SATURDAY. OCTOBER 21,1848.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 250, 21 October 1848, Page 2

SATURDAY. OCTOBER 21, 1848.

Ey the " Louisa," wLdi arrived on Wednesday, we have Sydney Journals to the 7th inst., and Emopean intelligence, to the 13th June.

Felony in li eland— Chartism m England— and Revolt throughout the Continent — continue to be the exciting topics of univeisal discussion. That arch incendiaiy, Mitchel, has been tried, convicted, and transported for fourteen years. The liish Government, with the most piaiseworthy vigour, lost no time in despatching him to a scene of exile where his talent for mischief will be duly cared for. He was taken on the instant, on board H. M. Steam sloop " Shearwater," and by her, conveyed to Cork, whence, with other convicts, he was sent to Bermuda, by H. M. Steam sloop " Scourge." There was not the smallest attempt to obstruct his depaituie. Nevertheless, Ireland was in a fearful state. Her Confederation have issued what the Times styles a War Manifesto, and an outbreak consequent upon the violent, prevailing, excitement was to be apprehended. — The United Irishman had been seized, but a successor, under the title of The Irish Felon, was preparing to spring into the gap. To the ravings of Mitciiel's admirers there were no bounds. The following, from the Cork Reporter, of the 2nd of June, will serve for a sample. John Mitchell stands no more on Irish soil. He was removed at four o'clock this morning to the Scourge steamer, which arrived in the harbour yesterday, and sailed for Bermuda thu morning. If twelve months pass over etc he stands on his native shore again a free man, Ireland deserves all the obliquy and disgrace that can be inflict on her. Bermuda is one of the strongest fortieses in the Queen's dominions, another St. Helena ; but this makes no difference. Even in the summary way in which this noble man has been dealt with he has his triumph. Government dared not wait to transmit him wuti the freight of scoundrels to whose level their basenes thought to sink him. In our opinion, this " noble man" is below the common class of " scoundrels" in baseness. Want will compel the wretched to cut a purse, but infamous must he be who seeks to plunge a nation in all the horrors of civil war, and who, besides, counsels the prosecution of that war, not with the daring courage of a man, but with all the diabolical cruelty of a malignant craven. The closing act of the Irish career of this traitor is in stiong contiast with that of the Thane of Cawdor. And, yet, he would fain make his exit— judging by his reply to Baron Lefroy, after sentence had been pronounced—with Theatrical effect. He has the effrontery to compare himself with Mutius Scffivola, as if there existed the smallest degree of similitude betwixt the felon who fled in haste from a Limerick mob, and the heioic assassin, of Roman story. Another incendiary print, the Irish Tribune, to which Carleton, the Novelist, is said to contribute, has, also, staited ; but it is not the unadulterated article that Mitchel so racily compounded. Accoiding to the papers, last received, the transpoitation of Mitchel has already, in some degree, tended to the tranquillizing of Ireland. The CliartibL Snake is scotched, but, evirfpntly, not killed. In London, Bradfoid, Manchester, and the West Riding of Yorkshire, it has been struggling hard to sting. From intelligence received by the " Agincourt,'' to the 13th of June, it appeared to be gaining ground ; for, on the 10th of that month, the Government posted proclamations of their intention to put a forcible stop to its meetings. This decision is censured by the Times, but applauded by the Daily News. Meetings, in defiance of the proclamation, were held at Clerkenwell Green, on the 12th. No violence was attempted, but much sedition was spoken by the Chartists, for which four of their leaders, Ernest Jones, John Fussell, Joseph Williams, and Alexander Sharpe were arrested. Bail was accepted for all but Jones, the heavy securities (£1000) demanded in his case, preventing his liberation. We give, this day, ample details of the insane efforts of this unruly faction. The Princess Sophia, the last surviving daughter of George the Third, died at the age of 71. She was interred at the Kensall Green Cemetery on the 13th of June -.—Prince Albert, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George, &c , being among the chief mourners. On the 4th of June, we, also, observe the decease, in his 74th year, of Colonel William Sorrel, formerly of the 43rd Regiment. Colonel Sorrel was one of the earliest and most popular Governors of Van Diemen's Land. — He was a man of quick, intiutive, perception, and of prompt decision : — easy of access, and affable m his address— an enemy to red tape, and all unnecessary diplomatic quackery. Colonel Sorrel, ruled for the happiness and prosperity of the colonists — his successor looked alone to the Colonial Office for approval. A testimonial, of the value of £750, in restricted subscriptions of two dollars each, was presented at his departure, by a population of some eleven thousand bond and free. Prior to embarkation, an addiess expressive of the most affectionate attachment, and recapitulating the nume • rous benefits he had secured for the land he had ruled above seven years, was delivered. Each colonist seemed as if he were losing a cherished personal friend. The people followed him, en masse, to the shore, all eager to manifest their regard— to leceive a parting glance— the sorrowing countenances around, giving token how much he was beloved : and thus patted Colonel William Sorrel, than whom a more popular ruler never swayed the destinies of British subjects. Emigration is absorbing the attention of all parties. It has become the question not of co-

lonial expediency, but of something veiy like Ncational salvation. It is discussed with an eagerness and an earnestness to which no Ministry dare turn a deaf ear. Shipping to Australia, South, Bast, and North is being continually taken up, and the tide, we erewhile prognosticated, is already on the flow. In Sydney, the " Agincourt" and " Earl Grey" arrived with large diafts the same day — the latter having two*" hundred female orphans from Ireland on board, Avith an intimation that many more orphans, of both sexes, were to follow. — They complain, in Sydney, and with reason, ; that the cost of these importations for the relief of the Mother country is to be imposed upon the colony. One hundred and twenty male immigrants, of a much more exceptionable chaiacter, had also arrived. These weie Chinese labourers from Amoy, whose passage cost more than that of British bora subjects, being £12 per man. The expense of the scheme, it is to be hoped, may prove a barrier to its further prosecution. Continental disturbances are still on the increase. Greater disquiet prevails in France. Insurrections rage at Naples : and Lombardy teems with revolts. Paris is in a frightful state. Parties are evidently preparing to measure then strength with each other. On Sunday, the 11th June, nearly 2000 persons were arrested. Most of them, however, were libeated, after a few hours detention . Prince Louis Napoleon was elected for the Yonne and Sarthe, and M. Thiers for Mayenne and Orne. A journal, styled the Napoleonist, had appeared, to the great alarm of the republicans, who construed it as a hint significative of a desire to return to monarchical institutions. An affiche suggesting the propriety of electing the Prince de Joinville as a National Deputy, had also created an uneasy sensation j the person publishing it had been arrested as a traitor to the country. It is clear that France lacks a master spirit to guide her through her perilous couise. No Philosopher— No Poet— No Mechanician, however eminent, gifted, or ingenious — is equal to the terrible ordeal. The Prince de Joinville lingers, in impatient idleness, at Claremont. The Times of the 25th May, publishes extracts of his diary, in -which he says he has been offered command of an East Indiaman ! We shall probably make room for this Princely log in our next. The brave and noble Danes were gaining ground upon their confederated foes. Their iiag swept the German Ocean, and Swedish, Norwegian, and Prussian ships -were numerous at Copenhagen. Prussia was in a very troubled state. In Austria, the Emperor was expected to abdicate in favour of his bi other, who, it was said, would decline the crown in favour of his son, during whose minority the rule would be confided to the regency ot the Aich Duchess Sophia. Spain and England have been placed at issue, Mr. Buhver, the British Ambassador, having received his passpoits, with instructions to quit the countiy in eight and forty houis. This he had done. It remains, therefoie, to be seen in what way the insult will be resented. The King of Naples had been instrumental to one of the most atrocious massacres ever perpetrated, since that of St. Bartholomew. On the 13th May, incited by this royal ruffian, a combination of the Lazaioni and Soldiery took place. The city was given to pillage — families weie butchered wholesale, and every excess, at which humanity shudders, ensued.

We have, for some time, been endeavouring to demonstrate the ruinous policy to New Zealand, resulting from the exorbitant prices attempted to be wrung from purchasers of her Waste Lands. We have "cited the prosperous and the disastrous eras of New South Wales, in support of the practical accuracy of our arguments ; and we have fortified the validity of those arguments by the most incontroveitible testimony, given in corroboration, by the great political economist of the day. Whilst we, in our vocation, have been thus diligent in our aim at the Colonial weal, one , of our citizens has been no less anxious toim- | press upon the Chief Authority the disastrous | effects certain to ensue from blind prosecution j of a course fatal to every hope of Colonial progression. We are most happy to have it in our power to give publicity to the correspondence of Mr. GoonFFxuw with his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, on this vitally important matter. We can only say to the inhabitants of Auckland—would ye were all of Mr. Goodfellow's mind, and evinced a like determination in the common cause ! Upon a Reform of the Land Sales Act, the interest, if not the existence, of every man in New Zealand depends. To urge it, earnestly, but temperately, is a matter as foreign from faction as from offence. If the potentates of Europe are incapable of governing (on the spot) their subjects to their satisfaction, can it be supposed that the oligarchs of Down-ing-street are equal to the task of successfully ruling theirs with a rod of sixteen thousand miles of stretch ? Surely the ameliorations for which Europe is in revolt, are worthy the efforts of the colonies to petition for * We can indulge in abuse of the local powers, themselves under authority, but we seem to lack the energy and the unity of j purpose to demand from the fountain head of oppression, rediess of those grievances under J

which we labour, or affect to labour. All Australasia bellows about the tyranny of its land restrictions. Why does not all Australasia combine in an energetic appeal for its removal ? Mr. Goodfcliow speaks only of an arbitrary exaction of twenty shillings for each country acre, but for how many, we would fain inquire, are forty, a hundred, and two hundred shillings an acre demanded % What immigrant can hope to effect substanlial improvement in the. architectural embellishment of Auckland, when the cost of a common petty allotment is such as to exhaust an amount sufficient to erect a handsome dwelling 1 It is little wonder that Wellington, with her easily acquired rural acres, shou d far, as a town, outstrip poor Downingstreet ridden Auckland. But we must pause for the present. The subject is too fertile of evil to be dismissed in a canter. The following is the correspondence to which we allude.

To His Excellency the Governor-in«Cihef of New Z i- aland, &c, &c, &c. Srß.—l do myself the honor to address your Excellency on a subject that has long appeared to me to be of the utmost nnpor.anco, not only as regards the progress and wellbeing, but, also as regards ihe Immigiation of BiiMah subjects to New Zealand. That is — the impo'icy of demanding so high an upset puce as twenty shillings an acre for country land. The New Zealand Company have never been able to sell meie country land at twenty shillings an acre.— Your Excellency is aware that the sections of that Company, compose both (own and country lands — the principle is the same m all the Company's sett'ements — take Wellington as an example. One town acre and one hundred acres countiy lavd — piice one kundied and one pounds. 'Ihe settlers at Wellington may therefore be said to have- paid the Auckland minimum price for their town land and to have received their one hundred act cs country land for twmy shillings, that is rather under twopence halfpenny an acre. This appears to me to prove to demonstration that country lands can not be sold in New Zealand at twenty shillings an acre. Allow me therefore humbly to suggest that it becomes your duty, to state this to the liome Government and the New Zealand Company and to lecommend them to sell country lauds at an upset price not higher than fine shillings an acre. The Government could continue lo sell town and suburban lands as at prescit— and Ihe Company in addition to foi ming new settlements might be able to sell lands iv all their settlements. The kinds of farming adapted for New Zealand are either guzing or the convertible system, that is, that pait of the farm be in cultivation and part of it depastured. Both systems necessarily require farms of con* siJerable extent — moie especially in a new country where from labour being high, the want of good roads, &c, and beef and mutton being raised at lebb cost, and being easier of transit to market than agiicuitural produce must be the main stay of ihe farmer Your Excellency will fiti.i that in the three counties of Scotland most distinguished for their agricultural improvement, viz : — Haddmgton, Berwick, and Roxburghshirks,* the average size of the farms is from 400 acres to 1000 acres. I would therefore beg furtber to suggest that all farms, ten iinh-s from he principal towns should bo of not less extent than (540 acies.f Sovei.il veiy important aiguin' nth might be urged in support ol the above positions, I will not, however, for the piescnt presume limber ou your Excellency's indulgence 1 have the honor to be, Your obedient humble Servant, William GoaDr/BLLo-w. Auckland, October 11, 1848. Colonial Secretary's Office, Auck'and, 'htohor 13, ISIS. Siu. — I am instructed by Ilib Excellency the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of yom letter of the 1 ltd instant, conveying your sentiments as to the impolicy of demanding so high an upsei price as twenty shillings an acic tor countiy lands ; and I am directed by the Govtinot to thank you for the trouble you hive taken in stating your views upon the subject above al* luded to. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary.

* " Roxburghshire has distanced some counties, rivalled most, and has probably been outrun by none in the energetic race of improvement th.it has so highly and so generally dis inguished Scotland, both as regards the management of stock and the cultivation of its soil. The farms may be divided into three classes, arable, partly arable, and partly pastoral, and wholly pastoi.il ; those of the first class average in siae Iroiu 400 acres to 600 acres, those of the second class from, COO to 1000 acies, and those of the third class from 1000 acres to 3000 acres "—Gasitter of Scotland. f "Tisnube of Land in Ireland.— A document posssessing much interest at the present moment was | yesterday issued among- the parliamentary papers. It I con.ains an abstract of returns from the clerks of ! unions throughout Ireland relative to the number of I persons holding land, comparative size of the holdings, j &c, and is repiinted from papers presented to the House in the session of 1845. The censui of 1841 is taken as the basis of the calculation. From this return it appears :— That in the year 1841. the total population of the 130 unions was 8,174,029 j and the toiai atea 19,146,(502 statute acres. Of thii population the number of persons holding land was 883,097 (representing with their families a gross number probably little short of four and a half millions). The number of persons holding land, whose holdings do not exceed one acre of giound, is 124,407. Those [holding between 1 and 2 acres amounted to 50,233; between 2 and 3, 35,868; between 3 and 4, 45,135 ; between 4 and 5; 52,071 ; between 5 and 6, 86 468 ; between 6 and 7, 40,374 ; between 7 and S, 35,549 ; between 8 and 9, 40,822; between 9 and 10, 34,792. The number of persons holding from 10 to 20 acres was 186,155; from '20 to 50, 120,681; from 50 to JIOO, 42,772; from 100 to 200, 15,458 ; from 200 to 500, 5,947 ; fioni 500 to 1,000 1,127; from 1,000 to 2,000,284; from 2,000 to 3,000 46; frsm 3000 to 4000, 11 ; from 4,000 to 5,0(J0 3; and above 5,000, 6; The acies of laud held in common or joint tenancy were 1,902,547 acres ; the number of holders not included in the foregoing classes, 30,316. In ihe notes appended to the return there is stated the amount of waste, bog, and otheiwise unprofitable land, appertaining to many of the unions; but there is no estima-e formed oi the whole extent of such land, although it has been included in the re' urn of the gross acres of land given* above."— Journal of Commerce, May 20. No experience will teach our senators wisdom, not* withstanding the noiseiies and crimes of unhappy Ireland, principally, if not wholly caused by the minute subdi* vision cf her soil. It is truly lamentable to find that

the same system is in full force in this portion of Hew Zealand, with this aggravation, that in Ireland the subdivision of the soil has been going on for ages, until it has arrived at the very worst possible state — while here the Government begin where Ireland must shortly leave off.— W. G.

Steam Flouk. Mill. —We are happy to perceive, by a notice, addressed to Biicklayers and Masons, that the proprietors of the Steam Mill have succeeded in obtaining an eligible piece of ground, a portion of Mr. Shortlands allotment, in Official bay, and that the erection of the requisite buildings are to be commenced forthwith. It is undertakings like these that are calculated to benefit ibe colony, and we trust to behold the mill go-a-head with rail-road speed.

Heavy Gale.— la the course of Wednesday, throughout the night— and during the early part of Thursday morning, we were visited with an unusually severe gale at west, accompanied with heavy squalls of rain. The " Louisa," which came into port at its commencement, being unable to beat up against the fury of the blast, brought up abieast of the North Head; whilst 11. M. Ship "Dido," whose anchors seemed inclined to come home, drove at least a mile under such resistless influence. Except the prostration of sundry fences, we have heard of no shore damages, and having had two arrivals yesterday, we may hope there have beeunocasualiies at sea.