PORT NICHOLSON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue I, 30 July 1842, Page 82

PORT NICHOLSON.

By the kindness of Mr. Wallace, we have seen this day (Friday) Port Nicholson* papers to the 20th of this month. We have ourselves received no papers in the regular way from the Gazette office since that of the 4th of June. On our mention of in a recent paper, the Gazette of the 6th of July remarks :—": — " Our papers are sent regularly to the Post Office, and if not forwarded regulaily as opportunity offers, the neglect must be charged upon the Postmaster.' *^| This neglect in the Post Office department is disgraceful. To our own knowledge, not a single Wellington paper has reached this place through the Post Office since that of the 4th of June. The inconvenience to us is very great : instead of being able to supply our readers regularly with the Wellington news, we are kept for weeks and weeks without a word, and that too at a time when, from lack of other arrivals, it would have been particularly welcome ; and now after all, by a mere accident, we meet with a batch of papers just at a time when thearrival of English news makes it peculiarlyinconvenient to notice them, and impossible to insert extracts to the extent that their general interest demands. We give oqfr' readers a summary of their contents to tflj best of our ability at this late hour :—: — The Gazette of the 15th June contains an article which refers approvingly to the political career of Mr. Earp (who was then on the point of sailing for England), and speaks of a municipality at present, as an evil "under the circumstances." "In a word, municipal expenditure, when added to the amount drawn for the support of the Auckland Government, will, we fear, oppress the real settler, and cripple every effort at local improvement." We have no room for comment further than that we cannot agree. The 18th contains a letter to Samuel Revans, •Esq., from Mr. Hanson, on the subject of the alleged libel which we have spoken of before, and asking for an unequivocal contradiction to the charge against Mr. Clarke, or for the name of the writer. An article on the subject of this letter says, " In conclusion, we beg to state we had no intention of accusing Mr. Clarke of being guilty of perjury — our object was to show that he filled incompatible offices, and necessarily laboured under a bias, from which the most able man, under similar circumstances, would find it difficult, if not impossible, to relieve himself." In the same number is a letter from Mr. Revans stating that he finds it necessary, from misapprehensions on the subject, to announce that he does not now conduct the Gazette, and, in defence of his character for consistency, to say that he does not approve of the views^ given out on Mr. Earp's political career and the Corporation Bill, in the article which we have alluded to. Another letter makes strong mention of the insufficiency of the constabulary at Wellington, and of the numerous robberies that take place. The 22d has a leader on the necessity of an insolvent law. Suggests the resuscitation of the flax committee to take into consideration Mr. Graves' s invention for the preparation of flax. It mentions the loss of the Enterprise (a small schooner, built in the Southern- Island) near Wanganui. The 25th contains the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, which gives a summary jurisdiction fc^a* magistrate, to enforce the payment of damages up to £20; a despatch from Lord Stanley tod Sir George Gipps on the subject of waste lands -j* and extracts in full the summary of distress in England from, the Examiner of May 28. A brewery is in process of erection at Port Nicholson- Mr. Watt is having wheat ground at Mr. Boyton's flour-mill, which was raised at his farm, and Mr. Matheson had laid down a slip for repairing vessels — the Clydeside-*ic now on the 8%. The Bank, Custom House* &c, were closed on Tuesday the 21st of June, on occasion of the proclamation of Queen Victoria. 25tb.' Presses the necessity, now that ship loads of cattle are continually arriving, of the •ettlers availing- themselves of the pasturage found in districts as yet unapproached by cattle, and speakg of an inclination among the coloniyts to subscribe for a road across the country southward, lufficient for the passage of cattle. Captain Christie, of the Water Witch whaler, from London, arrived at Sydney in the Lady Rowena, of Launceston, and announces in a letter to the Sydney Herald that his mate and crew, while 'he was on shore at Lord Howe's Island, ran away with his vessel. July 2d. An article on the necessity of working so as to produce for export ; which we intend to extract. On the subject of the machine for preparing flax, we have the following:-*— " Mr. Graves is here without the means of susk tsining himself, and without the means of ap* plying bis invention. He has been advised to go to Auckland, where it is stated he is sure to be supported by the Governor; and, should he proceed there to seek support which this community can and ought to yield him, it will be a/ continued source of disgrace to and reproach upon the apathy of the colonists in the Company's settlements." The highest temperature of June was on the 11th, being 65°, the lowest

oh the 16th, at 8 a.m., being 33° ; in another situation it had been at 30°. The following table shows the relative shipping of three :—: — Date. Number. Tons. June 1840 10 1547 1841 10 2455 1842 16 2520 6th. Our Wellington friends, like ourselves, find it rather a dull time, and grumble a little. The Brougham had received damage from bad weather in coming from Valparaiso, and was gone to Sydney to repair. Mr. Boulcott had, in consequence, sailed for Sydney in the Eagle, to superintend her while there. There had been a ball at Barrett's Hotel on the 29th of Auncy at which things appear to have gone off very well. The announcement of the burning of the Police-office, Court-house, Post-office, Count v-cpurt. Courts of Justice, and the Church, is given humorously enough, and the value of the buildings stated at the enormous sum of £5. 9th. The Vanguard had brought favourable accounts from New Plymouth. The rural lands had been given out, and the surveys were a-head of the land-orders. A few of the owners had reserved for a splendid timber district ; but generally the settlers were satisfied with the districts open to selection. " The Jupiter, with Captain King's stock (though she had bad weather during her passage from Sydney), was safely discharged at New Plymouth, and held fast and safe to the moorings during some heavy gales. (We hear that the captain of the Jupiter speaks highly of Taranaki at Sydney.) At the same time, the llrougham never dragged her anchor. By and bye, She navigators of Cook's Straits will laugh atthe imaginary dangers of the Taranaki Road<£wi; though carelessness, and something w^pe, may occasion shipwreck there as elsewhere. " Substantial farmers were preparing to occupy and cultivate their suburban and rural allotments. Captain King and Mr. Cutfield had jointly prepared between twenty and thirty acres for seed, besides erecting a dwelling and laying out grounds, far surpassing, as we are assured, anything of the kind in or near Port Nicholson. " The settlers complained of the want of a regular supply of goods from Port Nicholson ; but this cause of complaint will, we believe, soon be removed. ■** A road between New Plymouth and Wanganui, via Patea, had been commenced by the New Zealand Company, so that inland communication between Port Nicholson and New Plymouth will soon be practicable. " A cheerful spirit prevailed among the settlers, who were daily becoming more aware of the advantages of their location iv the extensive, fertile, and practicable district of Taranaki. '\ The whaling season was just at its commencement, and several whales had 'been seen in the Bay of Taranaki." Cattle had been sold at Auckland at £8 a head. Announcement of the destruction by fire of the Government-house at Russell. 13th. The loss of the Kate suggests a good article on the same subject as the one in this paper, that of bonded ports. We hope to insert at least part of it. A correspondent, signing himself " A Colonist," complains that the Company had not kept faith with the immigrants; that their rations were, bad, and the wages from nine to twelve shillings only instead of one pound. A correspondent states that he has found capital pipeclay in J,he neighbourhood of Wellington. A communication from Mr. Swainson shows the necessity for clearing the River Hutt of obstacles which cause overflowings, and making a road up the valley; and urges the Company to concentrate all the assistance they can afford to this the most valuable agricultural district. 16th. At the Post-office fire " no official documents of any importance were lost, and, fortunately, the various mails had mostly been despatched a few hours previously." " Wellington, July 14. J^ Sir — In reply to your letter of yesterday's aßre,"hnvhicbr^ou desire to 'be informed ' what truth there is in the assertion contained in a letter signed "A Colonist" in to-day's Gazette,' I beg to state that I feel confident that no ' rotten rations ' have been issued from the Company's stores since I haveheld the office of storekeeper. " It is true that some of the casks of beef which were brought from Petoni were tainted; but these were thrown away, as my returns will show. * * • * * " The stock of beef brought from Petoni was finished the middle of May, when I bought a parcel of beef from Messrs. Ridgways and Co., which has been issued up to this time, and of which some casks remain, arid may be seen at the stores. — I am, &c. " H. S. Knowles, Storekeeper-General N. Z. Company. " To Col. Wakefield, &c. &c." 20th. A letter from Mr. Donald M'Donald, replying completely to the accusation of " A Colonist," - relating to the Company's want of faith with their immigrants. A severe reproof to the Postmaster at Wellington, and, from what we ourselves experienced, most richly deserved. A reply from a correspondent to Mr. Swainson's " certainly selfish demand," as to cfearing the Hutt, &c, Mr. Swainson having an early lot in that district. There is much in these papers which we hope to find a future opportunity of extracting, especially the Journal of Mr. Kettle's trip into the interior; and also TO&are sorry to be unable to take any notice of the active doings at the Mechanics' Institute. This hurried summary is the only mode that insore3 our not getting irretriveably in the rear from the neglect of the Post Office.