EXTRACTS FROM THE SYDNEY PAPERS.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Issue 5, 9 May 1840, Page 4

EXTRACTS FROM THE SYDNEY PAPERS.

New Zealand. — A public meeting of New Zealand Settlers, Landowners, and Merchants will be held at the Lower Rooms of the Exchange, on Thursday next the 2nd of April, at 2 o'clock, p.m., when the Committee appointed at a preliminary Meeting held on Monday, the 28th March, for the purpose of preparing resolutions relative to the protection of landed property in that colony will be ready to lay before the meeting the result of their labours. The attendance of all persons connected with or interested in New Zealand is earnestly requested. — By order of the Committee, Charles B. Brewer, Hon. Sec. Mutual Insurance. — A company of this description is about to be formed in Sydney, on the same principles as similar societies in England, which have turned out most beneficial to ' the community. A public meeting is about to be called, on this, or the beginning of next week. Rice Flour. —By the " Government Gazette " of the 25th inst y we see that the Governor directs it to be -notified that rice flour may be obtained on application to the office of the Colonial Storekeeper, in bags containing 150lbs. each, at the rate of 17s. per lOOlbs. French Company. — We have been informed from good authority, that a French company of theatricals is about to visit Sydney. We are glad to learn this, as we consider that such an establishment will encourage the study of that polite and beautiful language. The same theatre might serve both the English and French companies, by their performing on different nights, which would likewise give

the public what they are very fond of, viz. : variety. The company above alluded to, are expected from the Isle of France. Female Factory, Parramatta. — The following is the present state of that Factory : :-■=— Under colonial sentence, 214 ; solitary confinement, 72; confined by order of the matron, 3 ; nursing children^ 52 ; assignable, 367 ; not assignable, 89 ; in hospital, 36. Making in all a total number of women 833, and 261 children. Abusive Language. — The language made use' of in the streets of Sydney is sometimes, without description, brutal. Some time ago, we saw a person whose name we afterwards ascertained to be James Hardy, dragging about and abusing with the grossest language, a woman in Cumberland-street. He was, however, taken in charge, and we understand has been fined in £4. This punishment is much too mild, considering the expressions made use of; three months in gaol would have been an inadequate punishment. The American whaler " Tobacco Plant." — On the first arrival in this port of H.M.S. "Herald," our readers will call to mind an account of that vessel having picked up a boat and crew in the Java Seas, who stated themselves to be the only- survivors of the crew of the a"bove whaler. The yarn they spun to Captain Nias appearing very plausible, they were received on board, and landed, we believe, at Hobart Town. In our last number, we published the arrival of the " Tobacco Plant" at the Bay of Islands in a leaky state, the master of which vessel informed our correspondent, that the boat's crew picked up by the " Herald," had mutinied on board, and taken the boat with provisions from the vessel in spite of the master, threatening at the same time the lives of any one of the crew who dared to interfere. No contradiction respecting the destruction by fire of the "Tobacco Plant" having as yet appeared through the medium of our journal, we feel it our duty to avail ourselves of the information we have just received, by publishing the above statement for the consolation of those whom it may concern. Extract of a Letter from the Bay of Islands. — The barque " Nimrod" left Port Jackon heads on 17th Feburary; had fine weather till the Thursday following, when we •were under double-reefed topsails with a fair wind, going 9 knots, which lasted till Saturday. Nothing of any consequence transpired till Friday, the 23rd Feb., we then fell in with a S.E. gale about 15 miles from the land. We took in sail as the gale increased. The first sail that went was the fore-top-mast staysail, then then the main trysail ; we laid too under a close main topsail, The gale still increasing, the topsail blew away, it was so violent. We were then under bare poles. It now became a hurricane, Avith heavy rain, thunder, and lightening, a most terrific sea running, and all attemps to carry canvas proved useless ; the only portion of that article that could be used was the fore-topmast studdingsail, which was, after some difficulty, got up and down the main rigging, which brought the vessel's head to wind. She proved herself an excellent sea boat, and shipped very little water ; she now began to labour very much, the wind still increasing ; at 9 o'clock at night we carried away the main-topmast, top-gal-lantmast, and yards over the side. At 11 o'clock the same night, the foretop-mast, topgallantmast, and yards went over the side together, with the jib-boom. All hands were employed cutting away the wreck and throwing the hay overboard to clear the decks ; towards morning the gale moderated, and when we came on deck you can fancy what a complete wreck we were. All the Sunday was taken up in getting the ship to rights and making what sail we possibly could. We sighted the land on Monday, about 30 miles distant, but having no sails and fine weather, we could make no way. We continued in sight of the entrance of the Bay till the Thursday following, the sth March, although sometimes within j 10 miles, the current at night setting us off 15 J and 20 miles. On Friday morning early the (Gth,) we were in the entrance, which is 9 miles wide ; it was then a calm ; H. M. S. " Herald" was close in shore, about 2 miles from us, and the " Kate" schooner. A light favourable wind enabled us to drop anchor at 4 p.m., after a passage of 18 days. Three cows died on the passage. Since our arrival several ships have arrived having encountered the gale with us, two of them are likely to be condemned, one had 7 feet and another 10 feet water in the hold. The " Harriet," whaler was totally lost in the Bay, while riding at anchor, and nearly all the boat of the inhabitants were lost on the beach during the same gale. Colonial Banks. — We see from the last number of the " Government Gazette," that (he total value is £170.215; that the total itmount of coin in the several banks is ;i357.296 6s. lOd. Of these, the Bank of

Australasia has the largest amount, and the Commercial Bank the least. Colonial Tobacco. — By the " Herald " of yesterday, we are sorry to learn that the crops of tobacco have this season been a complete failure. On the banks of the rivers Paterson and Williams, two of the principle districts in which it is grown, the crops have entirely failed. Eleven vessels entered Port Philip Bay the night of the departure of the " Coluiribian," but owing to the lateness of the hour, their names were not ascertained. ~