Extracts.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1845, Page 4

Extracts.

The Brig Amelia, the fiist of January Post oifice packet, fiom London, anivetl at this port on Sunday last, bringing the heaviest mail which has ever been conveyed to this colony j its weight being estimated at about one and a half ton. This vessel, after she had sailed, was compelled to put back to F«il mouth, from which Fort bhe did not sail till the 31st January, consequently we have news to within a few days of the end of that month. The mail by this vessel, consisted of about 5,934 letters, and 19,169 papeis. — Sydney Herald. In the London Gazette of the 10th January, the following notice appeals, " The Queen has been pleased to appoint Major Matthew Richmond, to be Superintendent of the Southern Division of the Colony of New Zealand." Despatches fiom the Governor of New Zealand were received at the Colonial Ofllce, on Sunday January 18. The Queen has approved of the sum of £ i,OOO per annum as the salary of His Excellency the Lieutenant tJovemor of Van Dieman's Land. It is believed that the Queen and the Prince will visit Pans m the ensuing spiing. Preparations are being made for their illustrious visitors, at Fontainblieu and at Versailles. ' The Royal Exchange was tin own open to the public on New Year's clay. In Spain affairs are worse than ever ; and the surest proof of the weakness of the Government is, that the insurgents an 1 butchered, in the vain hope to strike teiror. Zurbann's son and secretary have been shot. A weak Government cannot afford to be lenient In France, the Guizot ministry seems to be at a great discount, and it is not at all impiobable that they may be compelled to resign. The refusal of M, de Salvandy to take office has thrown the ministry into confusion. Dr. Wolff way on his way from Teheran toj Erzeroum, according to the very latest accounts. Captain G. Smith has submiited to the Admiralty the plan of u boat adapted to screw propelled steamers, and the board has directed Mr. Cowell, of Woolwich Yard, to build one forthwith, The midship section is similar to a paddle box boat, but the boat is fitted to geneial purposes, and her boyv and stern are alike — so that in embarking troops, or her crew, from a beach, she may at once shove off without winding, and thus more quickly get out of a musket fire. Captain Smith has also greatly simplified the mode by which his paddle box boats are put into and taken out of the water, the double jointed davit being got rid of. The winter was unusually severe ; and so intense was the cold in London, that the supply of coals was not equal to the demand, and had consequently risen to 435. per ton. The navigation of the Thames was almost stopped by the ice. The Scheldt and Elbe were also stopped. Affairs are very much disturbed in Switzerland. At Lucerne there has been an attempt at revolution, and the Government and insurgents have come into collision. The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his determination to submit to the Queen the necessity of convening a general convocation to | consider the state of the Church, with a view to its immediate reform. It is said that the Bishop of Exeter is at the head of the body of Prelates who urge his Grace to this step. Captain Stokes, of H.M.S. Beagle, has published by permission of the Admiralty, an account of his Jast voyage (or rather succ ssion of vojages) in these seas. The woik is said to contain a full account of all the discoveries made by that enterprising and accurate navigator, as well as the surve>s of Bass's Straits, which, as the direct route to Sydney, are of the utmost importance. The numerous difficulties of these straits are no'v divested of half their danger, accurately laid down as they have been by Captain Stokes and his indefatigable assistants. Besides the survey of the Straits which more immediately concerns ourselves, the Beagle was, for a length of time, emplot ed on the northern and western coasts, in pursuance of the objects of the sin vey,the anchor ages of South Australia and Swan River were laid down with accuracy. In the latter, this was a source of difficulty and danger, the impoi tance of which may be estimated by the fiequency of shipwrecks, resulting from ignorance of the peniliaiities of the coast. Besides which, confused nnd erroneous desciiptions of former discoveiies rendered it not merely neees>saiy to lay down what exibted, but to disprove what was inaccurately and hastily asserted by former djscoveieis. Oil the noith-west coast the Beayle assumed the more imposing and interesting, though not moie useful province of discovery. Unknown shonjs w ith unsuspected trendings, were discoveied, while nveis, the exisience of which was only suspected, hut equally unknown, were traced ior miles into the interior, until the explore! s reached to within 500 miles of the centre of the vast continent of New Holland. Of these we may enumeiate the Victoria, Adelaide, Albert, and Filzio}, all distcoveiud and examined, the examination of which gave the first idea, beyond mere conjecture, of the real nature of the north western continent. Ihe Uea'jle \ias engaged in this expedition from early in 1837 to late in 1843, of which period five yeais weie spent in these important smve>s, and interesting discoveries; and during the whole of| which, unprecedented period, the vessel was in— [ jci'ssantly engaged. The work contains man) maps and charts, most interesting narrative, highly useful information, as w ell as new and remark- 1 able facts in natuuil history ; and its anival in ; these colonies is looked for with the utmost anxiety and pleasurable anticipation.

I Sandwich Islands. — Every thing appears to be going on very quietly at the bandwich islands, and commerce is lapidly increasing. During the j ear 1841, four hundred and mnet) -seven vessels pin into the different ports of the Kingdom, of which four hundred and ten were Ainetican, and five English. The celebrated John Adams, Governor of Hawaii, died in December. He was the fiisf nathe of the Sandwich Islands that learned to read,