;! AND.WELLINGTON SPECTATO^! j

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume II, Issue 98, 15 December 1841, Page 2

AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR j

Wednesday, December 15, 18*41.

The Editors of the Sydney Herald, which seems to be a decently conducted .paper, ought to be ashamed of inserting, even •as part of their correspondence,tsiich a farrago of lies, and malice, as the following letter exhibits. To the Editors oftke"Sydney Herald? Gentlmen, — In my opinion'you have treated Tongodido's letter very leniently in merely answering his charge impugning your partiality^ — They who have been in New Zealand have had opportunities of judging for themselves, — who have neither lands, claims, nor interests, to prepossess their minds with false notions of its capabilities, can speafcbf the endless clay hill*, the dense bush, and the comparatively small extent of available land which compose that country ; more especially 'in the country near Cook's Straits, on the north shore of which the settlement of Port Nicholson is situated* Surrounded by a lofty range of impassable and thickly wooded hills, without land for cultivation or gran for cattle, Port Nicholson offers no advantages either for agriculturists or to the grazier. The kawri tree which is in grea n t repute fur masts and ■ spars, and which is one of thestaple commodities of the Northern Island, is not to be found near Port Nicholson. It possesses a fine but dangerous harbour; the climate is tempestuous, which is accounted for by being near the Straits,, through which gales of wind blow almost without intermission, either from the east or west, for the greater part of the year. There has been a great influx of population into Port Nicholson, direct from England, amounting to about twelve or fifteen hundred, — however, when Captain Hobson established the seat of Government at Auckand, many of the Company's emigrants took wings unto themselves and once more emigrated to a more genial climate, where they could find more certain demand for their labour, and better prospects in every point cf view. The greater part of the labour employed by the Government and private individuals at Auckland originally belonged to the Company, and arrived in their ships at Port Nicholson, — here they were landed and the emigrants finding the castles they had read of in Marshall's books were built in the clouds, and the country to all appearance as inhospitable as their native Highlands and bogs of Ireland, have, to a great extent offered their services to a government that can pay them better and more regularly than their own pro-, tector, the Company. — Hence it is that Port Nicholson is nothing but a depot for emigrants brought out at the expense of a Company, to be forwarded to different parts of the country for the ■benefit of individuals. It is a pity that there is no such arrangement in New South Wales, thus doingaway with the necessity of having such a thing as that Colonial bugbear, the Emigration Fund. — And thisisJPort .NichoJsoafc; — the object of the jealousy of NeursoutfTWiieftT Having resided some time in New Zealand, and never having purchased an allotment, either from Government or the native chiefs, nor even having any interest at stake in these islands, this description will have, at any rate, the one quality of being an unbiassed one, in which case I have'the advantage over many besides the Mawri Tongodido. , With regard to the circumstance cf Captain Hobson not having afforded the protection of the law to Port Nicholson as well as to Auckland ; — ever since the establishment of the Government, with, the exception of six months, there have been stationed in Port Nicholson a police magistrate, and .two or three justices of the peace ; but as the latter were selected from the officers and other members of the Company, they have, like many others of their fraternity, gone adventuring elsewhere. ! f I remain, Gentlemen, MATINGA NUL Sydney,. November 17. " Matinga Nui" may have deluded himself with the notion that he has cloaked his real) motive for penning this, attack , upon ,Port Nicholson — for the man is evidently a,consummate blockhead, who cannot give his' lies the slightest tinge of .probability ; but it is manifest that to exalt Auckland at the 4 expense of Wellington, is what he would be: at. We had thought this system of abuse had been worn out in Sydney, and that a just appreciation of the advantages wliipli accrue to New South Wales from the prosperity of New' Zealand, had succeeded to the petty feeling of jealousy displayed towards this settlement by our Australian neighbours. The article quoted last week from the Australian, followed up by this communication to the Sydney Herald, seem, jhowever, to indicate a,renewal of the former bad practice. No doubt, the' origin of all this misrepresentation is at Auckland. * " Matinga Ntfi "is one of Capt. Hobson's clumsy .apologists ;' but he. is countenanced by the Sydney press, or he should get no notice from us. !

• What a heap of lies the ~ fellow has contrived to put together ! Little available land, endlessfclay hills, no advantages to the agriculturist or -grazier, dangerous harbour, twelve or fifteen hundred immigrants from England, j (instead ,of four thousand, sent , out by the Company, besides others,) Port Nicholson a mere depot for emigrants to be scattered abroad, and the " adventuring " of our justices, &c. &c. Really the Auckland officials who divide so much of Port Nicholson money, amongst them, might have hired ,a better workman than the Sydney Herald's correspondent. If we are to 1 have abuse in return for bur cash, surely it might be less stupid, and more exciting.

i On Saturday jeyening^the windy which had been generally blowing from ithe north and 'west during' the 'day, suddenly chopped round to the south-east, and came up a violent I gale from that quarter. We regret to state, that much damage is done to the shipping in Cook's Straits, and a boat with six persons was upset, between Petoni and Somes' Island, and all on board perished. Particulars of these disasters are given elsewhere, and we ■would • now only call attention to the fact, that not one of the vessels * anchored in-Port Nicholson, was in the slightest degree injured ; not one dragged her anchor. They were as safe as in the London Docks. The accidents that did occur, were not owing to any defect in the harbour, but to the neglect of the Government. We are without Harbour-master, Pilot, buoys, signalstation, and light-house. This disgraceful stateo'f things was the subject of discussion, at a public meeting, held la'st\, night. We give the resolutions passed by*the meeting, and on Saturday shall recurjo the most important of all matters to this settlement.

The returns of the Assets and Liabilities of the Union Bank of Australia at Welling.ton, and of the New Zealand, Banking Company at Auckland, speak'for themselves ; and with respect to the .first we shall merely remark, that an establishment with a paid up capital of. half, a million sterling, possessing also the highest credit, might venture upon a larger circulation than £5,825 for this Settlement, without danger to itself, and with much •advantage to the community. . The Auckland Bank appears to be a very extraordinary concern. Tjie' paid up capital is only £6,378, and the notes in circulation are £7,779. Does not this excess of circulation over capital, render void the Bank's Charter ? It is certainly a violation of the Act under which Joint Stock Banks are established in the Colonies. We should like to know how large a portion of the specie deposits belonged to Government, and how much of them was received as the produce of land sales ? — a temporary operation.

. Mr. Stokes has returned from his exploring journey to Wyderop. We can state in general terms, that his report of, the district is favorable ; and on Saturday we hope to present our readers with a detailed account of the expedition. " J

- -— -W«- -ittVe heard cumplaiuta - from - acvcrol quarters of the neglect of the Wellington Postmaster. Persons call at what are supposed to be "office hours " and find the office closed. Under these circumstances we advise an application to the Postmaster-Gene-ral, with a distinct statement of the asserted misconduct, and we have no doubt that redress will be obtained.

The' cattle , brought by the Middlesex are landing in very good condition. We understand 95 head were shipped, and 18 were lost on the passage down.

Persons travelling up the coast to the Manawatu or Wanganui, will be glad to hear that comfortable accommodation and civil treatment will be met with at Mr Jenkins's House, about one mile this side of Wanganui.-' Such is the report of the gentlemen who have just returned from the Manawatu.

The following extract from a letter has been sent to us for publication. The writer went in the Sally Ann from this port : — " Auckland, New Zealand,. "Nov. 28, 1841. Dear Friend,— We had a very long passage, thirty days, foul wind all the way. Work is not so plenty at Auckland, as it was a few Mtionths' since. I would advise you to go to (IJNelson, in preference. to this place."

Boat Accident, akd loss of Life. — Coglan's boat, heavily laden with timber, with Mr. Dunn, a gentleman who had occasionally; officiated here in the absence of an authorised minister of the ..Protestant Church, and four hands, left the River" Hutt on 5 Saturday afternoon for .Wellington. When'; about half-way across, -she' encountered a sudden, squall from the S*.E., and it was supposed, foundered. Every search has been made for the bodies, but up, to this time, without avail. Mr." Dunnivas highly respected here, and has left a i widow and an infant to mourn his untimely faHe. v Coglan, ilso, has left a widow. We have not heard f et who the other parties were. "■ , 'V l

The late Gale. — This port was visited >y a strong gale, from the south-east on Saturday night and Sunday last. The sloop Royal William, which sailed for Ucaroa on Saturday about noon, was comlelled to put back ; but sailed again on the ollowing Monday. 'The Middlesex, from Sydney, with cattle, n beating in, was taken in a squall very sudenly, and driven ujion.a rock, over which he forged, and sustained considerable damage.

The wind now was fair, and* she rart in; but the gale increasing, and the rain descending invtorrents, compelled her to-anchor off Evans' Bay, where she remained until Mondaymorning, when she came up the harbour, and immediately commenced' landing her cargo. She makes a good deal of water, and the pumpshaye to be kept constantly going. The Middlesex will be taken into Evans' Bay, to be 4 hove' down and repaired. - On the same evening, the barque Winnick was wrecked in Lyall's (or False) Bay. This vessel had been loading oil at&apiti, and having taken in her cargo, was on her way to this port to clear out. She had been ' anchored under the lea of the island of Mana, awaiting a fair wind, when about noon on Saturday, a N.W. wind set in,- and she p'r,bjceeded for this port, hugging the land, in order to" make a good stretch into the mouth of the harbour on entering, and to shorten the beat ; when just before roundiflg Barrett's reef, the wind changed very suddenly to the S.E. " The vessel'^.was immediately put about, , to fun through the Straitsj but not being able to weather Sinclair's Head, ran ashore in Lyall's. Bay. (Another account we have heard ~iss ,that the Captain mistook^ Lyall's Bay ..for. Eort Nicholson, and ran in boldly, but finding his error, let go his anchors, and held ' on for sometime; then finding she would pa*rt her cables, they .were slipped, and sail made upon the vessel, in order to save their lives.) The gale continued with unabated violence the whole of Sunday ; several attempts were made to communicate with the shore, but without effect ; one poor fellow, was drowned in his efforts to reach the land. On Sunday night, a letter enclosed in a bottle was sent on shore requesting as many parties as possible to remain on the beach, as it was feared!" something would happen." From this it was supposed the vessel was expected to go to pieces. Fires were kindled, and every preparation made for the worst. A night of anxiety was passed by all. In the morning the gale moderated, and about noon those on board were safely, though with great peril, got on shore. The cargo consisted of 120 tuns of oil, belonging to Messrs. Wade, and about 50 tuns oil and some whalebone, belonging to Mr. Williams, of Cloudy Bay. We are happy to learn that the oil and bone are insured.

Another wreck took place the same night. The ship Elbe, of New York, a whaler, came in from the eastward,' bound for Port-.Nichal-oon. - She had -encountered light' variable winds for three days, and- at one time* was within four miles of the port, but seeing no signal of any kind, was afraid to venture in. About half-past five, p.m., the wind suddenly shifted to S.E., which threw the vessel on a lee shore. She was then off Palliser Bay. Every exertion was made to beat off, but at every board she went to leeward, and at length became embayed in Palliser Bay. A council of the officers was immediately held, when,, in order to save life, it was determined to run the' vessel on shore. She is a total wreck, but we are happy to say that all hands are safe. News arrived about 12 o'clock on Monday, and prompt measures were immediately taken to afford succour to the unfortunate crew. Two boats were immediately dispatched with provisions and everything likely to be required on such an emergency.

Our Government should take a hint from the New Zealand Company's Advertisement, which appears in our paper. 100 acres of country land, 50 suburban acres and a town allotment of one' acre in^ Nelson, will be sold for £300 — Nelson will not be an obscure provincial town but in all probability wilLbe the capital of the South^lsland. Ifjrill have immediately a considerable population, will be possessed of important institutions, and otherwise of many of those social attractions which in these countries give a high value to town property at the seat of government ; and thus it will. be no weak rival* of the Capital. <If our.local Government wish to see Auckland grow fast and attain speedily the pre-eminence which its superior natural advantages, if, not counter- balanced by the most pernicious policy, should give' it ;> they will not let day after day pass away without advertising, a sale of Town Allotments — not a few score of lots but several hundred, and those at the lowest upset price. We repeat (for the benefit of those who may think they have wisely fixed upon a proper number) several hundred. * What the Government here deem prudence and moderation is suicidal folly. We write deliberately upon this subject, and if the Government think our's the heedless or assumed style of one whose pursuit is a trade in words, will .perhaps too soon be made aware of their mistake. Our Government do not know the value of a day. — Auckh.vd Herald. * The quantity of Land sold by Government at the firat and only sale ot Allotments, in Auckland, tru we believe about 38 or 39 Acres. 1 • " > t It will command the splendid pasture country lately discovered, and extending along the East Coait- from Bank*'* Peninsula Northward.

The Cape Shipping Li*t contains the

following paragraph, in reference to accidents at sea from fire : — ■

Vbssels Burnt at SeA.— With regard to the loss by fire we find nine out of ben are caused by 'drawing off spirits in the night or in the dark store room, by the light of a candle. In the, Navy the spirits are got on deck at 7 bells (or? half past 11 o'clock)' in the forenoon, and. the; days allowance drawn off, the cask ir> then replaced in the spirit-room the hatches loßcetf;' and the key secured in the master's .cabin, similar precautions were introduced injjii' merchant-service such disasters as the burning of the Troop-ship Kent, at a long previous-date and the emigrant ship India as recorded in our preceeding number, would be avoided. We subjoin a few extracts : "Wrkck op the "Prince Rupert. "r- At a public Sale held on the 6th October on, the beach at Green .Point, the hull with that part of cargo remaining, on board and being under water, produced the gross sum of £318. 1d5. ; and the masts, yards, rigging &c. on the beach, £44. 95. — Shipping List.

The public will be glad to learn, that our able and accomplished Surveyor-General, Major Michel], .has xeturned.in safety after a short absence on leave, to resume bis most important duties of .this Colony. He has succeeded in awakening the people in Downing-streetandat the Trinity i House, to the Commercial? and Naval importance of Light Houses' on the coast of South Africa, and brings with him the apparatus pf a Lantern or Beacon to be erected <jn ithe< point where .the Juliana, and Princt Rupert,, found their sand, and < watery: graves. Another,.we hear, is intended for Simon's Town, another for.. Cape Agulhas, and' another for Cape Receif. — Graham's Town Journal.