THE NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 91, 27 February 1847, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL.

In the last numbers of this Journal which have reached us, the puffing of Wellington and the malicious depreciation of Auckland, the sole topics of discussion in that respectable publication, are carried on with unusual vigour. Persons not intimately acquainted with the affairs of New Zealand, and the position of the New Zealand Company for some time past, would be wholly unable even to guess at the causes of the increased zeal with which the writers in "the organ" prosecute the two tasks assigned to them. The causes, however, are very well known to the settlers of New Zealand. The silent, steady, and, at the same time, extraordinary progress of this district in so short a period of time, the mismanagement of the Southern settlements by the Company, the heartless selfishness of that bo ly, their reckless indifference to the interests of their settlers, the consequent misfortunes of the settlers ; and; above all, and infinitely beyond all, the certainty that the knowledge of all these facts has, for some time, been forcing its way in every direction through the British public in despite of the high-pressure puffing power employed by the Company, sufficiently explain the intense malice towards this district exhibited in the numbers of the New Zealand Journal before us. But, when we consider further, that, before the publication of the numbers in question Captain Fitzßoy's pamphlet had appeared, that the Company had been openly descried by Earl Grey and Mr. Buller, and that intelligence had reached England of the loud and universal complaints made by the Southern settlers against that body, the simplest person cannot be at a loss in explaining to himself these extraordinary exertions of the New Zealand Journal in supporting its employers. In fact, the affairs of the Company are perfectly desperate, and the puffing agents have no easy game to play. To steer the vessel of the Company through the shoals and quicksands by which it is at present surrounded, is certainly no joke. Liberal allowances are to be made in judging of the conduct of men who are overpowered by difficulties and misfortunes, and who, while ruin has been tottering over their heads,have received the last and unkindest cut of all from their former friends and protegees. Misfortune, too, from whatever cause arising, is the natural object of pity ; and, being quite easy upon the subject of Auckland, we could afford to sympathise with the Company if they had not frequently and unnecessarily resorted to means for the advancement- of their supposed interests, which cannot be defended upon any principles of .truth or justice. To set forth in the mother-country the advantages and resources of their settlements, and to praise their settlers, are courses not only justifiable, but, when pursued within proper bounds, lauduble and meritorious. Such exertions as these on the part of the Company we would feel both pleasure and pride in supporting and encouraging ; for we not only wish well to our fellow-settlers in the South, but think very highly of them. But, when the Company travels out of its own proper concerns, and encourages the publication by its agents of the most absurd as- well as the most mischievous misstatements respecting this district and its inhabitants, for their own selfish ends, they not only provoke refutation and exposure, but deprive themselves of that sympathy to which their misfortunes would otherwise entitle them. In one of the numbers of the New Zealand Journalnow before us, it is gravely announced as an intolerable hardship to the Southern settlers, that they should be compelled to support a wretched place like Auckland, continually threatened with destruction by hordes of reckless and sanguinary savages living around it. Now, here is an announcement, in which several downright untruths are ingeniously blended together, apparently for the purpose of making out a grievance sustained by the Southern settlers, but really for the purpose of injuring this district. Conduct like this cannot be justified by reasonable jealousy of the wealth and prosperity of Auckland. In truth, the Company's agents are in several instances great blunderers, and overdo their business to an extent truly ridiculous. That body and its instruments will soon find to their cost that honesty is the best policy. In the mean time, we will content ourselves with simply informing them, that there is no spot upon the globe in which life and property are more effectually secured than in this district, that there does not exist a more peaceable or orderly set of men than tlie natives residing about Auckland, and that since the foundation of this settlement they have never been otherwise. With respect to Auckland being a burden upon the Southern district, we can assure the New Zealand Journal, not upon our own authority, but upon that of the returns moved for at the last sitting of the Legislative Council, that Auckland contributes more to the general revenue of the Colony than all the Southern settlements taken together.

Supreme Court.— The Supreme Court will open for Criminal business on Monday next, Ist March, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon; and for Civil business on Monday, the Bth March, at the same hour.

Dogs.— We are sorry to Idarti that Sheep will, most probably, very loon cease to be any part of the domestic animals in the neighbourhood of Auckland, in consequence of so many having been destroyed by dogs belonging to the settlers and the natives. This is the more to be regretted because sheep thrive well in this -Colony, and the wool is equal in its texture to any wool sent to the English market. Our pasture for sheep ia without end ; and our need o£ good flocks not only arises from the price of fresh meat, but the sheep tread dtown the fern, improve the land, and prepare the Tun, without any expense, to receive clover— and "thus increase the value of the settlers' property, both in soil -and stock, at an expense so trifling as to form no iraj pediment to the farmer. The truth is, that sheep as j forming part of colonial wealth in New Zealand, can •hardly be- placed 'second to any other kind of stocK; and, yet, so large have been the losses of those whohave purchased sheep, that they are inclined to give utt the speculation in despair of being able to cope withy the shoals of dogs everywhere at large, in open de» fiance of colonial law, and of colonial prosperity. But', is there no way to arrest this sore plague in the land?'. There Burely is just- one short way— and that is, .to en- • force the laiu. In Ordinance No. 19, Sess. 3, it ia? enacted, " That all dogs found wandering at large, with*" out their owner or keeper, in or about any town in NewZealand, and may be seized by any constable lawfully.' acting in or about any such town." And the Ordinance • further enacts, that the dogs thus seized shall be exposed to public view, for a day and night s if claimed,, a penalty to be levied on the owner of the dog, and 'if; not, the dog to be hanged. Hitherto, the<Constabulary have confined their operations against our canine enemies to the town only— and even in the town have not made many " brilliant and successful attacks;" but we now call upon them to extend their field of observation, and take in, what the Ordinance itself includes, the country " about" and around the town. A few of the native policemen, .under the command of such an activeman as Serjeant Devine, could not be more beneficially employed than in perambulating the suburbs in quest of dogs unlawfully roaming, at large ; and we are sure the Inspector of Police will see that such duty would be of most important service to the present and future well-being of the Colony. Let every vagrant dog be taken in custody, -and, when traced to the owner, let the fine be levied ; and when the owner cannot be found, let the dog be destroyed according to law. The dog nuisance cries aloud from many quarters for the interposing of the arm of the law : one can scarcely stir beyond his own dwelling, either mounted or on foot; without being assailed by a host of worse than useless dogs ; but, let the fines be freely levied, and* these bruteg will soon disappear. Resident Magistrate's Court.— A Special Meeting of Justices of the Peace for the District, for the purpose 6f forming the usual Yearly^ Militia List, will be held on Mondays the 1st 1 - March, at' 11 'o'clock in the forenoon; and on Tuesday, the 2nd March,, for receiving applications for the transfer; of- Publican*' Licenses. Land Commissioner's Court.— The Commissioner will sit on Monday, 15th March, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon,, for the purpose of investigating the claims of Messrs. James Wilcox, Philip Kunst, Thomas Shepherd, Joseph May, Daniel Lynch," • George May, and. Charles H. Mclntosh.