DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 2, 29 April 1843, Page 3

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Agricultural Society. — "Wo are glad to hear that it is the intention of several of tho proprietors of land and farmers ia this district to hold a Sleeting on an early day, for the purpose of organizing a Society for the promotion of Agriculture, etc., etc., by awardingprizes at stated periods to the 'growers of the best samples of every species of farm and garden produce, as well as to those who exhibit the best specimens of live stock, reared we suppose in the Colony. Such a Society, if well conducted, is calculated to do much good to our settlement, and will tend greatly to unfold the numerous and varied capabilities of our soil. We would suggest, the Highland Agricultural Sociey of Scotland as perhaps the best model for imitation. It is the oldest society of this kind at home, and that from which all the local associations of England, Scotland, and Ireland have sprung. We wish every success to this undertaking: and from the sample of Nativo produce to bo seen at the Stores of Mr. Kich in Queen-street, we are persuaded that this country will produce wheat equal to Van Diemen's Land it- j self. The samples of barley at the above stores are as good as any we have ever seen. The soil of this country seems admirably adapted for the growth of barley. — The society should not only give prizes for the best sampL-s of Native produce, the best specimens of Nativo stock, but they ought particularly to encourage experimental farming. In a, new country experiment is extremely valuable, whether successful or unsuccessful — in either case, when made public, it will prove beneficial to the settler : in the one case it will save him from the expense of making the trial for himself. — and in the other, it will prove a sure guide for him to follow. Coals. — It is said that a new bed of Coals has been discovered on an allotment of land at Corawallis in Manakau, but we havo not been able to ascertain whether the report is well founded. We have every reason to suppose, from the character of the country in the neighbourhood of Manakau and Auckland, that Coal, must form a par,t of the mineral wealth of this settlement. ~ A Mechanics' Institute. — Tho Debating Class will meet at Hart's Exchange Hotel, on Thursday first, at 8 rTyu, to discuss the moral or ' immoral tendency of theatrical representations. '

We hear from good authority, that the Natives oppose the setlement of Mr. Terry on. the lands allotted to him by the Government for the erection of his Flax Machinery. Many of our readers are doubtless aware of the circumstances under which the Natives have thus acted. We shall take up this subject in our next, when we shall be able to prove that the Natives are perfectly justified in the course they have adopted, at leas 4 according to the principles of right and wrong as understood between man and man. The government have no right to the land, it was never bought by them, or sold to them by the Natives, aud even their own Ordinance, the Land Claims Bill, does not award it to them. ■^Auckland Dispensary. — It will be seen by a notice in our advertising columns, that a. Meeting of the Subscribers to this useful institution will be held at the Exchange Hotel on Thursday first. — The usefulness of this institution has hitherto been very much impeded not from any want of zeal on tho part of the Committee of Management, but more from an anxious desire of doing too much,- they have gone to work without due materials- and without duo preparation. In one respect we blame them, they were instructed by the G eneral Meeting to prepare the Laws and Regulations on which tho institution was to- bo founded and its operations conducted. They overleaped this first essential step, and commenced operations without any definite constitution or fixed method — difficulties opposed them which they could not in consequence surmount. We recommend to the General Meeting to appoint a Committee to frame laws, and to submit these laws to a future General Meeting, before any further ■ steps are taicen, to carry out tho ( objects of the institution. Order is the effect of well regulated laws, and. necessary to tho weR doing of every undertaking, whether private or public. The immigrants per " Westminster" are now employed in making certain drains in Queenstreet, and other works through the town ; we shall by and by report on their operations ; meantime we can only say that government expends about £21 10s. per week upon them ; which we trust will be the means of supporting them comfortably.