The 'Anglo-Maori Warder,' the 'Maori Gazette,' and the 'New Zealander.'

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 3, Issue 151, 13 May 1848, Page 2

The 'Anglo-Maori Warder,' the 'Maori Gazette,' and the 'New Zealander.'

I'When Doctors disagree, wJto is to decide?" The New Zealander seems to be very much alarmed at the possible resuscitation of the Maori Gazette, and blames the Warder for regretting its suppression, and as if to crush the very idea of its revival, he parades its faults and defects before tho public with most exemplary minuteness, keeping its virtues altogether out of sight. The Warder seems to entertain the utmost veneration for its suppressed

prototype, and perhaps errs by running to the other extreme. — The true opinion, we think, lies between the two. The Maori Gazette had its faults, bnt it also had its virtues, and it would have been better to improve than to suppress it. The " New Zealander"has exaggerated its real defects, and added a few fictitious ones to make the train more imposing, It is not true that only half the number printed were put in circulation, because we recollect on several occasions having applied at the office for some numbers to complete our file,andwere unable to obtain them, every copy having been distributed. We do not profess to bo sufficiently acquainted with the' general character of its contents, to give a positive opinion upon its literary merit, but we Jcnow that it used to be eagerly sought after by tho natives, and that its influenco was great. As far as our memory serjes us, we think that the most legitimate c jMi of complaint against it was the waiWfbf method and system in its managemflht. Wo do uot know who the 1 professed Edtior was, but we recollect that our frisnds too understood and read to us its contents, used to remark that it was ovidently written by different persons, and that it displayed almost every variety of style and dialect, without any fixed and definite aim. In short, it seemed to be every body's business to conduct, and consequently it "was nobody's business to edit it properly. — But this was no valid reason for its suppression, as the " New Zealander" would insinuate. If we may be permitted to make use of the "argumentwm ad hominem," we might, in proof of the fallacy of the "New Zealan'der's" reasoning, ask him', if it would be proper to suppress his paper, because many of his articles are very objectionable. If every one of his subscribers who at times feel disgusted with the contents of his journal/ were to throw np. their copies, where would our Contemporary be? It is always better to cure diseases, than to kill the patients. — One great evil resulting from the suppression of the " Maori Gazette" is, that an influence, a moral lever of mighty power, capable of producing wonderful effects, has passed from the hands of Government to those of private individuals, and the Government having once lost the control and management of this machine, there are no means of predicting, with certainty, into whose hands it may pass, or with what skill and prudence it may be regulated. For the present it is all very well — the steam is only generating, and that too in but one engine. But is it likely that it will become a monopoly, and its present conductor the patentee ? The usual course of things forbids this idea. Such is the spirit of emulation and competition in. the present age, that what is commenced by one, is soon imitated by others. One of the local papers having started with a Maori column, the others will no doubt soon find it necessary to do the same, and thus by suppressing instead of improving their own "Maori Gazette," the Government have not only lost the power and influence which this engine might have given them, but have necessitated, as it were, the construction of three first-rate independent high pressure locomotives, that will run through the length and breadth of the land, causing as great transformations in the moral aspect of this country, as the rail roads in the natural scenery of England. We repeat, it was a great mistake to suppress the "Maori Gazette." New Plymouth. — agriculture, etc. — Tho progress which has been made during the past month in thrashing the new wheat crop, enables us to report very favorably as to the quality and quantity of the grain ; the steep of sulphate of copper (blue vitriol), which was extensively used last year, lias proved a complete remedy for the smut. Barley will prove about an average crop, but our farmers have hitherto been very unsuccessful in its cultivation. Oats are but little grown. — The dry weather, which has so unusually prevailed for the last 4 months, seems to have broken up, as we had much rain on the 20th and 21st ult. During the continuance of the drought, the only mill we had at work had no force to spare for the preparation of flour for exportation. Two others, however, of greater power, are now nearly completed, and as no pains nor expense will be spared in their machinery, we expect that New Plymouth flour will soon stand as high in the Colonial markets as any other Potatoes are a fair crop, about 100 tons will shortly be shipped for Sydney. Wheat sowing has not yet commenced, although the experience of former years fully proves that on medium soils from the middle of April to the middle of May is the best time for that operation, on the rich timber land it may be deferred till midwinter. — Messrs. Wallace & McDonald arrived overland from Wellington about 3 wgoks. singe, with 19

horses and about 50 heifers, which realised good prices. — The Star of China arrived with her second cargo hero on the 4th inst., it consisted of some oxccllent heifers and mares, the latter sold readily at very high prices. It is expected that this vessel will continue to run as a regular trader between Sydney and New Plymouth.— F. D. Bell, Esq., the agent of the New Zealand Company, has of late been actively engaged in purchasing land from the "natives in tho celebrated Mangarald district, and has succeeded better than might have been anticipated ; there is now in this settlement plenty of good land for tho selection of newcomers. — The Bishop paid us a visit on the 9th, ho embarked again for Nelson on the 12th, having previously held a confirmation, and performed other Episcopal duties Taranaki Corresp., dated April 24:.