The Tuapeka Times. " Open to All—Influenced by None." NEW PLYMOUTH, OCTOBER 11, 1854.

Taranaki Herald, Volume III, Issue 115, 11 October 1854, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. " Open to All— lnfluenced by None." NEW PLYMOUTH, OCTOBER 11, 1854.

The fine ship Joseph Fletchfr, of Messrs. Willis's line of packets, arrived here direct

from England on Wednesday evening last, having 60 passengers, 25 of whom remain here, the rest being for Auckland. The Joseph Fletcher left Gravesend on the 19th June, and from stress of weather, was obliged to put into Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, where she remained two days. Just before passing the Needles saw the Ilinia-

Jaya, Royal Mail steamer, aground, and made the Land's End on 2nd July. Arrived off the Cape on the Ist Sept., and sighted New Zealand at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd — making the passage in 93 days. Mr. Charles Hursthouse. well known as one of the earlier settlers of this district, returned from England by the Joseph Fletcher. This gentleman for years past has been in England the untiring advocate of New Zealand emigration, and by his writings and lectures has materially contributed to the colonization of this settlement. He was ( warmly welcomed by all his old friends.

We understand that Mr. Hurmiiouse's visit is only a temporary one, and that ho is about to make the tour of the settlements with the view of bettering his informatforP"* of the present position and prospects of the : different districts of New Zealand previous to his return to England to lesume his labours. The Joseph Fletcher landed Jforty tons of cargo during Thursday and Friday, and left here for Auckland by mid-day on Saturday.

The Auckland mail on Saturday biought bur files of the Southern Cross, but none of the Aew Zcalandc: By the same conveyance we also received a copy of the ' Geelong Advertiser' of the Bth ultimo, containing important European news to the tenth of July, by the Madras. We are'for the present compelled to suspend all observations on the intelligence we are thus enabled to transfer to our columns ; but it may be well to mention, as the Russian answer to tlio German powers is calculated to induce an impression that such terms m.iy become the basis of new negociations, that a debate in the House of Lords on the 1 9th of June sets that point at rest. Lord Lyndhurst then declared that without " material guarantees" no peace could be made with Russia -" that her whole history was one of fraud, duplicity, treacberyi and violence. If she would give the allied powers some material guarantee, a pledge ol something mo valuable that she would not risk Us loss — perhaps it might be accepted ; but as to moral guarantee, the pledge of her honor, it was perfectly worthless," — and Lord Clarendon (Foreign Sec.) observed that the policy of Russia was dangerous to the tranquillity of Europe ; that the object must be to cripple that power, and to check that policy, aud that they were perfectly well aware that the means of doing it effectually was now in their power. The Earl of Derby followed, and Lord John Russell^ appears to have made a like declaration in the city of London, although a copy of bis speech is not given in the paper before us. Next week will afford an oppoi (unity of giving some of the matter we are for the present obliged to omit.

We had proposed this week to pursue our refutation ot the letter of Captain Laing, inserted in last week's Herald, relative to the detention of the Eclipse, but have been relieved in a great measure from the unpleasant duty by the communication of Messrs. Curtis & Watt, which we publish in another column. No one acquainted with Captain Laing will doubt for a moment his chagrin on the detention his vessel has experienced in New Zealand ; but, nevertheless, he must give us leave to say that he attempts in his letter to throw an undue share of the cause of that dulay at our door.

Captain Laing's statement would show that the present faulty method of packing ships for the ports of New Zealand is attributable to the carelessness of shippers, and cites one instance in his own ship in illustration — to which we are fortunately prepared to give an immediate arid unqualified denial. We have been at soirre pains to examine, and are prepared to verify the statement made in the first paragraph of Messrs. Curtis & Witt's letter, and assert that there can be no doubt the cabks in question were, when delivered for shipmentj " distinctly marked with the port of destination." Captain Laing's letter inferentially admits that cargo properly directed should be properly stowed, and consequently the whole burthen of the delay, notwithstanding his letter, is again on his shoulders. Had his ship been properly packed, she would have been discharged without delay on her first arrival, and no second visit would havo been necessary. The fact was otherwise, and we must be excused for insisting that the blame should be retained on the right shoulders ; those who have the slightest acquaintance with the careless way in which vessels are packed in the docks of London, will find no difficulty in arriving at a correct opinion on the; point iv discussion.

Captain Laing was aware that the Outhanl Rope was broken during his stay, and that the weather had been so bad as to render the replacing of it impossible ; and yet with that knowledge he writes as if no such convenience had ever existed here. It is almost needless to slate that the out-luul rope has been a considerable annual expense to the settlement since its foundation.

It is fortunate that the character of our roadstead does not rest upon the opinion of Captain Laino. That half-manned vessels might be in danger off any coast in bad weather, is not to be denied, and this may have been the case with the Eclipse off New Plymouth on her last visit, but we might might very well appeal from the judgment of men even better acquainted with the coast than Captain Laing to the unanswerable fact, that for ten years past, not a single accident has .hap^oned to any of the large number of vessels visiting the place.

The Provincial Council met yesteiday and having suspended the Standing Orders passed the Town Pasturage Bill, and entered upon a consideration of a Message from his Honor the Superintendent on the subject oi an immediate supply of labour from^Australia, the consideration of which was after some debate adjourned to to-mor-row at eleven. We are obliged to postpone our report.