DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 29, 4 November 1843, Page 3

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Flax, —We were very much pleased the other day to observe a considerable quantity of European-dressed flax at the Rope-work of Mr. Robertson. The flsx ff as of a superior quality, and was purchased by Mr. Robertson at the rate of £l6 per ton; it was prepared by the wives of some settlers at Papakura : while the men are occupied in clearing and tilling the lands, these industrious females occupy themselves in boiling and washing flax, and they expect in this manner to be able to pay for the cost of clearing the land, from the produce of the flax upon the land itself. We would strongly urge upon the other settlers to follow the praiseworthy example of these industrious emi* grant settlers. It would be a great matter indeed, if the-settlers could even in this manner obtain as much money as would enable them during the first hard years, of a new settler's life, to purchase the few necessary articles of comfort, such as tea and sugar; and we are quite certain that an industrious family by occupying even their.idle hours in this manner, would do a great deal more than- this.

Honorable Conduct on the Part of the NATiVBS.-r-Some time ago a small vessel belonging t) Captain Porter, was engaged by the natives on a trading voyage to the southward. When the vessel was lent, Captain Porter urged the necessity of carefulness on their part, and expressed a fear tbat the vessel might be lost, in which event the loss to him would be about £\ 00. As anticipated, the vessel was a few days ago, during a gale of wind, driven ashore and wrecked upon some part of the coaßt, and as soon as the natives arrived at Auckland, the chiefs waited upon Captain Porter and offered at once to sign an obligation for the full value of. the vessel, which they said they would pay whenever the hew Governor arrived, to whom they Hoped to be able to sell land. They at the same time expressed much regret that they had not at once the means of repaying the loss sustained by Captain Porter through them. We believe their promissory note was accepted by Capt. Porter, and we doubt not it will be faithfully and duly paid. i'.- _

V Elms and. his Accomplices. —We understand thatt:e above parties were on Monday last examined before the Police Court, and committed to stand their trial for murder and piracy. As the examination waß made with closed doors, we are unable to ascertain the exact grounds upon which they have been committed ; and as the fall particulars will appear upon the trial, we do not wish at present to offer any remarks which might have a tendency to bias or to influence the judgements of persons who may perhaps Bit as jurorß upon this important trial. In ordinary cases perhaps, it might be we", that the public should know the grounds upon which the Police Magistrate commits, seeing t; at he has in reality so much power over the liberties «f the people, and might at any time, and at his mere pleasure, commit any one of us. We do not mean to say, that there is any fear of the present Police. Magistrate abusing his power in this respect, but taking into account (though we seldom quote latin) the saying humanum est errare, and the chance that one head may not always be as good as a dozen, we must say that the want of a Grand Jury is at least one of the many evils under which we suffer in this colony, and a subject to which the attention °f the new Governor should be immediately directed* We consider it at all times highly dangerous to place too much power in the hands of any one man ; especially when we have no after recourse upon him for the abuse of it, or the loss of liberty through it. These remarks are not by any means intended either to reflect upon the Police. Magistrate, or upon his conduct in this or in any other case. We have no doubt that he would in any case of this kind, e:erciße caution and discretion.

Bay of Islands Post . OFFiCE.-rSome of our correspondents at the Bay have made several coml'l&ints to us regarding the management of the Post Office at that place. When the Challenger, iox instance, arrived at the Bay, it is stated that the mail W M landed at three o'clock on the Tuesday, at II o clock the following day partieß enquired at the "est Office for their letters, and were informed that wiey" might expect to get them to-morrow ornnetx t ° a y-" We would strongly impress upon the gentlemen in public offices to bear in mind that they ar e '

not the masters, but the seivants of the people, by whom they are paid, and whom they are bound respectfully to obey and to please. We trust Mr. Mitford will follow the good example of his predecessor Mr Staudinger, who appeared to have given much satis. faction to the Bay people. Kindness and civility cost very little, and they are sure to -gain the respect and the confidence of the people, and are just as necessary requisites in a public officer as honesty, fidelity, and impartiality.

of Honor.—We understand that a terrible case of this kind was happily arranged the other day between two high ofiicers of executive justice without serious damage to either. We would really recommend the Sheriff to interfere in these matters, and put the offenders at once under lock and key. Such things are now becoming so frequent, that in order to preserve securely the lives of the people, we must impress upon the new Governor the necessity of appointing a new Court for the decision and general settlement of these fatal disputes. As so many officers are now about being deprived of place, some one of them would doubtless engage for a small consideration to preside over this Court. Perhaps Mr. Fitzgerald could undertake the duties iu conjunction with those of the office over which he at present so laboriously presides.

,&T Horrible Superstition and Murder. We understand that a cruel case of this kind occurred about three weeks ago in the Island of Waihaki. The wife of an dd heathen Native Chief called Cupanga, having died, and the natives believing that she must be uncomfortable in the other world without her usual attendant; a young female slave, Emuka, wcs ordered to be kilted for the purpose of waiting upon her mistress, and Gna Manu, a petty chief belonging to the tribe, actually shot the roor slave girl. This is the only case of this k ; nd which has happened on the Thames for many years. We wonder that neither the Protectors nor the Government have enquired in o it. This barbarous and cruel custom only prevails among a few, of the very old unchristianized natives, and it ought to be put down. We trust the Government will punish the murderer, as well as all those who were accessory to the cruel murder. Such crimes ought not to be allowed to be perpetrated in the \eiy neighbourhood (within twelve miles) of the capital.

,\ : "The Thistle.—This beautiful schooner is now lying on the beach at Mechanic's Bay. She has been built at Weihaki by Messrs. Sharp and Nicol, and is certainly highly crediiable to them in every respect. She is perhaps the finest model of the kind that has ever been built in New Zealand. We understand that Mr. Sharpi her builder, was for a long lime foreman in one of the largest ship-building yards ?n Greenock. Agricultural Society. A meeting of this Society was held yesterday, when a Committee of its members was appointed to enquire into, and to report upon the best means by which the Society could promote the erection of a Flour Mill in this settlement. The report will be received that day fortnight.