OTAGO. (From the Otago News, April 4.)

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 311, 23 May 1849, Page 3

OTAGO. (From the Otago News, April 4.)

At tlif conclusion of the fir-t year of our resi 'ence in New Zealand, and as "pioneers aud founders of a new c> buy," we consider ihot the world has a right to dem-ind the benefit of that year's experience ; more particular')' ttiat portion cf intending settleis who have b.'en " anxiously waiting" for disinterested information fio-tt parties already located here. In making the following observations, we beg distinctly to fissure the intending immigiant, that whilst we are unavoidably compelled to omit many favourable character! -tics, instead of exaggerating tliose already reported, we prefer the meie publication of facts, wi»h little or ho comment whatever, considering that a feeling of duty towards those who may be influenced by our writings* and a principle of true policy respecting our adopted country, alike demand honesty upon such an occasion. The town of Duncdix is situate at the head of tli c bay, extending along the whole water frontage, and for a considerable distance inland. A low range of sandy formation, to the eastward of the bay, shuts out the lea, which mu-t at one time have flowed through what is now the harbour. The principal part ot the houses at present are built between two small hills in Princes Street— which runs in a continuous line from north to sc-uth through the town. The unevenness of the j ground, though it may render it more picturesque, ' unfits it, in some measure, for busineis purpos; s ; and I we have litllo doul-t ihat, as the number of inhabitants increase, the main body of the town will be more tow ards the north-east valley and Pi ltchet's Bay, on what at the present time presents the appearame of a swamp; a few good drains, however, would «arry oil all (he surface water, and leave fine level sites for building pur| oses. "The srrall hills at the ba< k woulJ form delightful spots for crescents and detached j'ilUs, offering a prospect of tha bay apd the town, wilh a peep <it the ocean be>ond. A little to th 6 lefi of which a gradual "swelling 1 hill" ri es, wi>h a fine commanding view of the ocean — the whole ol the town— and tha wocd-covtred heights on each side of the haibour. Here rest the moital remains ot" some of our fellowsetlli rs— away from the confusion and noise of a town — taking their '«long and silent sleep" in the midst of "names life and loveliness." J3 low, maybe Been the edifice set apait for a church — a plain wooden building with a public library appended : — the Manse and Captain Cargill's residence, neai mansions of wood, towards the south end of the town, with small gardens attached : — Mr. Valpys bouse forming a conspicuous object, but not a veiy pleasing one in po.nt cf archi lecture : — the principal Surveyor's house, on a small rising ground, wi h its fanciful verandah: — a contused cluster of buildings nrouud the Commercial Im —and the Royal Hotel ; — ilnse are some of the most jromi. nent O' jects in the pictuie of the town. Here and there, 100, dotted amongst ths h uses, may be seen the painted top of a gipiy-like t>nt ; or the more rustic dwellings of clay nnd gras-, peep ng from amid a bower ot trees The number < f hou»es is about 110, and of inhabitants, including the country around, about 7GO, A small gatden is attached to many ol the houses, sufficient for growing' « lew vegetable-. The streets aie 6b* feet wid«, and will, in time, be di a ned and gravelled. Jsiteg are reserved for markets, aud public buildings in ihepum.ip.l streets. "We have a police magistrate,

two physician*, one solicitor, ihrce inenhanls, two butchers, two bakers, five bhoemnkeis, one tailor, seve» ralsto/eteepers, carpenters, and snwjeis. Wehave.also, two hotels, a newspaper, a jail, a jetty, two good bar-, lacks comfortably fitted for ll.e reception of immigranlst a biick field, and a stone quarry. 'Jhe town is but moderately supplied with good water ; thouih a sligli outlay would remedy this evil:—the Water tf Leith—a fine clear stream—is at a short dKtmioe, and might be eas 1> convejeci into the tottn. Wood is rather an expensive item in fam ly economics costing about 12s. per cord ; the labouring clas«, however, generally employ their children to bring it fom the neighboring bmh, or cut it when their day's work is over. The pi ice of the pi incite articles of provision are as follows :—

The meat is of excellent rjna'ily ; poultry and eggs are scatce ; bacon and poik sliglnly d ticient in flavor ; potatoes of ali qualities, those grown in new gr und are n t so good ; tea very inferior ; rice, sugar, currants, raisin*, and spces, very hi^h m price, and frequently unobtainable. (A dir ct communication with Sydney has commenced, which will give a constant supply of these articles at aieasonable rate.) Vegetables; it is expected, will be very cheap. Clothing is generally about 50 or fiO pei cenr. above the home pi ice. GUs-, eaithenware, ki cheu ule'S.ls, and household furniture, about 100 per cent, more than the Engliih marke's. The wages of mechanics average from s*. to 7*. per day; labourers from 33 to 45.; sawyers are generally paid at so much per 100 feet. In fact, the cx« tretnely high price of sawn timber is a verious diawback to the increase of the town ; the sawyers charging fiom 14s. to 203. per 100 feet at the pit: this, and tha expense of caning the wood, rtndeis it quite impossible for many of the settlers tobu'ld themselves comfortable houses. The scarcity of large timber—the distance of the trees from each oilier —and the want of good roads and means of conveyance, may in a gieat measure account for those high pi ices; but we tli'nk that the sawyers will find it to their own interest to reduce ths price* otherwise it will be imported from the " sisttr settlements." WhiLt we have nrtizms and mechanics of nearly all desciiptions, there is still a cry for agricultural labourer!, shepherds, and general srrvants; this class might obtain'immediate employment at about the folbwing "wages:—Shepherds from i?3O to £10 per annutr, with ratiom for themstl/es and wives; labourers and general farm servants from X'2o to £30 per annum, with rations; female servants are very scarce, and obtain from £12 to £2 ) per annam. Port Chalmisrs, or Koputai, the poit town of Dunedin, is situate about mid-way between the entrance of the harbour and its head, on a pcninnilarformed bay, nearly identical in shape to Port Jackson. Every available p*rt of the ground has haen taken advantage of to form town sec ions along the shores of th" bay, and ex'endmg back to the o\ posite b'.y. Thj Custom-llouse, Post-Office, and Treasury, two mer* chant's stores, two inns, a butcher's shop, and a few piivatc houses in the bays and coves adjoining, cons i< tute, at piesent, the whole of the township; but its advantages in a commeicidl puii.t of view are so numerous, that we have no doubt, eic long, it will provo a prosperous rival to Diu.edin. The population of th« Port and the adjacent bays amounts to about 150 souls, Shipi of any tonnage can anchor within a shurt dis-< tance of the town, perfectly sheltered from the strongest winds, and uninfluenced by the tides. The depth of water is sufficient to allow coasters to heave down at high water to repair, paint, &c.; —a facility which few harbouri besides this can boast of. Additional advantages might also be obtained from warehouses built partly in the hill hide, south of the hay, where there is plenty of w.ter to enable vessels to load and unload direct. Ships requiring provisions, wood, and water, will find it the most convenient harbour in New Zealand, and we have the testimony of several captains of vessels employed in the whale fishery to the same effct. Looking at the many remarkable nataral advantages which this port possesses we have no hesitation in saying, that the arrival of a few more emigrant ihips will make it a busy, industrious, and thriving; place. The Bar at the entrance of the harbour forms no impediment to the negation. It is remarkably narrow ; •• the distance from the deep water outside to the deep wa'er inside not being more than 120 yards, so that vessels in cto sing rarely get more than one or two casts of the lead on it. The deepest water (three fathoms at low tide) is found by crossing it a little more than a quarter of a mile to the westward ofc" Tairoa's Head." No Wge vessel should a'tempt the bar against an ebb tu!e, without a " commanding bieeze, as the ebb from the uoithward meets that coming out of the harbour near Ta roas Ilea'l, and causes a strong net of the current from that point towards Point Hayward. Safe anchorage may be obtained outade in seven fa'homs water till the flood tide make*.'' The channel is maiked all the way by buoys placed on each side.

Army Statistics.— The following is an abstract of the army estimates for the cm rent year : — The whols number of men voted was 138,769. Of this number, 24,922 are borne on ihe Indian establishment, and aie not, therefore, paid by the home government. Ths East India Company aUo, it is to bo observed, pay a imn of £60,000 a year into the lit iti&h Treasury to cover the outlay for letmng pay and pensions, and other similar home expenses incident to the service oE this portion of the ainay in India. The army actually maintaiucd out of the taxes of the United Kingdom compris.es, this year, 1 13,848 men of all ranks. Of ihe-e there are officers, 4,8f'2; non-cornmibioned officers, trumpeters, and *!ru . met a, 8, 308 j and rank and fie, 100,677. The to al eot>t or the army for the ye rii estimated at £6,318,686. About one' third of this sum is paid for wh.tt i.re called noii-eirVctive ser* v co, as follows:— In-pens oners of ChcUea anil Kilmainham Hospitals, .£3B 580 ; ont^pensioners, £1,223,819 ; supemnnuadon allowances, £38 232; bounty warrants and pensions for won ds, £98,000 ; widows' pensions. ;£i 29,855 ; h»lf-(idy and military allownnoes, £514,715; full piy for letired officers, .£57,0(0; army pjy of general ofllctrs, reward^ for military services, £lo 5 7. The effective services are estimated to cost .£4,201,178. Out of this sum upwards of 108,000 men a>e provided (with food, clothuijr, lopguig. aims, and niudital attendance. It' we allow X 32 |er head pei annum for these purposes (and we do not see how they can be effected for much lens), this makes .£3 464,000; leaving for the 4862 officers, i.7<37,178; which gives them, on an avera OG, 0 G, very neaily £I$Q a yuir euch. — G(ob» t

15 ef, fresh, fier Ib 0 0 7 15-ead, per 41b loaf 0 0 10 But er, fie-h, per 1b 0 2 0 „ salt, ditto 0 1 6 Clieeie, Poit Cooper, ditto .... 0 i (i Coffee, roasted, per lb. ......() 1 4 Ei:g<, per dozen 0 I G Flour, fib',i b', per 100 lbs 0 16 O II m and Bacon peril) 0 0 6 Poik fresh, per lb 0 0 G Potatoes, per ton 4 10 0 Sugir, loaf, per lb 0 0 1\ „ raw, dit'o 0 0 4 Tea, per lb 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 18 0 0 0 0 G 10 0 0 0 O 0 2 3 0 8 S a t> o 8 it O 6 6