should consist of a governor, an hereditary chamber, and an
elective chamber; that each of the members of the
hereditary chamber, in order to enter the chamber or remain
there, should be bound to establish his permanent
possession of landed property to a fixed amount; that local
acts passed by the two chambers with the assent of the
governor should at once become law; that there should
be an executive council, liable to removal on a vote of
want of confidence; the governor himself being
irresponsible, but to be removable on an address to the
Crown by both houses; that the colonial government
have absolute power over the waste lands, one-half of
the purchase-money being absolutely reserved for
purposes of immigration; finally, the draft resolutions
deprecate any general assembly for colonies so various as
those of Australia.

Meetings had been held in Van Dieman's Land to
petition the Queen and parliament on the subject of a
representative assembly, and against the continuance of
transportation to the colony. The Arrival of Smith O'Brien
and his fellow convicts in the Swift brig of war took
place towards the end of November. Governor Denison
had received instructions from the Home Government
to grant the offenders tickets of leave, on the condition
of their engaging that the liberty thus given them
would not be used as a means to effect their escape.
Meagher and O'Donohue at once agreed, the former
being located at Campbell Town, and the latter at
Hobart Town. Smith O'Brien and M'Manus refused,
upon which a meeting of the Executive Council was
convened on the 30th of October, when it transpired
that M'Manus has relented, but that Smith O'Brien was
obdurate. O'Donohue, who is a law writer, and without
means, having represented his poverty and the
necessity of seeking a livelihood by his pen, was permitted
to reside in Hobart Town. O'Brien, having refused
the promise required by Government, was forthwith
sent by steamer, under surveillance, to Maria Island,
where he is to be strictly watched. M'Manus will
remain at New Norfolk, O'Dogherty at Oatlands, and
Martin at Hobart Town. It is stated that, with the
exception of O'Donohue, the State prisoners are in
possession of ample funds for their support. In Sydney,
the sympathisers had set on foot a subscription for these
prisoners.

The chief item of intelligence from New Zealand is an
account of a hazardous expedition, which had been
recently made by the Lieutenant-Governor:—After
leaving the Wairau, and previous to starting into the
pass which is supposed to exist between that place and
the Port Copper Plains, his Excellency ascended the
great snowy mountain which forms the principal peak
of the Kaikoras, and which attains an elevation of
at least 9000 feet, the upper part being covered with
snow to a great depth. He succeeded in reaching
the top of the mountain, but so late as to be unable
to push on to the southern edge of the summit, when
an extensive view southwards would have been
obtained. In returning, a steep face of the hill (little
less than perpendicular), down which hung a bed of
frozen snow, had to be crossed for a considerable
distance. Mr. Eyre, who had led the party up the dangerous
ascent, was in advance with one native, the others
being 200 feet before and behind him, on the same
perpendicular of the snow. He heard a cry, and looking
round, saw Wiremu Hoeta, a native guide, falling down
the precipice, pitching from ledge to ledge, and rolling
over and over in the intervals, till he fell dead at a
depth below of about 1500 feet, where, though visible,
it was impossible to get at his body. His Excellency
narrowly escaped from similar destruction. He
completely lost his footing, and only saved himself by the
use of an iron-shod pole which he carried. Another of
the natives had a still narrower escape, having actually
fallen about fifteen yards, when he succeeded in
clutching a rock and saving himself. The gloom which this
unfortunate event caused, and the uncertainty of
crossing the rivers while the snows are melting, induced
his Excellency to return.

The intelligence of the revocation of the order in
council which made the Cape of Good Hope a convict
colony, was received with every demonstration of rejoicing.
The Neptune, which contained the first batch of the
convicts, sailed on the 21st February, after a detention
in Simon's Bay of five months and two days. A sum of
£100 was subscribed by the inhabitants, to be distributed
amongst the convicts on their arrival at Van Diemen's
Land. A general illumination took place on the evening
of that day. The houses, from the highest to the lowest,
were in a blaze of light; and the inhabitants
promenaded the streets until a late hour. A number of
ministers and their congregations kept the day as one
of religious thanksgiving.

Advices from Natal to the 18th of January are
favourable. Trade with the interior was increasing,
and the Boers in some of their original districts were
again quietly settling down to farming pursuits. The
experiment of taxing the natives had worked well, and
the amount of the collections just ended was, in money
and cattle, £3,684. Land had risen in value during the
year, and although there had been no instances of rapid
wealth among the settlers, all had succeeded to a fair
extent. Cotton had not been so much attended to as
had been anticipated, but this, it is said, was to be
attributed to the general demand which existed for
other farming products.

PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION

A considerable increase has of late been perceptible in
Emigration to Natal. The tide in that direction flows
unabated; and not only are emigrants flocking thither
in search of a new field for their labour and energies,
but many are possessed of capital which they intend
employing in farming, cotton-growing, and in various
ways, with a view to a well-organised system of general
colonisation. Materials of various descriptions are also
being sent out plentifully for the requirements of the
colony. The number of vessels already despatched to
Natal by one firm alone is 12, all fully freighted with
passengers. The total number of souls thus despatched
to Natal within twelve months is 2,066; and there is
every reason for believing, according to present appearances,
that they will be speedily followed by many others
anxious and ready to emigrate to a land where labour
and capital are required and find ample and profitable
employment. The latest accounts from the colony are
up to the 12th of February, at which date many of the
emigrants were settled upon their lands with every
indication of ultimate success.

Thirty Female Emigrants selected by Mr. Sidney
Herbert's committee departed on the 4th for Port
Adelaide and Sydney, consisting nearly all of the class
of needle-workers and stitchers. On the 10th sixty
more were despatched from Gravesend for Port Philip
and Sydney. This was the third batch. About 120
females have been sent out in all, and several others are
now on the eve of departure.

The British Ladies' Female Emigration Society held
its first annual meeting at Willis's Rooms; the Duke of
Argyll in the chair. This society was "not established
with any view of directly promoting emigration," but
"originated in an earnest desire on the part of several
benevolent individuals, to elevate the character of those
who are leaving their native country, and who will form
the basis from which society in our colonies is to be
built up." It recognises the fact that a large emigration
is going on; and it seeks to provide an agency of moral
improvement to the emigrants by establishing homes for
the reception of female emigrants before they leave this
country, by providing visitation at the ports, and the
supply of means for instruction and employment during
the voyage, and the appointment of chosen matrons, and
by forming corresponding societies in the Colonies, to
receive, protect, and assist the emigrants on their arrival.
The report stated that £1,070 had been received and
expended in this useful work.

The Canterbury Association, for establishing a settlement
in New Zealand on Church-of-England principles,
held a meeting in St. Martin's Hall, on the 17th. The
Chairman was Lord Lyttelton; among the gentlemen
on the platform were the Bishop of Norwich, the Bishop
of Oxford, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Lord Wodehouse, Lord
Courtenay, Mr. Adderley, and several other Members
of Parliament. The plan of the settlement was explained