The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-19 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.
We are in receipt of papers from Hobart Town to
the 2nd of January ; from Port Philip to the 30th
of December; and from Adelaide to the 11th of
November.
VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.—The conclusion of the
year presented this colony in a very painful and dangerous
state. The governor had contrived to denude himself of
every constitutional coadjutor and agent. The Legidstive
Council of the colony, the Municipal Council of Hobart
Town, the Puisne Judge, had all been suspended. L'Etat
c'est mei had been realised on a small scale by Sir William
Denison. The feelings of the colonists in such a state
of affairs can easily be conceived by Englishmen.
The Colonial Times speaks for at least • portion of
the community, and its words are these ,—" There is no
representative of the people in any shape or form ; end to
enforce the representative of the crown upon a people who
have no such representative, is treason to the people. The
colonists consequently are illegally and unconstitutionally
and dishonestly made to pay the salaries of a parcel of
government officers, when in fact there is no government in
the island. We say, unhesitatingly, that the olonists are
supporting an arbitrary unconstitutional form of govern-
ment, and from this date (3lst December), Sir William
Denison is himself personally responsible to the people for
every shilling expended on the drones and sponges who are
called government officers." With regard to the state of
business, and the supply of labour in this and the neigh-
bouring colonies, we refer to a private letter which has
obligingly been communicated to us ;
Doesn't' TOWN, Jan. 1, I SlS.—Within the lard year not less than
5,000 people left thin island for New South Widen, and, even with all
this wages are there so enormously high, that it will materially
affect the squatters' interests. You will have seen in the New South
Wale. and Van Inemen'n Land papers that Mr Boyd, to meet the ur-
gent demands for labour, had imported about 250 South Sea Islanders
to be employed as shepherds and they were answering very well, be-
ing most contented with their abundant rations anal improved condition,
both morally and physically; when, under the sanction of the Colo-
nial Secretary, Mr. D. Thompoon, an enactment was introduced, an-
milling the agreements made with the islanders. This encouraged the
old hands, seeing its ultimate erect upon their present exorbitant
wages, to frighten the poor fellows from their occupations, and they
are now employed on board whalers and other shipping out of the
port of Sydney. As the colonial authorities will thus interfere with
the labour question, It is to be hoped that the British government are
prepared to carry out an extensive system of emigration by imperial
funds, as the colony could not I,IIAIIIII a drain of its limited currency
for this object. We are most anxious to know what the government
are doing respecting steam communication between the mother
country, Australia, and New Zealand, ria Singapore. Mr, Boyd's
splendid steam-Whip the Juno in now keeping up the connexion be-
tween Sydney, Port Phillip, Van Diemen's Land, and South Australia,
oricealfcalaight, and is rewarding her public-spirited owner most

int Court.
The Prince of Prussia arrived at Osborne yesterday
afternoon on a visit to her Majesty.
A deputation from the ward of Cripplegate within
in favour of corporation reform had as interview with Lord
J. Russell yesterday in Downing-street. The deputation
consisted of Mr. Ald. Challis, Mr. Smith (deputy), Messrs.
Brass, lioole, Cash, Lort, Bennoch, and Dewar.
The Marquis of Breadalbane had an interview with
the Right Hon. H. Labouchere yesterday at the office of the
' Commissioners of Railways in the Board of Trade.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial- I
office from the Governors of the Cape of Good Hope and
South Australis'.
A deputation, consisting of Mr. J. Chapman of
I Wells, Xr. W. Gardner of Wells, and Mr. R. Brereton of
Blakeney, accompanied by Lord Sondes Lord C. Towns-
head, Hon. E. Coke, M.P., and Sir W. Jones, Bart., had an
interview yesterday with. the Commissioners of Railways.
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- - -----
(From lut night's Gazette.)
LORD CIIAXBERLAIN's-OFFICE, APRIL 17.—Notice
is given that her Majesty will hold drawing-rooms at St.
James's•palace on the following days, at two o'clock—viz.,
Thursday, May 11; Saturday, blay 27 (to celebrate her Ma.
jesty's birthday) • Friday, June 2 next.
Notice is also given that her Majesty will hold a
levee at St. James's-palace, on Wednesday, May 17, at two
o'clock.
PRAYER FOR PUBLIC PEACE AND TRANQUILLITY.—
Last night's Gazette contains au edict, dated Osborne Howe,
April IS, in which her Majesty directs public prayers for