ARRIVED.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1805, 18 December 1862, Page 2

ARRIVED.

December 17—Tyne, schooner, 36 tons, Linklater, from Wanganui. Passengers'—Mrs Kells and two children, M'Laren, 5 soldiers, ■ 1 police- ' man, 1 prisoner, and 1 lunatic womani . December 17 —'Juno, ketch,so tons, Woodgate, from Kaipoi. December 17 —Mosquito, cutter,.! 6 tons, Scott, from Wataranga; December 17 —Eather, brigantine, 04 tons, Campbell, from Napier and the East Coast. SAILED. • December 15— H.M Harrier, s.s, Harrier, 17 j guns, Commader Sullivan, for Taranaki and Manakau. Passengers —General Cameron and staff. . December 17 —Storm Bird, s.s, 104 tons, Mundle, for Dunedin via Lyttelton. Passengers —cabin: Mrs Wilson and three children, Messrs Eames, and Walden. Steerage : Mrs Sharp© and four children, Mr Bright, December 17 —Kate, schooner, 26 tons, Owen, for Napier. • ' ■ December 17 —Remark, brig, 207 tons, Imncan, for Otago. . imports... ; ..,..,. t In the tyne, Lyon, agent —46 bales wool, 4 kegs butter, Lyon ; 11 kegs butter, Tame. „ In the Esther, Bethune and Hunter agents— 101 bales wool, 14 kegs, 2 brls oil. Levin & Co. In the Juno, Pileher, agent —ls2 L bshls wheat, Suhultze. EXPORTS. . In the Remark, Levin & Co, agents—l3o head cattle, Smith and Bevans; 22 bags sugar, Lux-, ford & Co. • » • . r. In the Storm Bird, Duncan and Vennell, agents s —9 horses, 6 bullocks, Eames, Bros ; 30, sheep, ,2 i crates poultry, 6 calves, Bright; 10 bullocks, 87 . bags potatoes, O'Halloran ; 26 kegs butter, TurnI bull <fc Co; 30 kegs butter, Joseph & Co; . 100 bags potatoes, 6do peas, 5 do onions, 7 cases vegetables and eggs, 2 coops fowls, 1 cow and calf, Walden; 1 pkge, Goodisori. ■'■■ In the Kate,. Bethune and - Hunter, ajjentsr--2 qr-casks brandy, 5 hhds ale, 5 casks bottled porter, 2,200 bricks, Bethune and Hunter; 1 case cigars, 1 keg tobacco, 40 cases geneva, 3 qr-caaks port wine, 5 octaves do, fi cases ginger wine, 20 bags sugar, 1 cask currants, 0 bundles spades, i case mustard, 1 case sago, 2 cases British, goods, 20 casks bottled beer, ID cases cordials, 1 bag corks, Dransfield; 1 case glass, Stuarfc & Co; "2 cases, 1 bdle, 1 cask porter, 2 case's boiled oil, 4 bags salt, 1 do fine do, 1 box soap, l£ - tons 'flour, |ton sugar, 1 pkge soda, 1 pkge boots,} 3 tins 1 paint, 3 pkgs ironmongery, Rhodes & Co; 1000 r bricks, Pearce. • j• ■ . j The follow ing letter, which has already appeared iin a northern contemporary, we insert.at the re- ) quest of the writer. LIGHTHOUSES. : . To the Editor of the W^ellingtoh Inldepelndent. i Sib,—The recent sad and disastrous catastrophes in reference to the loaa of the steamers, and other l craft upon the coaßt of New Zealand; calls for > serious reflections on the part of those whose duty i it is to inspect and light up our coasts. I have just traversed the whole of the eastern side of New Zealand, from Solander Rock to Auckland ; the absolute want and absence of light-houses were strongly impressed upon me; and whilst money is being lavishly spent upon other public works, the erection of light-houses seems greatly neglected, and yet how could money be more judiciously and humanely expended than in giving • an additional security to;human life and property; because it will not only increase the trade i of the country, and bring more vessels with merchandise, more quickly increase your flocks and herds, and improve them by the importation of new and valuable blood; but what is of more consequence than all, add to your population, to cultivate your lands and consume your produce. In reference to its humanity, the saving of human life, which ev_ery good Government is bound to do by every possible means in Jtßpower, or otherwise become crimfriafly liable^F6Fth3r~negWcfc, to say nothing of the loss of the lives of the poor animals, who, although looked npon as merchandiie, still claim our protection against any unnecessary cruelty towards them. ".;... As to the matter of insurance, it may be re-, garded in a pecuniary light solely, thus the Government being the custodian and distributor of the public purse, have the duty of trustees to perform in reference to it, and if it could be proved, that the reduction of the premium upon insurance for vowels trading on the New Zealand coast, would greatly more than pay at present the interi est upon the money expended in erecting lighthouses, and ultimately the principal itself, then it is evident that it is a reproductive work and might, looking upon the community as a body politic, safely^ and properly be so invested; This is no new theory, we have a roost striking instance in the water works of the Van Yeahj 'by which Melbourne ia so amply supplied. The facility with which water is brought to bear in any quantity upon any part of the city, has reduced - the premium upon insurances against fire to such an extent, that the amount saved between the present rate and the former, is greater than the. nterest upon all the cost of this grand undertaking, besides involving another principle,—the saving of human life and property. '.-,.. I am aware that I am not stating any new facts', or bringing under notice a new subject, it has already been urged and ably advocated in the public press of Auckland. Having, I am proud to say, an acquaintance with many masters of vessels, steamers especially, trading to and from all parts: of New Zealand, I know that I am only echoing the sentiments which they have already expressed in public. Lest it might appear that lam making an assertion open to contradiction, I will mention the names of some of these gentlemen—Captains Mackay, McLean, Polo, Darby, Harper, Kennedy, Wheeler, Gibson, Wilson, Mundle, andßenner; to these names I may add that I have a positive assurance, without being personally known to him, that Captain Murray, harbour-master at Napier, feela strongly on the subject, and could give some valuable information. As a non-professional person,-1 shall not presume to point out the most eligible spots for placing lights, but I do not tnink it would be amiss to suggest the carrying out of a mode similar to that which the governments of New South Wales rand Victoria adopted, in reference to lighting up their coasts. , A competent board was appointed to investigate and report upon the subject They most wisely took a course which proved them to be eligible for the duty they had to perform. They called before them thejjvarious masters of vessels trading upon their coasts, took their evidence, and comparing the one with the other, arrived at a solid conclusion, which the governments had the good sense to take advantage of. One more hint: might not a public meeting be called to consider this all-important subject,' in order that the wishes of the community may be expressed ? I need not ask (as you have already proved your desire to further this and other, matters connected with the public interests), to take up your pen on this occasion.—! am, sir, your's &o. .... . P i Stanley Tommhs. ;