EXTRACTS

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume 19, Issue 62, 19 June 1841, Page 3

EXTRACTS

From the New Zealand Journal, published in London. A Correspondent, who signs "a Constant Reader," complains that being about to emigrate to New Zealand, he had enquired the price of a stern cabin in the Katharine Stewart Forbes, and had been informed by the owners, Messrs. Chapman and Co., that the price was tioo hundred and twenty guineas — a price which our correspondent contends is exorbitant, and he expresses an opinion " that the Company should interfere." We have made inquiry into the facts stated, and we find our correspondent is under an error. The cabin in question is adapted for two persons, and would even accommodate a gentleman and his wife, with one or two child] en. The ordinary cabins in the vessel are ninety guineas for a whole, or sixtyfive guineas for a half cabin ; a price which is in accordance with the usual rate of passage to Australia. If our correspondent wishes for the best cabin in the ship, and one largo enough fur a family, he must make up his mind to'pny the best price. Our correspondent also falls into error in thinking the ship in question chartered by the New Zealand Company. - The owners have simply contracted to convey the Company's emigrants to Port Nicholson at a certain price. The Company cannot interfere with the owners in their private contracts with cabin passengers. The owners have a perfect right to ask their own terms, and if they ask too much, they only stand in their own light. We think, however, that if our correspondent will take the trouble to enquire the prices of cabins in Sydney ships of good character, he will find they are about the same as in ihe case lie complains of. — [We differ in opinion on this subject with our contemporary. We are convinced that the whole arrangements for passengers should be under the controul of the Company. There can be no good reason in drawing a distinction, and the only way to secure responsibility is to require the certificate granted the Captain by the Company's Agent to express the fulfilment of duty to the cabin as well as to the steerage passengers. It is to the interest of the Company as well as of the cabin passengers, that they should be brought here at the smallest possible expense. Every farthing more than necessary is a deduction to the extent from the capital of the Colony. Many have had great reason to complain of the price they have had to pay for cabin passages. We think seventyfive pounds a sufficient sum for a passage in the cabin, and the Company should take care that more is not required. They, and they alone, em controul this important matter. — Ed. K.Z.G.] The Bisnor-Ric— -We are requested to correct pii error, into which we and other papers had fallen, respecting certain contributions towards Ihe fund for establishing Colonial Bishoprics. The contributions in question, — £2,000 by the Queen Dowager, £1,000 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, £1,000 by the Bishop of London, £10,000 by the Christian Knowledge Society, £5,000 by the Propagation of the Gospel Society, and £400 by the Coloninl Church Society, — were made to the General Fund for the establishment of Colonial Bishoprics, and not as stated " towards establishing and endowing a Bishopric in the Colony of New Zealand." The portion of the paragraph relative to the successful state of the negotiations between the Church Society of New Zealand and the Government is, however, quite correct. It was reported in New Zealand that his Excellency Captain Hobson had purchased IVIr. Clendon's property at "the Bay of Islands on Government account for £22,000. It was further stated that this property cost Mr. Clendon only £20 a few years since. If this be true, his Excellency is dispensing his favours with a liberal hand. Perhaps he had fallen in love With Col. Gawler's policy in South Australia. Lord John Russell has given notice that he should move for a select committee to enquire into the affairs of South Australia. It is somewhat singular, that the weak point of the South Australian system, taken as a whole, is where the Government alone has full influence — viz., in the office of Governor. In all other respects, South Australia has gone on well.