AND BRITANNIA SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume L, Issue 27, 17 October 1840, Page 3

AND BRITANNIA SPECTATOR.

Saturday, Oct. 17, 1840. > The. barque " Magnet," Captain Bruce, arrived on Wednesday last, from Sydney, after a passage of 16 days. The " Cuba " arrived at Sydney on 20th September, and was *tp- sail for this port thrpp days after the de-

parture of the " Magnet." The " Magnet " has the mail of the " Lavinia," which she fell in with at Kapiti. The "Lavinia" having been disappointed in getting oil, would not visit Port Nicholson, as advertised some time since, but was about to return to Sydney for cargo. The "Magnet" had Messrs Park and Deans, on board, who were driven to sea* in a boat from Wanganui, and fortunately, picked up by this vessel. A letter from Sydney of 26th Sept. states, that the deputation had an interview with Sir George Gipps on the 2ith, and contrary to the accounts they had received in Sydney, His Excellency appeared really very well disposed towards this settlement; and the deputation were inclined to hope that he would substantially meet the views' of the Colonists so far as in his power. There is a report in circulation, but we know, not its foundation, that the New Zealand Company had made some arrangement 'with Ministers respecting the possession of territory in New Zealand. The '"Cuba" took a large number of letters from this place, and put them into the post office, at Sydney, and in consequence of their postage between this and Sydney not having 'been paid, they have all been returned, and will be sent forward again upon the postage being paid. The return of these letters we fear will be attended with some inconvenience. The safer course is always to send through the post office of the place were the party is residing. All the gentlemen who went out with the "'surveying expedition to Taranaki, have returned. As we have already announced, Messrs. Park and Deans came in with the " Magnet," and Messrs. Stokes and Heaphy arrived the same evening by land. Much in recommendation has been said respecting Wanganui, but we understand that those well qualified to judge, greatly prefer the Taranaki district. We are happy to be able to report that the Missionaries on the route behaved in the kindest manner to the members of the | expedition. We hope it will be in our power next week to give our readers an interesting report of the trip. ■"V * ' i i r i iii * We beg to notify to our subscribers, that the third quarter commences with this number. The sawyers have been stopped by a notification that they must not proceed without a granted by the proprietors and endorsed by the Magistrate. The steady sawyers have been earning immense wages, and the drunken of the class might have done likewise; At the present price for timber the sawyers can afford to pay the proprietors for license to cut timber, and yet have more than is obtained in any other place for the same kind of work. Doubtless they will endeavour to enhance the cost of timber, at least to the extent they have to'pay to the proprietors, and their succeeding in this will depend upon the supply of timber henceforward being equal to the demand. As. we consider sawyers greatly overpaid, we hope by the aid of foreign supplies or from more persons being attracted to this lucrative pursuit, that the supply will become .so large as to reduce the article to a price which would be sufficiently high to enable the sawyers to live well, but not allow them to be idle, and drunken, a great portion of the week.