New Zealand Gazette AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR. Saturday, June 19, 1841.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume 19, Issue 62, 19 June 1841, Page 2

New Zealand Gazette AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR. Saturday, June 19, 1841.

COAL. There are remarks constantly in the Australian papers, on the importance to the progress of settlements in this part of the world, of further discoveries of coal. Papers anticipate as at hand the introduction of an extensive arrangement of steam communication among these Colonies. Adopting this view, and coinciding in the importance to us all of steam power, we record as we obtain any information connected with the subject. We begin to believe that a boundless supply of the best description of coals will be found in New Zealand. We have already announced that coal has been found at Wanganui (broad river) in the Middle Island, commonly called the Southern Island. Wanganui is situated just to the west of Cape Farewell. The Jewess brought a cargo from there to this port a few months since. Conl is found on the beach in Massacre Bay —situated in the Straits, and not far from Cape Farewell. These places are both on the other side of Cook's Straits.

On this side coal has been found at Waimate (sick water.) That place is situated half way between Taranaki and Wanganui, in this Island. Waimate is about abreast of Massacre Bay. Coal as been found on the other side of Port Nicholson, at Wyderop — in Palliser Baj . It has also been found in small pieces in Evans' Bay, and the indications have led the geologist recently to fed assured that coal will bo found there. But- the greatest discovery in this way has been made in tho last few days, and which will lead to a general belief that there i* a. la -ga quantity of the finest coal in the world in this harbour. Some large pieces of the purest coal were obtained from a ravine in the immediate neighbourhood of the town. It is now our firm conviction that we are well supplied with this elpment of progress and prosperity. At no distant date the vessels bound from Australia to India will land cattle here, and load with coal for their destination.

1 Many persons are squatting on the public ' lands, and are under the impression that they will be allowed to remain unmolested for | several years. This is an error into which they i would not have fallen had they examined the conditions upon which the lands about the town have bean presented by the New Zealand Company to the community. The most pro- . minent condition is that, these lamls are at no time to bo built upon. Were the public to dis- : regard this injunction, it appears to us that the ' land would thereby again be vested in the j Company. The object the Company had in imj pising this restriction was two-fold. They ex- , pected that the public reserves would be nearly as large as the town they surrounded ; they are in fact about seven hundred, acres. Tliev therefore provided against those, lands being builf upon, which they properly considered would be unfair to those to whom they had sold town lands, as thereby such property would have been greatly deteriorated in value. The other and the most important object regards the interest of the future. There will be a time when it will be most desirable to have large open spaces about the town, and if they were now allowed to be appropriated, a vested right might spring" up, which might be insurmountable hereafter; or only overcome at great- cost to the public. We have no doubt ,rtie conditions of the grant will be strictly inforced, and as soon as the Government arrangements are made, we expect to hear that al] squatters are ordered to leave these reserves. We therefore warn people against throwing away their money in building on what will prove to them a bed of sand.

The brig Ullswater, Gibson master, arrived on Monday last from Launceston, with three hundred and fifty sheep, twenty heifers and working bullocks, and poultry. She lost one

hundred and fifty sheep on the passage. She has brought a most useful cargo, but we suspect had too many on board for the size of the craft.

The brigantine Harrington, Mercer master, arrived on Tuesday last, having sailed from London on the 13th, and Portsmouth on the 20th January, her arrival has been anticipated by the Katherine Stewart Forbes, which sailed on Bth February, and was announced last week. The Harrington has twelve cabin passengers, and a cargo of general merchandize. '1 he vessel is for sale, and would be a useful addition to our Colonial fleet.

The schooner Minerva, David Reid master, arrived on the same day with four hundred sheep from Port Philip.

The barque Sir John Falstaff, Capt. Gordon, arrived on Wednesday from Sydney. She is reported to have sailed on the 7th June, but the papers we have by her are only to the 27th May. They announce the lighting of Sydney with gas as having taken place.

Some conh'adictory statements appear in the Sydney Herald, on the subject of a report about the Portenia having five feet water in the hold when the Lapwing left this. We need hardly say the report was without foundation.

The brig Portunia, Frasier master, arrived on Wednesday last, from Molineux Harbour, having mada the passage in four days. While there the brig lost two anchors. The place named by Cook is ten miles to the south of that now called Molineux Harbour, which appears to be an open roadstead; and is more entitled to the name of a bay than harbour. The harbour described by Co )k is said to be good, but only adapted for a small class of vessels. Another drawback is, we believe that it is open to the southerly winds.

The land is said to be level and beautiful the whole distance from Otago to tho South, and heaving the same character for forty miles inland. A fine river is reported between Ota«-o and Molineux Bay, where there is also another fine river, having its source a considerable way x n the interior. The climate is also spoken of favourably.

We purposed publishing an extra this week, but have not been enabled to command the means of doing so. In consequence, a variety of matter must remain over until our next publication, and especially an interesting account of the formation of a third Colony, under the auspices of the Company, to be settled on the east coast of the Middle Island. The Bailey starts immediately to examine and report on tho variou» harbours supposed to be suitable to the purposes of this new settlement.

We have already noticed the circumstance of vessels from England, which have arrived recently, having a clause in their bills of lad; ij, requiring the consignees to land the go^d* :d their own cost. Vessels which have arrived here since then have the same condition attached to their billa of lading-. Tins is attended with great inconvenience and expence to our merchants, while there is no reason why the usual custom in most colonies should be set aside here. The facilities for landing are abundant, and unusually good, considering the early state of the colony's existence. Agair. we urge upon shippers at home to resist the attempt to saddle us with expenses, by refusing to ship by vessels imposing such an unreasonable condition.

The Lady Nugent, which sailed last week for India, while h -re refitted with Port Nicholson spars. She hah four yards, made out of moi or red pine, and three booms, of manuka or the tea tree.