uniting with the view to obtaiu the assistance of the Government for the promotion of infajit, elementary and upper schools under efficient tutors, and it is to be hoped that their pluns will succeed.

The movement in favour of education in the Country Districts has been more successful. . Tho people thero soera to have leurnt by occular demonstration that . The mind untaught. Is a dark Waste, where fiends and tern pests howl | As Phoebus to the world, isknowledgc to the Soul." and the amount voted for the present.year is found insufficient to meet the applications that have been made for it. COMMERCIAL. " 1 N ith a view to bring the Coramercia Intelligence down to the latest dale, wo have" omitted all notico of Mercantile transactions.in our present issue, intend ing to devote a supplementary Summary to this particular subject, in time for

transmission by tho Marchioness on Saturday. ' IMMIGRATION. Tbe black Bull liner Alma, has brought us an addition of 361 souls. The good order and condition of this vessel reflect the highest dredil on her Commander and Medical officer, and lead lis to hopo thai the character which this line had acquit ed previous to the arrival ofthe Ann Wilson will be maintained in the Immigration of next season. We notice that while there were in this vessel 72 single men there Were only 6 single Women. The same complaint is made in all the Colonies, and good domestic servants, are in great demand. The Gossipore has also brought us 20 or 30 souls, for whose passage their friends or relatives here had applied. In addition to the 1,000 contracted for by Messrs. Baines, we tire looking shortly to receive some 200 adults through a new House, and trust that they may be "well selected and from tlie Agricultural Districts. Towns-people having been accustomed entirely to art, shrink from making their way into the bush and are frequently disappointed to find that their labour is wanted in districts in which nature has hitherto had it all her own way, and where their condition is so far primitive) that a man is still considered '' mtnous according as he has lifted up axes against the thick trees." MISCELLANEOUS: Among the many topics to wliidb attention might be called more or less af fecting ourselves or interesting: tn our English readers, we select the following, not desiring to rend_. mif present summary, by reason of the long period over which it extends, more minute than absolutely necessary : — Land Purchases and Sales—MX Cooper has at last been aided in his land purchasing operations by the arrival of Mr. M'Lsan. A poftion of ihe Poran ,gahau block has been purchased. The particulars have not yet been alade known but the price given has beeu a very large one, some two or three times the amount of that required a year or two ago. The natives are becoming every day more exorbitant in their demands and more reluctant to sell, and yet when opportunity offers of acquiring districts of vast importance, no advantage is taken of it. The Manawatu district on the Western Coast has been for some time in. the market—the native mind has long been prepared to make a sale and unless negotiations are opened speedily, a district df incalculable value may be shut up for years, and the £B,<i_o now asked may be, like that for the Porangahau Block", enormously increased. We regret the notupubli-fUitSn of returns of laud sales later thim the end 'nf May prevents Us from showing ihe quantities sold during the past quarter, but from the sale of sonic £3,000 worth in the toWnship of Clive, (Ahuriri., we hive reason to be- . lieve_the aroou. .l__wili -j)e._a __esp.eatable. one. As we Obtain quicker p6"stii'H_b_.munication by meftiis of steam''we shall no doubt have returns.whidh depend upon the receipt of information from other districts, pre pared and published with greater despatoh.

Legal.—The Supreme Court is still in as impotent a state as cni_ be well, imagined. There seems to be little hope of Mr. Acting Juistice Wakefield recovering from his illness for a very doilsid_ • i-able period, and from no one having been appointed to act in hi_ place, the most ln__ent_ble inconveriierice results. All the Southern Provinces have had Ior" along period only an odoasiortal supreme judicature among them- aiid yet the General Gove.nment sderris to have no concern in the matter. It is generally Supposed that Mr. Sewell, now iri Englaud, Will either seek a judicil appoint* "ment for himself or for one of his friends. A gentlenlafl, was nominated for the intended Canterbury Judgship by the Canlerbufy Association, (of which Mr. Sewell was _3-ep_._y-d_ai.i__n., some years ago. and it is nut improbable that Mr. Selfe, the gentleman alluded to may still desire to reside in a dolony in which as theT-iiglish Agent Of the Canterbury Province, he yet maintains a Warm interest. We hear that Mi. Selfe's attainments are such as thoroughly to fit him for tbe position indicated, but we do not the less complain of the culpable indiffe- j rence to our every day iiecessities manifested by the non-nppoiniment of an Acting Judge for the South; To a certain extent the public will shortly bd relieved front some of tlie evils that are] thus fell, by the operation of che Resident Magistrates' Courts Extension Act which has been proclaimed iri this Province and which With the putting iv force of the Sessions of the Peace Ordinance, will materially consult the convenience of iho .community.

Amuskmrnts.—The Wellington Amateur Dramatic Society, have given several representations during the present winter with a view to charitable objects The Society, under the management of Mr. E. J. Wakefield, has successfully catered for the public amusement, and given us an opportunity of witnessing a stylo of aotijig altogether different from thai Usually afforded us by their professional brethren of the "sock and buskin/

The Philharmonic Society continues its concerts, and is continually adding to its orchestra, ladies and gentlemen of the highest talent which the province affords We have pleasure in acknowledging the cheerfulness with Which the services of so many of the friends of the "divine science" have-been' United together to help in the formation of a correct musical taste.

Th Gold wishing to oonfino orirsolves, as far as possible to

matters within our own province, wo are I desirous of announcing the success Which the Aorere diggers have of lat. been experiencing. The numbers at wink aie only 300 or 400, the remainder having left in consequence of the winter rains, but on the return of spring considel'flble numbers may bo expected to flock thither to try their sickle in tbe golden harvest. What effect a largd number may have on ind'vidtial gains remnins to be tested.