The New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 271, 3 January 1849, Page 2

The New Zealander.

Be just and fear not: Let, all the emls> thou anns't at, be thy Country's, 'J hy (io»\, and Tiutli's.

WEDNE S D A V, JAN U A II Y 3,1849

The termination of one year, and the commencement of another, is a period almost invariably, and -greedily, seized upon by Journalists, — whether diurnal or hebdomadal, — be they monthly or quarterly, — to assail their readers with promises and protestations. It is a stage in the arduous Journey of an anxious and a toilsome life, at which, throwing aside the Editorial stilts, they descend to take their subscribers familiarly by the hand, casting themselves with a free and easy, — " Compliments of tbe Season," upon the go->d nature of their patrons, in earnest hope of coaxing them into kindly oblivion of past misdemeanors, and by dexterous insinuation of unexampled future amendment — to whet their appetites for the promised bonbons of the literary budget. Were it not somewhat peiilous to depart from any time-honouied practice, we should gladly deprecate the inveteracy of a custom in whose mysteries we delight not. We are, in fact, between two stools, — unwilling to appear discourteous, yet fearful to attempt a measure at which we may prove but a botcher. We are, indeed, "ill at these numbers," and most apprehensive that " little shall we grace our cause by speaking of ourselves." We lack that holiday experience which can whip up a dish of compliments from the sweets and acids of literary sillabubs. It is foreign to our taste to chant our epinicion of past exertion, or to trumpet a manifesto of future professions and protestations. Still, this we may safely say, we have played the caterer to the best of our ability ; we have exercised a fice, an unfettered, and an unbiassed judgment on all political questions. We have striven to advocate, frankly and fearlessly, such measures as have appeared to us to be the most conducive to the immediate and the permanent interest of the Colony, — in the advancement of all its settlements, whether of the North or of the South. In the course we have hitherto pursued we shall unflinchingly persevere — and we trust that, with the advancing year, we shall be able to enrich our columns with original communications from more than one ornament of the London Press, and from the pens of a variety of literary allies and friends, both British and Colonial, Our supply of Journals and Periodicals are being greatly enlarged, and we hope that our arrangements have been such as shall eventually demonstrate our earnestness to render the " New Zealander " deserving the support it has so liberally experienced. But enough. Words are but leaves. Deeds are fruits ; and, so, friends and patrons, with a cordial {ender of the seasonal courtesies, we return to our anxious work again.

Intelligence from Port Nicholson 1o the 2nd ultimo, reached us by the overland mail, on Saturday night. The all prevailing topic of discussion was the offering of " the People of Auckland to the People of Wellington ;" and the manner and spirit of that discussion has heen as conspicuously honourable to th.c people of Wellington, as we feel convinced it will be especially gratifying to the people of Auckland. Our fellow colonists of the South are impressed with the most just and generous sentiments towards us. They have, in a full and public meeting, declined to accept of the money placed at their disposal, but they have accompanied their refusal with such clear and conclusive reasons — they ha\e taken so much pains to satisfy us that the rejection of our funds is caused by no unworthy motives of false pride, but simply because the damage done to their settlement had been "grossly exaggerated," and confined to an extent with which they themselves were perfectly competent to deal, that we should be worse than insensible did we not appreciate their manly forbearance. We honour this generous self-reliance. It is worthy of English colonists. From the people of Wellington we counted upon nothing less; and it gives us the most unqualified pleasure to learn that the traces of destruction, through their decisive energy, are rapidly Jisappearing. Amongst the evil that has sefallen them, there is this at least of negative good — they have become acquainted that the hearts of the people of Auckland are towards them ; and that, although a long, and hitherto profitless wilderness sunders them, their interests and their sympathies are one. Both, in reality, possess but one spiiit of rivalry — a fraternal rivalry — the desire to excel. The hatchet, thank Heaven, at length is buried. Let us struggle to obtain redress of the landob-

struction, so that the dauntless hearts and strong arms of the South and of the North may push civilization and prosperity towards each other, until they render the now almost impenetrable boundaries of New Ulster and New Munster an imaginary line. Our extracts, which are exceedingly interesting, will be found in another page.

An apologist of the alarmist, Lieutenant Governor Eyre, reads us, through the pages of the New Zealand Spectator, of the 29th Nov., a lecture, for the comments we deemed it incumbent to offer in reference to the extravagant opinions and presentiments contained in the public dispatch of that public functionary. Here it is :—: — To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, 28th November, 1848. Sir— On looking over a fiie of thf? New Zealandtr, 'atelv ai rived, I whs much surprised and vexed at a shameful and uncalled fop attack upon LieutenantGoveinor Eyre, in the paper of the 18th instant. Speaking of his despatch detailing the lute heavy calamities with which we were lately visited, the "jr'i table" and irritating editor says, " Those disasters have filled the mind of the Lieutenant Governor with maudlin tri'ror, and guided his pen with drivelling prognostications of dt'solition and doom," &c. Sir? will you t< j U your b other editor that our LieufenanfGorernor does not deserve this at his bands. In trie time of our cnlamity no one was more active in endeaToun to provide shelter for the houae'ess, in comforting aud encouraging the sufferers, and in recognizing the hand of the Almighty, and exhortin? all to confidence in Divine goodness and mercy. In his t'espatch his Excellency spake the prevailing sentiments of the community. The editor of the New Zealander may say '* Fudge, 1 ' if he pleases, to the despatch; but possibly had he been prrsent with us, even his lion heart would have quailed before the desilating judgments of the Aluiigh y. S. I. To deal with this solemn " S. I." in the manner he deserves — Let us inquire whose is the *' shameful and uncalled for attack," — his ours 1 We stigmatized, fairly and conscientiously the conduct of Lieutenant Governor Eyre, because of his giving force and currency to Ins own apprehensions, instead of confining himself to a guarded exposition of known facts. Were we justified or not, in the severity of our strictures? "S. I." says no — but his is but a hollow sigh at best — lost in the public voice of Wellington, which denounces the " gross exaggerations "of the Lieutenant Governor, whose mischievous misrepresentations it regards as more injurious than even the earthquake itself. This is precisely the view which we took of his predictions ; and with a confident repose in the energetic manhood of Wellington, we paused not to avouch that the drivellings of the ruler were not participated by the people, but that his picture was strained and overcharged. We entertain not the remotest desire to disparage the character of his Excellency. His piety and his philanthropy may merit the most eulogistic enconiums — but that he " spake {not) the prevailing sentiments of the community," is as clear as is the inability of " S. I." to expound them. We lay no claim to the heart of a beast, lion or else, and whether we should have quaked or quailed is matter of no moment. But it is a consideration, and a serious consideration, too, when those in authority give currency to false impressions, and invest calamity with horrors not its own.

A Correspondent of the Wellington Independent, in treating of the Auckland subscription, writes thus — " the money when ultimately returned to Auckland, might be used in erecting some public building, commemorative of the occasion, and of the benevolent spirit which led to the collection of the fund." Upon this hint, we are tempted to remark, that as Auckland is destitute of a landing place, even for boat passengers, might not the most becoming apptopriation of this returned fund, be in construction of a wharf, to be called The Wellington Quay, with an inscription in record of the origin of its creation ? It would be a memento worthy of both settlements !

Maritimal Architecture. — Early on Saturday morning, a sail was signalled, which speedily made herself known as the " Stirlingshire," recently launched and fitted at the Great Barrier island. She is a taunt and taper, full rigged, ship ; and as she came round the North Head, with her top-sails and top-gallant sails distended by the sunny breeze, she loomed large and lordly, and, in every respect looked a credit to the infant colony that had given her birth. We paid her a visit on Monday, and were much gratified with her general appearance and construction. Without any pretensions to the character of a clipper or a racer, she is, notwithstanding, a sightly substantial vessel, strong in her frame and fastenings, and finished in a superior, workmanlike manner : one of the best specimens (as we have heard many competent nautical judges assert) of sound colonial ship building, that has hitherto been turned from off a colonial slip. Her prominent defects, in our eye, are a want of beam, and a superfluous height of bulwark, but, as these are both matters of opinion^ they do not detract from the stability or the merits of the vessel. She is closely and solidly timbered, and her breast-hooks and transoms are masses of extraordinary thickness. Her deck beams are close and substantial ; her upper and 'tween decks beautifully laid, and of an auapJ* ' " iv ceeding seven feet. She mea-

sures upwards of 400 tons register, and will carry above 600 tons burthen. At present she is seen to every disadvantage, being just won, as it were, from out the forest ; her rigging partially fitted, her ballast thrown loosely in, and little of her gear rove in their determined places- When she shall have been coppered, her masts properly stayed, her trim thoroughly ascertained, and all the little minutiae observed, we venture to affirm that she will then be pronounced a merchant ship not merely creditable to a New Zealand constructor, buL fully equal to take rank with the better class of British shipping. Captain Arthur Devlin, proceeds with her to Sydney in about a fortnight, where, after being coppered and completely fitted out, she will load for London. May success attend her and her enterprising owners and projectors.

Half Yearly Inspection. — This periodical Military" Spectacle, underwent a double representation on Saturday last ; the performers, in the morning, being the 58th legiment, equipped in light marching order, and the same gallant corps, with the "Royal Artillery, in heavy order, in the afternoon. The day proving fine, Inhere were a good many visiters present on both occasions', particularly in the afternoon. We were glad to see His Excellency the Major General Commanding looking so well and so full of animation. He appeared to enjoy the display quite as much as any one, encouraging the It inlanders to throw a little more spirit into their^second charge than that which they had exhibited} in their first. This exhortation they so emphatically obeyed that the General himself was nearly being borne away by the vigour of the onset, and the energy of the hurrahs. The several evolutions were performed with much steadiness and precision, and elicited, as we are informed, General Pitts marked commendation. His Excellency has since sailed for Kawau on a cruise, in the Bishop's schooner, Undine.