NEW, CALEDONIA

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1408, 24 February 1860, Page 5

NEW, CALEDONIA

We (Sydney Morning Herald) are in receipt of three numbers of the Monileur Imperial of New Caledonia, dated respectively the 11th, ISth and 25 th of last month; but the intelligence ill reby conveyed does not seem to be of a very important character. As i'ar as it is possible to judge from the contents of this paper (published wct'Kly at Forte de France), the settlement ap- j pears io he making slow tut satisfactory progress. The first and second articles of the Government regulations, respecting grants ofland bearing due the Ist of October last - have been published by authority, and are as follows : "1. Xo pcrs.ni can be tecoguised asa proprietor of lands, miiict, waters, forests, oi other territorial properly unless he shall have acquired such property in accordance with the forms and means expressed in the leg illations now put forth, or hubjjet to the special arrangements which regulates the lights and obligation of property already acquired. 2. The lands of New Caledonia arc dassilied under two beads, namely those which belong to the communes, or village acttlcnients, and those which are. situate apart thereiio.il. The latter aie distinguished into tluvo subdivisions:— First, those which comprise tiio lands reserved for the aboriginals ; secondly those which comprehend reserved territorial domains; aid, thirdly, those Jands which .ire already granted, or arc open for alienation." Several notices have been published relative to claims of Ian:: purchased fiom the natives by Europeans, and to be sold to purchasers by the Urow:i. A iar^e number of the latter are towu allotments. An agricultural commission had been appointed wuusc duties were:— (l.) To give advice on all such questions regarding agriculture, colonisation, ami immigration, as should be sub uiiitijd for their consideration by the chief authorities. (2.) To encourage, and by their counsel, their knowledge, and their experience, to aid those persons who desire to turn their attention to tillage generally, and to the breeding of cattle and horses, (a.) To second the efforts of all such by cv-ry means placed at their disposal. The appointment of this commission, bears date the Ifjih ultimo. The arrival of Monsigueur d'Enos (Bishop Baltaiilon at the Port of France was daily looke . for; aud it was announced that the authorities intenied to give this prelate— so well known for bis missionary labours iv the Pacific for the last 25 years past — a very distinguished reception. T:ie serevv jfrigato La Souveraiue, commanded by Captain Kedrain, aud earring the flag of Licar- Admiral Lairieu, was daily expected to ■arrive. Tijc theatre was open, and comedks and vauueviiica were there iv the course of performance.