§ MR. AGLIONBYsaid, that about a week or ten days ago a number of papers was laid on the table of the House, detailing the effects of the earthquake that had been felt in New Zealand. Since that time several statements had appeared in the newspapers on the same subject, which, he had reason to believe, from the private letters he had received, were very much exaggerated; he wished to put the following question to the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Colonies—Whether any further accounts have been received from New Zealand, on the subject of the earthquake that had been felt there; and whether the extent and amount of damage is known?
§ MR. HAWES, in reply, said, that since the despatches which were received on the 25th of April, and laid upon the table of the House, the Government had only received the official Gazettes which were published in the island; and that these had not come officially, although he had no doubt of their official character. In the papers which had been laid upon the table of the House, the Governor stated that the total loss of property was estimated at about 50,000l., and he then gave some details of the nature of the injury which had been inflicted upon the town of Wellington. Subsequently the official Gazettes had announced the appointment of a commission to inquire into the amount and extent of the mischief done; and that commission, the date of whose appointment was the 2nd of December last, had made a report to the effect that they had endeavoured to ascertain the amount of the damage done to the town, and they considered that at the utmost it was not more than 15,000l. worth of property of all descriptions, including 3,500l. of the colonial government. It appeared that the Governor had addressed 1030 the Legislative Council of Wellington on the 28th of December, and that in his address he alluded to the effects of the earthquake. He said that, probably, no surer proof could be afforded of the real prosperity of that portion of the province of Munster than the rapidity with which its inhabitants had recovered from the effects of the recent earthquake, from which, at one time, it appeared so probable that very calamitous results might follow; that the settlers had, in this instance, exhibited their usual energy and perseverance; and that he had done his utmost to second this by causing a circular letter to be addressed to the governors of the neighbouring colonies, explaining the exact nature of the injury caused by the earthquake, and requesting them to make known in their several localities that the public confidence was entirely restored, and that commercial and other operations had, for some time past, been resumed, and carried on with their wonted activity. This being the official statement, he (Mr. Hawes) trusted it would have the effect of dispelling any alarm that might be felt by the friends of the colonists in this country.
§ Subject at an end.