MR. PROTECTOR CLARKE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 20 December 1845, Page 166

MR. PROTECTOR CLARKE.

The Colonial Gazette of the 17th Mjay asks " where Mr. Protector Clarke got iso much money as £1,000, which he assejrU he has expended in the purchase of lajnd from the natives." Here the Colonial GPazette is in error. By reference to the claii ms as published in the Government Gazette, it will be found that Mr. Clarke asserts tl lat he has paid £1,476 18s. for the land he claims. And in addition to this he furtl ter asserts (Blue Book, 1844, Appendix, p. 4A 8) that on the suburban allotment which ho got under Sir George Gipps's regulation he had expended £2,000. Thus we have this lay missionary declaring positively that he had previously to September, 1842, invested £3,476 1 is. sterling in the purchase and improvenu snt of land! Well may the Colonial Gazette ask where he got so much money. And observe that he could not have say ed it out of his excessive salary as protect ar, since he was appointed to that office only in May, 1841. Perhaps it was his savii gs in the gunsmith business ; perhaps he had a legacy left him ; perhaps he has sold hi inself in the same market as Faust did, and this is his price. Any way, however, it isremarkable, and must excite the curios ity of the supporters of lay missionaries. Important — if true. — In the Morn Ing Chronicle report of Sir Robert Peel's spe( sch in the debate of July 23d, there is the f allowing remarkable passage. We have in vain looked through the other papers ti tat have reached us for some confirmation of it or allusion to it, and are therefore mclii ed to think it must have been a mistake of 1 he reporter, for it is hardly probable so important a declaration would have pasued without comment. — "With regard to Auckland, I told the house that I was prepa ed to give an assurance that the seat of gove -nment should be transferred from thence, a nd my noble friend has given instructions in precise conformity." His Excellency the Governor sailed for the Bay of Islands in the Elphinstone, on the 22d of November. Despatches for the Governor have arrived by the Nelson. Commencement of Harvest. — Several small fields of wheat in this settlemsnt have been cut during the past week. The early sown crop, notwithstanding the unusually dry season we have had, is generally very good ; but we regret to hear that in some instances smut has again made its Appearance, particularly where the land is light, or has been insufficiently worked. Several fields of barley will be cut in the ensuing week. Brewery. — The Auckland Times announces, in a recent number, the " probable certainty " that the " vaunted Nelson Brewery is upon its way to Auckland." Our contemporary has by this time, we hope, discovered bis mistake ; that the brewery remains here, and that the ale only goes to Auckland. So far from Messrs. Hooper and Co. contemplating any removal, they are making arrangements for considerably extending their establishment. Staves. — We have great pleasure in stating that casks made of the black birch of this settlement are considered at the brewery here to be quite equal to thoae made of the best English oak, and in some respects superior. In confirmation of this opinion, it was found that in the last cargo of ale sent to Auckland, several heads of the oaken casks sprung on the voyage, while all those made of birch were landed perfectly sound. The preparation of staves is at present giving employment to several h4nds here, and as they are really turned out in a superior manner, we have no doubt Ihey will find a ready market, and eventually form an important item in our exports.