DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 26, 14 October 1843, Page 2

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

Dispute between the Natives and tbi Government.— Determination oy the formis to Maintain their Rights. — Many of our readen are doubtless aware that all the laivis sold by Govern, ment at the Tamaki, have been unjustly seized ty Government, and taken from Mr. Dalziel, theorigiml and lawful owner, to whom the natives told this land, The Government were not, however, satisfied will seizing all Mr, Dalziel*« land, but they wished also to add to it a slice from the native land. Mr. Spain, tit Commissioner of Land Claims, happened at a Government Sale, to purchase the boundary allotment, The natives maintained that a part of this allotment had never been sold by them, and while Mr. Spain wag absent at Fort Nicholson, they twice removed hit fence; they however consented to let the matter remain in abeyance until his arrival, which happened a short time ago, when the dispute was again renewed, and a large native deputation waited opon the Got. ernor ; who has sent a Surveyor to mark the boundary anew. This case is valuable in one point of vie* only, and that is, as clearly proving to the people in England and the Colonies, that the natives are neither savages, nor persons who will allow themselves to b« trampled upon with impunity. It also shows the value which they attach to every inch of their land: and it is rather a peculiar circumstance, that the chief Commissioner of Land Claims, tho\jgh from no fault of his, should become himself an interested party in a dispute between the natives and the Government abont lands. We are persuaded that he must be fully con. vinced before now, of the absurdity of attempting to deprive the natives of their lands. We should wisi much to see his report published on this bu' ject. We a.re glad, to perceive that flax dressing is beginning to Attract the attention of the people) since th6 date of our last paper we have seen varioui samples of fine flax. Mr. Wright has by means of steam prepared some very fine samples. But we ara led to think, from various experiments, thar steam is not adapted for the first process ; it certainly assisti much in bleaching the fla* when prepared by a first process, but the effect of steam upon the green leaf kf certainly to harden it. Steaming may with great advantage be used as a secondary process, but the ; most efficient plan is boiling in potash. We were pleased to see a simple, but efficient machine in actite - operation at Mr. Smithson's. It is the invention oil Mr. Smithson and Mr. Oakly; and is merely an im4 prpvement upon the plan in use by the natives. Tit' flax is in the first instance boiled in a solution made \ from potash, or wood-ashes, and then passed through a Bcraper worked by the foot. Even with this simple , machine, one man could dress from fifty to seventy pounds a day. Several improvements will, we doubt t not, be mado in the application of machinery. "We ourselves would be very happy to show any of the mechanics the principles of machinery whereby anj quantity of flax may be dressed. By this plan, the ' flax after being boiled in potashes, would be after* wards subjected to a beater ; then passed through two wheels with hackle3 on their circumference, T?herebj the flax would be separated into small fibres ; and ■■ finally subjected to the action of a scotching machine. • A process of this kind, would certainly, and effectu* ' ally dress any quantity of flax. Since the above w« X written, we are happy to. say, that Mr. Smithson ill successfully engaged in dressing flax. He is about adapt* f ing effective machinery to the after process of cleaning and from his ingenuity and perseverance we have no &i doubt of his success. *. Total Abstinence Society.— A large concoursa ' 5 of members and friends of this Society, assembled. ; together in their new Hall, on the evening of Wed* ■, neaday last, to partake of tea and coffee ; when & I number of excellent speeches were delivered in favour. V of the principles of the Society, Mr. Ligar, who Uai - t for some time jained the Society, presided on tie s occasion. The Attorney General and Dr. Johniofl § were among those who delivered addresses in favour g of temperance. We are glad to find men in autbo* rity thus uniting with the people, and becoming mem- j bers of an Institution which is likely to prove so bene« j ficial. The Chief Police Magistrate and the Harbour g Master, were also present. The Rev. Mr. Comriei £ Mr.M'Nair,Mr. Langford, Mr. Robinson, Mr.Duncafl I Campbell, and several other members, addressed tb« meeting ; and from the manner in which the busineH of the evening was conducted, we augur well for tW cause of temperance. jj>

Orkamentai. Planting. — This is a subject to which we wish to draw the attention of the settlers, and especially those who have their residences in the vicinity of the town. While we cannot help admiring the taste displayed m laying out ground around many of oar suburban residences, as wellaa the neat ityle ia which the houses themselves are constructed ; we most still acknowledge that we feel there is something wanted to break the monotonous appearance of each homestead. T^ere are no txees, nothing to raise the eje off the green plot in. front of the house. No contrast of a*y kind, excepting with the fern or manuka. Xny of our settlers might easily remedy this defect by planting a few acacias ; they grow quickly, they afford good ehelter, and- they are beawifaHy ornamental. Wo throw out thU hmt in the hope that the attention of some of our country frieadi may be directed to this subject. •' Mechanics' iNstiTUTE.-The Committee of this. Institution request us to state: That labour in the erection of the building now commenced, will he received as payment from parties wishing to become member* for the first quarter. Mr. Blacl? will gite receipts for subscriptions paid in this mariner. Tupak? —One of ou,r lubacribers who made obtervations on the effects upon cattle from eating this shrub, ha« informed us that the only, or chief danger to cattle from this, arises fron the fact df allowing cattle after a hard day's labour to eat of it, without taking care previously to give the cattle any other food ; and he thinks that by giving a little corn, or hay to the cattle in the first thera would be no danger of their afterwards suffering fiom the Tupaki. Ihe report which we published last week regarding the discovery of the d,ead body of an European has, we are happy to find, turned out to be incorrect. . The report originated in the cirpumstanpe of some one hiving found the remains of a native child, which must have been for several years buried.