AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Issue 37, 26 December 1840, Page 3

AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

Saturday, Dec. 26, 1840.

Our readers will find in to-day's paper a long letter with the signature of "Veritas," professedly calleJ forth by the remarks we made last week respecting the impropriety of attempting to seduce the working man to leave a free Colony, and proceed to the penal settlement. This letter was sent to our office by Mr. H. Brown, of Van Dieman's Land, jnoi c notorii«.vs than celebrated in Port Nicholson. Those who «re acquainted with this gentleman, will compreWnd the impotent nvilice which has dictated ttiia castigating production. The false charges, paltry insinuations, and mendacious statements, are more amusing than annoying. We have in--reited this letter, to enable the settlers to see the character of the productions with which a veracious e>e witness has doubtless supplied his employers in abundance. Want of space, and having had to make our paper up at an earlier hour than usual, in consequence of Friday being Christmas day, prevent our offering more remarks this week on this ■ honest effusion.

The brigantine " St. Marie," with the French Catholic Bishop on board, arrived here from Akaroa -on Thursday, after four days' passage. All was quiet at the French settlement, where H.M.S. " Favorite," Capt. Dunlop, had remained a, week, and then sailed for Sydney. She felf in with the Chilian brig " Teresa," which sailed from this port last week, but could not speak her. The " Teresa " was on her way to Akaroa, where Hoar was wanted ; but as orders have come by the " St. Marie " to purchase here, it is doubtful whether she will be able to effect sales.

The Catholic Bishop performed mass yesterday (Christmas day.) This is the first occasion upon which this imposing service has been celebrated in Port Nicholson.

We are glad to find by an advertisement in another column, that the working men of Port Nicholson are about to establish a Mechanic's Institution. It cannot fail to be

highly useful, and we hope our fellow^Jolonists .will, to the best of their ability, augment the Library by the contribution of useful work's.

The schooner rt Jarie M sailed on Thursday, with Mr. Carrington, the first assistant-sur-veyor, and six men, for Wanganui, to commence marking out country sections forthe holders of second series of orders. It is expected that possession will be given at a very early, period.

Mr. Carririgton, Surveyor-General to the Plymouth Company, and staff, will sail in a few days in the New Zealand Company's barque " Brougham," to , select and survey a proper site for the operations of that Company.

By our advertising columns it will he seen the Surveyor-General announces fifty countr^ sections in this district to be open to inspection, and that the selection will commence on Wednesday, the 30th Dec, at 11 o'clock.

Last week our paper stated the quantity of available land at Wyderop to be five-hundred' thousand acres ; it ought to have been fifty thousand acres. We beg to to state that neither our printers nor devils were to blame ; and small though the*blunder may he deemed, the merit of it "is entirely our oowen c

... -^The schooner " Jewess " has arrived from Wanganui, in the Middle Island, with'a cargo of coals. All who have seen them agree that they are of the finest quality, and we are happy to be able to state tifat theyv.can be had in abundance, which cannot fail to be\satisfaietory to the Colonists, as at no distant tlate large quantities of coals will be required for the purposes of steam navigation on the coast and between this and Australia and other Islands.

We announce with satisfaction that a sagr and grist mill, which has been some months in the Colony, but in consequence of. the death of a valuable Colonist, has not been brought into operation, is about to be erected immediately. The saw mill we believe can cut ten thousand feet. in a day. And as this is a country in which grain can be preserved for years, without injury, it is to be hoped a stock will now be kept, ready at any moment to be worked up for the use of the Australian markets.

Mr. W. Lyon having removed to Wellington, our subscribers at Petoni can procurrvJ their papers of Mr. J. Telford, who has kindly consented to act as our agent.

The Laird of Waiwatu's last. — Why is Port Nicholson like a nursery? — D'ye give it up? — Because it contains an infanx.Colo-' ny, and is full of squalls.

Birth. — On Monday morning last, at halfpast one o'clock, the wife of Mr. H. Meech, ship and boat builder, of a son.