DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. i

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 17, 12 August 1843, Page 3

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

I Mechanic's Institute. — We congratulate the members of this Institute on the happy acquisition of so many new and excellent Lecturers. On Thu>s> day night a Lecure was delivered on Grecian architecture by Mr. Ashworth, which would do credit to any of the btst Institutions of the kind in the parent country. It is not too much to say, that Mr. Ashworth was not only a perfect master of the subject he undertook to lecture upon, but that he also by means of his exquisite drawings, made his audience almost feel that they were for a time transported to the " clime of the unforgotten brave" itself, amidst the ruins of her temples ; we were still made to feel that it was the living Greece itself, that we were being made acquainted with. Mr. Ashworths Lecture was indeed a literary treat, and like its subject, pure classical and refined. His quotations from ancient and modern travellers and poets, were exceedingly appropriate and illustrative of the subject. We have invariably made it a rule not to attempt to criticise Lectures of this kiud, which are meant for the intellectual improvement of the people, and so far crorit the approbation of all ; but were we disposed to exercise the' privilege in this case, our only fear would be for ourselves, that we should not do justice to the merits of the subject. We sincerely hope that Mr. Ashworth will at a future time favour us with another Lecture on the architecture of the middle ages, Egyptian, Tuscan, Domestic, or any thing, even the Gothic. Since the above was written, we had the pleasure of listening to another Lecture at this Institute, delivered by Mr. Brown on Phrenology, with which he appears to be thoroughly acquainted. The best praise we can give of this Lecture, is the fact, that it has almost made ourselves a complete convert to science ; and we doubt not it has had the same effect upon many of the other persons present. As we shall most likely in our next give some extracts from this Lecture, those of our readers who were not present, will have an opportunity of judging for them* selves as to its merits. We trust Mr. Brown will continue the subject, and introduce us to the various organs'. We regret to notice the almost perfect absence of the government officers from these Lectures. Nothing can give a worse idea of a person in authority, than a distaste for knowledge, and a desire not to encourage the intellectual improvement of the people. The officers' of this government are peculiarly remarkable for both. In no other British colony (we venture to say) has such palpable indifference been manifested in this respect as in New Zealand. H.M.S. " North Star," arrived from Sydney on Wednesday evening, with 52 soldiers under the command of Sir E vei ardjrlpme. Her destination is sapposed to be Cook's Straits, and object, most likely to afford protection if requisite, to the Nelson settlers, (who, we are persuaded, are in no danger whatever from the Natives.) How this government will act now that power is at their command, by the Natives who were engaged in the Weiroa massacre, we cannot divine, but this we are almost certain of, that if there be a right and a wrong way of acting, that the latter will be preferred. We trust that a fair trial will be given to both parties concerned in the Weiroa massacre, Europeans and Natives. Let the two native murderers, Riuparaha and Rangihaiata by all means be brought to the bar of Jus'ice, and fairly tried, and let the Europeans who attacked them, have a similar trial. There was wrong on both sides, and both should be tried. Trading Propensities of the Natives of New Zealand. — The spirit of trading and love or money, is making rapid progress with the Maories. The comforts and luxuries which the natives of Waikato have had the means of purchasing in Auckland for the last two years, have completely Europeanised them. They all wear European clothing, and many of them pmehase flour, tea and sugar, and live almost in the same manner as the white men, with this exception, that they rarely consume pork except at their feasts. But if this be the case with the Waikato natives, who are at such a distance from the capital, to how much greater an extent must it not be with those who reside in the neighbourhood of the town, at Houraki for instance. The natives of that quarter are constantly bringing in pigs, potatoes, and other produce, according to the state of the market, which they watch with the greatest eagerness, and they take in return, clothes, Euro can food, tobacco, spirits, fee, but of tuis latter they consume but little. At Waikato a native chief is landlord of a Hotel, and the manner in which it is kept, would do credit to an Englishman ; he sits at the bead of the table, and

carves for his guesw in a very scientific manner ; am indeed, he makes a very agreeable host. His cook an Englishman, serves up the viands ; the table has always "a clean cover, and the knives, and forks platea, spoons, &c, are scrupulously clean. Nc charge is made for food at the Hotel, it being con trary to the native custom to ask anything for it : but no objection is made to receive anything that maj be given by the guests. The landlord of this Hotel makes it pay, by. keeping boats and canoes to convej passengers and goods across a ferry on which he resides. Another chief at "Waikato keeps a Public House, or rather a Giog-Shop, for the convenience ol of " Haurahge Pakehas," or mad Europeans, as th« natives designate all drunkards ; we wonder the government allows him to rarry on this trade. Why is this man allowed to sell spirits without a license : The superior facilities for trading enjoyed by the natives of Hoitraki, from their proximity to Auckland is beginning to cause no little jealousy in the minds of the Datives of Waikato. and tbey have lately claimed some land in the neighbourhood uf Auckland ; whicfc however, the people of Huuraki will not permit them to occupy. Several letters have passed between the opposing chiefs on the subject ; but so far, the Horaki chief has not permitted them to occupy the land claimed, and it is not likely he will, Unless sonic very handsome payment be first made him.