Dunedin, Saturday, January 7, 1.553.

Otago Witness, Issue 138, 7 January 1854, Page 2

Dunedin, Saturday, January 7, 1.553.

The general character of society exercises a powerful influence on the character of its individual members. In particular cases, as of young or limited communities like our own, circumstances are most favourable for its development, and consequently it becomes extensive and diffused. Whatever be the general tone of morality in such communities, there is a tendency in individuals to harmonize with it. If it be of a high pitch, — when, for instance, unbecoming levity, and every thing that is mean, is severely reprobated, and industry and honesty are commended, — then we find a shrinking from all those violations of established ""propriety which would expose the individual to the scorn of his fellows. On the other hand, when the key-note is low, when no mark of disgrace is attached to unchastity, to meanness, or to dishonesty, individuals are more prone to the commission of those faults. By one of the many wise arrangements in the moral government of the world devised by Providence, the conscience too, as well as the outward conduct, is influenced by the standard of society in morals. When it is high, not only do violations of its proprieties expose the party guilty to the scorn of men's tongues, but, along with that, to what is more fearful — the gnawings of a dissatisfied mind. And again, when it is low, the reproaches of conscience are more easily avoided. The public indignation, in the one case, rojises the conscience ; and the public indifference, in the other, suffers it to sleep. Feeling, once excited, fixes the deed constantly before the mind, to pain and annoy it, like a lurid light in the midst of darkness affecting the eye. To illustrate this phenomenon, let us suppose that a crime long concealed from the public has at length been detected, the indignation of the whole community rxcitecl, and the finger of reproach pointed at the perpetrator. It is manifest that lie cannot now banish the

recollection of the offence so completely or effectually as he was wont. It will rise up anew with every feeling of wounded vanity, and whenever he is exposed to studied neglect or insult. Nay, even before the crime came to light, the recollection of it haunted him. His very attempts at concealment, according to the natural law of association, must have kept the deed perpetually before the mind ; and thus his very efforts to avoid the lash of public reprobation gave strength to that of his own exasperated conscience. Hence those offences are in general avoided which, when committed, wonld call forth instantly the reprobation of society. And here again we have another view of the advantage of a high standard of morals in a community. For although society always keenly condemns those offences which inflict immediate injury on its temporal interests, it is not always sensitively alive to that human waywardness which affects the eternal interests of its members, and by that means injures, though perhaps not immediately, their temporal interests likewise. The ' vis conservatrix' of society — its conservative principle — springs from religion. This is the strongest bulwark against the waves of the ever-agitated sea of human life ; and it becomes a community, when they possess it, diligently to seek the means of preserving it. But though this internal principle may not be the the only or chief source from which public opinion derives its favour for a high standard of morality, still public opinion, in proportion to its favour for morality, is more or less a powerful means of restraining and correcting vice and folly. Look at this quiet and peaceful Province. Outward harmony and decorum visibly reign in it ; but are we warranted to assert that they proceed in all instances, or even in most, from lofty principle and hightoned religion ? Alas ! in this little world — a miniature of the great world from which it is all but disconnected — we are not sure that there are not smouldering jealousies, heartburnings, and animosities, where all should be confidence and love ; and questionable associations, and festivities, which, as they annually come j round, make inroad on the proprieties of a part of our population. Whence, then, the pleasing propriety and peaceful stillness which in all other respects prevail? The answer is — there are agencies at work restraining and counteracting vice arid aiding and encouraging virtue. Though petty jealousies and feuds sometimes fret us, there are amongst us a sense of character, and a fear of offence, and a disposition to yield the offices of kind and obliging neighbourhood. The stranger who visits us finds that he is not among a population radically selfish, malignant, or disposed to criminal indulgence ; but among a people of an opposite character — a people under the spell of a high moral influence — a vigilant moral police. Every man's eye is upon his neighbour ; and should any one exhibit selfishness, deceit, violence, intemperance, or lewdness, he instantly becomes the object of suspicion and dislike. The very curiosity and jealousy, so prying, which this moral police exercise, are the efficient means of counteracting the evil consequences which would follow. Other communities that have not their moral police in such force as we, employ large bodies of men for the special purpose of either preventing the commission of crime, or detecting the perpetrators of it when their preventive service has been baffled by its commission. These, in contradistinction to our moral police, we may be allowed to call physical police. We, too, i have a physical police consisting of some five or six men; but what would these be to our population were it not for our moral police ? In all respects the latter is infinitely the more efficient and superior of the two, just as moral suasion and physical coercion, their respective instruments, infinitely differ in their nature and efficacy. To the intelligence and high tone of morality, and, let us hope, religiou principles, prevalent'-amongst us, is owing the entire absence of ciime during the six Aeais that have nearly elapsed since the foundation of the settlement. It is an exemption of which few communities can boast, if indeed it be not peculiar to ourselves. But, instead of cherishing self-com-placency, may each one cherish rather the I spirit of the well-known Reformer who, on seeing a criminal led to execution, exclaimed, " But for the grace of God, there goes John J Bradford." I

Since our last publication we received per favour by the " Wave" two late numbers of the " Independent ;" but the arrival of the " Shepherdess" on Thursday Sas put us in possession of our own files to a later date. The Australian" markets,jt will be seen, have suffered a depression, and in many articles little signs are manifested of a speedy re-action. The news before us from the various Provinces is chiefly of a political nature, the papers being filled with the proceedings of the Provincial Councils. The estimates iv Wellington, have been passed,

but we are unable, from thelS^Kf the remarks which accompany them, to give them at present. On the last page our readers will find a few items of English news to the 17th Sept, brought to Wellington by the " Northfleet/' belonging to Fred. Young & Co.'s New Zealand Line, which vessel has made thej .passage, from England to Wellington in 88 days.- We give below a brief summary of the principal items of interest from Sydney and Melbourne, taken from the Sydney <• Empire," and " Englishman," both of the date December 17:— The Trade lieports of the Sydney papers before us state that the market for various descriptions of merchandise has experienced a depression, owing principally to large importations, and the apprehensions which are entertained of an impending; glut in many important articles of consumption. Another obstacle, which operates seriously, is the want of proper roads into the interior of the coun- • try, and the great cost and difficulty of getting goods conveyed to the remoter districts. Liquids have suffered most, particularly brandy and beer The demand for town and country labour still continues above the supply, more especially for domestic and agricultural labourers. The accounts from the diggings are, on the whole, favourable, with now and then a lucky hit. The gold market was steady, quotations being 775. to 775. 3d. for Victoria, a7id 745. 6d. to 755. for N. S. Wales gold. Wheat is quoted at So. to os. per bushel ; Oats Gs. to Ss. ; potatoes, per cwt., old 16s. to 205., new Us. to 14s Flour— fine £23 ; seconds, £23 per ton. " The flour market is very dull, with no prospect of much improvement for the next two months." Brandy continues dull, good samples in bond offered for 10s. 6d. and no sale. Geneva, 20s. to 21s. per 14-gall. ease Old Tom dull, market overstocked. Wines of nearly all descriptions dull, heavy stock on hand. Drapery goods very dall, and difficult to make sales at invoice. The last quotations of stock in Sydney are— Heavy cart horses from £40 to £60 ; light do. £20 to £35. Cattle £4 to £6 a head. Sheep from 15s. Wool, superior clip, Is. 7d. to Is. lOd. ; low to middling, Is. 2d. to Is. 4d. The price of stock in Melbourne is still higher " than the above quotations. The Elyer Station, above 100 miles from Melbourne, with 15,400 sheep' at 30s. per head, was sold the other day, and has excited considerable attention. During the week ending Dec. 17, twenty vessels, principally from England and Scotland, arrived at Sydney laden with general cargoes of goods, among which we observe the Prince of the Seas from Glasgow, with a general cargo and 3000 bags of flour, and another vessel from Bataviawith cargo and 1000 bags of flour Th the Sydney papers of the latest dates we observe rather an unusual number of well-stocked sheep and cattle stations advertised to be sold by auction, among which thejbllowiiis. are a few of the iargx'bf — CnnninEf Downs Maticm, with 28,000'iirst class sheep, 1,-500 cuttle, and 2-50 boises. Darling Downs do., with 80,000 Al sheep and 10,000 first class cattle. The A\iburn do., %vith 20,000 sheep and 2300 cattle. Stations on the Namoi, with 9472 sheep and 1600 cattle. Richmond and Clarence Rivers Stations, with 22,268 Al cattle. The most of the above sales are to take place in February and the following month.

The past week has been one of holiday making, the New Year having been kept with various sports — near Dunedin, and in the Taieri especially. We have no space for details, but shooting at a mark appears to have been much approved of; and we are happy to state that no accident occurred. Out-door sports are certainly a much more preferable method of welcoming in the New Year than are some of the practices in the old country. The weather may there be pleaded as an excuse, but we trust that our colonists will take advantage of the change of season on this side of the globe, to enjoy themselves in future — as they have done on the late occasion — in a more rational way.

As a matter of justice to Mr. Hertslett, we have to call the attention of our readers to the following letter addressed to that gentleman :: — • Dunedin, sth Janury, 1854. Sir, — With reference to certain remarks on your past character made by me as Editor of the Otaga Witness newspaper on the occasion of your being appointed to the Commission of the Peace for this Province, I beg leave to express my regret at ha\ in<r made you the subject of such remarks, my belief now being that I was mistaken in the person to whom they applied. W. H. Cutten. 11. C. Hertslett, Esq.