THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, Sept. 17, 1842.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 28, 17 September 1842, Page 110

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, Sept. 17, 1842.

■*■ Les journaux deviennent plus neceuaires a mesure que les hommes sout plus dgaux, et V individualisme plus a craindre. Cc serait diminuer leur importance que de croire qu' ils ne servent qu* a garantir la liberty : Us maintiennent la civilisation. De Tocqueville. De la De'mocratie en Amerique, tome 4, p. 230. Journals become more necessary as men become more equal, and individualism more to be feared, It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty : they maintain civilization. De Tocqdeville. Of Democracy in America, vol. 4, p. SSO. Has not the Colonial Gazette, in that article which appeared as an extract in our last, hit the right nail on the head — not precisely as we would bave struck theilow, nor as it would have been fitting for us to strike it, but still with all that force and truth in it which points out to us what hammer and anvil work there is for us to do t o realize a matter which they " remember to have had a dream about ?" Really, now, this is not a matter to be lightly neglected, or to be left to those at home, or those who,

as the Gazette says " are answerable for the fault of neglect, whoever they may be," especially when we remark this important passage — " We cannot learn that anything has been done to fulfil the promises held i out at first." What if we, the colonists, are also of those who are partly " answerable for the fault of neglect ?" Just imagine this New Zealand Company of ours in Great Broad Street, London, looking about for some means of doing us good, with the most earnest desire for and interest in our welfare, having conceived the idea, with the best intention, in some manner, " by way of bounty " or otherwise, of executing this good of steam navigation, and not exactly knowing how to do it, and so going on, not exactly knowing how, until the idea has died out as a practicable one, and has become as a dream which they " remember to have had about the matter?" The New. Zealand Company are really interested in this as in all matters which concern our interests and our advancement; but how much more are we interested — toe, the actual^settlers! Only think, now, for a moment, how much it is that is left for us to do. This New Zealand Company — there it is at l home, in Great Broad Street, as We said, making colonies, looking about in a most obscure atmosphere to do us good. Who so able to throw light upon the matter as we are ? Not one : no, not of the cleverest of theoretical colonizers of them all is there one who can so tangibly feel or so practically give out a scheme for doing what it is that we require, or so efficiently join either in the projecting or completing of it. How much in the dark are they ! Four months from us: in all sorts of doubt at all times as to how we are going on ; having a sort of account of our doings, which will enable them to act for us so far as they are able, always two-thirds of a year behind hand. Settlers of Nelson, this will not do. To you also there is left a duty to perform, infinitely more important in a commercial point of view than that of the New Zealand Company. They have only their interest in Certain shares — an infinitesimal portion of the speculative shareholders' incomes to look after. You — what is it you have not to look after ? Only think, now : is it not actually a matter of having enough to eat and drink with you ? You merchants at yoxu* Auckland Pomt — you landowners, who would cultivate the Waimea or any other agricultural district— you dealers in making houses, whether of brick, mud, or wood — you storekeepers, and you other incomprehensible class of wandering men, who live upon the wit you have in you, though God and no other knows how — all of you, is it not veritably a matter of importance that our interests should, for want of our own stirring, be merely as a dream f which it is remembered to have had — a promise which has been undoubtedly made, but which " we cannot learn that anything has been done to fulfil ?" It is not precisely our office to point out to you the man, or the set of men, by whom the mode or the manner in which you may. best keep yourselves, your wants, your interests (whicli are their interests), before the New Zealand Company; but it is imperative^upOT^us to tell you at least this old truth, that " Heaven helps those who help themselves ;" and, moreover, that it cannot be doubted that " the Company " will not fail to follow] so ancient and so laudable an example. Do, then, something about this steam navigation ; let it not follow the tendency which it appears to have to become " a dream," and promise unfulfilled ; make it a reality as soon as possible. Witb you only, it is evident, lies the power of doing it. We cannot have the paddling and the spluttering of the steam-engine too soon disturbing the habitual placidity of our gulf. It is a long time between your doing for it and your getting it, remember. Come, now, let us see if there be any spirit in you to do that which you have not been educated to do daily. There are the materials of steam communication waiting to be

made into some shape and form — set t< work and make it. Jk

It has not been convenient hitherto t< say anything of a letter addressed to us bj " A Churchman,'' and now it is questionable whether as to such communications it b< or be not tetter to be altogether silent. A all events, there is only left us in reply t< say that we believed when we wrote it, an< still believe, that " there exists a genera feeling of regret that his lordship shouJ^ have thought it necessary to express s( strongly as he did the impossibility that hi should concede." And, moreover, this, tha sectarian maintainment is not, cannot be the highest object of any God-sent priest o any religion ; that no church can, with it articles and its formulas, present to th< minds of all honest, truth -seeking, God adoring men the best rules even for the ex ternal or knee-worship, much more that o the heart; and therefore that a churcl which would be also a religion must be o the conceding sort, counting itself a part | that from which nevertheless it much differi conscious of a possibility of many failing even where it most prides itself on its cor rectness ; for with what is it, after all, tha the Evil Influence is most intimate,^ just with that particular item, of no soul saving importance whatsoever, for whicl each sect stickles with a feverish anxiety which is for the mock of fools and the tear ful pity ef good men. t

Captain Wakefield and the gentlemei who accompanied him on the excursion ti Massacre Bay arrived at Nelson on Tuesda 1 evening, having left the schooner Elizabetl becalmed fifteen miles outside' the harbour They express themselves highly gratifie< with the results of the expedition and tin resources of the bay. The beauty of tht scenery is remarkable even in New Zealand The extent of flat land is considerable chiefly wooded, and these districts ar| opened up for a short distance by their res pective rivers. Limestone is to be obtainei in any quantity. Coal at the Taipo, thj Tata, at the Motupipi, and the Takaka The surveying party were left at Takaka and intend at once commencing their la bours ; the natives are anxious for settlers and the respective chiefs entirely satisfiei with the presents made them by " Wide awake, 1 ' and making preparations for pij catching to supply the wants of the whit men. We hope to be enabled to give ou, readers a detailed account of this trip in ou

The tarque Eagle is advertised to sai from Newcastle for this place the first weel in September.' We presume she will brinj us another cargo of cattle, as a free passag is offered to stockmen for their services The brig William Fulcher ami the barqu Regina are laid on for Port Nicholson ; am the ship Medusa, the brig Nimrod, th» schooner Shamrock, and the brig Bristolian for Auckland and the Bay of Islands.

The Sydney Gazette of August 23 con tains a long account of a serious conflict a Port Natal, between the Boors and a detachment of British troops, in which the latte were defeated with severe loss. From tht late hour at which we received our paper: we are prevented from giving the particulars until our next.

On Monday last a quarrel, arising out o old differences, between two natives, aftht pah Wauka pa Wauka, had nearly endeci fatally. Ta Arao had been struck during altercation by Paramatta, and the encountei ended in Ta Amo firing at and wounding Paramatta seriously, and also Epero slightly^ but this last unintentionally. Mr. Reay, who received the account of the affray from some natives on Tuesday evening, laid the matter before the Police Magistrate oifi Wednesday morning, having delayed the application at the request of the natives. Mr. Thompson, Mr. Reay, Mr. Carkeek, and Dr. Wilson, as speedily as possibld i

proceeded to Wauka pa Wauka by boat, and found that the natives had burnt down Ta Amo's house since the affray, and that he had, with a few others, retired into the bush around. Nothing being to be done at the time (10, p.m.), and it being questionable how far it was advisable to widen a breach occasioned by the wounded man's own violence, it was determined to put off for the present pursuit of Ta Amo. Paramatta was brought back to Nelson, that his fcwounds might be attended to ; and the boat arrived in Nelson at six o'clock on the following morning.

The brig stated in our last to be at anchor at the entrance of the Gulf proved to be the Tobago, from England, bound to Port Nicholson. The unusual circumstance of a vessel anchoring for three days in such a place led to many conjectures. The pilot, on his return, informed us that she had sailed on the Ist of April, had put into the Cape and Hobart Town, at which latter place she was deserted by the captain and crew, the owner being on board. She had five passengers for Port Nicholson, who were quite x weary of their tedious passage. The pilot was shown a large number of loose letters for this place, but, having no money with him, the gentleman who had them in charge refused to send them on shore, lest he should be a loser of the large sum of Bs. 10d., although. Ihe pilot offered to give an order for that amount on a gentleman in Port Nicholson. On Sunday morning she proceeded on her • voyage, which, if prolonged, the person in command will doubtless be able to satisfy any curious inquirers with his reason for losing nearly three days of fine weather at anchor at the mouth of the Straits, with a wind which, in a few hours, would have taken the vessel to her destination.

11. A. Thompson, Esq., has at length received instructions from Auckland authorizing him to procure a Court House, in accordance with which he has purchased the building which has been hitherto the office of this paper. The application of Mr. Otterson to bs allowed to erect a Bonded Warehouse has been likewise replied to and a license given for a warehouse now built by him on Auckland Point.

British Manufactures. — There were in England, about a year since, not fewer than 16,000 steam-engines at work, some of them of 1,000 horse power; but taking them at the low average of 25 horse power each, this would be equal to 400,000 horses. Five men and a half are equal to the strength of one horse ; thus the country possesses a power, through the medium of this vast number of steam-engines, nearly equal sto that of 2,000, : 000 of men. Each horse for his food a year, consumes the produce of two acres of land ; and thus 800,000 acres are to spare for human subsistence, more than there would be if steam-power were not employed in the produce of the manufactures for which England is now so celebrated. The Tower of London.— -The following is a correct list of of the different casualties and accidents that have occurred in the Tower from the period of its erection to the present day :—ln: — In 1512, the Chapel in the White Tower was burnt to the ground and other apartments injured, but the exertions of the warders fortunately confined the flames to the spot where they originated. In 1622, a similar fire occurred, but it was speedily extinguished. In 1633, one Abraham Goodman, who had been committed to the Devereux Tower for an attempt to murder the Duke of Buckingham, gaining possession of a torch, attempted to fire the building, in which he partly succeeded, but the fire did not spread to any serious extent. In 1701, the tide rose to a remarkable height, and washed away part of the Tower embankment; whilst in 1724, a similar innundation, caused by boisterous north-east winds, took place, and did considerable damage to the out-buildings. During the great earthquake at Lisbon, several shocks were felt within the Tower, and part of the outer gate gave way. From that year till the present the Tower of London had escaped all accidents of a like nature, the recent conflagration being the most destructive that has ever occurred within its walls. One Good of Railways. — The praise of railway travelling was rather originally advocated by a companion of ours, whose admiration was chiefly excited by its putting an end to highway robberies. " Sir," said he, "it has extinguished one of the most extensive, dangerous, and worst species of crime. A footpad, sir, cannot put a pistol to the boiler and stop the train by threatening to blow its brains out, so that the passengers may be plundered securely."— Literary Gazette. The Largest Cargo. — The new ship 'Rappahannock,' Captain Drummond, cleared at New Orleans on the 13th uIL for Liverpool, with 3856 bales of cotton, weighing 1,668,213 lbs. This is by far the largest cargo ever despatched from the United States.— Liverpool JmtrnaL