THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, Sept. 10, 1842.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 27, 10 September 1842, Page 106

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, Sept. 10, 1842.

Lea journaux deviennent plus necessaires a, mesure que les homines sout plus igaux, et 1' individcalisme plus a craindre. Cc serait diminuer leur importance que de croire qu 1 iU ne servent qu' a garantir la liberty : Us maintiennent la civilisation. " Dl TOCQPEVILLB. De la Democratic en Amerique,. tome 4, p. 230. Journals become more necessary as men become more equal, and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secsore liberty : they maintain civilisation. Da TocausyiLLK. Of Democracy in America, vol. 4, p. 820.

In our last number it was stated that this journal had reached the close of its second quarter ; and, as the establishment of the Nelson Examiner is so intimately connected with the establishment of the Nelson settlement, we consider the present a most fittmg time to take a review of the progress made by the colony since its brief formation.

When we reflect that it was only in February last that the first immigrant skip (the Fifeshire) entered Nelson Haven, and found no inhabitants, native or European, with the exception of the surveying staff, who had preceded it three months — that we were located in a district previously unknown, with a harbour into which nothing larger than a canoe had before entered — when we reflect on this, and look around us and see the number of stores filled wiifi 1 merchandise, well-built houses, cultivated gardens, and ships in harbour, have wejoot reason to be satisfied — reasons for selfgratulation ? In speaking of this settlement, we shall do our utmost to avoid partiality and prejudice, and confine our statements so strictly to facts, that, if our inferences are questioned, the bases on which they are founded shall not be questioned. Seven months have passed since oh* arrival, and ten since the arrival of the surveyors, during which time there has not been a day that a vessel of 500 tons might not have entered or left Bolton Roads* which is inside the bar, and communicate with the shore in boats, being within half a mile of the Company's Stores. The only occasions of difficulty have been from want of wind, which the assistance of a couple of boats would easily overcome. The anchorage in this roadstead is better than that in many harbours ; in confirmation of which opinion/we draw attention to the fact, that, during g^rhe the heaviest weather V$ have yet experienced, the Bolton, 541, the Eagle, 438, the Clifford, 460, the Eleanor, 250, and the Elizabeth 75 tons, rode there in perfect safety. The Harbour is always accessible by taking the proper time of the tide ; even in light winds and calms, with the aid of boats ; and so completely is it sheltered, that a ship in dock is not more safe. The facilities for lauding cattle are such as but few places possess. The Brilliant, in her last trip from Twofold Bay, ran up to the mouth of the Waimea, and' there, in three and half fathoms at low water, within a few yards of the shore landed her entire cargo, without accident, in a few hours. The town of Nelson, containing 1,100 acres besides large reserves for public buildings and spacious streets, is nearly level, with a few moderate elevations, valuable for building, for the extensive views which they command. It is at all times well supplied with water from three streams which run through it in different directions. The valuable timber land, forming about one-sixth of the site, and the fine fern land, of nearly the whole ef the remainder, afford the happy mixture of material and space for building. The excellence of the clay, everywhere to be found, for brick-making has been proved by the unceasing activity in the various brickyards during nearly the whole winter*- Limestone of excellent quality has been found scarcely without the boundary of the town; and superior coal (if not existing close at band, of which many persons are sanguine) can be procured in any quantity on the shores of Massacre Bay, within eight hours' sail. We now come to speak of the suburban districts — the land for immediate cultivation. Whatever may be the qualities of our harbour, however favourable the site of the town, we are well aware that it is the excellence of the land after all which is most important. One simple fact will show the value of the land, as estimated by proprietors. At the late selection, out of the 570 sections surveyed only fifteen or eighteen were rejected, although it was well known that the districts under surveyfor- the remamder comprise as fine land as any j*g|he. colony, with but a very small alloy of whftft may be considered questionable. Time only can verify our opinion, but we feel satisfied that the general quality of the land will give universal satisfaction, and that large portions of it are equal to the Hutt Valley, or the most favoured spots in New Zealand. Of the country districts we shall

speak on another occasion, and for the present conclude by stating what has been done since the formation of the colony. < It is seven months since the first imnW grant ship arrived, and 77 vessels, with tonnage amounting to 12,272 tons, have entered our harbour, contributing to the Customs upwards of £700, exclusive of the 'many large sums paid at Port Nicholson for goods destined for this place. An excellent road has been made from the haven to the town, along the beach, with convenient jetties for landing goods, and a bridge across the mouth of the small river. Our population is considerably above 2,000. It is between four and five months since the town acres were distributed, and we have 250 good houses built, 50 more are being erected, besides 230 warries and huts which have been put up for temporary purposes. A considerable quantity of ground is being cultivated for gardens. It is but a fortnight since the suburban sections were delivered, and already many are making arrangements to follow the laudable example set by Mr. Kerr and the Messrs. Tytler. To sum up the whole, with a harbour so easy of access, a town on so excellent a site, land with every promise of great production, a climate of the most enjoyable description, And, lastly, with a populationhaving sufficient enterprise, but escliewingf all unnecessary expenditure, these we consider as our elements of success. Failure we believe to be scarcely possible.

To watch and to record the rapid and healthful progress of this colony is the' most pleasing duty we have to perform ; and we recur to it with increasing pride and satisfaction. Not that we are disposed to overrate the value of the industrial efforts of our fellowcolonists. In the wonderful advancement of the town itself, with its many convenient and substantial warehouses and its numerous and comfortable dwelling?, we recognize but the unequivocal symptomr of individual success. It is to the development of thfe means of productive industry that we look as the guarantee of our ultimate success as a community. But even in this respect, young as this colony is, we find abundant matter of congratulation. Already have the preliminary measures been taken towards the working out the great mineral treasures of the colony. Not only may we shortly hope to find our hearths universally heated by our own coal (as hitherto they have but partially been), and our fields fertilized by our own lime, but the day cannot be far distant when we shall be in a situation to export one or both these valuable commodities. The recent distribution of 25,000 acres of suburban land also forms an important era in the progress of Nelson. All descriptions of capitalists have „ now a fair and ample field for their exertions (of whichsome have wjsely not been slow ta^avni) , themselves), and the various operations of agriculture are now being actively carried out. " The man who causes a blade of grass to grow," says Johnson, " where none has grown before, deserves the thanks of his countrymen." The language of the sage is strong, but the spirit of his remark cannot be too earnestly enforced. We repeat that it is not our substantial shops, stores filled with merchandise, and tasty houses, that we regard a* unfailing indications of inborn vigour ; but we look rather to our fields and our gardens, to our hills and dales sprinkled with herds, and to the very bowels of the earth, as the natural elements of our future greatness. Every colony, in its earliest stage, must certainly supply its wants from without, iand obtain its means of immediate subsistence by purchase from other countries. But this dependent situation, if unnecessarily ' protracted, weakens and impoverishes ; and it is only when a colony becomes in a condition to provide for its own children, by immediate production, or by barter of its superabundant produce, that it can be said to be fairly planted. Nelson, we are proud

to say, thus unprecedented^ early, bids fair rapidly to arrive at that condition, when her exports, and not her gold, will be found in Frthe markets of the world, in return for those products of other countries which she may require. In a word, our progress and our prospects are most cheering. The heavens are bright above us, and beneath, the earth is clothed in a mantle of eternal green. We inspire health in every breeze. In our harbour and streets we find abundant proofs of present success ; and we look with confidence trf our mines, our forests, our flax, our pastures, our fields, and other openings to industry, as certain sources of future and permanent prosperity. The Bishop of New Zealand left Nelson in the Perseverance on Thursday last for Port Nicholson. It was his lordship's intention, we believe, to have stayed another week ; but being desirous to reach Wellington in time sufficient to allow his visiting Taranaki before the arrival of the Government brig at the end of this month, he i embraced the opportunity which the Perseverance offered of doing so. On Sunday morning last, after a suitable discourse from his lordship, a collection was made towards . defraying the expense of erecting a church ; and, notwithstanding the unfavourable weather, £3.7 were collected. The Bishop has made arrangements with the Company's Agent to have the building used by the surveyors, and that used for immigrants, t which nearly adjoins it. These two buildings, which stand on the spot reserved for the church, will answer all temporary purposes ; and a substantial and elegant building is to be erected around them as fast as the funds will warrant. It is intended, we "believe, to conttnue collections for this purpose on every sacramental Sunday ; and his lordship has a fund intrusted to him to assist in forwarding the work, if needed. The Rev. — Ray remain* liere to administer to the spiritual wants of the settlement ; and it is not unlikely that the Bishop may return for a few days in the middle of next month.

The aboriginal inhabitants of this district -have great cause to rejoice in the recent -visit of his lordship the Bishop of New Zealand. During the whole of his sojourn here, he manifested the greatest anxiety to promote the moral and physical welfare of the Maories. Dr. Selwyn having been appointed one of the trustees for the management of the native reserves, was enabled to take steps to render this valuable property available for the purposes originally intended. His lordship has announced his willingness to grant leases for twenty-one years, which will encourage many persons to build substantial houses, who have hitherto held back from ignorance of the t terms on which the land could be rented, The-fiawds will be immediately applied to fhe erection of a few comfortable houses on Green Point, where the Maories may resort on visiting Nelson, and not lie on the beacli, as they have hitherto, in all weathers, often with no other covering than a blanket. A small hospital is also to be built, on the acre facing the Bank, where they can be lodged and attended to in sickness, and have the benefit of Mr. Wilson's medical experience, who is appointed their surgeon. As soon a3 possible, a school will likewise be erected, where the children of the Maories from two years and upwards will be clothed, boarded, and educated. It is hoped that, by this means, the rising generation may be trained to habits of industry, as from this school, at proper ages, boys will be apprenticed to learn various trades ; and his lordship expresies a hope that among them he may find some with sufficient talent and Hrith a desire to enter the church, whom he will be happy to ordain.

The accounts from the Waimea are most satisfactory. Mr. Kerr, we are told has ten acres of wheat up', looking very healthy, and fifteen acres ploughed ready for seed.

The Messrs. Tytler are also at work in earnest, and we N hope shortly to be able to record favourably of their progress. Such' examples of energy have induced Mr. Hippesly, immediately on his arrival, to purchase from the valuable stock of Mr. Revans, five heifers in calf, four working bullocks, and 52 ewes with lamb, and with these commence farming his section, also in the Waimea district. Others are taking measures to follow ; and we flatter ourselves that, within twelve months of our arrival, we shall see fields of corn nearly ready for the sickle. We heartily wish all our agriculturists a large reward for their labours.

New Process of manufacturing Bricks, Tiles, Architectural Mouldings, &c. — At the late annual meeting of the Liverpool Polytechnic Society, the Secretary (C. F. Salt, Esq.) read a communication from Mr. R. Prosser, C. E., of Birmingham, on his patent process of manufacturing bricks, tiles, architectural mouldings, &c. The invention is applicable to the manufacture of any article that can be produced. under a press. In the ordinary mode of making bricks, the clay is prepared by suitable machinery, and mixed with watur to temper it and reduce it to a plastic state, fit for brickmaking. All these laborious processes used to be performed by the hand, in the open air; but latterly much manual labour has been superseded by horse power, in the operations of grinding the wet clay between rollers, and tempering it in a machine called a pug-mill, which is an iron cylinder set upright, in the axis of which an upright shaft revolves. Several knives are attached to this Bhaft in a spiral manner. As the upright shaft revolves, the clay thrown in at the top is wetted, and kneaded, and forced through an aperture in the bottom of the pugmill, and by this process it becomes tempered, ready for the moulder. Large quantities of water are used in the tempering procefiß, in order to make the clay soft enough to be forced into the moulds ; and tins water must be got rid of, by a slow process, before the bricks can be burned. Each thousand of bricks, when ready for the kiln, weigh about half a ton less than when they are first moulded. This half a ton of water has to be evaporated before the bricks can be burned. The novelty of Mr. Prosser's process consists in the clay being dried, ground to powder, and submitted to pressure in metallic moulds, until the particles cohere together. As there is no water in combination with the clay, no drying process is necessary ; consequently the articles made by this method are ready to be fired or burned as soon as they leave the machine. Owing to the great pressure required to cause the par^, tides of clay to cohere together, thgarticles made by this process have greater densfty'than those made in the ordinary way ; they are less porous, and not subject to decay by wet or frost. In addition to these advantages, any architectural device may be impressed upon the clay, which, when burnt, will retain all the sharpness of the original, however elaborately finished. By this process bricks can be made in ail weathers, and with greater economy than by any other plan known at present. The brick-press is worked by hydraulic pumps, giving about 300 tons pressure, thus producing [the adhesion of cohesion, The machine delivers the brick (four at a time in the present machine) ready at that instant for the kiln, lequiring no exposure to the atmosphere to dry. The whole operation, from the time of putting the powdered clay into the machine to the delivery of the brick, occupies about half-a-minute. Machinery might readily be constructed to produce fifty bricks in a minute.

The foundation of Nelson, which is recorded in the official despatches of its leader, Captain Arthur Wakefield, is an important fact in the history of British colonization. It is- only the commencement of one of those numberless thriving settlements which, are the offspring of the national enterprise, but it cements the power of England in the newest and one of the most valuable of the appendages to her vast empire. Although Captain Hobson's perverse spirit of interference had prevented the settlement of the colony on the spot first chosen for it, Port Cooper, a happy fortune had conducted it to an excellent situation, on the shores of a commodious harbour and in the neighbourhood of good land — in the Blind Bay of Captain Cook. Port Nicholson was proceeding merrily; and the colonists in all the settlements in Cook's Strait are in the most cheerful mood. One cause of their elation, indeed, was the report that a steam-communication was about to be established between the settlements of the groupe. This is the reflection of a | report which has died away in this country. It was a project put prominently forward in the scheme of the second colony, and the settlers departed in the full expectation of its being realized : the echo of the report from the other hemisphere recalled a dream which we remember to have had about the matter ; but, after some inquiry, we cannot learn that any thing has been done to fulfil the promise held out at first. The effect, which that promise — the mere promise — had in stimulating the activity of the settlers, is an admonition to those who are answerable for the fault of neglect, whoever they may be. It is not enough to say that the colonists get on very well without steam*— that twenty vessels lying at one time in Port Nicholson prove how repidly the colony must advance without that aid : the more prosperous the colony and the more energetic the settlers, the more they deserve support, and the greater the prospect of that support redounding to the honour and profit of those by whom it is rendered. — Colonial Gazette.