POST OFFICE.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 50, 16 May 1846, Page 3

POST OFFICE.

The arrival of the Commissioners in Auckland, appointed by the Postmaster-General in England, to visit the Australian Colonies, in order to inspect and report upon the various colonial postal establishments, presents an opportunity which we cannot allow to pass, of publicly protesting against the continuance of the tax on the transit of Newspapers, which is confined, exclusively, to the colony of New Zealand. That this colony should be inflicted, with such an impost, while the other neighbouring colonies are exempt, we cannot comprehend. What can be more unjust and anomalous, than the fact :— a newspaper, directed to Sydney, is chargeable at the Post Office, in Auckland, with one penny ; but on its arrival, at Sydney, it is delivered free ;—; — and vice versa,-— -newspapers are there posted free, and chargeable -with one penny here, on delivery ! ! ! So is it, likewise, with all newspapers to, and from, England. Every British subject is exempt from this tax, on news, but the distant settlers in New Zealand. It is really impossible to reconcile such injustice, with the accustomed, excellent regulations of the General Post Office ; but if the visiting Commissioners have not the power of annulling the tax, on the spot> we trust the glaring, anomalous imposition will be forcibly represented to the authority that can remedy the grievance. While on this subject, we would revert to another, most unjust, absurd regulation of the Post Office, in this colony. It is, the charge of inland postage, on letters from England, that may not arrive at their precise destination in the first instance. Thus, the Ralph Bernal, — most probably, by this time, arrived at Wellington, from England direct, — will have a mail for Auckland. The sea postage, from England to New Zealand, is four pence; but the Auckland bag will be opened, at Wellington, merely for the purpose of exacting the inland postage, of another four pence ; and thus, double actual postage, from England, is obliged to be paid by the settlers in this colony, solely, because the vessel does not arrive, direct, at the settlement for which a mail bag may be addressed. With respect to the management of tha Post Office at Auckland, we are perfectly certain, that every settler will most cordially bear testimony to the efficiency and urbanity of Messrs. Turner and Ridings ; and also, of their anxiety on all occasions, that their important duties should be instrumental to the interest and convenience of the inhabitants of Auckland. But such gross abuses and unjust impositions cannot have long duration, and we should conceive, they cannot have escaped the official enquiry and knowledge of the Commissioners, now visiting this colony. We have called the attention of the public to the snbject, and we consider that the inhabitants would do well to memoralize the Postmaster-General, respectfully, on these postal grievances, through- the Commissioners, before they leave Auckland.

»Kawau. — This valuable rich copper mine is becoming daily still more productive. Under the superintendence of a person brought up to mining pursuits from his youth, and capable of assaying the ores as discovered, pursuit of comparatively useless lodes no longer occurs, and the richest veins only are followed. The-quantity now produced, weekly, exceeds ten tons of most valuable ore. Theie are above one hundred and fifty hands employed at the mines, who with their families render the Eaiopean population of Kawau very considerable, and quite a thriving settlement. We doubt not, ere long, that there will be all the appurtenances of tin English village/ butcher, baker, &c, at the Kawau.

H, M. 58th Regiment.— The term of service having expired of several of the sergeants of this gallant regiment, their brother noncommissioned officers invited them to a farewell dinner, on Thursday evening, before leaving the colony, in H. M. S. Castor. Twenty-five sergeants assembled at the Blue Bell on the occasion, sergeant-major Moir presiding ; and after partaking of an excellent repast, provided by Mr. Rogers, the evening was passed in the greatest conviviality and harmony. The veterans, retiring, are quarter-master-sergeant John Jeffreys, — sergeants Flood, Carland, and Noakes, — all of whom have been engaged in the recent actions at the Bay of Islands, and have been in the service above twenty-one years. Sergeant Justiu and col-sergt. Sims likewise retire, in consequence of wounds, received in the late conflicts with I-leki. The meeting of so many biave, gallant fellows, to pay a parting tribute of respect and good-feeling t o comrades who have been associated with them, for so many years, redounds to the honor ot all the noncommissioned officers of the brave, well- known Five and Eight. The thorough cordiality subsisting, and the excellent discipline, observant oj stiict propriety over the convivial board, exists, in tliis gallant regiment, were most fully proved at this parting meeting, which will long be remembered by those present as one of the cheering, exciting eras associated with a soldier's life. H* M. £}. Castor. — The crew of the Pinnace of H.M.S. Castor, who so gallantly rescued last week, three persons who were capsized in the harbour, have been presented by the Ladies of Auckland with neck handkerchiefs &c. in testimony of the appreciation entertained for their humanity.