The New-Zealander. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1849.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 289, 7 March 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 184 9.

Be just and fear not : Let all the" ends them aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy Oon's. ai>d Truth's.

Passing down Shortland-street, on Friday afternoon, we were somewhat astonished to learn that a Public Meeting was then en seance at the Royal Exchange Hotel. For what purpose %— With what object in view 1 ? Vain were our

inquiries ! And, ere we could readi the scene of action, the Assembly had dissolved. We were wot, howe\er, left long in the dark, the following notice having been tiansmitted for our last Saturday's advertising columns. "At a Preliminary Meeting held Yesterday, at the Royal Exchange Hotel, it -v\as unanimously tesolved that a Public Meeting be called at the same place, This Day, at 3 o'clock, for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of emigration from this place to California, and the effect it may have on this colony. " Joshua Thorpe, " Chairman." Before we venture to discuss the merits of this Assemblage we would fain inquire if Public Meetings, of a momentous character, are usually got up at four and t\\ enty hours notice 1 No intimation of their Preliminaries vouchsafed, unless to the chosen few with whom they originate % Surely the topic for discussion upon this particular occasion was neither so urgent nor so immediate that the settlers of the Northern province could not be duly warned, and leisurely and respectfully invited to attend in a matter, which, if of vital public interest, it was most essential that the whole public, and not the merest section of the towns folk of Auckland, should be afibided an opportunity calmly and dispassionately to consider. If an alleged emigration to California were the plea for such unseemly haste, we can conscientiously assert that the plea was a flimsy one — a plea unsubstantiated by any fact whatever — a plea which had been all but subverted by subsequent circumstances — and negatived by the inaction which had succeeded the Californian frenzy of New South Wales. • But, to the business. From three o'clock we lingered until past four, when Mr. Joshua Thorpe was called to the chair. A lengthened pause ensued. This was broken by Mr. Forsaith inquiring, and Mr. Thorpe explaining, the purport of the meeting. Another weary pause. After which Mr. Forsaith rose, saying, that as no one appeared willing to break the ice, he should take the liberty to submit as a resolution a few ideas he had thrown together before ■ leaving home. That resolution {accidentally piepared, but which by a singular coincidence, became the first of a series, not one of which seemingly were drawn up at the meeting,) Mr. Forsaith prefaced by a brief and accurate review of (he many great advantages presented by New Zealand as an emigration field. The resolution proposed by Mr. Forsaith, seconded by Mr. Cleghorn,and carried, was to the following effect — That thin Meeting is of opinion tlint the preset! movement 111 favour of em'Kration to California is an evidence thut the gi eat natural attractions which (his co on ' |)otitesi>e«, both in toil, climate, and rauial pridu -lions, hnd which w<mi d. under A different nianagctiicnt, have infallibly exerted u powerful influence in attiaciiiig emigrants h tlier— hive been oonipieteL neutiul'zed by th<> \ oltry adopted by the Local Government, in maintaining the high price and monopoly ol the hind, anil other resinr.tiv.', r gjulatiiiiit ; operating ufdiat,t tin- tuccesalul tiaployiaciu of capital, and thereoy inducing enterpusing s«uler!> to turn tluir attention to other countries. We legret to be compelled to regard much of this resolution as extremely sophistical. The blending of a harsh and deep-seated grievance, such as the oppressive lestrictions upon land, — the bane of all these Colonies — the well-known edict of the despotic Colonial ' Office, but which every Governor is bound to obey. — The mixing up of such a grievance i with exaggerated and would-be alarming assumptions of emigration to California, and the charging the exorbitant price fixed upon land by the Imperial Government, as a crime and a consequence of the Local Authorities, — these we look upon as pieces of Jesuitical clap trap, brought forward not to serve the Colony, but a purpose. We maintain that I emigration from New Zealand to California is an assertion yet to be proved. It is a shadow, not a substance. A tew restless adventureis may have endeavoured to innoculate others with their own uneasy desire of demigration :]: ] — but such unstable persons are far too few ' and far too uninfluential to deserve to elicit, even incidentally, a resolution of so questionable a character as the foregoing. We, ask, would any man of intelligence or reflection, and who, in all sincerity,' desired relief front the grasping, grinding, land regulations, trarii • mel that great colonial question, with visionary charges based upon visionary assumptions? There are few, we imagine, who are not fully convinced that The Land Question is the I question, on which the prosperity of every Australian Colony, — the question upon. which the very existence of ■ New Zealand depends, j Will any thinking man allow that that was a question to be proposed and determined at twenty-four hours notice, or that the temper in' which it has been dealt with in this resolution is the way likely to insure its redress ? However, to proceed ; — Mr. Hyam Joseph pioposed and Mr. James Williamson seconded the next and the only unexceptionable resolution, which was carried, and which ran thus — That ihi« Mee'ing it of opinion that' rath°r than encourage • spirit of emigration, it would be both a wiser and more prudent course to stand by the country of our adoption, and to seek by constitutional efforts the removal of those evil* and impediments by which immigration to our shores w prevented, and the prosperity of the Colony retarded. The third resolution was moved by Mr. Newman, seconded by Mr. May and carried. That, m accordance with the foregoing resolution,

this Meeting doe* appoint and empower the following three aentlfmen (the names w re I -ft blank in ihe iesolution hi originally rend by the speaker— hut subsequently, and before it was put from the Ch«ir, thr blanks were filled up on the motion of several gentlemen p-esent, as followg;, Mr. Newman, Mr. Brown, and Mr. For aitl), to prepare a memorial to Her Mo»t (iracious Majesty embodying a statement of grievance, umler which the Colmnsts of New Z alan I Isibour, and •\ prayer for their removal, und for the speedy rec g« niti hi ot the buth'ight of Her Majesty's loyal sunjeets in these inlands— Representative Government: by the ritdblishment of wh eh ninny of the giii'vanct-s at present couap ftmed of would be prevented or remov"d. Now, without the remotest wish to question the integrity or the ability of the gentlemen named, is it not monstrous to imagine that the Colonists of the Noithem Province of New Zealand should be expected to consent, — unheaid, unrepresented, — at the four and twenty hours notice of one individual, to place their dearest interests, surrender their highest privileges into the hands of any three men, no matter how distinguished their popularity — how pre-eminent their intelligence % In the name of the Colony ahd of Common Sense we protest , against such mockery. The principle involved is a great and sacred principle. The redress piayed for is a great and paramount redress -. — a ledress on which the fate of New Zealand mainly depends. Is then a question involving such mighty consequences one to be discussed on a Saturday afternoon, by a meeting convened in defiance of all consideration and couitesy ? We say No — No — NO ! We feel confident that the colonists will disavow the proceedings of the 3rd of March, as the proceedings of the colony in public meeting assembled. The question, however) having been mooted, we trust it will be speedily and universally taken up. An actual public meeting, with ample time for the colonists to assemble, should be convened. Its specific objects should be pointed out, and at that meeting it would be well were a numerous commitee chosen ; a given number to form a quorum : — that quorum to meet once or twice a week to learn the sentiments of the settlers, at their own time, und when their own necessities lead them to visit Auckland. Such a committee* chosen from among men of all opinions, and all classes, sitting for three months, would be enabled to collect such a mass of facts, connected with the ruinous restrictions upon land, aud other grievances, and such a memorial might therefrom be prepared, that the cause of New Zealand could be argued before Parliament, with an integrity and a force, which should injure respect if it failed to command success. The fouith andJast resolution was proposed by Mr. Cormack, and seconded by Mr* R. M'Kenzie, as follows :—: — Tdht tln« Meeting bei»t? thuoughly convinced that the spit it ot e<mgiu ion "ill lnci'en-e and nt icad b the pnient evils of our local polity tre not ititnoved — and thut many valuable and entetp i>ing settlers would lea\e the place — and further b i. ft of opinion thul these evils are not confined to thit difctiict only, but extend in some form or otln rlO »ll parts of » he colony —duel ap| 01 "t tbe ab»ve named gentleo en to open a correspondence with the committee at Wellington and Nelson, and in conjunction With ib. in to forward by eveiy possible mean* the introduction ot Representative uuiKutiont aud the removal of exiiting restrictive leguLtioiib— und also to open a rorretpoi.dence with the c,>n)li u k& authoritub of Calilomu n> order thm in the event ol any more ot our valuable aetileis being rtluctan ly compelled 10 abandon the Colony they may be put in poskegfion of such authentic int< rotation relative to the tute und protpects of California at will enable them to proceed thither under the most favour able circumstance*. An amendment, however, was suggested by Mr. Polack, and put by Mr. Hart, seconded by Mr. Newman, and carried by a large majority. That the latter clause of the foregoing resolution — commencing from the words " and also to open a correspondence" to the end— be expunged. The Resolution therefore stood as above ending at the words " removal of existing restrictive regulations." We pass that resolution without note or comment, the amendment which stvipt it of its sting sufficing to shew the estimation in which it was held. Before the amendment was put, Dr. Weekes denied that any valuable settlers 'were ahout to leave the colony. Such an assertion in the resolution was incorrect, and he should be glad to see^it expnnged, as one calculated to convey false Impressions elsewheie;. This judicious suggestion was overruled y Mr. Forsaith main--taining that ever-y settler was of a certain value to the community, in a greater or less degree. Talk of His Excellency's indecent haste in passing the Provincial Councils Bill ! Why, the speed of Saturday double distances all such attempts.

The barque Louisa arrived from Sydney, on Saturday night, after a passage of four and twenty days, during which, she only 'lost four, out of one hundred and fifty houses shipped. The Louisa has brought down Ensign . Jqhnstone, one serjeant, and twenty -nine rank and file of the 58th Uegiment. And — the Postmaster General of New South Wales, having acquired a new light respecting cattle ships — she, also, conveys the London October mail. We have received a mass of London and Provincial journals, all detained for these, public nuisances, the Post Office packets, and, consequently, " stale, flat, and unprofitable ;" — and our files, with a carelessness, for which the ?- ydney post, we suspect, is chargeable, broken and disorderly. They will, we dare say, as on former occasions, turn up qfier many days.

We have thus little in accession of our former intelligence, except what we glean, via Hobart Town, where a Dublin paper of the 10th of October had been received. The sentence passed upon Smith OBrien will be found in another column. His conduct is represented as being self possessed and intrepid. Nothing is said of his sentence being suspended or commuted. On that point, all as yet appears to be mere matter of speculation. The unfortunate gentleman, meanwhile, " beguiles the time," as best h^ may. The Cloumel teporter of the Cork Constitution, says — During the last few days Smith O'Htien has amused himself writing poetry, distributing the scraps amongst his friends. To one gentleman he gave the following : •• Whether on the gallows high, Or in the battle* van, Th • only p\i> c for man to die, Is where he diet for man." William Smith O'Brick. Another famine again impended over unhappy Ireland, and another appeal was about to be made to the sympathetic solicitude of England. We fear the bitter display of past ingratitude, and rancorous hatred will be apt to steel " The Saxon's " kindly heart, and cause him to button up his breeches pocket. The crops in England are moreover lamentably ■ beneath an average, the Bankers' Circular estimating the wheat crops to be two millions* six hundred and eighty seven thousand quarters under that standard. It is, however, matter of no little Satisfaction to learn, from the same 1 well informed source, that the stocks of old: wheats on hand will leave a surplus of two millions of quarters beyond the strict wants of consumption^ for the year ending on the Ist of September, 1849. Some curiosity has been excited in London by the 1 appearance of a number of French National Guards, parading the streets, anaVvisiting the various edifices of the metropolis. They were evidently pleased with the liberty of John Bull, and the independence which displayed itself amongst all classes. The grand fete at Boulogne had attracted them to that pleasant -ea-port, and the directors of the South Eastern railway company having reduced their fares during the festival, with return tickets, a great number took advantage of a cheap trip from Boulogne to Folkestone and London, before they marched for their respective localities. Two hundred officers and privates arrived on one morning tot see London and its lions, and other 3 were about to follow. Our Sydney news is to the 6th ultimo. The sales of wools in England continued at a disastrously low figure, entailing an estimated loss to the Australian Cdlonies, as compared with last year's sales, close upon half a million of money. This, we i'ear, « ill operate most injuriously on the spirit of inter colonial trade. The Californian thermometer recently at boiling heat, has sunk below zero : no passengers, no trade* dffering from Port Jackson. The Herald surmises that the intimation of a regular government having been established by the United States has dissipated the effervescence ; and that the desperadoes, cock-a-hoop to indulge in unlicensed and ' unlimited 1 gold digging have no desire to disburse their ten pounds of passage money and to tame down their insatiate appeates to fair and reasonable wages for work and labour done. Said we not to this complexion it must come'? -With respect- to trade, a perplexing question appears to have arisen, and that is, whether goods will be permitted to be landed under the tariff established by the United States ? So much for the El Dorado of Forty Nine ! Our Sydney contemporary, the Herald, who occasionally devotes a leading article to consideration of New Zealand affairs, has been manfully encountered by the Maitland Mercury of the 3rd February, who, with much ability and impartiality > discusses the " somewhat scurvy treatment" which the Herald has meted out towards Sir George Grey. • Upon the equitable principle of Audi alterem partem we shall copy the Mercury's article in our next* merely at present, quoting its cortclnding paragraph — " Colonial governors like Sir George Grey are not plentiful as blackberries. Where we find a Governor who has the courage' to suspend a constitution sent out by the British Ministry and Parliament because he thinks it would be injurious to those under his authority — and who, by his statesmanship and energy, has conducted one colony from a state of depression to almost unexampled activity and prosperity, and is fast extricating another from a mesh of most perplexing difficulties — we are in common justice bound to fairly represent hik actions and policy, and to place a candid if not a generous, construction on his motives and intentions." To the Maitland Mercury of the 7th Feb.,we are indebted for the following extract from? the Launceston Examiner — " It is said that Mr. Stonor lias oeen appointed' Attorney Genera!; that Mr. Home will proceed as judge to New Zealand, and that the New Zealand judge will occupy his place on the Van Diemen's Land bench." Most heartily do we trust that this paragraph may be found to be but an " It is said," sed preterea nihil ; — since, whatever the merits of Mr. Justice Horne we ahouldbe exceedingly grieved to exchange our own well tried Judgp for a gentleman elevated to the Bench upon

the vacation of -Mr. Montagu amoved for a special purpose: — a purpose which has drawn down the indignant censure of the British Press -, — which has outraged the pufity of Taslnainan Justice ;— and which has proclaimed His Elegancy Sir William Dennison as unscrupulously unconstitutional, as he is fatuously despotical. We have a few choice morceaux of Tasmanian Official tyranny for extract. These however, we must reserve for a future occasion.

We have Cape of Good Hope papers to the 2nd of November. All was quiet on the fronv tiers. Sir Harry Smith had again met the Kaffir Chiefs in full conclave. His Excellency appears to have obtained a perfect mastery over them, and the prospects for the maintenance of peace may be regarded as satisfactory.

Yesterday the long promised exhibition of tteh c Agricultural and Horticultural Society took place at Mr. Robertsons Rope Walk, Mechanic's Bay :— a capital spot, as Mr. Sheriff Berrey facetiously observed, the ladies being easily able to 'find plenty of strings to theic bows. Notwithstanding a wet,threatening,morning, the attendance was both numerous and select, His Excellency the Governor and Lady Grey, and almost all the elite of Auckland being present. The band of the 58th enlivening the scene with many choice pieces of music. Considering that the Society is in the first stage of infancy, the display of fruits, flowers, vegetables, and live stock was most creditable ; far surpassing our expectations. The apples, peaches, and melons deserve especial mention, many of the former were exceedingly beautiful The best specimen, however — those grown by Captain Porter— lost the prize in consequence of their arriving too late. The same fate attended the finest sample of honey we ever saw in any quarter of the world. There were thirty pounds in this box, which was brought toy Mr. , from Coromandel Harbour. It was clear, full, and rich. A wreath of flowers, exhibited by Dr. Weekes, and arranged in a most tasteful manner by Mrs. Weekes, attracted very general •attention. Mr. Fielding exhibited some very good spe•cimensof native chow-chow, rock-melon mar•inalade, bottled apples and peaches, pickled 'onions and mashroom ketchup, all of excellent quality, and which were recommended for a prize. Some good grapes and a sample of fine hops '■of Mr. Berrey 's were likewise shown. Also some good onions and potatoes. Theie were half a dozen 'bottles of a claret from Wangaroa ■manufactured without any of the necessary ineafti of wine making. It was much too new fcj form even an idea of its quality, but its colour was clear and good. Mr. J> A. Smith of Qneen -street, exhibited ■a most creditable specimen of colonial candles> vaoap, and cured fish. Mr. J. Shepherd displayed several samples of colonial blacking, both liquid and paste. And <& very superior sample of Mr, Robertsons flax, beautifully dre&sed, was the admiration of all who Ijeheld it. In live stock, the Leicester sheep and porkers, deserve to be particularly commended. They were such as would have done credit to •an old established exhibition in an old established country. Mr. R. Graham took the prize for a spkndid Durham bull ; and Dr. Oourtenay exhibited a remarkably fine pair of rabbits. The list of prizes we give at full below. We rejoice that the ball has been thus aus.j)iciously opened, and trust that the Society will go on and prosper, and achieve much and lasting benefit for the land of their adoption. We are happy to hear that the Society have it in contemplation to alter their prizes, and instead of a sum of money, to confer an emblazoned card, such as can be framed and glazed, and retained by successful competitors Alas, that we cannot conclude without one little censorious remark, but the natives were not considerately treated ; the tables being two thirds cleared, and all the live stock removed, by the hour at which they were admitted. At , Wellington they have an equal entrance with the Europeans. There they are amongst the largest and most successful exhibitors, and at •the next New Ulster Show, we hope they will experience a similar equality. The President, Secretaries and Committee are entitled to the best thanks of the community, for the care and anxiety they have evinced in furthering the interests of this society which We trust will flourish nnder theii management. A dinner was held at the Masonic Hotel.— The shortness of the notice prevented the presence of His Excellency the Governor — but with the worthy President Major Matsoa in the chair, a social and a pleasant evening glided rapidly away. The prizes for the best specimens produced were awarded as follows :—: — Cart Horse.. Mr. Benjamin Smith Thorough bred Mare . .Mr. Crummer Cart Mare . Mr. Lockwood JNew Ulster bred Bull. .Mr. R. Grahim Ditto, Cow.. Mr. R. Fairburn Ditto, Heifer. . « Boar. .Seigemt McDonald JSow..Mr. £ arris

Bacon Pig.Jlenii Pepene (a native) Long-wooled Ram . Mossrs. Taylor& Farmer Merino ditto. .Colouel Wynyaid Long-woolledEwes . Messrs. Tay lor & Farmer Merino Ewes. .Colonel Wynyaid Lambs. .Mr. Joseph Newman Plough and Horses.. Messrs. Taylor & Farmer Plough and Bullocks. .Mr. W. F. Porter

New Ulster Barley. .Messrs. Taylor & Farmer Ditto, Grass Seed.. " Ditto, Linseed. .Mr. P. Berrey Ditto, Cheese. .Mr. A. Stewart Ditto, Grape Wine.. H. E. the Gov.-in-Chief Ditto, Honey.. Mr. Parris Ditto, Wax.. "

HORTICULTURAL. Melons..Mr. P. Berry New Ulster Grapes. .Mr. Swainson. Ditto, Apples.. Capt. Rough Ditto, Stone Fruits. .Mr. P. Berrey Nosegay.. ditto Dahlia..Mr. J. Lynch, Government Gardener

"Vegetable Marrow. .Mr. O'Mealey Pumpkin..Heme Pepene Potatoes. .Mr. A. Stewart Turnips..Mr. P. Berrey Onions " Cabbage " Beans " Rhubarb..Mr. O'Mealy The Judges for the Live Stock were Messrs. Mayne, and Mcllwaine. For the remainder Messrs. Cleghorn, Newman, and J. May.

Programme.— On Thursday, March Bth, 1849, (by the perminion of Lieutenant Colonel Wynyard, C.8.) the Band of the 58th Regiment will perform the following pi<*ce« of mutic, within the enclosure of the government grounds, from half-past four to half»pMt six o'clock:— Grand Overture Op " Zampa" Herold Walte.... " Homage a la Reine " Strains Soag " Moll* Bawn" Balfe Duetto.. ..«• DcU Conte" O-> " Norma" B Uini Qumlrille " Lei Martyr* " Mu-<ard Melange Balfe'* Op. "The Daughter of St. Mark" B*lfc Song ....."My Nannie O i " Burns P <(ku. ........ "The American" ...Jullten Quartetto.. " Ate O Cara" Op. " I Puritaui".. BelLnt

Extensive Sal*.— Mr H. Jo*e|>h will bring to the hammer this day, the extensive and valuable Hi usehold Furniture, Sea., &c, of Mr. George Rmuell.— Commun'w&leA .