New Zealand Gazette. AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume 22, Issue 58, 22 May 1841, Page 2

New Zealand Gazette. AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

Saturday, May 22, 1841. The barque Lord William Bentinck, Capt. Crow, arrived on Wednesday last from London, whence she sailed on the 2nd, and from the Downs oa the Bth af January. She

brings 240 immigrants, chiefly of the agricultural classes, and eight cabin passengers. We have looked over the papers furnished since the arrival of the Bailey, and find them almost destitute of every thing either novel or interesting. The war questions have apparently been settled, though a new subject appears recently to have arisen, apparently of trifling importance, but nevertheless deemed sufficient to constitute a ground of fear that the amicable relations existing between France and England may not be maintained. This cause of alarm has for its basis a quarrel between the exhausted nations of Spain and Portugal, relative to the navigation of the Duoro. It is said this mighty cause of contest by powerless people, has been warmly espoused ; on the one side by France, and, of course, on the other by England. A war arising out of such a cause between the nations of the earth, after the recent maintenance of peace, at a critical moment, when political subjects of high" import really had been on the tapis, would be so monstrously absurd as to bring down on its authors contempt as well merited as it would be destructive of the means of maintaining a purely mischievous contest. General Harrison had successfully contested the Presidency of the United States with Martin Van Buren. We have always felt that the avowed principles of the defeated candidates are those most likely to lead to the best social state in America, if judiciously brought to bear, but neither the defeated President nor General Jackson appeared to us to be competent .to obtain their adoption. The commercial state of things in America will now rapidly improve, because that policy will he pursued which the corflmercial members of the community believe is best adapted to their interests. —————— ! The American ship Black Warrior arrived from Auckland on Saturday last. She left Salem about seven months since with a cargo of " notions," and has since visited Hobart Town, the Bay of Islands, and the Thames. The sale of Auckland town lands had taken j)lac_e. _. We believe we_are_correc£j when we state that twenty-six acres were"* sold, and realized the sum of £21,000. W. Shortland, Esq., had been appointed, by his Excellency Colonial Secretary, with a salary of £600 per annum. We have been told that two, and perhaps three newspapers are lo be established at Auckland. We doubt the correctness of the statement, because the proceeding must palpably be attended with a waste of property, which all stated to be concerned must know could be far more profitably employed. Be this as it may, we sincerely hope, if they come into existence, that they will not be of the character or complexion of the Bay of Islands Government Gazette. It is stated that the Victoria, colonial brig, and H. M. S. Favourite, would leave Auckland together for Port Nicholson. That the Governor would come down in the Favorite, hut, as that vessel has to proceed to Akaroa, would return to his seat of Government in the Victoria. The brig Speculator arrived on Thursday night from Sydney, which she left on the 6th May. The vessel has an assorted cargo, but brings no mail, the cause of which is we suppose a fear that were the latest Sydney prices known here, the cargo might not sell so well as it will in our ignorance, or because one or more vessels are also about to come here, the knowledge of which might check the inclination to purchase this cargo. Be this as it may, the settlers cannot fail to feel that the author of the cause of our not obtaining a mail by the vessel is a narrow-winded selfish trader. In another column we give some extracts from the tenth number (the first we have received) of the New Zealand Government Gazette, published, as announced, under authority, at the Bay of Islands ; and it appears from its typography and imprint, to be printed by the establishment whence was issued heretofore the New Zealand Advertiser 8f Baj of Islands Gazette. As it is declared to be official, and distributed gratis, we may fairly assume the people of Port Nicholson will have the honor of contributing their share of the expense necessarily incurred in sustaining this creditable production. " In New Zealand the press must be to all intents and purposes in public matters, unchained as air." 4 These were the words of the Editor of the defunct Bay of Islands paper, in a circular,

which he distributed amongst his subscribers, appealing to their sympathy against the proceedings of Willoughby Shortland, Esq ; and at the time-, we read them, we were struck with the truth of the remarks. Our contemporary, with feelings which did him honour, resisted the attempt to " gag " him in the frea'expression «f his political opinions ; but we are really at a loss to conceive how human nature can have become so degraded, as to have induced him to assume the aspect of a " fawning sycophant." But times . are changed, we presume ; and bur contemporary, finding that his subscribers had no relish for his mock patriotism, thought that the better part of valour was discretion, and therefore laid his talents and his patriotism at the feet of his Sovereign — the Governor of New Zealand. We beg, however, to take an exception to th« manner in which our patriotic contemporary expresses his new-born zeal for his master; and while he attempts to villify us, and courteously designates our journal as a " hireling print," he should remember that he, unquestionably, is receiving the wages of a hireling, and we think would find it difficult to prove that our journal is not as independent as the most scrupulous man could desire it to be.

When Butler conceived his Hudibras, we think he had some such circumstance in view as that of the mock patriotism of the Bay of Islands Editor, in throwing up his journal in the hour of need :—: — " And sometimes when the loss is small, And danger great, they challenge all ; Print new editions to their feasts, And emendations in Gazettes."

In another paragraph of the circular rereferred to above, this patriotic Editor writes : " The Government of New Zealand does not wish a free press. " How did he know that? Or knowing it — (in which, by the way, perhaps he was n»t far out,) — lie has proved ambitious of the honour of having the first shackled press; and has hastily, as if by instinct, thrown off his allegiance to the people, and become the humble servant of the Government.

It would he tiring the patience of our readers further to expose this shameless tergiversation in a pahlic servant. The jealousy with, which this settlement is viewed by our northern friends is, of course, the key to all his ravings in the Government journal. Is it decent, in the Governmeat to connive at a man slandering a respectable community, from which community it will derive its ) creates*, ravenua.?. A few weeks will decide whether Capt. Hobson has authorised the gross and vulgar praise lavished upon him by this contemptible paper. If the tone and style he continued, the publication will then become valuable as evidence of the talent and taste of the Auckland Government.

We regret to announce the total wreck of the schooner Elizabeth, from this port, on a reef, not laid down in the chart, seven miles from the shore between the . Bay of Islands and Auckland. No lives were lost. The wreck has since been sold, and realized £34. The cutter Harriett, which left this port the same day, bound for the Bay of Islands and Auckland, has not since been heard of, and it is feared has foundered at sea. The stranding of the Jewess was announced a short time since. She was sold, last week, for £113. These were the first vessels owned here, and as they were actively employed in our coasting trade, we fear the settlement will feel their loss in an enhanced price of provisions. We hope our fellow-colpnists will not be discouraged by the fate of their first adventure, but will seek to make good the loss by getting other vessels from the colonies, or from England. We ought to have at least a dozen craft, of tonnage between thirty and one hundred tons, to conduct the trade on the coast now open to this port.

From Capt. Williams, of the Jane, we learn that there was cv.cry prospect of a- successful whaling season on the coast. The brig Islander, from Hobart Town, caught two whales last week in Cloudy Bay ; and Mr. John Madeira's party also obtained two whales, yielding 14 tons. The ship James Stewart, Capt. Dorarity, out twelve months from Sydney, was on the eve of departure for St. John's, Newfoundland, with 2500 barrels black, and 350 barrels sperm oil.

Mr. Bell, an enterprising agriculturist, started on Wednesday sc'nnight, to endeavour to reach Wanganui by land. He took with him a team of eight bullocks and dray, and is accompanied by his two sons; the' whole party were sanguine that they will accomplish the journey. Should they do so, and we heartily wish them success, it will be the first team which has passed over the route ; and will be an additional proof of the practicability of a good road being formed at a comparatively small outlay.

Mr. Le SouefF, for some time Landing Waiter at this port, is appointed Collector and Treasurer of the Customs at Port Nicholson, New Zealand. — Port Phillip paper.

A young gentleman, lately bathing in the Mississippi river, on observing some ladies suddenly approach, instantly drowned himself from motives of extreme delicacy. The following notice is placarded against a house in Long -lane, Smithneld; — "This house is reemoved lower down till the repares are coanpleetcd."