PORT NICHOLSON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 29 November 1845, Page 155

PORT NICHOLSON.

We are indebted to the kindness of a frit-nd for a New Zealand Spectator of the lith of November, our own copies not having come to hand.

In another column will be found a refutation of the libel on the Roman Catholic missionaries, published in a late despatch of our ex-Governor.

At the close of a long article exhibiting the progress made by the northern as well as the southern settlements, our contemporary says —

'■' Whether the Province of Victoria be erected or not, a new Governor will, if he be a man of ■■action, try to do something for the settlements in the south ; and men like Major Richmond and his colleagues can be of no service to him. Perfect parasites, humble, smooth, and silent, zs instruments of Government they are utterly worthless, except at a period of depression and despair like that passed through under Captain Fitzßoy's sway. That despot, by his measures respecting the southern settlements, having created a solitude, called it peace, and these sycophants responded to the cry."

A most unprovoked outrage by a Maori is related in the following deposition, taken before the police magistrate on the 3d instant :—: —

" Henry Baker, being sworn, states : lam a butcher, and reside at Wellington. This morning I saw a Maori passing my door. I asked him where he had come from; he said from Ohariu. He told me, that a relation of his had two pigs on the hills at Otari; and had desired him that if he saw a white man who wanted to buy them, he (the Maori) was to bring him up there. I went with him, and we had proceeded he yond the- house of Henry Burling, at Otari. Tlie Maori then told me, that he had a pig in the bush, and wished me to see that first. There was a piece of wheat which the Maori wished iae to go across. I refused, telling him that t^-j owner would be angry with me if I walked across it. He then left me under pretence of looking for the pig. He* shortly returned and ftsked me to assist him to catch the pig with a dog which I had with me. 1 set the dog in search of the pig. Shortly afterwards the Maori •uddenly caught me by the legs and threw me on my back. He then attempted to draw his bili hook out of his blanket; but I was up too quickly for him. He succeeded in striking me on the head with the bill-hook, which wounded me severely. I caught hold of the bill-hook, and wrested it from him. At this moment 1

was seized by the leg by the dog, and thrown on ray knees. The Maori closed with me at this instant, and in the struggle we rolled down the hill into a stream of water. He got the billhook from me, and struck at me several times. My hand is severely cut, and my head cut in several places. I believe the Maori would have murdered me had Henry Burling not heard my cries and come to my assistance. I do not know the name of the Maori, but I should know him again if I were to see him."

We subjoin a few extracts :—: —

Value op Debentures. — On Monday last Mr. Waitt put up to auction a lot of Government debentures, we suppose with the view of determining their value. Seventeen shillings and sixpence (payable in specie or Union Bank of Australia notes) was bid. A pound note of the Union Bank of Australia was then put up, payable in debentures, and brought twenty-one shillings and sixpence. — Spectator, Oct. 25.

On Tuesday last, the detachment of the 96th regiment, which has been stationed for the last three months at Fort Richmond, in the Hutt district, was relieved by a company of the 58th, and took possession of its old quarters, Te Aro Barracks, at the head of the bay. — Ibid.

Goats. — These animals are become a formidable nuisance in the town to those who have gardens, and have pleased themselves with the idea of raising vegetables or fruit. No fence balks them ; and their owners appear to take little consideration whose crops arc destroyed, so that their beasts are fed. We call attention to the warning of the police magistrate in this day's paper, and hope the fines will be strictly j enforced :—": — " Government Notice. — Complaints having been made at this office, of the number of cattle found wandering at large in the town of Wellington, and of frequent damage done to cultivated grounds by such cattle, notice is hereby given, that if any horned or neat cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or swine, shall he found wandering at large in any of the streets or public places of the town of Wellington, the owner thereof shall forfeit and pay for every head of cattle so wandering, any sum not exceeding five shillings.— Henry St. Hill, P. M. Police Office, Wellington, October 27th, 1845."— 1 bid., November 1.

On Sunday, the 26th October last, Mr. Nankeville's house, at Manawatu, was burned down, and we are sorry to add that everything it contained was entirely destroyed. The house, which was a very large one, was built of reeds and tohi-tohi: and it is supposed that the fire was occasioned by a 6park from the chimney, which communicated with the thatch. — Ibid., Nov. 8.

Robberies.— On Saturday night the stores of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter were broken open, and various articles taken ; and on Monday night Mr. Waitt's store was robbed of two ba>is of flour and one bag of sugar : some robberies have also occurred at Wade's Town. The police ought to exert themselves to discover the depredators. — Ibid., Nov. 8.

Wellington Markets (Retail Prices), November 1, 1845. — First flour, £14 to £18 per ton ; bread, per 2lb. loaf, od. ; beef, Cd. to Bd. per lb.; mutton, 7d. to lOd. peril).; pork, 3d. to 4d. per lb. ; fowls, per pair, 3a. ; ducks, per pair, 55.; geese, Bs. each; turkeys, 7s. each; fresh butter, Is. per lb. ; salt butter, Is. 2d. per lb. ; potatoes, £2 10s. per ton ; eggs, Is. per dozen; cheese (New Zealand), Is. per lb. ; Bathurst. Bd. per lb. ; maize, 3s. 3d. per bushel ; ale, Is. 6d. per gallon; ham and bacon, 7d. to Bd. per lb.; firewood, per cord, 12s. — Ibid.