Agricultural produce had within a few years doubled. The bank of San Fernando had in the course of last year realised profits to the amount of 17 per cent., 11 of which were divided among the shareholders, the rest was added to the reserved fund.

The 'Rédoval' gives a deplorable account of the condition of the working classes in Paris. Out of a population of 13,000 who inhabit the fourth arrondissement, 14,388 are dependent on public charity for their subsistence.

The London Gazette announces that the Queen has invested Prince Albert with the insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath. It is also announced to be her Majesty’s pleasure that the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons should be clothed and equipped as Hussars, and be called Prince Albert’s Own Hussars.

Triumph of the Thier Ministry. We have just received by express from Paris, the following communication from our correspondent:

Paris —The great triumph which M. Thiers has just achieved in the Chamber of Deputies is so important to the destinies of France and to England, that I do not hesitate to send you an extraordinary express on the occasion.

The debate on the Secret service fund closed, and a division took place on the amendment.
For the amendment: 158
Against: 261
Majority in favor of Ministers: 108

The clauses of the Bill were then carried pro forma, and then the important question was put as in the locality of the bill, when there appeared—
Ayes: 210
Noes: 100
Majority for Government: 110

This is, perhaps, one of the most important triumphs that a Minister, in the position of M. Thiers, could secure. The result is far beyond his warmest expectations, or those of his friends.

The success will render M. Thiers very bold, and we may soon expect some vigorous display of his policy. He has triumphed not only over his political opponents, but over the King. —Morning Herald.

A patent has, recently been obtained by a Leeds cloth manufacturer; for making every description of woollen cloths, by felting only, dispensing with the operations of spinning and weaving. Truly this is an age of invention.

Some of the English papers state it is the intention of the Duke of Wellington to retire from active public life at the close of the present session.

A searching investigation of the monetary condition of England, as connected with banking operations, in particular reference to the approaching termination of the charter of the Bank of England, had been determined on by Ministers, and a select Committee of twenty-five, certainly most impartially selected, composed of the ablest men of all parties in the House, had been initiated. Murray's Review.

The two pound loaf is now selling at Messrs. Crockett and Willoughby’s bakery, Flinders street, Melbourne, for one shilling.

Port Phillip Bank—A meeting of the shareholders was held last week, when the managing director declared a dividend of 12 per cent., with a surplus of £69 12s, to be carried to the next account. The expenses of the half year, however, have been greater than they are again likely to be. The shareholders were much gratified with the director’s report.— P. P. Patriot.

Church Establishments.

“...must come at last.”—It will be seen by a series of despatches, that Sir George Gipps has recommended the Home Government not to sanction the introduction of any more clergymen of any denomination into the Colony, there being now ten clergymen to 100,000 inhabitants, and the church estimates enormous in proportion to the population. It appears, also, that the Secretary of State has seen the force of his Excellency's reasoning, and that, in consequence, it will be well for the heads of the different churches to adopt measures for supporting, ultimately, their different establishments, by means of the free offerings of the people.—Australasian Chronicle.

NEW ZEALAND.

Instructions of the Marquis of Normanby to His Excellency Lieut. Governor Hobson.

(Continued.)

In the case of purchases from the Natives even these securities against abuse must be omitted, and none could be substituted for them. You will, therefore, immediately on your arrival, announce by Proclamation, addressed to all the Queen’s subjects in New Zealand, that her Majesty will not acknowledge, as valid, any title to land which either has been, or shall hereafter be required, in that country, which is not either derived from, or confirmed by a grant to be made in her Majesty’s name and on her behalf. You will, however, at the same time take care to dispel any apprehensions which may be created in the minds of the settlers, that it is intended to dispossess the owners of any property which has been acquired on equitable conditions, and which is not on a scale which must be to the latent interests of the community.

Extensive acquisitions of such lands have undoubtedly been already obtained and it is probable before your arrival, a great addition will have been made to them. The embarrassments occasioned by such claims will demand your earliest and most careful attention.

I shall, in the sequel, explain the relation in which the proposed Colony will stand to the Government of New South Wales. From that relation I propose to derive the resource necessary for encountering the difficulty I have mentioned. The Governor of that Colony will, with the advice of the Legislative Council, be instructed to appoint a Legislative Commission, to investigate and ascertain what are the lands in New Zealand held by British subjects, under grants from the Natives; how far such grants were lawfully acquired and ought to be respected; and what may have been the price or other valuable consideration given for them. The Commissioners will make their report to the Governor, and it will then be decided by him how far the claimants, or any of them, may be entitled to confirmatory grants from the Crown, and on what conditions such confirmations ought to be made.

The propriety of immediately subjecting to a small annual tax all uncleared lands within the British Settlements in New Zealand, will also engage the immediate attention of the Governor and Council of New South Wales. The forfeiture of all lands in respect of which the tax shall remain for a certain period in arrear would, probably, before long, restore to the demesne of the Crown so much of the waste land as may be held unprofitably to themselves and the public, by the actual claimants.

Having by these measures obviated the dangers of the acquisition of large tracts of country by mere land jobbers, it will be your duty to obtain, by fair and equal contracts with the Natives, the cession to the Crown of such waste lands as may be progressively required for the occupation of settlers resorting to New Zealand. All such contracts should be made by yourself, through the intervention of an officer expressly appointed to watch over the interests of the Aborigines as their Protector.

The re-sales of the first purchases that may be made, will provide the funds necessary for future acquisitions, and beyond the original investment of a small sum of money, no other resource would be necessary for this purpose. I thus assume that the price to be paid to the Natives by the Local Government, will bear an exceedingly small proportion to the price for which the same lands will be re-sold by the Government to the settlers—nor is there any real injustice in this inequality. To the Natives or their Chiefs, much of the land of the country is of no actual use, and in their hands it possesses scarcely any exchangeable value. Much of it must long remain useless, even in the hands of the British Government also, but its value in exchange will be first created, and then progressively increased by the introduction of capital and of settlers from this country. In the benefits of that increase the Natives themselves will gradually participate.

All dealings with the Aborigines for their lands must be conducted on the same principles of sincerity, justice and good faith, as must govern your transactions with them for the recognition of her Majesty’s Sovereignty in the Islands. Nor is this all; they must not be permitted to enter into any contracts in which they might be the ignorant and unintentional authors of injuries to themselves. You will not, for example, purchase from them any territory, the retention of which by them, would be essential, or highly conducive to their own comfort, safety, or subsistence. The acquisition of land by the Crown for the future settlement of British subjects, must be confined to such districts as the Natives can alienate without distress or serious inconvenience to themselves. To secure the observance of this rule will be one of the first duties of their official Protector.

There are yet other duties owing to the Aborigines of New Zealand, which may all be comprised in the comprehensive expression of promoting their civilization—understanding by that term, whatever relates to the religious, intellectual, and social advancement of mankind. For their religious instruction, liberal provision has already been made by the zeal of the Missionaries, and of the Missionary Societies in this kingdom, and it will be at once, the most important, and the most grateful of your duties to this ignorant race of men, to afford the utmost encouragement, protection, and support to their Christian teachers. I acknowledge, also, the obligation of rendering to the Missions such pecuniary aid as the Local Government may be able to afford, and as their increased labours may reasonably entitle them to expect. The establishment of schools for the education of the Aborigines in the elements of literature, will be another object of your solicitude; and until they can be brought within the pale of civilized life, and trained to the adoption of its habits, they must be carefully defended in the observance of their own customs, so far as these are compatible with the universal maxims of humanity and morals. But the savage practices, of human sacrifice and cannibalism, must be promptly and decisively interdicted; such atrocities, under whatever plea of religion they may take place, are not to be tolerated in any part of the dominions of the British Crown.

It remains to consider in what manner provision is to be made for carrying these instructions into effect, and for the establishment and exercise of your authority over her Majesty's subjects who may settle in New Zealand, or who are already resident there.

(To be continued.)

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