and proposed that the members of the Council
should be chosen by "the combined votes of all persons
possessing the electoral franchise in the whole colony,"
—arguing that the possession of the confidence of so
vast and varied a constituency would be a qualification
higher than the ownership of £2000 or even £4000 fixed
property. The popular proposal was supported only by
the elected members, Stockenstrom, Fairbairn, Brand,
and Reitz: Mr. Godlonton joined the officials, and
made the division against it one of seven to four. By
a similar vote the property qualification was affirmed;
and it was resolved that the members of Council should
be elected for ten years. On the 20th September, the
secretary of government having presented some drafts
of ordinances for consideration, Sir Andries Stockenstrom
moved as an amendment, that the ordinances for
constituting the local parliament should be proceeded with
till completed and passed, before any others be taken
up. He was supported by the same three popular
members who before sided with him; Mr. Godlonton again
joining the officials, he was beaten by seven to four, and
a resolution the reverse of that which he had moved
was affirmed. Sir Andries handed in a paper of
"reasons for dissent," signed by himself, Mr. Fairbairn, Mr.
Brand, and Mr. Reitz: he and those gentlemen then
tendered the resignation of their seats in the Council,
and retired.

On the 21st September, the representatives who had
resigned issued a joint letter to their constituents,
assuring them, that within a few days some proposal
would be publicly submitted for bringing their wishes
explicitly before the Queen, the parliament and the
people of England.

The accounts from New South Wales reach the 30th
of July. The Legislative Council at Sydney was in full
session, and applying itself to measures of a useful and
practical character, some of them rendered necessary by
the exigency of peculiar circumstances, and others
consequent upon the rapid advancement of the colony in
population and commercial prosperity. The question of
steam communication with England was brought before
the Council by Mr. Donaldson, in a series of resolutions
which excited an animated and interesting discussion,
in the course of which the several speakers were unanimous
in condemning the tardiness of her Majesty's
government in completing the necessary arrangements.
The subject was referred to a select committee, with an
instruction to report upon the propriety of withdrawing
the vote of £6000 per annum, already placed at the
disposal of the Executive, and offering it as a bonus open to
private competition. A select committee of the Legislative
Council was also appointed to inquire and report
upon the expediency of forming a settlement at Cape
York, on the north-west coast of New Holland, or in
the immediate neighbourhood. Its eligibility has long
been the subject of investigation and favourable
recommendation by naval surveyors, and it is expected that a
staff of government surveyors will be speedily despatched
to the projected colony. The geographical position of
Cape York is such as is said to render its occupation an
object of paramount importance. The mover of the
resolution in reference to the proposed settlement was
Mr. Nicholls, a native of New South Wales, born of
European parents; and the conclusion of his speech
affords gratifying evidence of the feelings entertained by
that class of the community towards the mother-country.
Such a settlement (he observed) would undoubtedly be
another step in the progress of civilisation—another
outpost of the great Australian nation which was
destined to perpetuate the religion and the language of the
Anglo-Saxon race in the southern hemisphere. It was
by such steps as these—by pacific triumphs—by
establishing educational institutions, and by fostering
commercial enterprise, that Australia would become great,
and never by the arms of its children being turned
against their forefathers.

Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein, travelling as
Lieutenant Gronwold, and accompanied by Captain
Stanley Carr, a British officer, had arrived at Sydney
from Port Philip, and was a guest at Government
House. It was expected that the young prince would
shortly return to Europe by the way of India.

The New Zealand papers have been received to the 12th
of June. They announce the return of Capt. Imprey
and party to the Wairau, from an expedition undertaken
with a view to find a road to Port Cooper. They went
about 120 miles up the country in a southerly direction,
crossing several streams, all falling into the river
between the White Bluff and Cape Campbell. They
discovered an opening into the Port Cooper plains, but a
heavy fall of snow compelled them to return. They
entertain no doubt, however, that a fair road for drays
may be made between the Wairau and Port Cooper.
The party saw two birds standing each five feet high,
supposed to be emus, and made several interesting
botanical discoveries. They report the country over
which they travelled as eligible for sheep runs and
cattle stations, and some of it as well wooded.

A letter, dated Nelson, 16th May, states that the
accession to the population of the settlement, received
by the Lady Nugent, had been most opportune.

PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION.

The work of Emigration goes on rapidly from the west
and south of Ireland. In the end of October a crowd of
peasants passed through Athlone on their way to the
New World. The local paper states that they came from
the village of Clonoron, about two miles distant, and had
been but a few days previously evicted from their holdings.
While going through the town they were cheering and
shouting, and appeared in the best possible humour. On
inquiry as to the cause of their unusual mirth, it was
ascertained to have arisen from the circumstance of their
having received a large sum of money from their friends
in America, which came to hand on the very morning
they were ejected from their cabins.

A remarkable case of Successful Emigration is that
of Mr. James Wilson, a native of Caithness, who lately
arrived in England from Australia. Two-and-twenty
years ago he landed as a young emigrant at Van
Diemen's Land with 50s. in his pocket; fifteen years ago he
crossed over to Port Philip, when there were only two
huts in that now flourishing colony, and there he has
remained ever since. He is the largest individual sheep
farmer in the colony, being the owner of 30,000 sheep,
and land sufficient, reckoning, as he does, an acre to a
sheep, to feed 60,000. He is now worth £3000 a-year.
His visit to England is to see the old country once more,
when he purposes to pass the remainder of his life in
South Australia.

Intelligence has been received of the arrival in
Australia of the first parties of Female Emigrants despatched
by the Committee of the Female Emigration Fund.
The ship Culloden, with a party of 38 girls, arrived, all
well, at Port Philip on the 6th of July; the ship Duke
of Portland, with 65 on board, arrived, all well, at
Adelaide, on the 2d day of August. The young women
are stated to have behaved with great propriety during
their passage out, and to have had good health throughout
their voyages. The most favourable testimony is
borne to the good conduct of those in charge of the
emigrants, and to the well working of the arrangements
which were made by the committee here on their behalf.
Both at Melbourne and at Adelaide this immigration
appears to have been very favourably regarded by the
colonists. Of the 38 landed at Port Philip on the 8th
of July, it appears by the Melbourne papers that 31
were engaged as servants at wages varying from £12 to
£20 a year before the evening of the 10th, and
subsequent advices state that every one of the girls had
obtained employment. All the girls landed at Adelaide
had secured employment at fair wages within four days
after arrival. The ladies' committee, who provided for
the reception of the young women at Port Philip, appear
to have been most favourably impressed by their appearance
and demeanour; and one of the Melbourne papers
says, "They appear to belong to a class of immigrants
peculiarly adapted to this country, being young, healthy,
and intelligent, and apparently possessed of that happy
buoyancy of mind, and that hearty determination of
purpose, that will enable them to act well their part in
any of the many situations of usefulness which lie so
invitingly before them."