The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, DEC. 18, 1847.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 162, 18 December 1847, Page 2

The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, DEC. 18, 1847.

••' Be just and fe&r not: - Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy Ciod's, and Truth's. ( \

" Dimidium facti, gui bene coepit, habet." There can scarcely be a more gratifying change than the conversion of a desolate wilI derness to the abode of civilised man. But a few weeks since, and the plain above Onehunga was a desolate waste ; it is now sprinkled with smiling cottages. The Pensioners are effecting! this change, in the spot so happily chosen for' them oh an upper arm of the Manukau: of course it is only a beginning, a foretaste of what is to come, A better situation for a town (and a town it will soon be) could not have been selected in, this district. An undulating plain situated on the borders of a tide-estuary, it enjoys water-communication, not only with the ocean to the west; which simultaneously washes the shores of our Southern settlements, New South Wales, and Van Diemen's. Land; but possesses, to a very la'ge extent, facilities for water-transit with the interior of the country. The soil, being of volcanic origin, is light and fertile, and admirably suited for garden cultivation. THe situation is, a dry one, rain does not lodge on the surface as on clay land — a rathei important circumstance in reference to the health' of new settlements before they are sufficiently advanced to undergo the process of drainage. An abundant supply of water is furnished by a never-failing spiing, issuing rather singularly from a layer of scoria — to this circumstance we" may attribute the ret mark able pureness of the water. The road to Auckland ascends from the sea-level so gradually, that it would furnish a delightful gallop for a member of the " four-in-hand." The cottages are double, being intended for two families— they are all detached and erected on their allotments, at regular distances, There are to be about thirty-two in all — ten being nearly finished externally. Three principal streets are laid out at right angles to the beach, and one is already dubbed " Queen Street/ proclaimed by a notice-board. For this change, and so much more in prospective, we are indebted to Earl Grey. It is he who originated, and who is now executing this plan for colonizing the country, and if the Pensioners do not increase their comforts, and improve their condition, by the change they have. made, it will be their own faults. No one can visit Oneunga, without feeling highly interested in the welfare of its new inhabitants. They have, however, from 'the beginning, great advantages, over the solitary settler— their way is cleared, houses are built for them, they have persons appointed to advise and direct them, an inestimable advantage in a new country; where settlers generally have to buy their experience so dearly. If we then still venture on a word of advice, we hope it will be taken as kindly, as it is meant—recollect, we are old Settlers. In the first place, then, oh ye Pensioners, avoid intoxicating drinks as poisons, for they are literally. poisons. No man knows what he drinks in these Colonies.' AH sorts of deliterious stuff is put in to tickle the palate', intoxicate the brain, and destroy the liver. Spirits, too, cannot* be taken here, witn the same impunity they are at at home— the climate is warmer, and the hotter the climate, the more injurious are spirituous drinks. Are we averse, then, to your rational enjoyments ? Heaven forbid ! We wish to see you all happy, you and your families too. ' We say then be determined to patronise no, house of entertainment but a coffee house ; and if you can summon sufficient resolution to follow ouf advice, you may live to thank us for it. In the next place, in your dealings with the natives, be always just and honorable. Recollect if you once, impose on a native, not only he, but all his party, will ever look on you with suspicion. 'Tis true, they are •hrewd fellows to deal with ; and they seldom perhaps expect to obtain for their produce what they ask ; but whatever bargain you make, abide by it to the letter. It you can possibly find time, get ready your gardens or a, portion of them, for an autumn crop, You are not perhaps aware that all fern land requires a little exposure to the ,

air at first ; so the sooner it is broken up the better will be your crop. All the common kinds of vegetables should be planted early in* March, and you may, with the roughest gardening, have vegetables on your table every day throughout the winter. As soon as the allotments are fenced, we. would advise that they should be planted round with a belt of shrubs, both for shelter and- ornament. Acacias will do best at first; for they grow rapidly, and abundance of seed may be procured ripe in about a month. When you know how and when to plant the more beautiful native shrubs, they should be made to take the place of the Acacia. So rapidly do shrubs grow in this country, when a proper choice is made, that in . the course of a short two years, each allotment may be surrounded with, its verdant shrubbery.; and the combined effect would be very pleasing. Although we have been ostensibly addressing the Oneunga Pensioners, we fancy that much which has been said is equally applicable to the settlement at Paparoa. Its greater distance has prevented vi from paying it a visit hitherto,. but it has equally our good wishes. We shall make it a point to look in khottly ; and if we see anything, as an older settler, worthy of remark, we hope to'prove, by what ,we may say, that our "good wishes " are not empty words.

In our last number, we mentioned the anxiety of the natives generally to bring the murderers of the late Lieutenant and Mrs. Snow to justice; Since then, the suspected Namuka, with Taria, and a number of other natives, have appeared at Government .house, and from his now being at liberty^ we may conclude that he has sufficiently exculpated himself in the eyes of his Excellency. It would however prove much more to the satisfaction of the public, if ail examinations of this kind, were made at what we conceive to be the proper place,— the Magistrates 1 Court.

Programme of the performance of the Band of the 58th Regiment, for Thursday, 23rd instant, at 4pi m , on the space of ground in front oC the Council Chamber. Orerture, Opera " Fra Diarolo " Anber, Cur., Opera, " Scaramucci ''...,.•... Ricci. Quadrille, " The BritUh Army" Jullien. Car , Opera, " Eliza and Claudio "... Mucadtnte. Cat., Opera •• Norma," lf Caita Dira " . . . Belinl. Waltz, "ThePreibourg" Lanncr.