The New- Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 339, 9 August 1849, Page 2

The New- Zealander.

lie jnsf and fo.ir not: l,rt all the ends thou ain's't at, be thy Country's, Thy r.on's. avuJ i'mth's.

""WuttSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1849.

In accordance with the Resolution adopted^ on the motion of the Colonial Treasurer, the Session of the Legislative Council on Tuesday was opened vulh prayer by the Colonial Chaplain. A. memorial was presented, praying the establishment of a public maiket in Auckland. The expediency of comply tng with this desire at the earliest practicable period is too obvious to need cnfoi cement. A point deservin fT careful consideration, however, is the site on which it should be elected. The memotJalisls, it will be seen, recommend the land at the junction of Shortland and Queen -streets. The Council then went into committee on the Ciown Lands Bill, and proceeded as far as clause 16, leaving the 3rd clause open for further consideration. It appears from statements incidentally made by the Governor, in the course of the discussion upon the appointment of a Commissioner, that the measure is designed to have a much more extensive operation than was originally supposed j— that, in fact, it is intended to be a Squatting Bill, the necessity of which we have already urged. The Governor laid the Estimates on the table, reserving his observations on them, until this day. To day also, Colonel Hulme will •move the adoption by the Council of certain resolutions recommending that greater facilities should be afforded to the natives for the disposal of their lands. Mr. Merriman gave notice that on a future day he would call the attention of the Council to the subject of the introduction of Exiles into this country.

The Public Meeting on the Marriage Ordinance Question, on Tuesday evening, must, on the whole, have afforded high gratification to the friends of equal laws and religious freedom. The attendance, notwithstanding the severity of the weather, was so numerous as to show beyond dispute the extent to which the subject commands the attention of the community in general ; the various classes of the public, including those upon whom the law forces exclusive privileges which, as far as tliey are exclusive, no liberal mind can receive except with a reluctance largely mingled with disdain, were respectably and efficiently represented ; and the great bulk of the assembly was evidently composed of men who intelligently understood the real nature of the occasion which had brought them together, and were energetically resolved to make every legitimate effort to efface from the statute book of their adopted country the foul blot of bigotry which has been permitted to defile it, and to obtain for themselves, but not for themselves alone— (for the very genius of the Meeting was expansive and active catholicity) — an unfettered participation in those constitutional privileges •which, as enlightened British subjects, they know to be their rights. The pressure on our space prevents our giving a detailed Report of the proceedings, as we should have had pleasure in doing had the demands on our columns been lesa numerous and urgent. But, indeed, there would have "been little necessity for this under any circumstances, except with a view to the communication of information on the subject to persons at a distance •, for here, as we have just intimated, the character and bearings of the Ordinance are too well understood to require explanation, and the consequent duty devolved upon all independent, unsectarian, and religiously patriotic men too obvious to require enforcement. We, however, copy the Resolutions, as comprehending within a brief compass principles and purposes which were amply stated and supported by the several speakers, ■and heartily adopted ty the Meeting. " That, in addition to other defects in the New Zca'.and Mairiage Ordinance (Session 8, No. 7), that measure is especially objectionable as containing provisions which confer upon the Ministers of the Churchei of England and Rome privileges in the celebration of the Marriage ceremony, wich are withheld from those of other denomination! ; and as imposing regulations which the Ministers and Members of the Churchei thus excluded feel to be degrading and unmerited, as well as vexatious, tedious, expensive, and tending, particularly in remote districts, to criminal neglect of the Marriage R'te. As there is nO Establiihed Church in the Colony, this Meeting declare! its firm conviction that in matters affecting the Churches there should be one—and only o»ff— system of legislation, and that that system should be carried out impartially, and on a principle of strict religious liberty." " That, ia addition to protesting against the general intolorance and injustice of the Ordinance in the reipacts referred to, this Meeting declares its strong disapprobation of it on these amongit other special arounds:— that it deprive sone portion of the community of privileges which they enjoyed in the Colony long befort this measure wa» passed, and that it withholds from another portion privileges which they always possessed and freely exercised in their native land. f " That a Memorial founded on these Resolutions be ] presented without delay to the General Legislative Council, and that the Address now read be adopted by this Meeting as such Memorial.' j •' That a Committee be appointed to superintend the nreientation of this Memorial, and to take such further , and subsequent steps for the promotion of its object a circumstance may indicate: a,rJ that the following gentlemen (with power to add to their number,) do form that Commit.cc :-Re». Walter Lnvry: ;Rey George A. Panton: Rer. Thomas Buddie : Doctor Sett: Mr. Whytlaw: Mr. Rout : Mr. Gome: and Mr. T. S. Ponaith'" The chair was filled by Mr, Rout, and the

resolutions were moved, sefconded, or supported by the Rev. Messis. La-\\ry, Panton, Buddie, and Fletcher; Dr. Bennett, Mi- Goirie, Mi. Williamson, and Mr. T. S. Foisaith ; and, we may add, by the whole assembly, for we nevei saw a more unanimous meeting. If any differences could be said to exist, they had refeience only to the merest details respecting the best mode of giving practical efficiency to conclusions at which all had arrived as with the judgment and heart of one man. As the memorial must be presented without delay, in order to obviate die possibility of its being cushioned (as petitions have sometimes been at home), on the pietext that it came before the Council at too late a period of the session to admit of its receiving due consideration, it is important that those who desire to affix their signatures to it, should do so immediately. It has been suggested, (and we think the suggestion a good one), that each person who signs it, should affix to his name a letter indicating the denominati6n to which he belongs, — as E., for Episcopalian Protestant, R. for Roman Catholic, P. for Presbyterian, W. for Wesleyan Methodist, I. for Independent, B. for Baptist, &c. An evident advantage of such a plan would be that it would give the liberal members of the favoured churches an opportunity of showing that they do not wish to be exalted by legislative partiality, at the expense of the rights, interests, and feelings of their neighbours, friends, and fellow colonists of other religious bodies.

The following Petition ' we are informed is in course of signature, and will be presented so soon as the Council shall have gone into Committee on the Bill to which it refeis. It will be seen that its single object is to bring the measure into immediate operation, without the delay which must necessarily take place if it be kept in abeyance until the Royal Assent can be obtained and made known here. The propriety of this request is self-evident. The more necessary such a settlement as the Bill proposes to make is, the more important is it that it should not be postponed for a year. The Attorney-General himself fclearly admitted this,—-even while he j moved the objectionable clause on the ground that, trenching as the Bill does on the Royal prerogative, the insertion of such a clause would be expedient, as " calculated to secure for it the Royal confirmation." But he surely does not suppose that there is any such sensitive touchiness at head-quarters as would lead, for so unworthy a reason, to the negation of a Bill fraught, as this professes to be, with such large benefit to the whole of New Ulster. To Hii Excellency Sir Gborge GaEY, KC.B., Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand, aud the Legislative Council assembled. The P6tition of the undersigned Inhabitants of the Province of New Ulster, Humbly Sheweth,— That your petitioners are anxious to express their gratification (a feelinsj which they believe to he universal) that a bill, professing for its object the Quieting of Titles to Land in the Province of New Ulster ihoutd have been introduced iuto your Honourable Council. That for yean past, in fact from the very foundation of the colony, the doubts and uncertainties which have hung over titles have operated most prejudicially to the interests of this Province. That your petitioner* express their decided convirtion that misgivings as to. validity of titles have had the effect of damping the enterprise of settlers already here, of deterring others from coming, of discouraging the investment and empioyment of capital, aod of locking up the resources of the country more than any other cause whatever. That, under this conviction your petitioners naturally look upon a liberal end comprehensive settlement of all questions on this important subject as more to be deiirted and as more calculated to advance the prosperity of the Province than any other measure that could be proposed. That, without going into the details of the bill (to some of which many of your petitioners have objections), your petitioners unanimously desire to express their concurrence in the principle of Quieting all Crown Titlei, but at the same time they are most desirous of calling the attention of the Council to the lait clause of the bill now before them, whema it is proposed to delay the operation of such a measure till it shall have received tbe Royal assent. That your petitioners look upon this clause as calculated in a great decree to neutralise the beneficial effect which mii;ht otherwise ensuo from such a measure, and they cannot but expms their fears that, especially at a time when a neighbouring country is apparently holiing out luch inducements to settlers, the moit injurious consequences will follow from leaving the final settlement of thU important matter in abeyance for at least a year to come. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Excellency and the Honorable Council will be pleased to amend the Crown Titles Bill and pass it in such a form as will render it, what it professeß to be, a 6nal settlement of all questions affecting tbe validity of Crown Titles ; and that such settlement may be allowed to come into immediate operation. And your petitioners will eeer pray, &c.

Those of our readers who feel concerned in the state and prospects of California will have their curiosity naturally excited by our announcement that a vessel (the " Osprey") arrived at Auckland on Tuesday evening, from San Francisco, whence she sailed on the 3rd of June : .but we regret to add that we are unable" to gratify their curiosity by any trustworthy intelligence, as the Captain, and his only passenger, while they declare that they are in possession of very important commercial news, absolutely refuse to communicate it, except on terms of pecuniary remuneration, so large as to amount to a prohibition. As caterers for the public, we made what we did not deem a niggardly offer for even one of the papers said to contain what might here be valuable infor-

mation ; but our offer was as unavailing as our previous entreaties and remonstrances had been. What has oozed out, 01, for aught we know, has been garbled or fabricated for cv dilation heie,is to this effect that a new Tariff has been bi ought into operation which imposes exoibitant duties on all but American produce : that, chiefly in consequence of this, property to a large amount was " rotting on the beach -." that a gieat number of ships were swinging at anchor in the harbour with their cargoes lying on board, the sailors and officers, with few exceptions, having gone off to the diggings, and men to work in their places not being procurable : — and that, in short, more and more could be told, if the Captain and his passenger would only tell it ; — but they won't, and so there is an end of the matter. Of their conduct, our readers will judge;— we will only repeat in justice to ourselves that we have not been wanting in effort to ascertain the facts— if facts there be — in the possession of those persons. As the people of the schooner could make nothing by concealing it, they were generous enough to mention that at Honolulu, where the " Osprey" touched on the 25th of June, the " Deborah" had arrived from this port on the sth of June, and had sailed for San Francisco a few days afterwards.

Wb resume our Notes on tke chief items of intelligence in the journals lately received from the Southern Province. Next to such a satisfactory adjustment of the Land Claims as would restore public confidence, and direct into channels of useful operation that spirit of enterprise which, to so great an extent, either has been paralyzed and locked up in profitless inaction, or has expended much of its energies in efforts which only kept up disquietude and agitation, we know of nothing more intimately or immediately connected with the commercial prosperity of the colony than the full development of the vast resources brought within reach by the Phormium Tenax. We have already announced the discovery said to be made by Mr. Paterson of an easy and efficacious mode of removing the chief obstacle which hitherto has prevented the opening up of that mine of wealth which this indigenous production of our soil almost everywhere presents to view. The following article, which we transfer from the " Wellington Independent," will be read with the interest which the importance of the subject, demands : — We publish below a letter from Mr. Paterson, of Wanganui, giving a short account of his hating, after a series of experiments, discovered a solvent of the gummy matter which has hitherto prevented the Phormium Tenax being prepared in a state fit for exportation. We also give a letter signed by the several parties to whom Mr. P. yesterday explained and exhibited his process. We have tonday neither time nor space to dwell upon the importance of such a discovery. Should however future experiments confirm the results obtained by Mr. Paterson, New Zealand need not envy South Australia her copper mines, nor California her gold fields. Her Flax will prove a source of inexhauitible wealth, giving profitable employment to all classes, both Native and European, and will render this colony independent of all extraneous support. In fact, should the anticipations of those who yesterday witnessed the facility with which the Flax can be cleaned by Mr. P's proceis, be realizedi the " Philo sopher's Stone," as far at New Zealand is concerned, may be said to have been discovered. Should such be the result, we feel satisfied that Mr. Patersons claim to some substantial reward will not be disregarded either by the settlers, the New Zealand Company, or the Home and Local Governments. To the Editor of the Wellington Independent. Sir,— Having for several yeiri been engaged in making a teries of experiments upon the Flax, with a view to prepare it in a state fit for exportation, and having I believe succeeded in discovering a process Hy which it can be cheaply and properly prepared, I am anxious to make the process public, 80 that it may be tesipd by others, and the value of the discovery estab. lished. Without detailing the numerous experiments I have made, and the various substances I have em« ployed, I may mention, that the only subitancel have yet discovered capable of dissolving the gummy matter which has hitherto been the obstacle to flax being made an article of export, is alum. The process is simply this — the flax beinij cut, is placed in a boiler filled with water in which a small portion of alum is dissolved— say a couple of ounces to three or four gallons of water. The fhx ii then boiled for ftora one to two hours — it is then placed in cold water, and the leafiswasheJby the hands as in washing linen, when the whole of the green part is immediately seperated, and fhe fibreß are left almost perfectly free from every othe r matter. I enclose you a certificate from the gentlemen, to whom 1 yesterday exhibited the process at Captain Rhodes's. My chief object in making this discovery public at the present time, is to establish my claim as the discoverer of the process. I am, sir, Your obedient servant, William Paterson, The undersigned, having been requested to witneis the process discovered by Mr. William Paterson, of Wanganui, for reducing the green leaf of the Phormium Tenax to its ultimate fibre, have assembled at the home of Mr. Rhodes, for the purpose. The whole process, which occupied only one hour, wai conducted in their presence, aad seems to the undersigned to be limple, cheap, and effectual, The cuticle of the leaf ii completely softened, and the gummy matter which clothes the fibre seems thoroughly dissolved ; so that after the leaf has been submitted to the process, the cuticle may easily be washed off by the hand (though more cheaply and readily by some timple mechanical contrivance), and the fibre is left free of all extraneous matter. The discovery seems to the undersigned to be of a nature to be made use of by the natives and by the cottager at his leisure moments, and the flax when prepared is in a state fit for shipment. As far as the undersigned can judge by witnessing this simple experiment, they are of opinion that it establuhes a very strong probability that the Phormium Tenax will by meani of this discovery be rendered an exportable commodity.— El. S. Chapman, William Fox, Rob*: Waitt, and others. Supposing the above statements to be correct

— (and pending the issue of fiuther trials we arc warranted m assuming that, substantially, they are so) — Mr. Patersons name is likely' to be enrolled amongst those of the best benefactors of the countiy. We shall watch with solicitude the progress of the investigation which his alleged discovery will now undoubtedly be subjected to , and we will, of course, lay before our readers the earliest and fullest information we can obtain. Mechanics Institutes, if kept under judicious literary and moral control, are so well adapted to promote the improvement of a vising colony like oius, that we look with lively interest on their progress. We observe that at Wellington steps have been actively taken to place the Institute on a better footing. A subscription for the erection of a Hall to serve as Library, Reading Room, and Museum had been entered into with liberality, speedily mounting up to £226, which is more $than two-thirds of the sum required. It has been resolved to add to the title — "The Athenseum," as it seems the members think — despite Shakspere's wise saw — that there is something in a name, and that this name will attract a larger number of supporters. The Legislative Council, however, had refused a grant in aid of the Institution, which it was understood that the Lieutenant-Governor, as well as many others, thought should be given. The sapient Wellington Councillors, we suppose, admire consistency. This refusal was quite in keeping with their refusal to make any grant for public education. Verily, if either the children or the adults of New Munster grow beyond dwarfishness in intelligence, it will not be throngh the fostering care of the Solons of their Provincial Council. An attempt to remove the Wellington Post- > office from its present central and convenient situation at Te Aro to the buildings formerly known as (Barrett's Hotel, in the vicinity of other Government offices, has been frustrated by the vigilance and firmness of the principal merchants, who represented their views to the Lieutenant-Governor so decidedly as to induce him to abandon the project. The " Settlers' Constitutional Association" vigorously labours in its chosen vocation of superintending the progress of political affairs in the colony. The numbers are increasing ; a fact, says the " Independent," which " may be taken as an earnest of the opinion of the community respecting the Governor-in-Chief's patent Constitution." A semi-monthly periodical, in Maori and English, designed for the especial benefit of the Native race, is announced to appsar at Wellington, on the 9th instant. The general principle of such a publication is demonstraWy sound, and it may be worked in such a way as to confer important and permanent benefit on the community at large. All will depend, however, on the manner in which it is conducted. We can easily conceive, that it may operate mischievously rather than usefulfy. Correct judgment, extensive means of information, and a conscientious sense of editorial responsibility are essential to its salutary or even safe management. Should these qualifications be wanting in its conductors, it is obvious that the undertaking may prove worse than a failure. We shall watch with interest the tone and tenor, the matter and manner, of this new candidate for public favour, and shall be prompt to award it any praise to which it i can fairly lay claim. From Nelson we learn that the winter i& found highly favourable to the farmers, as they are enabled to carry on their operations with great vigour, and the roads being dry and firm, they can bring their produce to market without difficulty. Frost set in this year a month earlier than usual, and, having been frequently accompanied by a strong south or south-westerly breeze, has been sharply felt We find, from the official returns, that the revenue of the Nelson district, for the quarter ending the 30th of June was £833 4s. lOd. The expenditure amounted to £1,701 15s. lid. The exports had been very considerable. The "Terror" and "Susan" had cleared out for Sydney, with large cargoes, especially of barley and wheat. The weather at Otago had been severe ; there had been strong winds, snow, bail, sleet, and rain. Several detached spots in the district were beginning to bear evidences of human industry, — " Whilst here and there, dotted on the hill sides and in the valleys, may be seen a few sheep and cattle ; but the want of a fresh importation, and the detainder of the Aj ax, with her valuable cargo, were severely felt by purchasers of stock and intending settlers on their rural lands."