THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, October 21, 1848.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 346, 21 October 1848, Page 134

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, October 21, 1848.

Journals beoome mor* neetiiary m man become more uaal and indifidualUm more to be feared. It would bo to underrate IhtlrintporUnee to tuppoie that tiny i«rre only to «M*r« liberty i they maintain civilisation. Ob Tocou«V!ii.»« . Of Demourec; in America, toi. it., p. 100.

We arc glad to learn that the subject relating to the appropriation of the " Trust ■Funds" belonging to the Nelson settlement, has not been altogether allowed to lie dormant since the receipt of the last despatch from the New Zealand Company thereon. We understand that a private meeting of some of the landowners was held on Saturday last, at which it was agreed that, as a preparatory step previous to the receipt of the Company's next communication on the subject, the existing committee, originally appointed to draw up the memorial thereon to the Company, should open a correspondence with his Excellency the Governor-in-chief, with reference to the employment of the Emigration and Steam Fund, in some manner that might be advantageous as well to the settlement as the Government. This preliminary step was thought desirable in order to lessen the chances of delay when the funds should be handed over to the management of the trustees to be appointed by the Proprietors, or become otherwise available.

We find that Mr. F. D. Bell, who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Fox as the New Zealand Company's Resident Agent in Nelson, is not likely to enter on his duties immediately, but is about to proceed with an officer of the Government to the Wairarapa, to endeavour to purchase that and the adjoining districts of the natives, which it is supposed will occupy him from four to six months. We regret exceedingly that before entering on arrangements for new settlements, the Company's officers have not felt it their duty to complete their engagements to their Nelson settlers. Fcr the want of the Waitohi as a port for the Wairau, the reselection of our suburban land is kept in abeyance, to the great detriment of the settlement. Applications are almost daily made to agents and proprietors for land on lease, and for the cause we have stated no leases can be given, because it is impossible to say to whom the land will belong. We have heard on good authority that the natives are willing to sell the Waitohi, and a week would probably settle the negotiation ; yet this important and pressing claim is to be deferred for, it may be months, while the officers of the Company and the Government are running after natives to get land for a new settlement. We think the Company would do well to "be off with the old love before they are on with the new," for this neglect of the interests of Nelson is a poor return for the forbearance which the settlers have so long evinced.

We omitted last week to mention, that at a meeting which had been called of the friends of Mr. Brunner,it was agreed to present that gentleman with a testimonial for the perseverance with which, almost entirely at his own cost, he had explored a great portion of this island. A subscription list was at once opened, which lies at the warehouse of Mr. Fell, who kindly consented to act as treasurer. This acknowledgment of Mr. Brunner's services on the part of the settlers, will not lessen the claim which we conceive that gentleman to have both on the Government of the colony and the New Zealand Company. The journal we have published of Mr. Brunner's expedition gives ; an Unvarnished statement of the extreme hardships and privations he , encountered; for, when the nature of the country v considered, and the total absence of tU external raoeour he experienced, we

consider Mr. Brunner's journey as one of the most extraordinary ever accomplished.

In speaking last week of the inacceisibility of the Wairarapa by. sea, we fell into a slight error, which we wish to correct. We stated, that when the bottom of Palliser Bay was gained, there would be a long inland carriage of at least twenty miles before any considerable tract of land would be reached. This, though true enough as regards any block of land bearing any proportion to the probable extent of the proposed settlement, is not literally correct as regards a few thousand acres, which we believe may be found of good quality at almost the bottom of the valley. It is the danger which is run in conveying goods by boats to the Wairarapa, and the enormous expense of carriage, which renders it impracticable for a settlement in the valley to draw its supplies or send its produce that way. As hitherto there has been no other mode of getting away the wool, this has been submitted to, but, saying nothing of the damage which it frequently sustains, the present reduced freight from the Wairarapa to Wellington is the same as it is from Sydney to London.

During the present week, the inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood of Nelson have been kept in a state of considerable excitement, from the occurrence of one of those singular subterranean phenomena, which in some countries are occasionally productive of great devastation and physical calamity, but which, in New Zealand, have hitherto apparently been unattended with any very destructive effects. £*On Monday last, at 1h.40m., p.m., an earth-tremor, or, as it is commonly called, an earthquake, unceremoniously roused every body from their sleep by the violence and long continuance of its vibratory movements, causing somewhat alarming oscillations of the walls of their dwellings, as well as of the furniture in the interior. The first shock lasted upwards of two minutes (though some are of opinion that three distinct shocks were comprised in this time) and was succeeded by numerous others of greater or lesser force for the space of an hour, after which, and during the whole of the day, vibrations of a minor kind were constantly experienced. On Tuesday the state of things was no better — a violent but short concussion taking place at 3b. 40m., p. m., preceeded and followed by many minor tremours. On Wednesday the earth was in a very tremulous state, but there were no shocks of much force. In the evening, the Aurora Australis was visible for a considerable time, throwing out rays of lurid light, and giving to the sky a wild and somewhat ominous aspect. On Thursday .again a smart shock occurred at 4b. 55m., a. tn., lasting nearly half a minute, and, as on the previous days, there was a constant succession of vibrations and ooncussions of lesser force. In the evening, at about 7 o'clock, there was a tremendous thunder storm, which pasted over a part of the town only, from the directions of east, or south-east. The Aurora Australis again made its appearance at about nine, exhibiting its corruscations in the same singular manner, 1 and adding as it were to the intensity of excitement and anxiety in the minds of many, which had been produced by these unusual demonstrations of terrestrial agitation. On Friday, the earth's crust still laboured under the same causes of commotion as before — the undulatory movements, although generally slight, constantly occuring at short intervals during the whole of the day and following night. The shocks appear all to have come from about N.E., and as they were felt both in the Straits and at the mouth of the bay, by the Supply and the Ralph Bernal, we make no doubt but they have been experienced with equal severity in the other island. Although the people in the town are considerably alarmed, and still anxious as regards the stability of their dwellings against such repeated and long continued concussions, we do not hear of much damage having been sustained. One or two chimneys have been partially dislodged, and fissures have occurred in the walls of two or three brick dwellings. Undoubtedly this has been the most serious visitation of the kind that we have experienced since the formation of the settlement, and one that will naturally cause a little anxiety to the more timid, although in reality we ourselves see no further cause for permanent alarm than may be adduced from the demonstration of other phenomena during nature's progressive development ol her mysteries, or, than what may happen in the common chapter of accidents incidental to human life, t «

In concluding our notice of this subject, it may not be amiss to suggest, that it behoves all persons about to erect houses of brick or stone, to be careful in having their work well bonded and cemented together, and the foundationsjproperly secured. Some of the buildings of this kind that have been constructed in the settlement have been far from sufficiently substantial in this respect

| The Supply left Otago on Saturday last, and brought intelligence that the Blundell was to sail for Wellington on the day following. The mail by this vessel has now been five months on its passage, whereas, had it been sent by the Cornelia, whibfe came to Wellington dirrct, our letters would have reached us two months ago. Sending a mail for Cook's Straits by way of Otago causes a serious delay in the delivery of letters ; Sydney is a far better route. We do not understand why the Postmaster at Otago did not send on the Nelson letters by the Supply, instead of causing a still further delay to us by sending them by way of Wellington.

The barque Ralph Bernal, from Sydney bound to London, with a cargo of tallow, hides, wool, &c, put in here yesterday to repair a leak, which she sprung in a gale of wind two days after sailing. A survey has since been held, and it Mas found that the leak, which is in the fore part of the vessel, may be got at by lightening her at the bow. It is therefore probable that she will not be delayed beyond Tuesday next, and that she will then proceed on her voyage. The Ralph Bernal is the Post Office Packet for October, and it was therefore with great reluctance that Captain Maclaren made this slight deviation in his voyage ; but to have proceeded round Cape Horn with a leaky ship, rather than experience a week's delay, would have been highly blameable. Since leaving Sydney on the 6th instant, the Ralph Bernal has met with a series of gales of the worst description, and the news from our own coast shows that the present season has been unusually tempestuous.

The sailing of the Ralph Bernal will afford an excellent opportunity for communicating with England. As this vessel proceeds direct, there will be no postage charged upon letters sent by her.

It is reported by the master of the Emily, from Wellington, that one, if not two vessels have been wrecked? in Palliser Bay during the late gales.

Accident. — On Wednesday morning last* as a little girl named Gibson, about eight years of age, the daughter of one of the constables, was in the act of lifting a kettle of water on to the fire, her clothes ignited, and, before assistance could be procured, was burnt in so dreadful a manner as to cause her death on the following day.

We are indebted to the kindness of Captain Maclaren for Sydney papers to the sth instant. We have extracted some of the latest European news, and shall give more next week.