The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 29 November 1851, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

November 29, 1851. Our readers will probably agree with us in wishing that Mr. Taylor's letter had been curtailed one half; that instead of dwelling with a lame attempt at irony upon a few incidental expressions of a former article, or running into an irrelevant and unintelligible digression upon the transportation question, he had confined himself to the subject with which he professed, and from his experience, was perhaps competent to deal, namely, the effect of the recent gold discoveries in Australia, upon this and the neighbouring settlements.

We quite agree that it is " unjust and impolitic to endeavour to detain labour" in a settlement, because it is simply impossible to do so. In selecting new homes, men will be guided by their prospect of success, and by nothing else. But it is neither impolitic nor unjust, by drawing public attention to the facts and examples of history, to dissuade persons from acting upon great popular delusions. The discovery of the gold fields in Australia is like the establishment of a great lottery, and it is impossible not to fear all the demoralizing consequences which result from the cultivation of a spirit of gambling amongst a people. When the gambling table is thus brought to our own doors, the temptation is great to try one's luck by a throw. It was not then an idle task to remind our readers, that in this great lottery there are blanks as well as prizes, and that, as in all other lotteries, while the prizes are the lot of the few, the blanks fall to the many. It may be said that this is a truism: so it is, but one, nevertheless, which is universally forgotten when the temptation is nigh. Men as eagerly rush to the scramble as if prizes were to be the fortune of all. They forget, too, that the blanks often involve utter ruin, because, prices being raised to the standard of the " diggings," those who cannot obtain a certain amount of gold must starve. We believe there has hardly ever been so great an amount of misery in so short a time, and upon so large a scale, as that which occurred during the first year of the migration to California : whilst, on the other hand, we never remember to have heard that such large fortunes had been realized, as those which have been made by sheep feeding in New South Wales, or in the copper mines of South Australia.

What we desired to put prominently forward was this, that by resisting the temptation to join in the scramble, we shall not lose a share of the prize, only that the proceeds will be more equally divided amongst us all; in one word, that farming- will be in the long- run a more lucrative occupation for a community, and for all but a few individuals, than gold digging.

We shall not follow Mr. Taylor into his comparison between this settlement and others in New Zealand. It is an invidious and childish task to be arguing ourselves into a belief that we are wiser, or better, or richer than our neighbours. If labouring men would get on better at those settlements than here, they will certainly go there, and they would be quite right to do so—but, setting aside the few inconveniences which attend the the formation of a new settlement, we see no reason why they should be

better off there than here. But when Mr. Taylor talks about labour, starving here, we are at a loss to understand him, when the road contractors are paying ss. 6d. a day, for spade labour, and a man sends to Nelson to have his house built and saves a large sum upon carpenter's wages by so doing ; the price of flour'not being very different at the two settlements, it is plainly absurd to talk about labour walking about in idleness, half starved. There are always a number of persons idling about the port town of a settlement, who want the energy or the intelligence to face the difficulties of a new country. But those who set to work in earnest, who get out upon the land, make themselves cottages, enclose gardens,—in a word, begin at once to create for themselves a home, these men never fail to find abundance of employment. Employers know where to find them, and they soon learn where to find employers. Whereas those who linger about the tavern doors in Lyttelton never find employment at all.

Lastly, we shall not quarrel with Mr. Taylor's prediction that the gold discovery of Australia will be followed by a rapid advance in all that we have come in late years to call civilization, —railways, steamers, &c. Whether it will tend to improve the condition of that upon which the real greatness of every nation depends, the heart and character of its people, past examples may lead us to doubt, and the future only will reveal.

His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand entered our port on Tuesday morning, in the Mission Schooner " Border Maid." He has since been actively pursuing the various objects of his visit to this settlement. It is gratifying to learn that on a personal examination of the Schools, his Lordship has expressed himself much pleased with the manner in which the important work of education has been carried on here. On Friday morning a full service was held in the Church at Lyttelton, with the administration of the holy Communion. On Sunday next the Bishop will conduct a Maori Service, at Lyttelton, commencing at nine o'clock, a.m. The confirmation will take place at half-past ten, after which the usual morning service will follow, and the Bishop will preach on behalf of the Australasian Missions. The rite of confirmation will be administered at Christchurch on Sunday afternoon. His Lordship takes his departure, we hear, on Monday.

As will be seen in our summary of Nelson news, the " Midlothian " affords an opportunity for sending letters direct to England, and for passages home, without the, in many cases, disagreeable necessity of risking a lengthened delay at Sydney or Port Philip. We hear that a mercantile firm here has taken steps for learning the terms of passage by this vessel, and opening an agency here on her account.

The " Mary" brings the melancholy news of the loss of a son of Captain Parsons, our late harbour master, by the upsetting of a boat in Nelson harbour. There is here a general feeling of respectful sympathy for the bereaved father among all to whom he is known. Captain Greaves has, we learn, accepted the appointment of harbour master vacant by the resignation of Captain Parsons. If we have lost Alexander, we have gained Diogenes.

The projected meeting on Tuesday last to take steps for celebrating the anniversary of the settlement proved a failure, for want of an adequate attendance. We suppose this was owing, amongst one class to the coming of the Bishop, and in another, to the business produced by the arrival of several deeply laden vessels. A glance at this week's shipping list will fully explain it. Our readers will see by an advertisement that the time and place has been altered to Thursday next, 5, p.m., at Christchurch.