The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 279, 31 January 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

lie just and feai not: Let all the' ends tlion aiins't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, J\NUA. 11 Y 31,1849

a national festival. Let any one consider Sydney of a 26th January — with house after house, and street after street, sending forth their human streams — the main current setting strongly in, in all the pride and pomp of holiday finery, towards the Circular Quay and Fort Macquane. Steamer upon steamer fizzing and fuming, in eager rivalry, and earnest competition. Boats, barges, sloops, craft of every rig and of every dimension, all alert in the hope of earning an honest penny. The traders in the cove and bays smothered in bunting, and the flag-ship of the day, (sometimes of colonial build), decked in all the varied hues of the rainbow. The water is alive with vessels, and the land, on every jutting crag and promontory is 'planted with groves of well dressed people. At noon, Fort Phillip thunders a royal salute, in kindly greeting of the joyous occasion, whilst martial musicfloats upon the breeze, and happy and charming faces evince the deep interest taken in the doings of the day. The Turf is a noble and a manly sport ; and, go where Englishmen may, it will be fostered and encouraged, and we rejoice that it should be so. Racing has done much to impiove the studs of Australia and Tasmania : — but, look at even the best of their meets, and they can boast no concourse — no such universal, all-absorbing, interest as that evinced at their regattas. These are, beyond all degree of comparison, the Anniversary Festivals ; and to exhibit them in increasing perfection, is the anxious and ardent desire of their communities at large. We have strung together these few observations with no desire to disparage the sports at Epsom, but merely to shew what we consider are the superior claims of a regatta, as an Anniversary Fete, upon our own metiopolitan attention. We are not less maritime than our neighbours. Our prosperity is not less dependent upon the excellence of our shipping. Our forests are not less fruitful of the means of construction : nor are our bays and harbours less important than those of our rivals. We think then that a pastime, so essentially English, should take precedence of all others, in celebration of our Natal Day -.—and under a Queen who has evinced such a marked predilection for aquatics, we would hope that every Viceroy would give the most liberal patronage towards the foundation of a festival, at once a source of innocent pleasure, and of colonial profit. Meanwhile, let us " take the goods the gods provide us." The sports at Epsom were remarkably well attended. His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief being not only their patron, but present to enjoy them. The road to the scene of action, was strewed with vehicles of all sorts and sizes, and covered with equestrians and pedestrians of all hues and complexions. The course was in excellent order, all save the keeping; a few determined mounted policemen being required to apprehend the drunken ruffians, who get up extemporary races for their own amusement, but the endangerment of other peoples lives. For the Maiden Plate, the first hoise, Cantab, was distanced in the first heat, his rider being thrown before arriving at the weighing stand. In the next, Pensioner, the winning horse, was disqualified, his rider havinglost three quarters of a pound weight. The race was eventually won by Mr. Wynyard's Gussey. The Innkeepers Plate and the Ladies Purse were both taken by Mr. Hargreaves grey gelding, Zaccho, which proved to be quite a Jorrocks junior. There was a large assemblage upon the ground, and, as a friend observed, what would the Maories of other days have said, could they have but peeped up and contemplated the gay and exhihrating scene?

Yesterday's races afforded great sport. The Metropolitan Plate was taken by Mr. Crummer's bay mare " Verjuice,"— the only real blood that showed— and, that, consequently, left everything else hopelessly behind. The Hack Race was won by Mr. Young's " Alderman;" the Garrison Plate, by that capital gelding " Zaccho." The Carter's Race was such a glorious higgledy piggledy that we have not heard which won. The Consolation Stakes were taken by Mr. Codlin's bay gelding " Jack ;" and the Hurdle Race was also won by the same high mettled racer. The races passed off with the greatest decorum—and, we are happy to add, that our friends, the 58th, who were granted an extensive leave, conducted themselves in a most orderly and honourable manner. The " Fly's" chartered sundry carts, and with banners flying, made the trip out and home in ship shape, and truly characteristic style.

We have, erewhile, endeavoured to call the attention of English agents and shippers to a grievance of the most vexatious and injurious nature to the commercial and trading interests of Auckland: — we mean to the shipment of goods in vessels touching primarily at the Cook's Strait settlements of Nelson and Wellington. We have formerly pointed out the mischief done to importers and consignees by such gross inattention on the part of English salesmen and brokers ; and, if we reiterate a few of -the just grounds of complaint at v the present mo-

merit, it is because we have the glaring example of the " Duke of Portland," a ship arrived direct from London 9th Sept,, with, portions of goods for this port and Wellington, and the brig " Susan," not yet arrived from London, sometime in July, and freighted with goods for this port, which have been tossed and tumbled, first at Nelson, then at Wellington, and which may have lost the opportunity of a remunerating market prior to arrival here. The same thing occurred by the " Ralph Bernal" some three years back ; since, by other intermediate vessels ; and latterly by the " Cornelia." This should no longer form subject matter of complaint, because the agent that solicits or executes orders for shipment should, in common honesty, pay particular attention that those shipments shall be made promptly and direct.. It is infinitely better to ship via Sydney, than via Wellington ; the chances being that the goods will arrive in better condition, and a couple of months earlier by that route. Punctuality and dispatch are the watch-words of British ti'affic. What would a London house think of its colonial agent that shipped to its address, via Dublin and Leith ? And yet the facilities of transmission in the one case exceed a thousand fold those of ours. If there be, as we have heard there are, touters of the New Zealand Company, to entrap shippers, that is no excuse for those shippers. They should be masters of their business. They should devote their industry to the benefit of their constituents, and they should so far make themselves acquainted with the topography of New Zealand as to become aware that Wellington and Auckland are four or five hundred miles apart, without either steam or internal communication. Let them ascertain the ?iames of ships and their direct destinations, and execute their orders accordingly. The Susan might thus have been filled up for Wellington, and the Duke of Portland for Auckland ; and a less expensive voyage have been insured for their respective owners. We cannot conclude without a request to such brokers as have vessels laid on for this port, that they will caution shippers that their ships proceed direct. The Duke of Portland, we are happy to learn, has made a very profitable trip, and as we are about to have bi-monthly ships, we hope they will not permit interlopers to obtain their goods under any false pretences whatever.

Town Clock. — Mr. Mackay, a passenger by the Duke of Portland, has brought out a Turret Clock, with bell and every thing complete. This clock is represented to be an exceedingly well made one, of Liverpool workmanship, The clock is for sale at the easy price of fifty pounds. Two hundred subscribers at a crown each, would suffice to secure it. Auckland possesses no public means of showing the time ; we, therefore, throw oat the suggestion, whether the opportunity, which now presents itself, should be let slip. It would be a most desirable regulator for a market : — and a subscription market is we believe, in contemplation.

New Zealand Magazine. — A quarterly periodical und^r the above title is announced as speedily to appear. Delighted as we shall be to welcome every literary ally, we fear the editor of the embryo Journal has not sufficiently calculated the probable amount of his debtor and creditor prospects. Five shillings and three pence per number is a serious disbursement for a Magazine of one hundred pages. If the editor will compare notes, he will find that the attempted seiials of Sydney and of Hobart Town have almost all broken down after publication of a couple of numbers, and none of them were issued at above three and six pence. However, prosperity attend him, and may the literature of New Zealand achieve the mark of which that of Australia failed.

Programme.— On Thursday, Ist February, (by the permission of Lieutenant Colonel Wynyard, C. B.) the Sand of the 58th Regiment will perform thefoHowina; pieces of music, within the enclosure of the government grounds, from half-past four to halNpast six o'clock:— Overture— Op. " Guillaume Tell " Rossinf Galop "The Post Horn" Koenig Waltz " The Philomelon " Strauss Song " The Light of other Days " Balfe Quadrille "The Queen of the May" Jullien Aria Op. " La Donna del Lago" Rossini Soug "The Peace of the Valley" Balfe Polka "The Drawing Room" Jullien Grand March " Earl de Grey's " Gray