RETROSPECT OF 1861.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1689, 7 January 1862, Page 4

RETROSPECT OF 1861.

(From the Independent, Dec. 3 1 .) As this /day we close one of the most eventful years in New Zealand History, before we veuture to wish our readers ".A happy new year," it is desirable that we should briefly review the past, so as to show the grounds we have for believing that the wish will be realized.

If instead of calling this one of the m>st eventful years, we had called it the most eventful year, we think the expression could have been fully justified. The death of Capt. Hobsou, the removal of Capt. Fitzroy, the termination of Sir G. Griey's term of office as Governor have marked some years. The introduction of Representative Institutions, and of Responsible Government have marked other years, and War, Earthquake and Fires have each caused others to have a distinct though dismal place in our remembrance. But the memorabilia of 1861, have been so numerous that tbe difficulty is to know how to arrauge them, and in choosing to present them in something like the order of their importance, we are partly influenced by the fact that they (or some of them) so overlap each other, that a chronological arrangement would be scarcely possible. Sir George Grey. — Respect for the person and office, as well as a deep con. sciousness of its paramount importance to New Zealand, causes us to place the re-appointment of Sir George Grey as Governor, first on our list. Wishing to give the officially defunct Governor Brown tbe full beuefit of the hackneyed adage " de mortuis, §c" we would put it to 'his warmest admirers whether there was iv him one single advantageous point of character, in which he is not largely exceeded, by his. successor. The re-appointment of Sir George Grey, involving as it does, such a conspicuous departure from Colonial-office routine, is an event that nothing but some most critical emergency could have brought about, and is highly honorable to him who has been so distinguished, while it betokens an interest, in the colony that is as favoiable to its prospects, as it was unexpected and unlikely. Welcome then, to Sir George Grey! His visit to Wellington which is now looked for, is a satisfactory .omen for the prospects of the coming year. . ■ ■„ Change oj? Ministry.—^That this should have occurred under the rule of Col. Brown, was initselfa most couspicus ous circumstance, yet with the mana of Government House opposed to him, the new Premier would have had a hard and uphill task. But 'the new ministers had scarcely mounted, their official stools, when a sound was heard cheerful as the pibroch of the Highlanders to the beleagured inhabitants of Lucknow, and the consciousness that Sir. George Grey was coming, gave them confidence and the people hope. To Wellington and the other Southern Provinces, this change is especially beneficial. ' -.

Prospects of Peace, — Neither the new Governor with all the prestige of his name and fame, nor the new ministry identified as they are with the principles we "have always advocated, would have

had all the interest that they now are in- [ vested with, if thay had not been accom- ' panied by, and to v great extent alsj beea / the causes of, the restoration of peace, j War in this country is so internecine — ' it is only mockery to call it " civil " — it partakes so much of iho character of a " kingdom divided against itself," that every right thinking person must rejoice in its termination. Our readers must not therefore be surprised if during this festal season they should hear from our office a frautic chorus of P.D.s, singing " For they say ttie vrxr is over, " And now eaoh war-worn rover, " Does his village hotne discover, •' Hail, hail, sweet peace ! " Local Aia-Aiits. — Under this heading we place first iv order the . I

Re-EIECTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. — Of this event we say no moro than that its being immediately followed by th*e election of a Council comprising all the members o f the Executive and a large majority of gentlemen holding similar opinions, has given a feeling of almost domestic paace in provincial affairs, forming a happy and striking coulrast to the iwo or three preceding years.

Public Works, — The first of January, 1861, was distinguished by the fact that on that day public works were resumed, and a new era inaugurated (though it) anticipation) by the commencement of the works for reclaiming the land on the shore of Lambton Harbour. Since then plans have been prepared, tenders issued and contracts taken for the erectiou of a deep water wharf — a work which in its importance to the trade of this port is only second to the light-house at the heads. The chronicler of next year will probably have to toll not only of its completion, but also of the erectiou in its immediate vicinity, of a Custom House and Post Office on a scale commensurate wr.h the requirements of the port and province.

Local Steamers — The Wellington Steam Navigation Co. have during this year added the Storm Bird to the vessel which they formerly possessed. The two " sister " vessels, the Wonga Wonga and Storm Bird are thus brought together again, and we hope both for ihe sake of the company and port, that this may be the beginning of such a steam fleet as Wellington ought to possess, so as to secure the advantages that her position so unquestionably gives her.

Fire. — One drawback to the pleasant remembrances of the year, is the serious fire that occurred in the beginning of # August, by which the stores of the late 'Mr. Flyger and those of Messrs. Johnston and Co. were destroyed. Yet even this was not an unmitigated evil. The zealous assistance afforded by the officers and men of H M. 14th Rogt., which was so cordially and generously acknowledged by the merchants and other residents of the town, have caused the military here to be regarded, and we believe to feel themse&es, as a respected but integral part of our community. Long may such good feeling be cherished !

, Other Provinces. — Two circumstances huge occurred, one in the extreme North and the other in the extreme South of New Zealand, which the future historian will not omit, and in which this provicnce has a considerable interest- These are

The Bank oj? New Zealand. — After many abortive though well-meant attempts in various places, our enterprising fellow colonists iv Auckland have at lengih succeeded m this truly national undertaking. Already it has assumed a position and magnitude that its most sanguine supporters could not have expected for it. Its general and local managers are men of such standing as to leave nothing to be desired. Branches have been opened in Auckland, Taranaki and Otago, and a few duys more will. see. one commenced in Wellington. The dinner lately given here to Mr. Kennedy the principal manager of the Bank, testifies at once to the respect in which he is held, and to the interest connected with the formation of the* Bank, in which the setllers of Wellington with all their commercial difficulties, have managed to take about 6000 shares,

Gold Fields in Otago. — The figurative phrase " a mine of wealth "has here become a sober and literal reality. Thousands have already been attracted hy the rich prospects which have thus unexpectedly been offered, and the soil has freely yielded ils long-buried treasure to the diggers. Many of the settlers of this province have temporarily left us toshai'e the golden harvest and many more will probably follow their example. By this our returns in the census that has just been taken will be considerably reduced, but this gives us no anxiety. The gain to New Zealand is so great, and the ultimate benefit to ourselves so certain, that we shall only rejoicefeven. though Otago becomes — as is most likely — the Melbourne of this colony.

There are many other topics we might have adverted to. The meeting of the General Assembly, the brief session of our own Provincial Council, the commencementof the tuunel and. railway works at Canterbury, the promising golddiscoveries, and the approaching completion of the Dim Mountain railway' at Nelson, would all afford subjects for favorable: notice. But space warns us to forbear, and we think that we have said enough" to show that it is not without full and sufficient reason that we wish our readers and fellow-colonists " A Happy New Year. •••.-■.■•

the Inspector and General Manager of the New Zealand Bank, now on a visit here for the purpose of completing the preliminary arrangements for the opening of the Wellington branch. The desirability of inviting Mr. Kennedy having been only suggested on the previous clay, the attendance was necessarily limited. Upwards of forty geutleuaen, comprising the principal of the mercantile and trading classes, sat down, howover, to a very excellent dinner at (he Queen's Hotel. The weather was more suitable for an al fnsco entertainment, nevertheless, although the room was somewhat crowded, and the heat very great, the gastronomic apparatus of those present seemed to be in excellent order. Tho Managers of the Union and the N. S. Wales Banks, together with the Manager of the now defunct branch of the Oriental, were, we were happy to see, present; and although regret was expressed that the Superintendent's absence in the Wairarapa prevented his being present, the Provincial Government was well represented in the Hon. Jonjsr Johnston, and Messrs. Brando.h and Woodwaub. Capt. Rhodes occjK pied the Chair, with W. M. Bak\aty.v c, Esq , the Vice. After the usual loyal toasts, including that of Sir G. Grey, Capt. Rhodes proposed the " guest of tho evening Alex. Kennedy, Esq." Their guest was the patriarch of N. Z. Banking, for though he had known him only 7 years, he hid heard of him for 2 1. Ho was the first officer in the Bank established, almost as long ago as the date he had mentioned, in the Bay of Islands — a bank which had a way of its own in dealing with dishonored bills, repeated dishonorings generally ending in the delinquent being tarred and feathered. The appoiutment of Mr. Kennedy to his present office, that of Inspecior of the first Colonial Bank in New Zealand (for the Bay of Islands*. | Bank was merely a local one) was due to his lung career, and the ability which that career had displayed portended a successful result. He would not take the wind out of their worthy guests sails by alludiug to the particular circumstance jof the New Zealand Bank ; but he thought he might say that for many years past, while in the service of the Union, Mr. Kennedy had avoided making a single bad debt. He did justice to his Bank, and pleased its customers in Auckland, without incurring loss. This was what the New Zealand Bank wanted — not only to do a good business but to keep free from losses. He believed the Bank was established at the right time, some Australiau banks would otherwise have occupied the field. He comphmeuted the Union and N. S.W., and felt sure there would be found ample room for all. The Colony was under many obligations to them, but as now the colonists were no longer children it became them not to trust in bone knives but use steel ones. This ply allusion caused great laughter, t none joining in it nio're heartily than Mr. Moore. Mr. Kennedy, in responding to the toast, expressed how much gratification their feelings of warmth towards himself afforded him, as did also the manner in which he had been every where received in Wellington.' Capt. Rhodes had made special allusion to the object of his (Mr. X.'s) visit, and in few words he would explain the position of the New Zealand Bank. At the time of its projection iv Auckland, the promoters did not know what the feeling of the Southern Proviuces on the subject was, but they felt it would be hopeless to start the project without the co-operation of Wellington aud the South. Several of the Southern merchants happening to be iv Auckland in attendance on the Assembly, opportunity was afforded for ascertaining in some measure how the project would be received ; but it had been received far more favorably than they were even then led to expect. In Auckland 19,650 shares had beeu taken up; in Napier 360; in Tarauuki 2,000; in Wellington upwards of 6,000; and 2,000 had been sold in Sydney, principally amongst persons interested in the North Island. The Northern Island alone had thus taken up 30,000 shares, a number far beyond the most sanguine expectations of the projectors. In the Middle Island the demand had not been so great. Otago had had 5,000 allotted her, which were all disposed of, and 5,000 more- of the number intended for the Middle Island had been sent and they were, he believed, all taken up. Canterbury had taken up 1200 or say by this time 1500, arid he estimated that 1000 would bo the number absorbed in Nelson — a total for the Middle Esland of about 12,500 ; or for the whole of New Zealand and New Zealand friends in Sydney, of 42,500. There had been scut to London 5,000, so that out of the 50,000 shares there was only a reserve of 2,500 at disposal. .The Company had beeu desirous of holding v much larger reserve, for sale from tinie to time in new places where.it might be desirable; to form branches; but' owing to the great demand they had only been able to reserve ihe small number of 2,500 out of 50,000; As far as it had gone, the Bank had been most successful. The Auckland. branch had. been opened on the 16th October, and the branch jat Taranaki oil the ;18th November. "This" latter he believed would turn. out a most important branoh, the indications .of, business being far beyond what could have been anticipated. The Wellington branch would be opened on- the 15th January, and he. expected that it would acquire a fair shaie of business. He did 'not expeotit^ould cope with the old institutions under the able management of his friends

on the right and left, but at the same time the new Bank would do its best. At present the rutes'of discount and exchange; in Auckland were the same as thet older institutions. At Taranaki,' wherjT there was no other Bank, they were as nearly as possible the same, and in Wellington they would follow suit. He had forgotten to mention Otago. The branch there was opened on the 2nd December, and they had every reason to anticipate very great success. Every where ih'ey had met with very great support indeed. They would, not attempt to do wonders, they thought a course of prudence and circumspection was the right one until they 'had acquired strength and confidonce. Heretofore the North and South had regarded each other as different colonies. The North and South had adopted this course he was persuaded from not understanding one another. The Bank would be one great means of uniting them and giving them confidence in each other. Some thought they were calling up capital too quickly, but he did. not think the business of New Zealand now any criterion as to what it would be. The colo--117 had passed through a time of deep depression, but lie believed that such would be the effect of Sir George Geey's role, that we might confidently act in an- | ticipation of a bright page awaiting our history. (Much applause). Mr. Robert Hart had cheerfully drank the " guest" of the evening, he would now propose the " toast" of the evening —"The New Zealand Bank." When this toast had been given into his hands, it had been accornpauied by a hint that it would be the right thing to show what profits similar Banks in the Australian Colonies had realised. But this ; he would say was all stuff and nonsense ; the public did not want to know what profit other Banks had made, they were interested in their own ; and lie was sure that a question of profit was not the sole object to which they at present looked. There was an effort made by himself in an early session of the Assembly to pass through a Bill for the establishment of a New Zealand Bank." He was, however, opposed by a Bank whose, services\were then very valuable to the Government, and it failed. The projectors were some gentlemen in London, who had no doubt very benevolent iufeniions towards" New Zealand, but to this day they had never paid his little Bill of Costs. He should like to know what the functions of Local Directors were proposed to be, about whose appointment he had been roisreported at the late meeting, inasmuch as the press had made him utter a sentence which was only one half of that which he did say. He had been made to say that he was very glad the meeting had adjourned without coming to a deeisioin, whereas he had said, that he was very glad that the meeting had adjourned without coming to a decisiou until they bad sufficient information on which to ba9e it. Ha had seen a letter in one of the papers signed by a "Pro visional Director," whatever that meant. However, seriously speaking, none present could doubt that the Bank was an Institution that would bind the North and South together; that it would become very popular aiid ultimately embrace the whole of New Zealand like theDurien scheme (but without 1 its unfortunate results) did the whole of Scotland. . \~ Mr. Pharazyn proposed the healths of the three Bank Managers present ; those of Mr. Carter of the Union,. Mr. Miller of the New South Wales, and Mr. Faulkner of the, Oriental.. There, were 'now > three Banks, an,d he hoped tiiey would. ' all work cordially. Some would- prefer remaining with the old /Ban jcs, while some would go over to the nevri For his own part he should advise them to send all the good discounts to the new and the bad ones to the old ; but those around him would be sure that it would be no use acting on suc.h a piece of advice, as nobody knew a good bill from, a bad one .better thaßvthe geutlemeu-whoae health, ' and prosperity tp. whose .Institutions, he asked them to toast. Mr. Carter (U.8.A.) expressed his intentions to work cordially. Though there were to be three Banks here 'shortly,: he looked forward .to such ,'aii inornate in the. business and prosperity, of New &ealandj that he did not doubt; there would be room for them all. •" - - : Mr.^AUL^Eß;(Ori'en"talj said. that as his Bank,.' so far as , its New Zealand Branchesjwere concerned* was;defunct, he had no occasion to assure them of his cordiality j but he .might say that if the Oriental had not made up its jniud to retire, the Ne.w, ..-Zealand Bank would never have been originated flaughterj Mr. Miller (N.5.W.,1 rose ; asT the Phoenix from the. ashes of theprieiitaL His personal interests were sptbqund* up .with New Zealand, that he caut&tonly - c hope that there would be; ample scope for all three banks.As at this pointtcigars were introduced,, indicating that the remainder of the evening , was to be > deflated more to pleasure than to business, 1 we may concludl-our report of, the evening by saying that after numerous toasts, , enlivened, 4 by.;^ some excellent songs, tHe company broke up at a late houn ofrtjje night, or, more properly speaking, 'at ah early hour this morning.. t ; , L ,. ;U i>- ny ■■'.>; n\ «V ' We have only to add thafc so/far as Wellington is concerned the Bank may now be considered established.^ True it has yet to be opened j but 'hjaye?m)tthe ."- best customers to the banks dined about " it, and who is there that does not know that when Wellington (Wellin^ori- pf lall shades of opinion) dines, a fe^lin^of suohjicaty support is. thereby pr^^J-;^ posed andishadowed forth, thattKe^^^S

cess of tha particular object (whatever i£ may happen to be) is secured.