AUSTRIA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume VII, Issue 324, 16 October 1858, Page 1 (Supplement)

AUSTRIA.

Vienna, June 16.

The state of affairs in Servia is somewhat alarming, the inhabitants of that principality being much inclined to take advantage of the present favourable opportunity for expelling the Turkish troops which occupy Belgrade and four other Servian fortresses. The brutal and unprovoked attack on Mr Fonblanque has so exasperated the Servians, that they seriously think of making common cause with their brethren in Bosnia, the Heyzgovina, and Montenegro, and the agents of Russia are said to be doing all in their power to incite them to action. It attracted attention here that M. de Knorring, the Russian Charge" d' Affaires, was the first person who received news of the assault committed on the British Consul- General, and that he was at very great pains to make known the disgust he felt at the infamous conduct of the Turks. There is no good reason for supposing that the Turkish soldier was paid for attacking Mr IWblanque, but still many persons suspect the agents of Russia having had a hand in the matter. The life of the injured man is happily in no danger. After the attack had been made on his person, Mr Fonblanque had his flag hoisted, and at 7 in the morning of the above-men-tioned day, eight Albanian soldiers of the line (Nizam) and a corporal pioceeded to his residence, and attempted to cut the halyards. 4 ' Some Pandours kept them from putting their designs into execution, but the' Consul's family was alarmed, and a guard of Servian troops was asked for and obtained. The Pasha who has the command of the fortress is a well-disposed man, but he is devoid of energy, and consequently unable to keep his semi-barbarous Arnauts in order. A Belgrade friend states that the Servians fear the Turkish batteries will open on the town, but it is probable their apprehensions are exaggerated.

We publish the annexed letter from a Canadian settler to our old friend Mr. Charles Hursthouse, and which may be found in page 23 of the " New Zealand Emigrants Bradshaw " or guide to the Britain of the South, presuming that it will interest our readers to know that Mr. Hursthouse steadily perseveres in promoting emigration to this Colony. Guelpli, Canada West, December 7th, 1857. Dear Sir, — Accompanying this letter you will re. ceive a Toronto Colonist, amongst the correspondence you will find a letter to the Editor signed " Emigrant," and headed New Zealand v. the Western States. I immediately wrote to the party and have received a reply wishing me to meet him as early as possible in Toronto, I propose going down early next week and intend taking with me your valuable work, the " Australian and New Zealand Gazette " and a host of other information that I have been collecting for these twelvemonths past. It appears that there are a large party of emigrants (mostly English) that have been allured to this country by the very flattering accounts that have circulated in England during the last twelvemonths of the prosperity of Canada and the Canadian people generally, they also heard that Government were opening up an immense tract of country in the Ottawa district, the lands in that territory were to be free grants according to the size of family and means of such emigrant, all of which I grant to be trne. But all persons who are at all acquainted with the character of the land and inclemency of the climate in that section of the province, will at once see the utter absurdity of bringing out a quantity of Englishmen to undertake the task of clearing up a tract of country from which, even in the best of seasons, they could scarcely earn a livelihood, setting aside entrely all the little luxuries that they had flattered themselves would be within their reach when living upon their own freeholds. The Country is well enough adapted to the Highland Scotch and persons of that description who have never known anything better than log cabins and mush all their lives. However lam extremely desirous that this New Zealand agitation should be kept up and I shall do all in my power to organise a regular society and endeavour to swell our ranks as large as possible so that as soon as the winter breaks up we shall

be able to make a start. I purpose to go to Toronto next week and shall then hear what has been done, I shall decicedly oppose any arrangement that they might bring forward to send out a person to gain information and reflect upon the Colony &c. as I consider we have all, the information that can be obtained and it would only be a delay and extra expense to go to work in that manner, I shall advise an immediate return to England and the entire party to proceed together in one of Willis' ships. Yours respectfully, H. B. Rust. P. S.— Would not the American Cradle Scythe be an excellent implement for cutting grain in New Zealand ; from your work I find that wheat Sec, is cut with a sickle at a cost of from 8s to 10s per- acre. Now a good workman would cradle with ease 2 acres per day of moderately heavy grain at that rate the expense of harvesting grain would be materially reduced. H. B. R.

An ORDINANCE for imposing a tax upon Buildings wholly or partly constructed of raupo, thatch, or other like materials, within the Province of New Plymouth. Whereas it is expedient that an Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Nevr Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legiblative Council thereof, in the second Session of the said Council, intituled " An Ordinance for imposing a tax upon Raupo houses," be repealed, and that other provisions be made in lieu thereof, Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the Province of New Plymouth, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows :—: — 1. The said recited Ordinance shall be and the same is hereby repealed so far as regards the Province of New Plymouth. 2. It shall be lawful for the Superintendent from time to time by Proclamation in the Government Gazette of the Province to declare the provisions hereinafter contained to be in force in any Town or part of any Town within the said Province, the boundaries whereof respectively shall be defined by such Proclamation. 3. On a day to be named in such Proclamation, not being less than six calendar months from the date thereof, and on the same day in every succeeding year, there shall be levied in respect of every house, building, shed, stack, or pile of any description whatsoever, constructed or composed wholly or in part, of raupo, nikau, toetoe, wiwi, kakaho, straw, hay, thatch, or other like inflammable materials, and situate within the boundaries so denned, the sum of Twenty Pounds. 4. Such sum as aforesaid shall be paid on demand to the Provincial Treasurer, or to any person by him authorised to demand the same, by the occupier, or if there shall be no occupier, then by the owner of such house, building, shed, stack, or pile, and shall be recoverable by such Treasurer, or other person as aforesaid, in the Court of the Resident Magistrate in a summary way. 5. If any person shall erect, or cause to be erected, any building or structure of the descriptions aforesaid in any Town, or part of a Town in which the provisions of this Ordinance shall have been declared to ,be in force, he shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of Twenty Pounds, to be recovered by the Provincial Treasurer, or such other person as aforesaid, in the Court of the Resident Magistrate in a summary way. 6. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as the " Thatch 'and Straw Building Ordinance, 1858."

[Conclusion of article, "A Mahomedan's Advice," in ith page of paper, accidentally omitted.} 6th. Prohibit the conversion of Hindoos to Mahomedanism, it is these converts that become fanatics, from a misconception of what is required of them, Dq not allow assemblies under pretence of prayer: itlsatthis time that oaths and evil suggestions against the British are practised. The British are as a race warlike, clever, and humane, but they mistake the natives of India in supposing them to be fools and short of intellect. Look at the present rebellion, is it not a masterpiece of native ability, cunning, and secrecy : it must have required no ordinary ability to turn the whole army of Hindoos against its benevolent British employers, on the mere objection of a greased cartridge, when previous to the rebellion, for years, the Mahomedan Sepoys had used the pig's hair brush for the pan of his musket, and the Sowar the pigskin saddle and holster, the Brahmin wore the cowskin belt without a murmur. The fact is that the Mahomedans were impressed with the sacred belief that they were doomed for one hundred years to serve the Maharattas, British and other infidel masters, but no sooner had this country passed the period of its bondage, than the King of Delhi proclaimed his right to the sovereignty of the East, and every effort was made by the Mahomedan to exterminate the British race, in which eveiy native whether rich or poor professing the Mahomedan faith, felt that he was morally bound directly, or indirectly, to assist in the great cause. Had the majority of yonr native army consisted of Mahomedans and not of the Hindoo not a Christian would have lived to tell the tale : the want of unanimity at all stations between Hindoo and Mahomedan in the plot, and the want of confidence in the Hindoo, were the causes of the failure.

[Printed by G. W. Woon.]