The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 285, 21 February 1849, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 18 49

On Saturday morning, our signal staff gave intimation that three sail were in sight — two barques and a brig. These were pronounced to be the Colonist, the Emma, and the Maukin — a supposition verified by the arrival of the two last vessels towards dusk, which conveyed the satisfactory intelligence that the Colonist, with the anxiously expected English mail, had put into Kawau. Some months since we found ourselves called upon to comment, in no measured terms, upon the conduct of the Sydney Post Master, who, by a strained construction, refused the mail, when requested, to the regular trader, the Deborah ; which vessel, because of a few head of stock upon her deck, he was pleased to designate a cattle ship, a class of trader in which, he averred, it was determined to transmit no mails. The inconvenience and injury that resulted from that particular case it is not necessary again to revert to : but, we presume, as a consistent amends for the loss and disappointment, then incurred, this intellectual functionary has now thought proper to stultify his own partial rule, a#d to go the entire animal, by delivering the, still expected, September mail, to a genuine cattle ship ! Verily, the inhabitants of New Ulster, owe a lasting debt of gratitude to this Postal luminary ! Surely, our mails come late enough under the most favourable circumstances, without the additional detention of his caprice. The Duchess of Northumberland, from Plymouth, the 10th October, with immigrants, arrived at Williams Town on the 1 5th ult. By that source, we learn the result of the trial of Smith OBrien, who had been found guilty, but strongly recommended to mercy. The Sydney Herald of the 25th, states that a vessel which left England on the 13th of October, had been spoken by H. M. Ship Rattlesnake ; the captain of the ship spoken intimating that he had seen a paper with a report of the sentence passed upon OBrien, ! who, in the customary form adopted in convictions for treason, had been condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered. This sentence, however, it was universally supposed would be commuted to transportation for life. A commission de lunatico inquirendo had been ob- j tamed by Mr. O'Brien's brother, previous to the verdict, and the Times tacitly admits, not without cause. Messrs. Dillon and Doheny have, it is affirmed, escaped to France. Arrests were still frequent ; and tlie trials of the Special Commission in active progress. Bands of armed men, Or according to some descriptions, corps d'armee, duly officered and equipped, were patrolling the Waterford and Tipperary mountains. By some, this force was estimated at twelve thousand, by others, at three and four thousand. Their leaders are represented as wearing a handsome uniform of green and gold, and the men as being well supplied with arms and ammunition. Their Commissariat, it is said, was of the scantiest, which had caused a dispersion into roving bands of thirties and fifties. A frightful winter was to be expected. The Australian Anniversary for 1849 was celebrated with more than usual splendour and success, — the sports occupying two days, — additional race's for river and Coasting Craft being liberally introduced. The Maukin sailed from Sydney on the 28th January, but put back on the 30th, with strong easterly gales. She sailed again on the 2nd instant. On the 13th, in latitude 34° 36' south, longitude 171 ° east, she spoke the American whaler Mechanic, from the Sandwich Islands the 23d ultimo, who reports that fever and ague were all prevalent in California, and that numbers were dying of it daily. The Emma left Newcastle on the Ist instant, with upwards of two hundred and eighty head of cattle. She experienced a long and severe gale, during which she lost a hundred head and one horse. The cattle landed are in good condition, and are confided for sale to Mr. Hyam Joseph, who will bring them to the hammer to-morrow, and the horses on Friday. Since the above, the Colonist, with the September mail, has arrived, after a protracted passage of thirty-one days, with the loss of only a few of her cattle and sheep. Another signal for a ship was flying at sunset.

Trusting to a source upon which we imagined we could place implicit reliance, we intimated that his Honour the Chief Justice would hear the arguments of Counsel in the suit of scire facias — the Crown versus the Kawau Company, on Saturday last. We regret that we should

have been the means of leading others into error as well as ourselves. A hearing in this suit will, however, assuredly take place on Wednesday, the 28th inst.

On Wednesday last, a coroner's inquest was held at Howick, by Dr. Davies, on the body of Alexander M'Ewen, a pensioner of Captain Smith's Company, who was found dead the previous night. Captain Smith states that M'Ewen was a man who took an occasional glass, but was by no means habitually intemperate. Dr. Bacot made a post mortem examination of the body, and, on the evidence adduced, the jury returned a verdict Died of Appoplexy. And, yet, notwithstanding that verdict, the Rev. P. Fisher, of St. John's College, the officiating clergyman at Howick, peremptorily refused the rites of Christian burial, the funeral service being performed by Mr. White, Clerk of Petty Sessions !

We beg to remind the holders of Depasturing Licenses for the Hundred of Auckland, that a meeting, for the purpose of electing wardens, will be holden at the Court House, on Saturday next.

The Third Public Rehearsal of the Vocal Class of the Mechanics' Institute takes place to-morrow evening. The bill of fare, as will be seen by advertisement, is more than usually attractive — Mrs. Ireland, of whom report speaks highly as a pianiste, making her debut in two of the most delightful of modern overtures — " Der Frieschutz" and " Fra Diavolo." Judging by the past, we have no doubt a large and elegant assemblage will greet this praiseworthy attempt to minister to the public enjoyment.

Programme.— On Thursday, 22nd February, (by the permission of Lieutenant Colonel Wynyard, C.8.) the Band of the 58th Regiment will perform the following pieces of music, within the enclosure of the government grounds, from half-past four to half-past six o'clock :— Overture " DeSemiramii " L'Op. "Ivanhoe" Rossini Waltz "The Bridal " Jullien Melange Balfe'- 0p... " The Maid of Honor ".. Balfe Song "Kathleen Mavourneen' 1 Crouch Quadrille..." Lucia di Lammermoor " 2ndiet .. Mohr Galop. . . " The Storming of Conslantine ". . . . Lanner Song "The Tartar Drum " Rodwell Cavatina '' Tutto c Sciotto'' Op. " Sonambulti" Bellini Polka "The Bohemian" Koanij?