Shipping News.

Otago Witness, Issue 37, 31 January 1852, Page 2

Shipping News.

ARRIVED.

Jan. 29, the Despatch, 139 tons, Peacock, from Akaroa. Master, agent.

SAILED.

Jan. 27, the Scotia, 69 tons, Taylor, for Wellington. Jan. 28, the Henrietta, 61 tons, Cole, master, for "Wellington.

IMPORTS.

• In the Despatch. : — Part of original cargo from Sydney, viz., 2 casks -whisky, 14 cases Geneva, 2 lihds. brandy, 2 kegs tobacco, 2 casks whisky, 1 case water crackers, 1 box cheese, 5 bags pepper, 10 boxes Souchong tea, 1-1 boxes gunpowder tea, 1 box Congo tea, 27 boxes raisins, 2 tons rice, 3 qr. casks Port vine, 4 carroteels currants, 8 qr. casks Sherry wine, 4 kegs saltpetre, 2 bales woolpacks, 5 pack saddles, ]-34 bundles rattans, 3 cases sugarcandy, 5 bags corks, 1 pair millstones, 1 bale basils, 27 boxes sperm candles, 1 package axes, 6 qr. casks vinegar, 4 boxes pipes, 2 kegs tamarinds, 1 tin confectionary, 1 cask ironmongery, 1 case do., 2 dozen spades 1 cask ironmongery, ' 1 case locks, 2 crates earthenware. 3 casks molasses, 100 pieces timber, 2 boxes sago, 6 packages furniture, 180 bags flour, 1 case curry powder. Shipped at "Wellington, duty paid : 1 bag arrowroot, 1 case ginger, 1 case castor oil, 1 ■weighing machine, 2 packages kettles, 1 do. drugs, 1 dozen whips, 1 bag canary seed, 1 case anchovies, 1 do. drapery, V do. sundries, 1 do. drapery, and 1 barrel gunpowder. New Zealand produce, viz. — 1 package hams, 6 coils rope, 60 bushels oats, 8 barrels pork. Shipped at Port Victoria, duty paid : 1 tase brab hats, 1 do. calico, 4 wheat mills, 15 cwt. rice, 5 boxes window glass, 2 casks beef, 6 bags nails, 1 cask peas, 25 oars, 1 cask weighing machines, 1 cask ironmongery, 1 case drapery, 1 do. cheese, I do. hardware, 1 do. drapery, 1 do. saws, 1 bag saucepans, 1 case drapery, 1 box ribbons, 1 box cards, 1 box spice, 1 case drapery, 2 chests Congo tea, 1 case drapery, 3 casks molasses, 1 case gin, 1 do. candlesticks, 1 do. haberdashery, 8 cases lemon syrup, 1 case shawls, 1 case candlesticks, 1 case ftjOOO) cigars, 2 cases drapery, 1 ca«e ironmongery, 1 case drapery 1 case sundries, 1 barrel blacking, 1 weighing machine, 1 case drapery. — J. J. Peacock. Shipped at Akaroa, duty paid : 15 bags coffee, 14 grindstones, 10 boxes soap, 5 boxes candles, 28 drums nails, 18 cases pickles, 4 cases mustard, 1 bale prints, 1 bale calico, 1 bale reel cottons, 1 case prints, 1 case calico, 1 bale blankets, 2 cases prints, 6 crates earthenware, 3 cases drapery, 2 do dresses. — J. J. Peacock. Also 12 cheeses, New Zealand produce. — Order. Passengers — Miss Peacock, Mr. Wallace. EXPOETS. By the Scotia, 44 bales wool, produce of New Zealand. By the Henrietta, 38 bales wool, 3 kegs butter, 30 bags lime, 1 skin feathers, produce of New Zealand; and 1 case pipes, 1 chest apparel, British. — Order.

Dunedin, Saturday, January 31, 1852. Our readers will perceive by an article which we have extracted from the " Wellington Independent," that our neighbours in Cook's Straits are complaining of the immoral conduct of the Government officials in that settlement ; and our contemporary makes some very judicious remarks on the subject of how far the press, in the present state of affairs in New Zealand, is compelled to take notice of affairs of this sort, there being no other check on official licentiousness. It is not our intention to obtrude the details of particular cases • "upon the public ; but the frequency of these open violations of all rules of decency by officials, from the highest to the lowest, "without notice on the part .of the Government, which appears even in some cases to choose such individuals

for especial marks of its favour and confidence, is a subject fraught with danger to the morals of the community, and is interesting as indicating the state we live under.

The delinquencies of the young men thrust into responsible situations over us, with no qualifications but their pliability to a government, despotic in its rule, and utterly irresponsible to the public ; or the yet more glaring indecencies of a lacivious old man, in his attacks upon the virtues of the distressed and unprotected females of the community, are subjects more fit for the pages of a French novel than the columns of a public journal ; for, were the details of such proceedings on the part of colonial officials published, the " Mysteries of Paris" would be a sober work by comparison. Yet when we see individuals thus stigmatized selected by the Government as objects of its favours and confidence, so as almost to render it a portion of the system of government, we cannot but feel that the remarks of Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield are perfectly true. He says, — " * * * you will recollect, because it belongs to the history of home politics, that letter which, in Lord Melbourne's time, Mr. O'Connel wrote to one of his ' tail,' who had got himself banished from decent society in this country, saying in effect, though I can do nothing for you here, if you will retire from Parliament for the sake of the credit of our party, I will get you a place in the colonies. Anything is good enough for the colonies. It would be easy to cite, if they had been published, as Mr. O'Connel's letter was, very many cases in which, and quite of late years too, somebody has obtained a place in the colonies, not only in spite of his having lost his character here, but because he had lost it : somebody wanted to get rid of him, and anything is good, enough for the colonies. * * * "

Indeed this view of Government patronage is strongly borne out by the argument in the " Spectator " — the Government organ — in the defence of j a late appointment to an office in this settlement. That paper does not defend the individual whose character had been attacked ; it does deny the charges ; but justifies the appointment on the ground that His Excellency had reinstated a gentleman in the Commission of 'the Peace, whose character, as it affirms, would not bear inspection, and goes on to lament that that person had, not withstanding the favour shewn him, opposed the measures of the Government ; thus as much as saying that His Excellency selected for office those whom he imagined, from their having forfeited public confidence by their private irregularities, the most likely persons to become his willing tools ; but, in the instance referred to, His Excellency was mistaken in his object, and the probability is, that he was mistaken in the information he had received. Such an argument put forward in the Government organ is shewing the cloven foot in earnest, and is a clear indication of the rottenness of the present system of that Governrtfent. Whilst the public mind is in a state of excitement, it is our duty to allay rather than to increase the ferment; and although we sympathize with the public in their detestation of these indecencies, we must be wanting indeed if we did not feel disgusted and ashamed of the delinquents ; but hot indignation soon evaporates, and we trust that the public will not waste their indignation entirely on the individuals, but will nurse their wrath, forget all trifling differences of opinion, and take the only practical remedy in their power; by petitioning and remonstrating against the whole system of irresponsible l government which subjects them to quch inflictions. Wool. — We notice with extreme satisfaption the departure for Wellington of the " Scptia' and " Henrietta" from this port laden with wool. We understand that the probable numbsr of bales which will be shipped this year wi 1 be about 400 — no great amount it is true but when the fact is taken into consideration! that four years have not yet elapsed since the fiunding of the colony, it presents a most cjheering prospect of the future prosperity and greatness of Otago. j It is rumoured that the " Despatch." vhich has just arrived from Sydney via. Nelson, jWellington, and Port Cooper with a general dargo, has brought information of Mr. Justice Chapman's acceptance of the Colonial Secretaryship of Van Diemen's Land, which will necessitate the immediate removal of Mr. Justice Stephen

to Wellington. This must be a matter of congratulation to all parties. His Honour will no doubt find a wider scope for distinction ; and the settlers of Otago will benefit to the extent, that his Honour's salary being no longer borrowed from the local revenue, there may probably be found sufficient means to expend on the public works the sum voted by the General Legislative Council of New Zealand in the last Session, a prospect which otherwise, from the tardy or rather utter absence of remittances from Wellington of the balances of overdrawn accounts (instance the Hospital, Jetty, &c), was dim and vagye in the extreme.

The "Henrietta," which left this port on Wednesday afternoon for Wellington, has got fast on a sand bank at high tide ; and, as the tides are receding, there is every probability of her being detained some time. How the accident could have occurred we cannot imagine, the weather being fine, and the wind moderate and favourable; and although the Captain might not be well acquainted with the channel, he had the valuable assistance of the late Principal Surveyor to the New Zealand Company, who is a passenger by this vessel to Wellington, and "who originally surveyed and buoyed off the channel.