SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1850.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 399, 9 February 1850, Page 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1850.

Even without taking into account the additional and growing stimulus given to our agricultural efforts here by the remarkable and still expanding opening which the Callfornian market presents, the vital importance of Agriculture to the prosperity of this colony, is so self-evident that to dwell on it might seem almost an impertinence. Every judicious endeavour to promote the object must therefore command the attention and secure the cooperation of all enlightened well wishcis of their adopted country ; and on this ground it is that — after having made some detailed inquiry into the principles and proceedings of the " New Ulster Agricultural and Horticultural Society"— we feel justified in commending it to the favourable consideration and support of our readers. The Society has, as we learn, already done ■much good, and is capable of effecting much more, if it be only duly fostered by those •whose duty and interest it is to watch over and aid its pi ogress. Glancing through its proceedings for the past year, we find some facts which exhibit the beneficial character of its operations. It numbered within the year fifty-three members, most of whom were practical farmers. Prizes to the amount of £42, — (which of course would have been larger had the Society's funds been more liberally replenished,) — were offered for the best specimens of agricultural and garden pioduce. In the exhibition of live-stock, the Leicester sheep shewn by Messrs. 'Taylor, Farmer, and Newman, merited special attention, and afforded promise that in future Shows the competition in producing the best breeds of stock will be creditable to the skill and enterprise of the producers, and, as a necessary result, advantageous to the colony. The efforts of the Society to procure the establishment of a market-place in Auckland, have, we do not doubt, mainly led to the action of the Government in the matter ; and we trust that whatever changes in the local government may take place, the importance of immediately securing this object will not be lost sight of either by the out-goers or the in-comers, — if such there shall indeed be. The value of places for bringing farmers together, that by a comparison of their opinions and experience, and by a mutual suggestion of projects for improvement based upon local knowledge, the general object may b", ad\anced, has been appiecmted by the Society and, as one mode of carrying this into effect,

Saturday market dinners, open to all, have been instituted. It is obvious that, for various reasons, care should be taken to guard these social meetings from degenerating into merely convivial gatherings ; but it is equally obvious that, under judicious management, they may materially conduce to the advancement of agricultural knowledge by the interchange of information, and to the establishment of friendly relations which may repress or prevent paltry personal jealousies, and lead to cooperation in the promotion of general objects, in which all are interested. The Maori population has not been lost sight of. A prize has been offered to the Maori who shall produce the best character from his employer. This is not much, we admit, as an effort for our natives, but it is an indication that they are remembered ; and, we hope, a virtual promise that, as the Society's means increase, more will be done for the advancement of a race, which, as daily observation and intercourse with them increasingly convinces us, only require proper cultivation to be made an example to the world, of what an aboriginal people, rightly treated by colonists, may become. Altogether, we think the Society merits fuller support than it has hitherto met with ; and we shall be happy if our notice of it should in any measure aid in its obtaining that support.

By the arrivals referred to in our last, we have English papers to the 3rd of Octobei inclusive. The intelligence, though fuller, is not later than that which had previously reached us via Sydney. We proceed to give our usual Summary ot the chief items. The Queen and Court had returned from Balmoral. The projected route had included a visit to Perth, but the prevalence of cholera there caused an alteration m this arrangement. Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Royal children left their " Highland Home" on the morning of Thursday, the 27th of September, passed that night at Hovvick (the seat of Earl Grey), remained on Friday night at the Midland Hotel in Derby, and arrived on Saturday evening at Osborn House. The Queen was every where greeted with the customary manifestation of affectionate loyalty. The diminished mortality from cholera was, as may be supposed, matter of universal congratulation. The Registrar General's report shewed the weekly numbers of deaths in London from *' c pestilence during the month of September as follows; in the first week, 2,026 ; in the second, 1,682 ; in the third, 839 : and in the last, 434. Diarrhoea was fatal in the metropolis during the same weeks successively, to 272,— 280,-— 23B,— and 163. Days of humiliation and prayer on account of the visitation had been very generally observed. With reference to this, BeWs Messengsr, of September 22, observes — " With feelings of profound thankfulness do we place on record a few of those proofs which the 'day of adversity 1 has called forth, that, notwithstanding the many and grievous sins of which, as a nation, we have been guilty, the religious element in our character is still deep, sound, and extensive. Never has such a rebuke been given to the government of the country, and those who have aided and abetted them in the course which they have pursued, as has been administered by the people themselves, in the spontaneous manner in which they have cast themselves before the Divine Mercy-seat, and, with mingled tears and prayers, sought the removal of that grievous sickness which has caused the land to mourn." The rupture between Russia and Turkey, alluded to in our last, was producing some anxiety ip. political circles at home. On the 2nd of October a Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign Office on the subject, — the members having been specially and suddenly called from different parts of the kingdom on the arrival of the intelligence. Dr. Hinds, Dean of Carlisle, had been appointed to the Bishopric of Norwich. He would not, however, have a seat in the House of Lords until another vacancy in the list of Bishops took place. The seat now open would fall to Dr. Graham, Bishop of Chester. It was understood that the Deanery of Carlisle would be conferred on either the Rev. J. Aspinall, of Althorpe Rectory, Lincolnshire, or the Rev. A. P. Stanley, son of the late Bishop of Norwich, and author of the wellknown " Life of Dr. Arnold," We may note that the new Bishop has paid much attention to colonization, and that an Essay on the subject from his pen is incorporated in Mr. E. G. Wakefield's book. The Archbishop of Canterbury held his primary visitation on the 27th of September. His Charge was looked for anxiously, from an idea that it would convey his opinion on Mr. Gorham's case (of which a copious account appeared in our last). His Grace, however, looking to the probability of its coining befoie him judicially in the Privy Council, only referred to it in these general terms : — •' Another subject which was still agitating the public mind, had given occasion for volumes of various ciiticism. He alluded to the interpretation given to our service of Infant Baptism. His mouth was necessarily closed, from the circumstances in which this important matter was at present involved, and he could

only pray that the spirit of a sound mind might be granted to all concerned in the determination of a matter so grave, and that differences on this point might not be permitted to distuib the unity of the brethren, or dissolve the bonds of concord and peace." It was confidently stated that a new University, with full powers to grant degrees, &c, would shortly be established at Birkenhead ; and that the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Marquis of Westminster, and Lord Robert Grosvenor had each contributed £1000 towards it. It was expected that the see of Madras, vacant by the resignation of Mr. Spencer, would be given to Archdeacon Dealtry, Mr. Baptist Noel's successor at St. John's Chapel, and that he would be succeeded in that chapel by the Rev. Thomas Nolan, one of the most eminent of the Liverpool clergy. It was stated that Mr. Noel would become pastor of Mr. Evans's (Baptist) church, John-street, Bedford-row. A new Post Office arrangement (understood to have been suggested by Mr. Rowland Hill) had been promulgat ed, and excited considerable agitation. Hitherto the Sabbath had been kept as a day of rest in the London Post Office, but now a notice had been issued that Sunday mails for the country, and for Fiance, Belgium, &c, would be made up at St. Mar-tin's-le-Grand. This was met with strong opposition. The clerks, assorters, &c, remonstrated against it ; the tradesmen having receiving houses in different parts of the metropolis declared that they would not remain open during any portion of the Sabbath; and the friends of Sabbath observance earnestly denounced the scheme on religious grounds. It was hoped that the authorities would be induced to rescind the obnoxious regulation. The third Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Alliance (Biitish Organization) was fixed Ito commence at Glasgow on the 10th of I October. The foundation stone of a new and great City Prison, at Holloway (near London), was laid with much ceremony by the Lord Mayor on the 26th of September. The building, which is to be in the castellated style of architecture, is intended for the separate confinement of four hundred convicted prisoners, and will have large work-rooms attached. Cahfornian Treasure had at length been received in quantity in England. On the 15th of beptember. seventy tons weight of golddust from California and dollars from Valparaiso brought by H.M.S. Calypso, were placed in the vaults of the Bank of England. It was contained in fourteen hundred boxes, and valued at six millions sterling In the same week gold bars to the amount of £80,000, brought fiom St. Petersbuigh by the Helen M c Grego)\weve delivered at the Bank, onaccoUnt of the Russian Government. Speculators had been endeavouring to establish Californian Gold - Mining Companies. The 'limes earnestly cautions the public against them. Dr. Price, for many years editor of the Fclectic Review, had been compelled to relinquish that and all other literary labours, in consequence of disease of the heart. The members of Lloyds had voted the honoraty silver medal of the establishment to R. B. Forbes, Esq , of Boston, U. S., a passenger on board the Europa, to mark their sense of his intrepid efforts to save the passengers of the Charles Bart lei, when that vessel was run down by the Europa, on the 27th of June last. The Parliamentary and Financial Reform movement was progressing ; — numerous Branch Associations for the promotion of its objects continuing to be formed. Trade was on the whole, in a prosperous condition. The price of grain was still receding, but the labouring classes were in active employment, and the accounts from Manchester, Leeds, Bradford, &c, were satisfactory. The commercial advices from India and America were of a favourable character, and the only depressing influence arose from the disagreement between Russia and Turkey, which had in some degree affected the money market.

The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland had published a detailed report of their proceedings in carrying out the Land Improvement Act. They announce that their anticipations as to the extent io which the various works were likely to effect an increase in the value of the land drained, and at the same time an improvement in the system of Agriculture, promise to be fully realized. In the wildest localities and most backward districts drainage works were being executed in a manner which two years ago would have been consi • dered worthy of imitation in the best districts. The number of acres thoroughly drained since September. 1847, was 38,860, a great portion of which had also been sub-soiled. Although the potato-disease had undoubtedly made considerable ravages, the crops on the whole were satisfactory. There had been , however, immense arrivals of foreign bread-stuffs, especially atQueenstown, (Cove of Cork,) and a corresponding declension in prices. The Cork Constitution of September 15, says, — " These importations mii!>t have a disastrous effect on the Irish agricultural interest, — the only interest at present existing in the country. Looking at the present prices of all description of corn in the corn-market, in comparison of

those this day twelve months, there is a reduction of fully one- fourth. In the butter trade too there is an alarming reduction, and the bacon-trade is not one whit better. With these serious reductions in the price of native produce, and with such heavy importations of foreign corn, cattle, and American bacon, the prospects of the Irish farmers are anything but cheering," It was contemplated to establish another University (the Queen's) in Dublin, in connection with the new Irish Colleges. Its charter would provide that the degrees obtained at it should entitle to all the privileges of those conferred at Oxford, Cambridge, or any other University in the Empire. A very daring attack on the Cappoquin Police Barrack had been made by a party of nearly 200, armed with guns and pikes. The police made a gallant resistance, killing one of the assailants, and arresting four. The insurgents fled, leaving forty-four pikes on the battle-field. One of the constables subsequently died, having received sixteen pike-wounds. The police force in the South had been strengthened from the reserve-body in the Phetnix Park, there having been ground to apprehend that some movement amongst the peasantry Avas in agit.ition. A manufactory of pikes had been discovered near Cashel. Cholera had abated, although it still prevailed in some parts ; — as before taking a considerable portion of its victims from the middle or upper classes. It had rapidly carried off nineteen of the children at the Hibernian School, near Dublin. Her Majesty's purpose of having a marine residence erected at Killiney, about seven miles from Dublin, was likely soon to be carried into effect. Mr. W. D. Butler, architect, of Stephen's Green, Dublin, was engaged in preparing plans and drawings of the proposed building, to be immediately submitted for the Royal approval. . . . Mr. Bickjuai Escott, late M. P. for Winchesier, was engaged as a " Pictorial Commissioner," taking sketches of the most beautiful sites of natural scenery and modern cultivation in Ireland, in order that her Majesty may make a selection for her visit next year. The Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of Clarendon were on a tour in the South, which of course included Killarney. It was expected that His Excellency would formally open Queen's College, Cork, on the 15th of October, and that he would accept the office of Chancellor of the College. The Rev. Dr. Kelly, P.P. of Faughan, had been appointed Roman Catholic Bishop of Deny, in the room of the late Dr. Maginn. The Right Hon. R. More O'Ferrall, Governor of Malt'-j, was at his Irish seat in the County of Kildare. Mr. Godby was about to retire from the Secretaryship of the Irish Post Office ; and Mr. Cornwall, agent to the Marquis of Clanricarde was to be appointed in his stead. Much interest was excited by the announcement that the veteran Lord Cloncurry was about to publish a comprehensive memoir of Ireland and her political leaders during the last half century. Few are better qualified — at least so far as knowledge of the men and times goes— for executing such an undertaking.

We have been favoured with the loan of complete files of both the Wellington papers to the 26th of last month, and of the Otago News to the 1 2th. We select from them a few items, and shall probably return to them another day. They contain but little intelligence of any immediate interest. The Independent states that Flax and Wool Lashing were being brought in from the coast in considerable quantities. Within six weeks these articles to the value of £2000 had either been shipped off to the neighbouring colonies or stood in the warehouses ready for that purpose. A Paper-Machine had been ordered from home, and great expectations were formed of the benefits which will result from the exportation of such superior paper as may be manufactured from the FJax. The 22nd ult., being the Tenth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Settlement, was generally observed in Wellington as a holiday. There were various amusements on the occasion : — as, Boat Racing, in which Mr. J. Houghton's Happy -go- Lucky, Mr. Waters' dingy the Fairy, and a Whale Boat belonging to Mr. Young, were successful : — a Hack Race, won by a horse of Mr. Wade's : — a Maori Horse Race, won by Phormium Tenax, the property of James Miha, of Wairarapa : — and a Foot Race, in which Paton, a soldier of the 65th regiment, beat eleven competitor*. The Burnham Water Races came off on (he 23rd and 24th. Eight horses started for the Wellington Jockey Club Plate, which was won by Lieut. Gordon's Rubens. The Produce Cup, value 50 guineas, was won by Mr. St. Hill's Orlando. For the Burnham Water stakes, Rubens was again the successful competitor. In a match for £50, Mr. Skipwith's Screw, beat Lieut. Hutchinson's Whisker. In the Hurdle Race, on the second day, Mr. Skipwith's Bushman succeeded; Mr. Fox's Ancient Mariner won the Scurry Stakes ; and Mr. St. Hill's Harribogme the Ladies' Purse. Hay making at the Hutt had terminated. — The average returns was less than last year, — about li tons per acre. Less grain had been

cultivated than last year, and the dry weather had retarded its progress ; but there had been refreshing showers, and the crops were looking well. A fire had broken out at Akaroa on Sunday the 13th ult. } which at one time threatened to destroy the town. It was subdued by the exertions of the whole community, aided by the crew of the Carbon. A Government Gazette, dated the 22nd ult, contained an able Report from Captain Russell, on the completion of the Road from Wellington to the North West Coast. It also notified the temporary appointment of A. W. Shand, Esq., as Sub-Collector of Customs, Sub -Treasurer, and Deputy Postmaster at Otago, in the room of Mr. J. Macarthy removed to Wellington. An attempt has been made at Queen Charlotte's Sound to seize the JVilliam and James, a small coasting vessel, by the two hands on board and a passenger, who intended, it is supposed, to go to California, The master, and a maori boy contrived to escape by night in a boat, and obtained assistance which enabled them to recapture the vessel. A letter from Mr. Holman of Wangarie to Baron Alzdorf on the preparation of the New Zealand Flax appears in the Independent. We obseive that the gold -fever had seized " a party of gentlemen at Otago," who have chartered the schooner Amazon > Captain HowF<ll, to proceed to California on her return from Jacob's River, and advertise for " a few more respectable individuals " to accompany them. She will, say the " gentlemen," " touch at one of the South Sea Islands for a supply of fruit &c, thereby affording an excellent opportunity to her passengers of viewing the many beauties of these tcrestrial paradises. Fare, including good substantial daily living, £20." As an additional evidence that the " Pilgrim Fathers" are " going a head." we notice (for the benefit of whom it may concern) another advertisement in the News from a gentleman " under the age of 25," who desires to find " a respectable young lady (age 21) who could command a little meuns, and would be willing to join him in the bonds of matrimony." He faithfully promises that he will prove not only an "affectionate" but also a dutiful husband.

The Native Dispute at Waingaroa. — "We iregret to state that information of so recent a date as the present week, represents the aspect of affairs at Waingaroa as increasingly serious. Both the contending parties are collecting forces from various quarters, and already threatenings are heard that the movement will he carried farther than the mere settlement of the dispute about land in which it originated, and that Te Wherowiiero will take advantage of it to seek the realization of some other ambitious desires of his own. However this may be, the Government should not — and we trust will not — neglect any available means of settling the affair, so as, if possible, to avert the danger of bloodshed, which we know is at present apprehended by some who are well qualified to form an opinion as to the probable issue. We understand that Mr. Ligar and Mr. Servantes are at Waingaroa, and we await with considerable solicitude the result of their efforts in the case.