ISLAND OF ST. PAUL.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 18, 4 October 1845, Page 4

ISLAND OF ST. PAUL.

We find in the Maxiritien an account of the recent occupation of the Island of St. Paul, by' the French. The situation of that volcanic island is well known to most Indian readers, many of whom have passed very near it in their outward passage. We were puzzled to guess the object which had led our ambitions neighbours to occupy such an uninviting a spot, possessed of no harbour, scarcely indeed affording a shelter or anchorage, and too barren for cultivation. The French have notoriously a rage for colonization , but there are so mat y unoccupied spots more desirable, which they might colonize if they pleased ; that it appeared an unaccountable whim to convert such an island intW? a dependency of the " Grande Nation." It appears however, by a report before us, that it is a private speculation, not a national enterprise. Certain Frenchmen have discovered that the islands of St. Paul and Amsterdam are excellent fishing stations, and that thejsurrounding seas abound in cod and fish of the best quality. They have taken 1200 fish daily, and expect to take 2000 with their present means Their object, is to supply the Bourbon market, salt cod being the principal food ot the negroes in that colony. According to the account before us, the self constituted Govei— nor had ordered off an American, who was desirous of fishing near the island. The Mauritien doubts how the French will regard the establishment at St. Paul, which will only interfere with their own Newfoundland fishery, a trade supported by heavy bounties, and therefore we may reasonably suppose a special favourite. It will therefore be a question, whether the hatred of " Perfidious Albion," which is gratified by colonizing, will supersede the power of class interests, and induce the French to sanction this unauthorised settlement. In a military view, it is utterly worthless ; as there is no possibility of securing even for a single vessel irom the attack of .the cruisers ; and consequently it would not be useful in preying upon British commerce, although its position is ho close to the track of outward bound ships, which otherwise would make it an important possession in time of war.— ffobart Town Observer.

The anniversary meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society was held on Tuesday last, at Exeter Hall. The meeting was the largest we ever remember to have seen, the platform and every seat in the body of the great hall being occupied. The chair was taken by the Marquis of Breadalbane, who congratulated them on the success of the missions, and on the spread, of the gospel by the exertions of missionaries. The report, or rather portions of the printed document which formed it, were read by the secretaries, ltsetfoith that the insufficiency of the ordinary income to meet the regular annual expenditure of the Society had been a cause of the utmost anxiety to the committee forsevetal years, and in their urgent appeals to their friends, which they had been compelled to make, to remove or prevent deficiencies in the form of debt, they had had to perform what they had felt to be by no means a pleasant task. The report having been read, a number of resolutions in support of the objects of the Society were put and carried. It was announced, in the course of the proceedings, that Mr. Ciowtuer had subscribed £200, and Mr. Farmer £100.— Atlas, May 10. Effects of Teetotalism on Sabre Woumus.— Only thirty-eight wound cases were received into our field hospital (at Glmnzee); six of them belonged to her Majesty's 2nd or Queen's, twenty-seven to the European regiment, and three sepoys of the 48th regiment N. I. Three men of the European regiment/ died in the hospital ; one from a matchlock-ball pas-* 1 sing through his chest aud injuring the backbone* and the other two from matchlock-balls penetratiugthe abdomen, so as to occasion the profusion of t,he bowels. Happily the gun shot wounds — ihe most dangerous — were ,few. All the sword cuts» which were very numerous, aud many of them very deep, united iv the most satisfactory manner, which we decidedly attributed to the men not having received any intoxicating drink for the previous six weeks, the commissariat having none to give ihem. In consequence there was no mflaiuatory actiou to produce fever, and interrupt the adhesion of the parts ; a strong argument iv favor Of teetotalism. — AtklnsorCt Afghanistan.