THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, June 28, 1859. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE & AUSTRALIA PER BOOMERANG.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1342, 28 June 1859, Page 3

THE Wellington Independent. Tuesday, June 28, 1859. SUMMARY FOR EUROPE & AUSTRALIA PER BOOMERANG.

;.?,.; ~.;;•,,.. i Wellington; New Zealand ; ,i ; , '■<j »><<><« ■>'■,■ ;: 28th June, U859. *;• '■,:,'. i nThe,;'ev'enls'of the past', month have a . Beon-ifew, and,, with ope. or' ,I'wai exceptions, of comparatively little, importance. The winter is' .for activity,' but "during - the| lastffew :Weeks a more then usual dulness has. prevailed. .Political exoitement th'Brois, fortunately, V literally "noiie,;. commerce■!is still very muoii'depressed';' and 'the" almost total . ; .absenqe of shipping, at.anchqr in our port, has added to the apperance as well * astothe reality of the dalneSs. The weathervis the \only topic <in which we can afford to dilate,' with any thing like heartiness. The • past munih has been beautiful in the. extreme, bud while -.*.■-. ."■'•■■' ■. ' ; '". "■■,'■ f '■'■■":. '■•'. .",.'' ■■ '. ' ■■'•'.' i ■•.•;■ • ■

we cannot hope to record that July will be equally favorable,— -that month being generallylthe worst in the twelve—we trust thut the symptoms .of qiatorial improvement •which are beginning to manifest; themselves, -will, enable -us,;in our next months summary, to report that a change for the'better - has taken place in the oommerco and general interests of the Province. . ' '

" POLITICAL.: ;

.Id local politics there is nothing to record. The Courts for the revision of the Electoral Roll have afforded, the only oppprtitnity for party conflict, and this has been confined entirely to the Rollfor the City. •. The Court is not yet closed,'an appeal, involving; thirteen votes, having yet to be decided by the-Judffe of .the Supreme Court.; We may'merely, therefore, for the present state that the Constitutionalist gain is large, the objections beinjj sus.tained by them out numbering. tiose of the Radicals by "about 60. '... ','.": / ' In General politics, the refusal of the Qneeir to assent to the Waste. ; Lands of last Session until amended, and the ultimate fate of the New Provinces Act; are the principal, if 'not the only .topics of interest - .' ~ . ' . Wehndbeenpreparedforthe former by a letter from MrEitz<rerald (late of Canterbury] published in the ■ Lxjttlelon Times, .hut the tr'rpund on which Her Majesty has delayed' her assent, is totally '-different from that which Mr." Fitzger ' aid's letter led us to infer. The Home Government ;ha'Ve -no objection lo: offer against the lior do'they desire to prevent the'control, over the Waste Lands passinginto the hands of the ,Provinces : all they require is that the Act shall contain a specific clause,"by which the Provincial Land Revenues shall be chargeable with any/.deficiency there may be between the ordinary revenue .and the interest &c., due 6n the half million loan. To do this, however, the General miist be called together • but this cannot be done vet awhile. .'The Electoral Districts. Act of last session declares that the House of-Representa-tives shall, for the future consist of forty one members—the increase arising from the creation of four additional Electoral; Districts—and that the writs for the election of the members, thereof shall not be issued until October next. The Assembly is consequently debarred from being summoned before IB6o,'early in which year it is already appointed to meet for the despatch of its ordinary business; besides which the VVasie Lands Act of 1858 was avowedly only a temporary measure, the whole question being intended to be made the subject of permanent legislation next session. .'.."•"'•'

The fats of the New Provinces Act, is now looked for with considerable: anxiety. If the Home Ministry are so jealous of the Imperial guarantee, it seems scarcely.possible that they can sanction an Act which erapewers Districts of 1000 inhabitants to throw off their share of whatever debt the province, of which they originally, formed a part, might have incurred. By theilast mail we have beard that the Colonial Office has intimate.! that, the representations that have been made by the English holders of Wellington Debentures and others, are sufficient to induce them to give the Act their fullest consideration. Unfortunately, the illness of Sir Bulwer Lytton and the General Election will militate against a speedy decision, and one way or the other a speedy, decision is rao'st desirable

,The General Gazette of 31st, May, just received, contains a notifieUion from the Queen that whereas it has been represented to Her Majesty that the necessities of the colony occasionally require that the Governor should absent himself from the Seatof Government, in the Province of Auckland, whevebv the affairs of/.that Province lnight'be exposed to detriment,'if there were no persoh.acting in his place, the Governor is authorised and empow -eredto appoint a Deputy wlib shall exercise all such powers, directions, arid authorities as have been vestedin His Excellency. This Notice evidently has reference to the residence of the Governor at Wellington during the next session of theGeneial Assembly and the probable removal of the seat of Government to the South, and is calculated ;to remove one of the chief impediments, that have hitherto prevented the removal being entertained. ' ■'.■' '■Auckland, well, knowing.,that the Head Quarters of the Troops must of necessity remain in the centre of the native has, on repeated occasions, declared her willingness to .consent to the removal of the Seat of Government provided a Lieuteuant-Governor, possess* ing full powers, were appointed for the North. This can novr'.b.e legally done and will much facilitate future action. In any steps that may be eventually talien, Auckland may depend on receiving; full justice. On this she may confidently rely, any attempts of the Stafford Ministry to work on her fears to the contrary, notwithstanding. If Auckland will show her readiiissa to confoim to the growing requirements of the South, the; South will be equally ready to meet her in a spirit of fairness and. liberality. ■ ■•■• •• /' ■■'..'■;■■ .-I 5/ ■-..•'■

In what is intended to be purely a summary of Wellington affairs', it is' out of place to allude to those of other'provinces'; but when statements are ' made by the press of, any of them with regard to Wellington, calculated to mislead, it seems fitting that they should be alluded to in an issue prepared, for the most part, expressly, for a class of readers who have neither .the opportunity nor the inclination to wade through oii'r' files'.. Nelson just now is in a political crisis. The Council and the Executive are at variance, and as,the Executive [will not resign,,the'Council have passed a resolution calling'upon the ; Governor to dissolve. ,The Examiner publishes an article on the subject it draws an analogy; between the conduct of the Nelson and Wellingtetfi Governments, and'suggests, as the only remedy, that should be either.nominated by the Governor, or elected by the :Counoil., The style of .writing is just that, used 1 by a local contempoary, and to give ap idea of the misrepresentation of our Superintendent's con.ductand[position to Which party ;spirit will. re-' .■ sort,'we^quote.'thefollowing : from the Nelson ExaitiiiieK ;-'■' '' ■ "■' ■ •>' ii . . .

"'. "At-Wellington, then the! Superintendent 'has dispensed with a Council altogether. IJe rules alone;: politically speaking, he is a Louis Napoleon the Little, looked nt through the wrong end of a telescope. He tells us.thatlieis elected by the" voice of the people, and 'is'their real representativej j.wliilst. the members of the Council.,are. 1 , shams, ; and; misrep'resentatives; that theyJiaye opposed his 'policy,.-the policy that be was appointed to carry out; and as one party or ntUer was .to give'way, it should not be he; and-as they.refused him as theirileader, lie would do without them. He did so, and continues to; do so up to the present time. The Judges will not.interfere, (he Governor will not interfere, and Dr. Featherston remains master of the situation." ;

The premises from which (lie .analogy' between the conduct of the Nelson and Wellington Government is attempted to be drawn, are wholly

dissimilar. In Nelson the Council and the Exe* cutivediffer. The Superintendent neither cull 8 upon the Exceptive toTesi(fn,norresignsbimself! but sets the Council at defiance and provokes it j to call upon the Goverfiorforndissohition. There : can be no,question Mr. Ttnbinson isactingan un-1 constitutional'pnrt,—if bis Ministry won't go | out, it is his duty to turn them out. In Wellington the position is exactly the reverse. Immediately after election, the Council was known to bii antagonistic to : the Executive, and without waiting foran adverse 1 vote the latter resigned, so that when the Superintendent met his Council a fair field was before! them. The majority in the Council failed to form a ministry, and the old one consequently continued in office. The Superintendent, desirious of reme dying such an unconstitutional.state of things, resigned his office, thus giving ; the' people an opportunity of recording thekapprbval or disapproval of the policy ho was.desirous of pursuing. The people approved that policy by m. electing Dr. Featherston, giving him a large majority over his opponent. On again meeting the Council, it was. found.to be just as'inip»ssi blefor the Superintendent and the oppositionmajority to work,together, as,it' "was and with a renewed desire to prevent furthercollision, the Superintendent appiifd for. a dissolution, which,-if granted, would have necesitated his again appealing to the electors..,, In all this Dr; Featherston acted constitutionally ; it is the Council, who', by refusing to apply for a dissolution and sticking to'their seats; like limpets, act contrary to the Constitution rind in defiance of thespirit which is generally supposed to pervade representative institutions. '

Before any such change, in the Siiperintendeney, as tlmt advocated by the Examiner; can find favour with the colony, theeffecl of vesting' the power of dissolution in the Superintendents must be first tried—a power which would: have restoredharmpnytbOVucklanda few years ago and would now prove the key to the deadlock under which Wellington has for the last twelve months been snffering. . . ... . :

OUR PROGRESS IN.. 1858.

Wβ have, within the last, few days, received from Auckland, an abstract of the long-lookedr for census of last year. The census was taken by tbe General Gorermnent on the 24tb December, under the direction of the " Census Act, 1858," and is to be continued once in three years. ■ ■ ■ ■ . .'.'"... The abstract before us has been publishedby the Registrar-General, with the view of meeting a general desire that certain results of the late census, should be officially made public, before the period at which the volume of satis-, tics for'lßsß, now in course of preparation, can be completed. It shows the number a'uddes- i criptiou of houses; population ; acres in cultivation and fenced ; and the numbers of live stock in the several Provinces... For the sake of clearly showing the progress made in iBSB, we have compared the totals for each Province in that year, with those of the one proceeding , , as published in the General Government " Statistics for 1857. - - In the Wellington Province, is included, in all cases, the newly created Provinceof Hawke's Bay, tbe separation of that district from Wellington only taking place in November. . '■■■...- No. of, Houses. Wood. Brick & Other Total Stone. Materials. Auckland 3,499. 160 458 4,117 New Plymouth 644 7 29 680 Wellington 2,766. 26 458. 3,260 Nelson 1,186 44: 526 1,756 Canterbury 1,340 17 384 1,741 Otago 706 52 469 1,227 The number of Houses was not taken in the census of previous years, but-as Wellington has made a very large progress in population, it is only reasonable to presume that if it had been possible to compare the returns of 1857, a proportionate,; progress, in its number of. houses would be manifest. . - ...- ;r -, , Population. -\ ...

, ~ , ...... 1857. .' 1858. Auckland -.-• 16,315 18,177 New Plymouth ■ • 2,618 . 2,650. Wellington . .--._. 1 0,997 -... ; ~ 13,242 Nelson 8,465 . ? : ". ■':'-■. 9,272 Canterbury , • 6,712 ■ 8,967 Ota K° , x , , .4,631.-. 6,944 Stewart g Island. no return ■ 51 ~.,!'." 'J 49,738 ' ; •' 59.303 Military and 7 their ••: Families.' ... 2;353- - ; |,896 ' General totals .-: 52,091- ■ 61,J99 ' It is worthy ofremark, that the Population of llawkes Bay, separated from Wellington last November, is 1,514. The Population in the Wellington Province as above shown is, there fore, 11,728,, pr 731 more in Deer. 1858, without Hawkes.Bay, than it was in December 1857, with it. ..:.-,.- Land. in cultivation; - ... . 1857. , JBSB. Auckland 63,070 60,183 New Plymouth ■ ■•-,-.-.. 9,473' , 12 155 Wellington . ~ .20,142 ' 27,355 Nelson - 13,869 17,9.97 Canterbury : 8,006 . i 13,935 Otago . _.-. 7,088 -| 9,321 '■''■'' ; Totals. ,121,648 , '140,940 The deficiency in the Auckland Province, is explained by the New Zealander as resulting from the ploughing up of old grass lands, which were follow at the.date of the census. ..-.;.' ■-■'■■ •'■ ••' ■"■ ■•; ■Fenced.' •'■ "• .' : "' : • ' ' . ~ '■'-■■■ 1857. "■■'■'• : 1858. Auckland.'.,■'. ■•■>' : 83,819 : 90,4t8 New Plymouth 10,269 12,705 Wellington 35,764: . ' 44,985 Nelson ' 21,350 ' , i 45,337 Canterbury •---■-" 24,257 : - 1,82,927 Otago .... 14,628 •' i .19,066 Total. 190,087, 1235,468 ■, : ■ ■ .'.. Live, Stock.''.. { ' '" • ■'. . Horses. ' ' •- - ■ --li-iW'. ... .'/ ' . ' 1858 Auckland ;.•■.-.'■' ■S.asJi' :,,.-, • ! . 3,839 New Plymouth 394 -,- / ■ 452 Wellington .. 2,938 . : ; 3,926 r Nelsofi < . 1,637 -.-■ 2,266 Canterbury . ■ 1,307 ■ 2,749 Otago;. '. "-I , / 1,419 ■ ' 1-680 Totals . 10,589 14.912 ~ ~ '"' ' ' Calili: ■ - : "•' ; ' '""'■" ' ' ~ ,1857 . . .: \ . 1858' Anokland 24,555' , . 31i760 M evr Plymouth 2,991-/ '■ . / 4,052 Wclliugtoi, ,;., 33,659. .' 40,291. Nelson 13,893. , - .-> 19,435 Canlerbur/ ■■ - ■. 15,355 i ,■'::.. . 20,739 Otago ■ .' r< 16,049 ; .20,971 Totals 106,502 • ;• 137,188 Sheep. 1857 1858 Auckland 36,749 68,792 New Plymouth. -13,960 16,000

Wellington 277,789 336,314 Nelson 285,100 , 393,041 Canterbury 270,089 495,580 Ota &° 161.G81 223,589 Totals 1,051,374 1,523,310 The extraordinary increase in the Province of Canterbury requires explanation. Wellington had a had ambing season last year, but we i are not aware that Nelson had ; neither this nor the number driven, overland or imported into Canterbury, would account for the very large proportionate increase above stated Wellington, has, in common with all the other Provinces, reason for congratulation that such marked progress has takrm place. Her progress would however have been far more satisfactory had she not been cramped by a hostile General Government. Wellington - has not the grassy plains of the south at her command. There the native title is extinguished, and sheep and rattle are unchecked in their increase; but here large tracts are in possession of the Natives and may not be used. Everywhere the settlers are crying out for more land on which to depasture their flocks and herds, and the present cessation of public works,- tending to open up the country in a greater degree, is mainly owing to the attempts that are being made to involve this Province in difficulties, by the General Government impounding revenues which /airly belong tuus. Fortunately these attempts are fruitless, and a more rapid progress will yet be the order of the day. , ' •'•: ...

STEAM.

Next month the new arrangements entered wlo with the Coleman company cotne into operation. They are still as unpopular as ever mainly because the monopoly intended to'be created in favor of the company, is.felt to bean incimibus of a most paralysing character, as ..tending to keep down private enterprise For an instance of what.private enterprise is capable 1 J"?! a^ d Wlth a small subsidr ,ni SD' be rendered highly remunerative, we have only to refer to an arrangement which has recently $een entered into between the White Swan and Queen ; the former vessel it will be remembered has for a long while been subsidised by the Ueneral Gorernirient, hut is now cast offin consequence of the Coleman monopoly; the latter vessel has for some months been regularly running between Otago and Wellington, at the sole cost of her owner, Mr. McAndrew of Dunedin. The Otago ColonUt tells us that arrangements have now been entered into, to keep up a regular East-Coast fortnightly communication between Otngo and Auckland by means of the steamers Queen'and White Swan; the latter to ruu from Auckland to Napier and Wellinston and the former from Wellington to Lvtteiton! Akrnoa and Otago. Passengers may be booked right through to and from Otago to Auckland once a fortnight; and to anil from Auckland to Melbourne once a month, by the screw steamer 1-ixa.te. 11ns is a most important line, and .deserves every support on the pan of the New /Tealand public, seeingthat itistheresultentirely of private enterprise contending against the General Government monopoly, and supplying a desideratum for which the Coleman line makes no practical provision. It will place the whole of New Zealand, with the exception of Nelson andTaranaki, independent of the General Government line. If the English mails are continued to be despatched from Melbourne to Wellington by the Boomerang, the whole of the Provinces, with the exceptions referred to, would have a much more efficient Mail service than they now possess, and on which the resources of the colony are being squandered to such an enormous extent. The foregoing arrangement is expected to take effect in about six«weeks hence, as soon as the Qneen returns from Sydney, where she is abiut to proceed to get in new boilers. During her temporary absence it is probable that the Wnite Swan will take her place on the line to Otago. We believe tharih the event of,a.temporary break down on the part of either boit, the other is to perform the whole voyage. The Boomerang has been making- long passages between Melbourne and VVelHngton'lately, and owing to a delay occasioned by her going into dock on her last trip was considerably behind hand with the April mail. The Coleman steamer Prince Alfred made a remarkably quickrun down from Sydney, and was obliged'to proceed south without the Canterbury, and Otago'mails.: Such will sometimes happen, the same Coleman steamer (the finest vessel of the fleet) being ton late for the homeward mail on ■ her hist voyage to Sydney. It is not known what steps have been taken to continue the Boomerang after August next, but the General Government have made overtures to the Victorian Government for changing the port of departure, in Australia, of the Coleman steamers from Sydney tv Melbourne. If the Bnnmerang should he discontinued; such an arrangement would be very beneficial to Victoria, eventually throwing the whole of the Southern trade of New Zealand into its hands. We trust however that direct communication between Mel- : bourne and Wellington, as at present, will not be discontinued, and the A.S.tf. Company would no doubt be prepared to put a boat o"f more power on the line, uutil their new steamer, the Rimgitcra, ordered for the New Zealand trade, shall arrive." The late news withfiegard to tbe Panama route re-iders the continuance of tbe present arrangement very desirable. We learn from letters to a mercantile firm liere, that .the Panama line is stated- on the best authority as certain to be established nt no very distant date. We are glad to perceive .'ikat our local steamer, " Wonga Wonga," is announceo. to pay a dividend of 10 per cent, 011 the last half year.

■-■■■<■ GAS COMPANY.

Effoiits have recently been making, to establish a Gas Cotnpanyin this city. The idea was first broiiclieif b> Mr.-Wright, the'engineer who superintended the erection of thePencarrow Lighthouse, a'gentleman of considerable experience in gas matters. After many preliminary I conferences with merchants and others, a public meeting was called on the ,6th instant, at ! which, the details were entered into, and a'co'ramittee appointed: to gather further information and report. The 'Chairmtth'i'W. Waring Taylor, Esq., put the question in its only prac-' tioiil light—of- the desirability of such 11-com-pany there could be no doubt, but would it pay? Mr. Wright's calculations .go to prove that such a company would' both- pay a'handsome divi a6iid;to.its,sliarehplders, i and save a large share expenditure of tradesmen and • ol '. le ? s -i;! T&e.'/capital 'necessary to j start the Company is which £'i,500< would be at once required..for. the. purchase of material from England,:&e../.Unfortunately, the present scarcity of money will,exercise.a most depressing efFecti as regards the iminediateestablishment of the Company,' and/we think it not uu- ; likely that it may be postponed,' for the present. We believe, however, ■ that our citizens'are so alive to its advantages,' both social and pecuniary, that they will not allow the postponement to be extended over any loriger'period than they can.possibly help. .......

THE SUPREME COURT.

The Quarterly Sittings of the Supreme Court, for. the despatch of Criminal Business, was held.in the Legislative Council Chum- . her.en Tuesday tb« fourteenth June, before His Honor, Mr. .Vtice Johnslon. Of the cases to be tried one was for murder*.. one for wounding with iutent to do grievous bodily harm,, and the. remainder for prison ( breach, arising out of the late escape of chain gang. His Honor made a very liicid * charge to the Grand Jury, commenting upon the defective nature of our Criminal Administration andexpressing satisfaction that partial steps had been taken towards remedying it. In consequenceoftbe absence ofamaterial witness. Peter Osteen'3 trial for the supposed murder of a companion many months ago, was postponed. Thomas Griffiths w«s found guilty of stanliirg, but not with intent &c., and sentenced tb.three months imprisonment. Ga'ffney" and Cullen .were sentenced to penal servitude "for the rerminder of their life's, as principals in the prison outbreak, and Stringer, Woodsy-.Parley and Kelly, to six years, to be computed from the. termination; of former sentences,- ,for being accessories before the fact.'..-.SinceUhe-.Sittings terminated, another of the escaped- prisoners has been captured. , Darcey-and--Shields, who were knbwn to , be hiding in the'-neigWjoarhood of Porirua, succeeded some few Weeks since in making their way to" Waikariaer where they stole a wlialerboat in'the m»lit,'"and put out to sea. Information. Ntas subsequently received that.they had reached Queen" Charlottes Sound, and a Native Corporal' of ilanied E. Hope, was sent in pursnit <,On .arriving .at Wai tola he iound that the prisoners bad gone across' the . co'untrV towards Canterbury, and .with a Native he set off in pursuit, and sue-*, cee'a.ed in capturing one.pf them 5 , Darc.v;-hs hewas crossing a river.-' The/other "p'risbner,. l Shields, the only one now at large, is gnpposed to be in the - neighbourhood.of the' Pelorus, having, quarrelled with Darcey and left him. It is to be hoped that for;the'sakVof example, he iilso will be speedily captured. ". No civil cases havecome on this session!; and the Judge proceeds in a day or two to Nelson. It was expected, that the lone-pending actions, for libel against- His, Honor the Superintendent, for the celebrated husting'g speechjn November, 1857, and against ourselves for commenting thereon, would have taken place there this spssionr—the venue having been changed to thaf Province at the request of the plaintiffs' on condition of their .finding security for the costs. Saturday was the last day allowed for this purpose, and the security for the costs was not forthcoming. The record .was withdrawn on the .plea of the absence of material witnesses. The cases cannot now come., on for six months, but in all probability they are entirely abandoned. , During the past month, and just prior to the sitting .of the Court, His Honor Mr: Justice Johnston returnedfrom Auckland,, whitber he and Mr. Justice Gresson had proceeded to confer .with Chief Justice Arney on'a variety of matters touching their profession. 'Among their published results are some, rules ifor the better arrangement of debtors in prison.

THE GRADUAL EXTINCTION OF. THE NATIVE POPULATION.

I The . colonisation of New Zealand has I always been looked upon as a very important element in the solution of one of the most interesting problems that/has ever> occupied the attention of the .ethnologist. The'extinction of the aboriginal race has.so unavoidably become the more or less rapid effect of the presence of the European, as fo'give rise-to the popular belief that this is one' of the settled decrees of Providence—that the red man is doomed to waste away as his country 'becomes occupied by the white. Colonisation has t->o generally been instrumental in. introducing:- an amount of disease, cruelty,' and slaughter, before which nothing: less than miracle could have prevented the extinction of the unfortunate natives. The blacks of Australia and Tasmanfa." for .example, were looked upon as so many wild beasts to be hunted down and destroyed whenever opportunity offered. We have, ourselves.heard "old hands," declare to the. common practice of shooting them to supply food, for dogs,, and the runpoisoningsystem is not, perhaps* even now wholly disused. What the aboriginal population of explored Australia.is, we do not,know—a mere handful however: but in Tasmania it consisted, a few months since, of only fourteen wretched individuals, and these were fasteoing the way of all flesh."-; • ■ •: ' * _The colonization of New Zealand, forms a bright exception to any been previously undertaken..' The natives have been treated with a care almost /amountinsr-to a fault; they have been better housed; clothed, and fed ; the rudiments, of education have been extended 'among ; them even in a. greater degree than among the whites, if government endowments and grants are to be taken as any.criterion; destructive wars hare been prevented, and the advances resulting from permanent peace secured; the severity of their laws has been modified; superstition has been abolished and Christianity j established ; debasing practices have been discountenanced arid morality introduced; personal property has been rendered'inviolate; in one word, all that a government could do to preserve and ennoble the riiadri hasconstantly been done, and with what result? The.;Vanswer is one that possesses a,world wide interest, and to a recent contribution towards its solution we now, propose drawing.attention. - , ; The General Government hare courteously forwarded" us/a copy of a paper just issued in the shapeof aßlue Boot, entitled "Observations on the State of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand, by "Francis part"Fenton,'Esq.' R. M ;" the object of its publication being to di-..j rect the philanthropist tojthe state of .the, native population, especially to its deciease of riurobers,;with a,view to invite inquiry as to • the cause, and suggestions of a remedy. The paper is' a most, able one, and as its voluminous nature prdyeuts our publishing it entire, we shall endeavour to give as copious a digest as our space will allow. No official census of the. niaori population had been taken before the oneof 1858, now published,,bnty'aripiis estimates had been made by iue\inissio.ntmes"and others, varying, from 120,006 to 80,000. *Mjiph of the immediate value of the present census would consequently be diminished, if: trust worthy censuses of cular.i,districts: had not/fortunately been, made ) ear&.'ngo, and, carefully preserved. The population last year is stated to be as follows: — P,ovjiice ol Auckland,*. 38,269 „ ' ■"• Wellington, ...'... 11772 , ."••""■■ ' :'' Tafanaki, 3,015 • •■ ■Vγ" s ':'' Ne150n,... ; . 1,120 ■ ■'■'- s /,,' \ ;:, Canterbury [ 638 '.'■,'■'.' 'n'!' : "O-tngpi ':.:.;•. I 625 ..'."; Stewart'sTslatfd' :.'.:.:. ; 200 ChiUhain'lslancjs, 'J...'...'...... ; 510 I-..' ~'.':' ' ' "Total,- 56,049 ■ The exact proportion of the sexes'cannot be accurately stated for the entire number, but the following will show an approximation:—.

Males, Females. Under 14, ... 5,974, • 4.800, Above 14,. ...16,443, .11,089. Totals, ....22,417 10.849 ' The total number of the population may ho received without distrust, but the division at the aue of fourteen into two classed must not be regarded as equally correct, it necessarily dependl uijr on the varying conjecture of the individuacollectb'r, or, the still more uncertain fancy of his native deputy. The continuous decrease of the Native race is borne out by the statements of neatly all those who are. capable of forming an opinion, arid is corroborated by a comparison of the present census with an accurate nominal one, taken in the Waikato districts in 1844, by Messrs. Maunseli, Asbwell and Morgan, Church of England Missionaries. The tribes selected for the very minute comparison which has been gone into, all occupy healthy stations over a distance of ,100 miles, and in food and habits do riot differ 'materially.' from, the' bulk of the Maoti population. ; The followimr shows the residue in 1858 of the population living \\n the selected districts in 1844. ; . -'1814. .1858;' • ' M. V.. . yf. V. . Under 14 281. 101. 17;* : u-2. Above 14 630. o<l4. 575. . : . Totals 1699. .1309. Number of deaths in the jibnve 14 years. 650. .' " : surriving births '" 320. .'•:.• Decrease in 14 years 330. An elaborate enquiry, is instituted as to the productiveness of Maori marriages;which while most important (in a scientific point of view, must necessarily be omitted from a family jonrhal like outs ;■ suffice itito say that while the desire for children is <as; threat .amongst the Maori population a s i' was t'. Hebrews of old, the average of fruitless fo productive Maori marriages is 155 in 444 nr 1 fn 2-86, compared to what may be , taken as the ;usual proportion elsewhere, of 20 in 487 or lin 24-35. This unfruitCulness is said by the Natives to be only a recent characteristic, and it is difficult to account for the increase of the Maori race during the first twenty generations of- their occupancy of thisCountrv, if it Were not so. The popular belief in the Natire mind is, that not only were marriages seldom unblest with children, but that the children survived to marry. From the calculations ahore alluded to, the following estimate .of ; the gradual' decrease of the native race, is deduced. .

Mr. Fenton very justly adds, that "notwith - standing the decline of the numbers of tb c people appears at the present rate of decrease to be very rapid, there is reason '■ to a population which hasonee reached. siTcli a state of decrepitude as that exhibited hy the Maori inhabitants of this country, will, from causes strictly intrinsic,'proceed ' to its final catastrophe at a greatly accelerated pace, unless, indeed, the causes of decay be ascertained and removed. Moreover the history of the relations of the white with the coloured races in other countries where they have come intojcontiijuity, must suggest the apprehension that when the relatire numbers ef each become such us to banish the necessity for respect and caution in the conduct of the former to the latter, other causes of diminution will bejni) to operate, the ultimate result of which will be the speedy obliteration of the colored race from the list of peoples." . The following , table puU'the future numerical relation of the' European and native races, in a light as important as it is interesting , . It shows the number of the respective populations in the province of Auckland, for the next forty years, at the present rate of increaseami decrease; the excessiof immigration-.over, emigration for the European population beihg'taken at the mean rates of previous years. .' • ; - European. " Sfaori. 185S 18,716.-. ..' ,38,26!). 1872 ;..... 51,614. ... "30,837.. •1886...; -..141,938. ...'. -24,848. 1.900. ......390,331-:. 20,023. Before entering upon the causes to which the decrease, of the Maori'race is attributable, we feel if due to Mr. Fenton toquotehisownviewof the reliance to be placed on the statistical information in therolume before us. \> Generally imperfect as ihe statistical knowledge relating tO;tUe aboriginal ponulation'of this country confessedly i>, or, whereperftnt.e'mbracinjjsiich a limited portion of the people end so inconsiderable an extent .of, country, us. scarcely to afford;ccrt&in bases whence to draw perfectly reliable, influences applicable to the whole race, it is, notwithstanding;, suggested that ■ the foregoing calculations are of a character, and the informntion on jivhieh they are grounded-'are of sufficient value to afford certain evidence that the numbers of the people are diminishing, and must continue to diminish until fue causes of the singular characteristics, are discovered and removed. : Indeed, as the .tablesi contained in page 10 «t seq. manifest, in every tribe in which & minute investigation has been-undertaken, and a. comparison instituted between aponu'ution existing , in 1844 and the remnant of itaiat population in 1858. increased by the biiths-;.tliat havebeen produced thereby during the internal, the results have been the' same r in character,.differing from each other only in the rate of loss;;.; Of .the triboe, thus experimentally .taken as examples, some reside on the soashore )l othef3,lo.-.nnd,2o."niileii"'tu"cl'efrom on tho borders of [he river, others iigfain iv tho iri'and plains fertile banks of the of Rangiaohia have furnished' other instftno(i3, all.-showing a similar' result, and all manifesting the existence of ■ the same abnormal conrtitions. The peculiar, obaranteristics of want of fecuttiity of tlie.females, extraordinary inequality of - the sexes, .among tho non-adult population in ."a directly inverse order to that. obtaining in other countries not influenced by immigration, the • extreme mortality among the children, the grext piuicity of biitha, toffether. with a rate of mortality of bojji adiilts and 'noh-ailults far higher than, mir average'known in lemperate climhtes/miist lend to proiiuce a convic.tiou'-iii the mind; that so long as so.many anil suoh powerlul Onuses antagonistic to increase of; popnlntion exist, and simultaneous!/ operate, any'result except a decrease is impossible. Tuat these'peculiarities are not-local: is proved by the.fact that,tho exampliir tribes roaide in somo cases 100 miles .apart, subsisting mainly on different food, jihd engaged, comparatively.in different pursuits. Nor, indeed; is 'anytliiusf raOro striking in the contemplation of the present aspect of the Maori population thin the 'fact,'thatVunder varying circumstances, .engaged in different omploymonta in localities of widely different,ptiyslual oluracter, ■the manifestations are,so generally similar. In invHstigatiiifj: the causes of, this change injtlae riumbersolthe people, one point of great importance is, fortuhafely, at the outset

entirely 1 settled. The decreaso is generally sup« posed to have commenced, about the year 1830,' and was first brought under public notice by the late Bishop Broughtou, who.enquired'into the subject nineteen years: since. It is, therefore, satisfactory;to know that it was not occasioned* by colonization, which did not jccur until 1840; the white residents prior to that date being; insignificant . in numbers, and; sparsely located. This,fact entirely does away with the theorylhat it is the red man's destiny to fade before the presence of the European ; but strengthens a reason to which considerable prominence is given by Mr.-Fenton,—the want of fresh blood. " One other caii3e of depopulation suggests itself to the mind of the writer—the constant intermixture of bloqd during the twenty generations that the Maories have occupied this country. In the ranks of the lower animals, it is known, that breeding , " in and in" for two or threej generations is quite sufficient to take from the race-horao his speed, from the game-cock his, courage and. activity, from the dog hia strength, and from all their health and energy. Does not the same natural law govern th» human species ? " How completely and constantly this handful of of people have intermingled may bcjudg ed from Appendix 8., in. which the names of many well known chiefs of tribes, now for §eparated and sometimes hostile, may be recognised as relatives of each other, and in fact forming one large family. The scheme might easily be extended until the entire population was included. Had.'the various intermarriages been added, a peifeotly intermixed plan of consangunity would have been exhibited. If such is the condition of the aristocracy, how constantly and intimately the persons of inferior rank must have interfused whose opportunities of marrying were usually confined to their own tribe" Mr. Heaphy, one of the Census enumerators, who enters into the question more fully than any of the others, suggest the same idea. " While of our duty in administering to the well-beitfg of the Maori, and guarding him against those diseases and evils that must tend to depopulate, one cannot overcome the conviction that the race is " run out," and that after two or three generations, a remnant only will represent the people. Has isolation been the cause ? I am not aware that the fact of New Zealand being the (populated) island most remote in the world from any other populated country, has attracted the attention of naturalists. May an infusion of fresh blood not be necestary to restore prolificacy f Amongst the Isliiud of-Melanesia, where communication from group to group is easy, the villages teem with children, and young' mothers, with several young children banging about them, are met continually, notwithstanding the effects of disease and the insecurity of perpetual warfare." It seems admitted on all hands, both by Maories and Europeans, that the unproductiveness of the women is the chief cause of the decreased population, and yet large families result from their unions with white men, even when preceeded by an irregular life in the neighbourtoed of the towns. An instance is given where the half-caste children of a few white settlers exceed in number those of the Maori tribe among whom they live, and it is patent to every settler that a " full quiver" is the ordinary result of mixed marriages. The " breeding in and in" theory, has certainly much to support it. A second cause is assigned by Mr. Fenton. He states that about the period when the population began to retrograde, the art of manu facturing putrid corn by steeping in water, was adopted. From that date, this food was., regularly eaten in a most offensive state of putrescence, and as shown by extracts from Liebig's " Animal Chemistry," this course must have been productive, of a large amout of disease. The use of inferior food is more particularly a fruitful source of Scrofula, and this disease, " developing itself in various form ; —tumours, tabes mesent, and consumption and other long diseases/besides a general prostration of vital energy both mental and physical has been, and is, the great destructive agent that has made such frightful inroads into the numbers of the Maori people. Iv fact, the Maori constitution appears to be rotten. A slight attack of illness, which would scarsely detain the European from his ordinary occupations, strikes down the Maori, and the prostration is so complete that permanent recovery is the exception. Will uot the saturation of "the whole system with this fearful disease solve also, in some measure, the problem of the unprolificness of the females, an equal share in the want of vigour being ascribed from the same cause to the males?" Various other causes are suggested, but none of them are in themselves sufficient to show why the Maories, inhabiting a country where the climate is salubrious beyond a parallel, should not rather exhibit an increase in their numbers at the highest rate of which the human race, under the most favorable circumstances, is capable. These causes are the adoption of European food, clothing and habits. The Maori laments that his appetite is no longer what it was when io a. comparative state of nudity bis skiu thickened' and rendered him insensible to the effects of heat and cold. In those days, when fern reot and the root of the'wild' convol'volus. were the staple article's of diet, the Native ' affirms, his physical strength was great and his health unbroken ; but this feeling appears to be the same as that which obtains among su many in other cquntries, who lament that" thefuimer days were better than these." The fact that that the decadence had commenced and had produced very sensible effects before these supr posed , causes of disease came into operation, must form an insuperable obstacle to the logical maintenance of the position that the decrease is attributable to the adoption of European food, clothing and habits. Depopulation by wars, infanticide, want of. chastity, cleanliness,and Intemperance,may be similarly disposed of, as since the colonisation of the Islands very few deaths from wars have taken place and infanticide is almost, if not entirely unknown. Chastity is far more prevalent than in former times, and cleanliness must certaiuly be on the advance wherever the pas have been broken up and wooden houses taken the place of the filthy and unwholesome whares. The iv temperance of the Maori is only occasional am lioi habitual, and is not of a character to produce any such immediate results as those toj which our attention is directed. Equally unsatisfactory is the enquiry in to the effects of diseases introduced' by the Europeans. : The small pox has not made its appearance in New Zealaml, and the measles, .■which have only once passed over the country, was equally /alal to the whites. Scrofula on the other hand is of a must fatal character, and as before leinurked, manifests itself in a great variety of forms. But it is not among the causes of mortality in the adult that the decadence is to be looked for, so much as in the want of productiveness in the females and the unhealthiness of the children. •Mr. Fentou, suggests as a remedy, that the Government should afford every faci.ity for the separate and permanent location of raaori faini. lies on land for which they should have aCrowfl

Grant Title. But kucU a suggestion seems to leave the root o( the matter wholly untouched. Ai» amalgamation \vkh some otlier race appeart' to be the only remedy; that would lead to a rever«al of the present downward progrees ofj the maori population. :;v . ~ :-A' t

WANGANUI—THE SEPARATION ,;. -v . , .! MOVEMENT.- ~ ]■■; ■■;{;■

Wβ quote tbe following report of a public meeting recently held at Wanganui, from the Wanga-' nui Chronicle of the 23rd inst,— J

A Public Meeting was heldf at the Rutland Hotel, on Thursday the I6tb June 1859.

Tuo.UA.sPo.WELt,, Ebq ~ in the Chair. The Chairman read the Advertisement calling the Meeting, which was held "for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of immediate separation of these districts from the Wellington Province, and erecting them inte an independent province." ' : 1. It was moved by Mr. John Gibson and seconded by Mr. George Wrigbt,— '■ "That this Meeting is decidedly of opinion that immediate separation from the Province of Wellington will be most conducive to our interests ; and acting under that feeling, do hereby resolve that a Petition be immediately prepared for signature by the Electors to his Excellency the Governor for that purpose." 2. An; Amendment was moved by Mr.' Watt M. IV C. and Mr. Patterson,— / -"That this Meeting do stand adjourned until this day six months." —Carried.

Several speeches were delivered by'advocates and opponents of Separation, but we can only give a report of that delivered by Mr. Fox M P. C. who said that— ' .

Hβ had started-foT Wanganui quite unawart of any intent-on to hold this meeting, arid it was only in the I'nrakina that a report of it reached him. He had attended only as a private settler Vis it^ a .V tbe feet of tbeir G <"»aliel, (pointing to Mr. Gibson) in the hopes of enlightening 'his mind. But he was sorrow to say Gamaliel had proved a poor instructor; for he had left him and the meeting in just the same ignorance in which they were before. He expected that Mr Gibson would at least have come prepared with iome suit of a balance sheet to show that the Wellington Government was robbing Wanganui of its revenue, and that if they had separation they would be able to cover their own expenses But Mr. Gibson had only treated them to vao-ue cries such as " Let us have our own money to spend;..all will be well if we spend our own money , and the like; never comlescndin* to such humble things as figures to make out a case. Mr. Gibson had however paraded the amount of the Customs revenue; but he entirely foi-got, (for he Mr. F. hoped it was forgetfulness and not intentional) to tell the meeting that the General .Government took fire-eighths of it. Would the contemptible £1,500 a year luffice to pay the cost of Government' he thought not. But then Mr. Gibson pointed to the land fund to arise from the newly purohased districts, and he told us that if we had that we could embank the Waiiganui river and do all sorts of things. This was a pretty specimen of Mr. Gibsons sincerity in hia talk about local self-government.. He actually proposed to to take the laud fund of Waitotara and Manav.»',u to amend and beautify the Town of Wangauui. He could tell Air. G. that the people of Waitotara and Manawatii would follow the example he was setting and insist on having the money raised in those districts spent in them, and then where would be Mr. Gibsons YVanganui embankments? But he was prepared further to show that Wanganui had had its own money spent upon it, and very macU more. According, to Mr. Gibsons owu statement the revenue had not hitheto exceeded £4,000, of which the General Government had taken a large slice—leaving eertaiuly not more than a total of £8,000 or £9,000 for the district for the three last years. Yet during those years the Wellington Government had expended at least £30,000 on Wanginun Where then was the justice or sen.»e of Mr. Gibsons cry about paving our own.money to spend? We bad had it and much more. It was very necessary then to consider seriously what would happen if Mr. Gibson carried his. proposal. Who was to pay for the Bridge now in construction ? ' Who was to pay the interest on the debt with a large share of which Wanganui would be charged > Who was to keep the roads already made in repair, and was to make new ones ? He begged to remind Mr. Gibson that when a member of a community toot such a step as this, he was assuming a grave responsibility, and as he had put himself at the head of the movement, he would be bound if separation was carried to continue there—bound to steer us through the complication of difficulties which would ensue. Was he' prepared to do this? Was he prepared to undergo the daily dunning for money which would be inflicted on him by road makers, bridge contractors, police, and othe applicants to his.empty treasury? He recommended him not to try it—but if separation was carried he was bound to do it. Mr. Fox then gave reasons for postponing the meet-, ijig for six months in preference to one month and stated that he should vote for , Mr. • Watt's amendment. ' v ' • .. . The Bridge.—Qu the same day, (the 16tb> His Honor the Superintendent,'who was on a visit to' Waiigiiritii, " drove" the first pile of the Wanganui River Bridge. A large ■ number of the inhabitants witnessed the ceremony from the banks of the Hirer; and on Friday the sevententeuth a Public Bull and Supper was held at the Rutland Hotel in commemoration of tfee event. :

The Ovebland Mail from Welunqton.— Mr. Eager, Postmaster, Otaki, has taken the new mail contract at £900, without any stipulation as to weight. .• ,

SHIPPING.

Our'shipping this month lias shared in the general duluess. Out of five English vessels expected, only one, the Reullura has arrived,, three of the remainder being overdue, so that we hope to record in our next summary that July has been as .busy as the present month has been dull. Many of the small craft, which, . during the wool season are so busily employed, have found profitable freights of timber to Canterbury, to which province also, a large carrying , trade of general Merchandise is carried on. The steamer Prince Alfred, the largest vessel of the Coleman fleet, has paid us a visit and is very I much liked, more especially since she is commanded by a gentleman who is kuown to be admiralty adapted for a -passenger steamer. Capt. Bowden was formerly in command of the Wonga while she belonged to Auckland, and Capt. Kennedy who has had charge of her since then, has also' been appointed to the command of one of the Coleman fleet, but whether the l,ord Ashley or the Airedale is not yet determined.

It is with much regret that we report a most serious accident to the brigantine Marchioness, formerly one of tlie Melbourne and Wellington Mail Packets. The accident occurred on Friday last, at the north entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound, where she .was seeking shelter from a heavy S. E, gale. Capt. Kreeft was intending

to anchor near the Island of Motu Ara, but struck on a.rock close to it;.finding the vessel whs filling he ran boron tho shore of-the main land, where she, was vjhen the Boomerang saw her shortly afterwards. : i The Passengers got I safely on shore and had erected a tent. Notwithstanding the vessel has three feet water in tier cabin, we are happy to say that Capt. Kreeft is in g6od hope of getting her right again. She is from Melbourne, having called at Nelson, and was bouud for Lyttelton. The following is fan extract from the Boomerang's log, of Friday last, with which Capt. O'Ueilly has kindly favoured Us.—-" At sea in Cook's Straits, strong and increasing gale from S, E. with a rising sea and threatening appearance. At 1. 30, p. m. increasing head gale, bore up for Queen Charlotte's Sound, and on entering saw a vessel on shore in the Northern-most Core on the west side, firing guns and making signals of distress. At 2 20, p. m. boarded the stranger and fbuod her to be the Marchionets, Captain Kreeft, of and from Melbourne to Lyttelton via Nelson ; left the latter port on the previous day. This morning at 7 a. m. while running in for anchorage from the South East gale, struck on a sunken rock off the North end of the small island called Mbtuttra and ran up 4 feet on it, with all sail let; but backed her off agaiu, when she commenced making water fast, and to prevent her from sinking ran her onshore: where she now lies, the water when we visited her being above the Cabin deck. Passengers making a tent on shore preparing to leave vessel pro tcm. Offered any assistance in my power but Captain Kreeft, merely desired that the accident might be reported on my arrival in Wellington." " . . ..•■■■

COMMERCIAL.

To attempt to convey a correct impression of the state of business in Wellington, during the past month, is attended with cousideiable. difficulty, and to veutuie to speculate ontbe future is a task of still greater difficulty. Throughout the past few weeks we regret to state thnt there has been but little disposition evinced to make purchases of any class of goods, except foi immediate requirement. The demand for produce of all description is still very trifling; and we fear it is our duty to record that there is an absence of confidence, and of that healthy tone which has, until very recently, pervaded both buyers and sellers. Money has been in great request. At the public sales by auction, with one or two exceptions, we must notice a great want of animation, and prices generally have ruled low. What are the causes that have produced this dullness and temporary want of confidence? is the question we hear "on all sides. • Ist. It is said that it is owing to the sudden restrictions which many allege the Banks have lately been making. 2nd. That it is a natural effect of the sudden withdrawal of the large Commissariat expenditure coupled with the reduced Governrnenj employment on public works. 3rd. That it may be attributed partly to either or both the above with the fact of this being our mid-winter season ; very few airivals from England or the Colonies; he fear of a heavy fall in the value of our staple export, Wool, in London, in the event of war; and the expected receipt from Home of the Queen's approval of the new. Tariff. These with a languid produce market may perhaps include all the various explanations now current accounting for our present depression. Inthemidst of onrcommercial gloom in Town it is however.most gratifying to have to report that the country is on .all h<»a/i°-"iaklnp- .~ p ;j.. and steady advancement. An increasing extent of land is-being fenced and brought under cultivation, and from almost all the stations both on this and the other Island we hear that the lambiagiias been unusually good. Our weather for the past 5 or 6 weeks has been like the best of English autumn weather. Iv a few months hence these things must produce their natural good effects in town as well as country. It is a general source of regret that with so 6ne a field for the production of many articles in addition to an increase and improvement of our present exports, this viuce.and we think we,may add New Zealand generally, is suffering aud impeded in its progress from a want of capital. How is it, that where there is such ample security to offer, and a certainty of quick return, with a higher rate of interest than in Australia, the attention of Capitalists and Loan Societies is never directed to this Colony. .. .' Two or three English vessels are overdue. Several kinds of goods are in demand, but in face of expected supplies we should not advise any ventures of English manufactured goods. Eastern Produce continues scarce, and demand is active from the other, settlements for these articles of consumption. The Bank rates of discount are 8 per cent, for Bills under 95 days, over that time and -not more than 4 months, 9 per cent. :...: ■Premium of exchange on England 2 percent> @ 60 days' sight,.2£ per ceut @ 30 days' sight, and 3 per cent on demand. "Australia, .8 days sight, 1 per cent.. . v •:>■ Our markets and quotations of'leading articles, will be found in -a previous column; ...:

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Cohoner's- I'uesiUy, tlie 21st inst, un inquest was held" by the request of C. D. R.YVard Esq., Visiting Justice, at the Lunatic Asylum, Karori, before Gr. D. Monteitli, Esq., Coroner, and a respectable Jury, on view of the body of James Hales, a lunatic confined in the. Asylum, From the evidence.it appeared that deceased was admitted into the Asylum ou the 18th-February in a state of mental aberration ; that oh the 4th May he was seized with convulsions arising from the secretion of fluid into one of the ventricals of the brain.;. Mortification of the back aud hips commenced about the 14th-; May, from which time he gradually sank, mid died on the evening of the 19th June. A report having been circulated that deceased had died from want of sufficient nourishment, a post mortem examination was made by Dr. Johnston. From his evidence, it appeared that in his opinion deceased had not received adequate nourishment during his illness, but he could nut say that Hales' death had been accelerated \ by the want of it. Several other witnesses were examined, aud after a patient investigation, the Juiy returned the following verdict,viz.:—"That deceased, James Hales, died from. natural causes." The Jury also, animadverted severely upon the manner in which the establishment is conducted under the charge of the resident medical attendant. .. Mb. Si. Hill, R.M.—We regret to hear that Mr. St, Hill, the (Resident Magistrate for this City, lias been suffering tor some time from a rheumatic affection, which is so .severe as to cause his friends considerable anxiety. Mr. St. Hill was removed on board the White Swan last Monday, for Ahuiiri, in the hope that the change may prove beneficial. Mr.. St Hill has devoted a considerable number of years to the performance of the duties of various official situations, with scarcely any relaxation, but it is honed that entire test may soon restore him

Ciwtmfe pjrDAiicir.—Corporal E'Hopere> turned from the Sound on Wednesday last, having been successful in capturing Darcy, one the escaped Chain Gang, , Daroy was taken near to the Kai Koras by the Corporal and a raaori lad. Shields is still at large, hiving gtrie another way, but the Nelson police are ,on his ; track. E'flope deserves great praise for his intrepidity and it is to be hoped he will be permitted to return to follow up Shields, the only one now at large. • LAUNCH.—On Wednesday l»st, a small vessel of about 18 tons, was launched from the Building yard, of Messrs. Dryden 8c Thirkell, TeAfo She was built expressly for Mr. George Houghton, is copper fastened throughout, and the superior manner in which she has been finished reflects very great credit upon her Guilders. We hare not hitherto noticed the slip which has been erected by this firm; and which is constantly being used for hauling vessels upon for repair, cleaning, &c. The schooners . Canterbury, Shepherdess, Emerald, and a host of.other craft have been on it, and received the necessary repairs, and the superior workmanship, combined with expedition used in completing their work has given very general satisfaction. We are glad to see the enterprising efforts of these new uornsrs so well rewarded, as their slip hap afforded great accommodation to the coasting craft of : lhe port.

■;' Chobcii oF England Educational Society. .'—A meeting of the above Society was held in Thorudou school-room, on the 15th inst, to take into consideration the financial state of the Institution. The report of the Society was read by the ilev. Arthur Stock, the Secretary. It appeared that the average attendance of the children at the two schools is 140, that "the expenditure of the schools siuce February 1858, has been, for the Thorndon school £347 6s 7d, for the Ie Aro school £361 9s —that the revenue of the schools from children's pence, has been for .Thorndon school £176 4ssd, f rTe Aro school £268 6s 3d. The deficiency has been uearly met by Sermons at both of the Churches of the Town and by subscriptions, producing altogether the sum of £224 18s lid. There is also a building debt to the amount of £200. The recommendation of the report that the schools should be separately managed by a committee chosen for each school from its own district, was not adopted by the meeting. The Thorndon school, we are happy to say, is graduUy increasing under the able Euperintendency of Mr. Mowbray, tlio recently arrived teacher from London.

Ma3onic—On Friday last, the brethren of the New Zealand Pacific Lodge of Free and accepted Masons, celebrated the Festival of St. John the Baptis', Lodge Rooms, Crown and Anchor Tavern. The Lodge was opened at high 12 by P.M. Lambert, when the brethren were called off from labour to refreshment. The Banquet was on the table shortly afterwards, when between.twenty and thirty of the brethren sat down to paitake of the Fuuiptuous repast provided by mine host for the bvcuisn.' P. M. Bannatyne presided, and being the beau ideal of a chairman, we need hardly say that every thing was conducted in the best possible manner. The German Band were present, and added greatly to the pleasures of the entertainment by the really excellent selection of music. they played on the occasion. The whole passed off in the most agreeable manner possible, the completeness of the arrangements reflecting credit upou. the Stewards; as did the liberal provision of mine host. QuAOTEitLY Ball.—We beg to direct the attention of the votaries of Terpsichore to an advertisement in another part of tp-dav's naDer. announcing that Mr. Juewis intends bolaing bis Quarterly Ball on .Thursday..next, iv the Ordnance stores, Te Aro. From the accommodation afforded, and the known capabilities of the gentleman in question, those wbo honor him on thab'occassion may be assured of enjoying a pleasant evening. . ..

Year. Total Population. Kate of Decrease. , 1858, ■ 1872. 1886 1900 1914 - 1928 ■■■ 1942 1956 . .56,049' ' 45,1(34-29 36,393-39 29,325-8 . 23,63073. 19,041-65 15,343-77 ■ 12,364-01 - a ' : 'e» —' -5*