NEW PLYMOUTH.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 163, 19 April 1845, Page 27

NEW PLYMOUTH.

We copy from the New Zealand Spectator of the 29th ultimo, the following letter of one of the oldest of the New Plymouth settlers :—: —

" Te Hua, New Plymouth, " March 8, 1845.

" Sir — Having read in your journal of the Ist of March that the aggressions of the natives upon my section had been encouraged by the clergyman and missionaries, I think it right to state to you that they have, as I believe, and as far as I know, entirely disapproved of the conduct of the natives towards me.

"The first hostile movement of the Puketapu tribe took place in the beginning of January, 1843, when a strong body of natives, all armed, commenced felling, and subsequently cultivated, about seven acres of the timbered part of my section. For this I could get no redress from the Government, save a letter from Captain Fitzßoy, in which he expressed his fears that the New Zealand Company's title to the land was very unsatisfactory (this letter was written long before Mr.jflpain's investigation of the New Zealand Company's claim at this place); and concluding with his usual homooepathic remedy of justice, good feeling, and forbearance, to be gently administered to the refractory natives. Since that I have been more than once threatened with fire and tomahawk ; and doubtless, had I not a few Wellington natives living with me, connected with Etako, my poor deluded patients, the Puketapu, would have proved the inefficacy of the Fitzßoy-al medicine.

" The Mangoraka settlers, &c, have had the advantage of removing to land within the repurchased block of 3,000 acres, and receiving some kind of compensation from the Govemmeni, in the shape of debentures and a novel kind of paper promise, i.e., certain Treasury bills drawn payable to Mr. Shepherd, colonial treasurer, signed by R. Fitzßoy, endorsed by Mr. Shepherd and Captain King (our Government representative here). The said bills net forth that they are drawn in consequence of the suspension of payment by the New Zealand Company. Whether 'my lords ' will honour such bills on such a plea is, I think, doubtful.

" But my case has been different. The Governor, when here, constantly asserted that no difficulty would arise with regard to my land ; that I must repurchase; and that he would give £5 towards it on the part of the Government. The natives have only asked after the rate of £5 an acre for the fifty acres. It has been impossible to come to any arrangement with them. In the meantime, they prevent me again ploughing my stubble land, and are very active in numberless petty annoyances. As I am surrounded with natives, I am constantly assailed by complaints of my cattle trespassing ; and as during the last six months I have had to pay enormously for these damages, they find it rather a profitable speculation. Their pigs, on the other hand, run riot through my finer land ; and although I have suffered to the extent of £10 to £15, 1 can get no redress.

"In conclusion, as it is quite gratifying to report any thing good of Government officials, I wish they would all take a lesson from Mr. M'Lean, our protector of aborigines, of whose honesty and integrity there is but one opinion. Captain Fitzßoy's familiar, Mr. Forsaith, would do well to learn consistency and rectitude from Mr. M'Lean's example. " I have the honour to remain, " Your obedient servant, "John George Cooke."

Home-made Sugar. — It may not be generally known, that a small but certainly an increasing quantity of sugar is made in this country, from the farina of potatoes and other similar substances. By a recent parliamentary return we find, that in 1841, upwards of 2,358 cwts. were made and charged with duty; in 1842, more than 3,478 cwts.; and in 1843, 3,843 cwts. 3 quarters. These amounts paid an excise duty respectively of £2,971, £4,382, and £4,823 ; and the accountant-general adds a note, to the effect that this sugar was principally manufactured from potato farina, but sago, Indian wheat, and barley have been used to a very limited extent ; the sugar made therefrom, however, could not be stated, as no separate account was taken at the time of charging the duty. — Manchester Guardian.

Benefits of Commercial Reciprocity. — At Paris, in the best appointed houses, and at dinners which for costly materials and admirable art in their preparation could not be surpassed, the effect is always considerably lessened, and by a mode the most mortifying— by the mere circumstance that every one at a French dinner is served on a cold plate. The reason of a custom, or rather a necessity, which one would think a nation so celebrated for its gastronomical taste would repel, is really, it is believed, that the ordinary French porcelain is so very far inferior that it cannot endure the prepatory heat for dinner. The common white pottery, for example, which is generally used, and always found at the cafes, will not bear vicinage to a brisk kitchen fire for half an hour. Now, if we only had that trealy of commerce with France which had been so often on the point of completion, the fabrics of our unrivalled potteries, in exchange for their capital wines, would be found throughout France. The dinners of both nations would be improved ; the English would gain a delightful beverage ; and the French, for the first time in their lives, would dine off hot plates. An unanswerable instance of the advantages of commercial reciprocity. — Coningsby.

In Norway there are 72,624 full oumers of land, to 30,568 farmers and 42,074 labourers. In France there are 10,296,682 owners. In Ireland only 10,000.