The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 307, 9 May 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aiins't at, be tby Country's, Thy Rod's, and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1849.

The barque " William," with five hundred sheep, and fifty horses, five and twenty tons of flour, and a number of cabin and steerage passengers, arrived from Hobart Town, after a tedious passage of seven and twenty days, on Monday morning. There is no English news to be gleaned from the Tasmanian Journals, their latest dates being only to the 18th of December. In local intelligence they are somewhat more fertile, the visit of Sir Charles Fitzroy, and the action brought by Captain Hadden, R. E., against the " Courier," having imparted a liveliness to their columns. We are so hampered for space that comment and extract must equally be deferred until our next.

The schooner " Cheerful," from Sydney, came into harbour on Monday evening, bringing papers to the 27th ultimo, and the English Mail for December. Several ships, with merchandize and emigrants had arrived, but none with more recent intelligence than that which is already known. His Excellency Sir Charles Fitzroy returned from his Southern voyage on the 21st ; and, on the 24th, gave audience to a deputation of the Anti-Transportationists, appointed to ascertain the reason why convicts commanded by the Secretary of State to Port Phillip should be countermanded by Sir Charles to Port Jackson ? Why Melbourne should be spared, and Sydney soiled by the convict plague ? The explanation vouchsafed by Sir Charles is a most lame and impotent one, and likely, we fear, to prove the tomb of all his previous popularity. The " Sydney Herald" of the 25th and 26th ultimo contains two long letters from Captain J. L. Folsom, of the U. S. Army, on the subject of California and its gold fields. The diggings appear to grow more productive the more they are prosecuted. But, if gold be plentiful, provisions, lodging, clothing, and all the necessaries of life are at a commensurately exorbitant rate : — for instance, boots are 1 8 dollars a pair shoes 8 and 12 dollars a pair — pork from 40 to 200 dollars a barrel — washing 8 dollais a dozen — and the luxury of brandy, only purchasable at 48 dollars a bottle ! Captain Folsom writes to urge on his Government the paramount necessity of a large garrison to control the lawless wretches flocking from all quarters to his El Dorado — and the adequate enhancement of the pay of the soldiery, to prevent desertion. Outrage had, as was to be expected, occurred, no punishment following; and we fear considerable time will elapse ere society can be framed, or rather sobered down to a rational footing. We give Captain Folsom's first letter in our issue of to-day — his second shall follow on Saturday, as we are of opinion that they are calculated to make the prudent pause quite as much as to render the volatile impatient of the golden joys of which they treat. The schooner " Star of China," from New Plymouth, arrived in port last night.