THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, December 20, 1849.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 26, 20 December 1849, Page 1

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, December 20, 1849.

The Government brig "Victoria, " Capt. Burgess, arrived from Port Nicholson on the 22nd instant—bringing us copies of the Wellington Independent (news paper) to the 28th of November. The celebrated Te Rnupnralm, Chief of the Ngatotoa Tribe, is no more. He died at Otaki on the morning of the 27th of November, in his seventy-fifth year.

J Very great efforts are making in the Southern settlements to improve tht method of cleansing, and to extend the cultivation of native flax. A Joint Stock Company iias been established, at Wellington, to promote these objects, and to enhance the riches of New Zealand by perfecting so eA 9 y and so available an article of commerce. This Joint Stock Company contemplate turning their manufactory to the best account, as they intend to attach a Paper Mill to their works, to convert the refuse /lax to paper, a purpose for which it is said to be peculiarly applicable. " Mi/ 3^ a " ncc '" snys the Indepen-

dent oftlic 31st of October, " forwarded a fe%v weeks back to Hobart Town, a sample of F/ax, prepared by himself, by means of the new process, and lie has received for answer that llax so prepared is worth about w£2opcr toil. A capital paying price." On the 15th of November, liis ExcelJeney Lieutenant-Governor Eyre, accompanied by several Europeans, and seven natives, crossed Cook's Strait to the valley of the Wairau. It was the intention of Mr. Eyre to endeavour to penetrate from Kaparatehau to Port Cooper. That project, however, was lamentably frustrated, in consequence of an appalling catastrophe which befel Wiremu Hoota, a worthy young man, the best native guide in that part of the country. The frightful occurrence is thus narrated in the Independent of the 24th of November. " Previously to starting into the pass which is supposed to exist between the Wairnu and Port Cooper Plains, his Excellency ascended the great snowy mountain which forms the principal peak of the Knikotos, and which attains ati elevation cf at least 9000 feet, the upper part being heavily covered with snow to a great depth. He succeeded in reaching the top of the mountain, but so late as to be unable to push oil to the southern edge of the summit, where nn extensive view southwards would have been obtained. In returning, a steeji face of the hill (little le9s than perpendicular), down which hung a bed of frozen snow, had to be crossed for a considerable distance. Mr. Eyre, who had led the party up t e dangerous ascent, was in advance with one native, the others being about 200 feet above nnd behind him, on the same perpendicular face of the snow. lie heard a cry, and looking round saw Wiremu Hoeta falling down the precipice, pitching from ledge to ledge, and rolling over and over in the intervals, till lie fell des.d, and no doubt smashed to pieces at a depth below of about 1500 feet, where his body could be seen in a sort of ravine, but where it was impossible to get at it. His Excellency narrowly escaped from similar destruction, having lost both feet from under him, and only saving himself by the use of an iron shod pole which he

carried. Another of the Natives had n still narrower escape, having actually fallen about fifteen yards, when he succeeded in clutching a rock and saving himself. The gloom which this unfortunate event caused, and the uncertainty of crossing the rivers while the snows are melting, induced his Excellency to return to Wellington." Wen erceive the new Native paper, *' Ko Te Ao Maratna," continues to bo advertised in the pages of the Independent; —we regret our inability to furnish any further extracts having only received a copy of the first number. A schooner (the Perseverance) is loading, at Port Nicholson, for California. Since writing the above we have been favoured, with Nos. 2 and 3 of the "New World." One or two extracts will be found ia fnother page.

Is the last number of the Maori Messen- , ger, we inlulged in certain inferential, < yet speculative, surmises of the affairs of i California. Natura'ly anxious to support our own second-linnil impressions by means of the actual experience of candM and capable residents, we had designed, in our pretent issue, to June furnished the first of a series of admirab'e and eloquent letters, written from San Francisco and published in the pages of the Sandwich Island journal, "Ihe Polynesian" j—lettersuni- ; versal'y considered to wear the stamp of truth upon their face, and to afford te clearest exposition of Californian attractions, since first their golden glitter allured ido'aters and drew a covetous world : to " the diggings." These letters it was . our wish to have presented as they origi- i "ally appeared, —however, a deliberate 1 v onsWeraiion of the peculiar and p'ay- i ful style of their composition confirmed : our ftnrs of-the impossibility of even the : freest translation imparting an. adequate i idea of their sense. Under such conviction, we have determined, (to tlie very great detriment of their gifted writer), to fritter away their brilliancy of thought and expression in order that the valuable information conveyed may be rendered as intelligible as possible to the most ordinary comprehension. Stbaws from the Gold Coast. < San Frsncisco, June 26tb, 1849. My Dear Poi.., —Let me speak out ■ —free as water—and I will write you now and then, and let you know the grand movements of this re-discovercd i Ophir—the real Ophir, as some have thought it. This Sau Francisco, is the oddest little i square mile of sand hills and thrub oaks, : of tents and store houses, of English, i French, Americans, Dutch, Africans, Chi- : nose, and people of all countries and colours. It is a perfect contradiction;—soft < and 6iimmer like in winter, raw and \ winter-like in summer—an infant city : silting in the dust —its teeth chattering . with cold, its eyes red with sand and I brandy. Such another place you might I hunt the world in vain to find. Its 1 streets are composed of dwellings half 1 tanvass half timber —many of them con- i tain card and billiard rooms and all the ] other means of the most unhallowed i gambling. At these, groups of all casts i and classes may be seen gloating over ] piles of gold and silver, like crows over ! carrion, hot and reeking with liquor, wild : with unnatural mirth and frenzy, lost to decency, glorying in their shame, bent on mutual robbery, and by their blasphemous indulgence and profanity demonstrating that rum and gold is indeed a death-mixture alike destructive to body and soul. Let no parent send a son to California except he be impregnable against vice. No, not oven if I'er mountains were of the purest gold. But is San Francisco a sinner above all the rest of California? Sorry I am to tay she is only foremost of her kindred. The lust of gain is everywhere ; money is flush. The brute in man fears little of law; riot laughs order to scorn ; and all over the territory vice holds up its head with the assurance of strict honesty, and men do things which they would not publish on a sign post, much 'ess chronitle for the eye of parent or wife at home. But, perhaps, you want news, not sermons—well thenj—l may tell you, there are hunderds of fine vessels in the harbour—thousands of passengers landing weekly—scores of houses and stores rising every sevendays—mountains of goods encumber the shore—revolutions and changes are of daily occurence:—plans, projects, specu'ations, and disappointments are universal—rows, fights, and murders are rife, and so continuous are the flu< tuations that what was yesterday exis's not to day, nn J the doings of to iliy nre overturned by those'of to-morrow —There has been a talk in America of slavery. Sober men here laugb at the idea of permitting slavery, or of introducitiir it —Congress may spare itself the question. We will not only govern ourselves, hut decide the slavery question to boot. You may work impossibilities, ere the Congress of the United States can establish slavery amongst lis. We have too many free hands, and tree heads, and free hcartß. We have too much guLl too. If one or two bundr«d

dollars a month will not keep sailors on ship board, or the terrors of military laws and punishments keep soldiers in their barracks, will toilings l'or nought attract and bind a slave to his condition.' —Oh, no ; this soft and sunny territory —this fresh, invigorating', breath-impart-ing land—this mother ot beef and gold is not for the cloven hoofs of bon nge to trend. Life, art, knowledge, freedom, virtue, and faith—all that nurture power, goodness, and glory must ultimately prevail here, and a potent state spring up, to enlighten, move, and bless the world, in spite of gold and of all gold's hireling myrmidons—in spite of slavery and of all lior liard-henrted hard rea son ing champions. But how soon? Who knows? as the natives say. Dear Pol., Have patience, and I'll talk of gold soon. Panorama..