Zealand Bill. We can say no more at present, than that the clause which limits the right of the Natives to sell, has been altered, and several other changes have been made in it which will, we hope, render it, on examination, less objectionable. When we have the particulars more fully before us, we will furnish them. We earnestly hope that something like justice may be done, after all, to every part of the question. Still our views already fully expressed, remain the same. We will always carefully guard the rights of the Aborigines, and whatever other rights impinge upon them. The attention of our Readers is directed to the Minutes of Council in another column.

Shipping Intelligence.

ARRIVED,

Aug. 11—The whaling barque Jessie, Captain Sargeant, put in to recruit, in consequence of contrary gales of wind; out 4 months, with 150 barrels sperm oil.

Aug. 16—Barque Delhi, Captain Herbert, 357 tons, from Sydney in 13 days, consigned with her cargo to Henry Thompson and Co.—Passengers, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Hotilrlirtu, Mrs. Hamilton and child, Miss Dick, Mr. Cochrane, wife, and three children.

Aug. 16—Whaling brig William Stovell, Captain Davidson, from the grounds, put in to water; has 1040 barrels.

Aug. 18—Ship Victoria, 358 tons, Captain J. F. Saunders, from Sydney in 9 days, consigned to Henry Thompson & Co.—Cabin passengers—Mr. Mrs. Graham & 3 children, Messrs. Howell, Talbot, Singleton, Kennedy, Schultz, Harwood, Mr. Corbett and child, Captain Foster, Lieut. Jugtirt, 10 steerage passengers, 23 soldiers, 2 women and 3 children.

SAILED,

Aug. 18—The Hemi, Captain Underwood, for the South Seas.

Aug. 4—The barque Harvest Home, Captain Todd, left Sydney for New Zealand, with sundries and passengers.—Not yet arrived.

[Unnamed vessel], for the Bay of Islands—not yet arrived.

Sydney News.

Legislative Council Wednesday, July 15—The order of the day being called, which was the further consideration of the New Zealand Claims Bill, the Colonial Secretary moved a substitute for the fifth clause, providing that the Commissioners should ascertain the value of the consideration given for land, to which interest at the rate of ten per cent should be added, and then so much land be allowed to the claimants as that money would purchase at a certain fixed rate per acre.

Mr. Jones opposed the amendment, as he considered it would not meet the equitable claims of persons who had purchased land at New Zealand for the purpose of enabling them to carry on trade with the Natives. Such persons had laid out large sums of money in building wharfs, stores, &c., which could not be taken into consideration in ascertaining what had been paid for the land. He, therefore, thought, that manifest injustice would be done to such persons by the proposed clause. He thought that the original clause should stand, and that the maximum should be fixed at 16,000 acres, which would be, perhaps, sufficient to meet any equitable claims.

The Colonial Secretary said that he intended to move a further clause, providing, that all lands which had been improved by building or cultivation, should be allowed to the claimants, without being subject to such enquiry.

Bishop Broughton proposed as a guide to the Commissioners, that the dates of purchase should be divided into certain periods, and that a price per acre should be fixed on as the worth of land in New Zealand in each period; then persons who could prove an outlay of capital in the purchase of land during any of these periods, would be entitled to as many acres as the money laid out would purchase, at the rate fixed upon as the worth of land at the time he bought it; provided, however, it did not amount to more than 5700 acres, which he thought would be sufficient to name as a maximum. He objected to the proviso reserving the sites of towns, as in most cases just such land as would be chosen for towns was that which would be most likely to have been purchased, first. He thought that persons should be allowed to hold the same land they had bought, except such as was absolutely required for purposes of defence, or, if the government should resume this land, something like an adequate consideration ought to be given. There were lands that had been consecrated by himself as burying grounds, which, he thought, should be allowed to be held as such, and not be subject to be cut up by running streets through them whenever a surveyor deemed it expedient. There were also cemeteries which had been consecrated by the Catholic Bishop, which he would be equally sorry to see encroached upon.

After a great deal of desultory conversation, as to the effect of giving large grants, and the distinction that should be made between claims of long standing and late speculations, it was decided that the original clause should stand, filling up the blank by limiting the quantity to be recommended by the Commissioners to 2,560 acres, unless in cases where they were specially authorised to name a larger quantity by the Governor and Executive Council.

That part of the clause providing that no headlands, islands, &c., should be granted, was struck out, with the understanding that a clause should be introduced reserving to government the right of re-entering upon such lands as might be necessary for public purposes, upon payment of a certain remunerating price.

The remaining clauses were passed with some slight amendments. The schedule was then postponed for further consideration.

The preamble being read,

The Attorney General moved that that part of it declaring the inability of the Natives to sell their land, be struck out, and that in lieu thereof a declaration be inserted that no individual could acquire legal title from the Natives. Carried.

By the arrival yesterday (Aug. 5th) of a vessel from Marseilles, a file of Galignani’s Messenger, dated up to the 30th March, has reached us, from which we select whatever of European news appears interesting. The attention of the political world in Paris is mainly attracted to the new Ministry, which has M. Thiers at its head. The Minister, on his first division of the Chamber of Deputies, on the subject of supplementary secret service money, had obtained a decisive majority. It is a matter of anxiety to learn what will be the steps taken by the new cabinet (forced as it is upon the acceptance of Louis Philippe) with reference to the affairs of the East. Most of the Parisian newspapers approve of the then existing policy of the French, namely, to defend the Egyptian Pacha against any assailants. On the contrary, England and Russia had declared their intention to side with the Ottoman Porte. Thus it would seem that there is every probability of a forthcoming war. It is very clear that no other consideration than that of mutual interest, prevents France and England from going to war. The tone of the French Press, as well as the remarks in the debates of the chambers, may be termed invidious, and almost obviously hostile to England.

Will, such being the case, the course of conduct taken by the British Government towards New Zealand, tend to throw oil upon the waters?

In Spain affairs appear more tranquil. The government is negotiating for loans, and also, for a commercial treaty; but, finally, Britain and France seem determined to entertain no such applications, unless the existing creditors in both countries receive previously guaranteed ample protection.

The Commissioners of Grants of Land in New Zealand Bill passed the Legislative Council on the 4th Aug.—Gazette.

Hobart Town Market, July 24—Wheat 12s; oats 6s 6d; barley, Cape, 6s; ditto English, 9s 6d; Port Arthur coals per ton 13s; Sydney ditto do.; hay; loose, £6 10s to £7, ditto pressed £8 10s; site oak 14s per load, gum wood 12s; turnips per dozen bunches, 2s; cabbages 1s 8d; parsnips per cwt. 9s; shingles per 1000 10s.

NEW ZEALAND.

Instructions of the Marquis of Normanby to His Excellency Lieut. Governor Hobson
(continued from no. 6.)

I have already stated that we acknowledge New Zealand as a sovereign and independent state, so far at least as it is possible to make that acknowledgment in favor of a People, composed of numerous dispersed and petty tribes, who possess few political relations to each other, and are incompetent to act or even to deliberate in concert. But the admission of their rights though inevitably qualified by this consideration, is binding on the faith of the British Crown. The Queen, in common with her Majesty’s immediate predecessors, disclaims for herself and her subjects every pretension to seize on the islands of New Zealand, or to govern them as a part of the dominions of Great Britain, unless the free and intelligent consent of the Natives, expressed according to their established usages, shall be first obtained. Believing, however, that their own welfare would, under the circumstances I have mentioned, be best promoted by the surrender to her Majesty of a right, now so precarious, and little more than nominal, and persuaded that the benefits of British protection and of laws administered by British Judges, would far more than compensate for the sacrifice by the Natives of a national independence, which they are no longer able to maintain, her Majesty’s Government have resolved to authorise you to treat with the Aborigines of New Zealand for the recognition of her Majesty’s sovereign authority over the whole, or any part of these islands which they may be willing to place under her Majesty’s dominion. I am not unaware of the difficulties by which such a treaty may be encountered. The motives by which it is recommended are of course open to suspicion. The natives may probably regard with distrust a proposal, which may carry on the face of it the appearance of intimidation on their side, and the formidable encroachment on ours; and their ignorance even of the technical terms in which that proposal must be conveyed, may enhance their aversion to an arrangement of which they may be unable to comprehend the exact meaning or the probable results. These, however, are impediments to be gradually overcome by the exercise, on your part, of mildness, justice, and perfect sincerity, in your intercourse with them. You will, I trust, find powerful auxiliaries amongst the Missionaries, who have won and deserved their confidence; and amongst the older British residents, who have studied their character and acquired their language.
(To be continued.)

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