New Plymouth. [From the Nelson Examiner.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 43, 28 March 1846, Page 3

New Plymouth. [From the Nelson Examiner.]

We have intelligence from New Plymouth to the 29th of January, at which date the settlers weie busy with their harvest. On the 27th Mr. H. K-ing cut from 17 to 20 acres of wheat, and afterwards gave a dinner to all the people employed, amounting to nearly sixty pet sons. On the following clay a similar festival took place on the farm of Mr J. Smart. A public meeting was held on the 16th to take measures to erect a subcription flour-mill, in shares of £2 10s. each in consequence of the present high charges for grinding wheat. A committee was appointed to leport on the subject to another meeting, and on the 24th the second meeting took place, when the report was adopted, and rules and regulations framed: about 180 shares were taken The members of the Local Benefit Society dined together on the 29th of December, after attending the Wesleyan Chapel, when an excellent sermon was preached there by the Rev. H. Turton. There has been some stir in New Plymouth, caused by the introduction of a stone into the new church now building, on which it is intended to place the bread and wine when administering the sacrament. This, which is rather a practice of the Church of Rome than the Church of England, gave very general offence. The Rev. Mr. Bolland explained to a vestry meeting that the j stone had heen placed in its present position by order of the Bishop, who was an admirer of old foims and ceremonies. English early potatoes have done well this season at New Plymouth. A misunderstanding took place a short time since between the Tarauaki natives and those tesiding near Mokau; and the latter in consequence tabooed the road which.runs through their district from the former place to Auckland. Mr. Thatcher, and another gentleman from New Plymouth, journeying towards Auckland, were in consequence compelled to return to Tarauaki; but through the exertions of Mr. M'Lean, the protector of aborigines at New Plymouth, the

road is again opened. We have often heard this gentleman's services spoken of in the highest terms, and believe him to be one of a few of the protectorate body who has alike the confidence of the Europeans and natives.

We are sorry to state that a firehad broken out at Mr. Price's station, Ekolaki, by which, two seven oared boats, whaling gears casks, stores, &c.,to the amount of £500, had been destroyed. The fire was occasioned by a spark from the blacksmiths' forge falling on the toi-toi of the boat -shed which instantly ignited. Mr. Pi ice has been one of the most industrious and enterpiising of our whalers, and we ate sorry to record hialoss.