DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 51, 6 April 1844, Page 2

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

"Flax Dressing. — In our last we promised again to notice this subject, and upon making enquiry into the progress made by various persons in making available this important native production, we are very happysto be able to report favourably. Two objects are now being pursued with much prospect of eventual success* The one 13 by means of first boiling the flax, and then applying machinery to the after process of dressing. The other plan is the dressing of the flax in the green state without boiling. Very good samples have- been produced both ways. We have seen at Mr. Graham's stores, a sample of flax prepared by the first process which is decidedly the best that has been hitherto produced ; it was prepared by some person on the Thames. It is strong r clean, and white, but the party is obliged to discontinue it because our merchants will not venture to purchase in the present uncertain state of the flax- market at Homo, excepting at so low a rate as cannot sufficiently remunerate the producer. Mr. Joseph is, we arehappy to say, still successfully prosecuting his experiments ; he is also at present engaged in preparing; native dressed flax by means of heckling, &c, so as to make it a more marketable, and a less bulky article than it has been hitherto. Mr. Joseph deserves welt of the Colony for his spirited efforts in this respect. Mr. Robinson, and we believe, Mr. Broadbent, havebeen each of them for a long time preparing and perfecting machinery for the dressing of the green flax,

and we believe with considerable success. Mr. Robertson, the rope-maker states,, that the samples prepared by Mr. Robinson are better than anjr he has hitherto seen in the Colony, whether' Native or European. From Mr. Robinson's steady perseverance and good mechanical skill, we expect much. It affords us much pleasure to hear that His Excellency the Governor is not indifferent to these attempts at producing an article of export.' He is, ware happy to say, en. deavouring at the present moment to establish the manufacture of cloth from- the flax.' • Several weavers have been we understand/ encouraged by His Jixcellency to commence the manufacture of sail cloth, and wool-bagging. The latter we are persuaded, will pay well in the neighbouring Colonies. It is well when the Governor and the people thus cooperate. The very fact of the Governor taking an interest in this subject, will indace *nd encourage othera to go on with their experiments. If we had a few more merchants with capital, established in this place, we should have no fear before two years are over, that our exports would not more than balance our imports. Roads and Bridges. — Nothing is more severely felt by the settlers in anew colony than the want of proper roads to convey to the markets the surplus produce 6f their farms. This is an evil however which is not so much felt in New Zealand as in other colo nies on account- of the great facilities of water communication. But as the land in the interior will become occupied,- the want of roads and bridges will be complained of by the farmer. There are several lines which, if made, would at the present time benefit the colony very much. — Roads to Fort Nicholson and the Bay of Islands might very easily be made if we •had the means — and they would certainly very much benefit the country generally. — We happily have no convicts in this Colony to employ upon these roads, but we believe it is generally understood that we require additional troops for the purpose of at least shewing the natives thpt we have the power to preserve order and peace if they should at any time be foolish enough -to- think the contrary. If we are to have more troops in the Colony, we would certainly recommend that they should be employed in cutting I line of road from Auckland to Port Nicholson. They would thus protect and benefit the Colony, and do themselves some -good, they would at least be better employed in making roads than idle in barracks or drinking in town* • Captain Bennett, the Officer of Engineers, would also have an opportunity of keep, ing himself in the practice of his profession, and connecting biß name with the most useful undertaking in the Colony. • Under his dirctions we might expect to have the best lines- selected for the most important of our roads.- We hope His Excellency the Governor in recommending that additional troops should be sent' to the Colony, will also suggest that they might be employed in this manner. W. Y. Brbwer, Esa — We very v much regret to 'find by the Port Nicholson papers, that our friend Mr. Brewer- has- lost his life, in consequence of a ■wound received in a duel. We have known Mr. Brewer intimately. He was kind-hearted, generous, *nd affectionate, and his death will be very much regretted by* all who- knew- him. Thb Natives. — Under the head of Original Correspondence, will be found a letter from Mr. White of Hokianga, accompanied by a translation of a native letter, intended- to be -sent- to the Governor. This letter contains in it much- of truth and of common sense* • The -Natives 'haw- unquestionably been very unfairly treated -by the late 'Government. What is called the cession of Sovereignty, and the other conditions attached to it, have mot been obtained with the " intelligent consent" of the Natives. The proceedinga^of Captain Hobson and bis Officers, are a dißgraceto our country ; and -if sufficiently known at Home, they would be certain to be esteemed as such. We very touch regret the expression of Native feeling in the la' ter part of the letter, and we would direct it to the serious attention of His Excellency the Governor. If the -acts of the British Government have been such as to •caH • (forth, from the Natives such a threat as that contained in the latter pa<rt of the letter, we certainly- think that it is high time to consider what we are about,- for however enduring and patient the Natives may- be,- it is not wise to impose too much upon their forbearance. What right have we to come to their country- and -give by our proceedings cause for the expression of -such violent and angry feelings ? This is certainly- not the way to civilize the Natives, or to recommend the Christian religion to them. Jury List. — There can scarcely be a source of greater annoyance to the townspeople than the manner in which the Jury List is made out. We know several persons in business in Auckland, who are obliged either to shut their places of business on Court days, or to submit-to a heavy fine. Surely the Sherifif might do 'something to obviate this inconvenience, which arises in a great measure from the J»ry List being alphabetically arranged. Wherever the names of parties engaged in the same business, or living in the same house, happen to follow one another, there ' could surelybe no harm in transposing them. The public have a right to expect that the Government should pay some regard to their convenience, when they are so- frequently and so unnecessarily called away from their homes to attend to matters of this kind. -— Theatricals. — We understand offers have been made to Mr. Buckingham to rent his Theatre for the purpose of converting the building into an Exchange and Reading Room. We are not sorry to hear this in the present state of things. Whilst we thus freely «press onrselves, and have to record Mr. Buckingham's want of success in Theatricals, we wish him every prosperity in- any other undertaking that may be more conducive to the public interest. Mistake.— ln reporting some time ago, the proceedings of- the Supreme Court, in a case Spicer v. Quirk, the name Quaife- was inadvertently substituted for Quirk. Mr. Quaife is fearful the mistake might injure his credit, and w& hasten to correct it.