The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 422, 1 May 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1850.

The Inchinnan, which arrived in our harbour on Sunday, has brought Californian intelligence down to the 22nd of February. We have several San Francisco newspapers to that date, and have been favoured with liberty to read and use as we may think expedient a number of letters received by persons in Auckland from friends who had left them for the "land of gold," and — as we always feared — of still increasing disappointment and suffering. It will be seen that we have availed ourselves extensively of these sources of information, preferring to let journalists and private writers on the spot give in their own words the results of their personal observation and experience. It will be at once perceived that the tenor of this intelligence is, on the whole discouraging; — discouraging not merely to speculative emigrants, (some of whom, indeed, from the outset, had little but their own sordid and reckless love of gambling adventure to draw them to California), but also, to a considerable extent, to our liberal exporters, who have engaged in Californian trade in a spirit of commercial enterprise which deserves — and, we are still persuaded, will yet receive, a gratifying reward. Lumber had fallen, but, after all, it had not fallen ruinously: when the stagnation of business, and especially of building, produced by the severe winter of California had passed away, and when the desire for brick erections

naturally consequent on an extensive fire in a city of wooden houses, had led to the exhaustion of the limited supply of bricks then available, there could be little doubt that a demand for timber would again become lively. The immense quantity of the article poured in, and continuing to pour in from many quarters, would certainly, we apprehend, keep the price comparatively low; but not lower than a fairly and even liberally remunerative point. The truth, however, seems to be, that, owing to the exaggerated notions entertained of every thing connected with California, men are not satisfied with ordinary and regular profits from their traffic with its market. Returns which they would consider large from Sydney or Hobart Town, they look upon as meagre and disappointing from San Francisco or Sacramento City. This however, is one of the manifestations of that spirit of covetousness — of "making haste to be rich" — which California has so signally and lamentably developed; and it is one which (none but the blind can fail to see) a retributive Providence is already rebuking. The market for New Zealand vegetables continued satisfactory. The question however remained to be solved by more extended experience, whether our potatoes can be so taken as to arrive there sound and fit for sale. But the price was so good as to make the exportation of them likely to pay, unless the spoiling on the passage should be very considerable. We do not, it is scarcely necessary to say, claim for our own local Californian correspondence any special authority; but readers here will naturally attach more weight to the representations of persons who have left Auckland for the Golden Trap, than to those of writers from other places. We therefore fortify our general and oft-repeated statements, deduced from other sources, written by quotations from letters by parties sufficiently — not to say intimately — known to many of them. We, of course, do not vouch for their accuracy in all respects; but we believe we could easily adduce testimony to their general trustworthiness, and to the regard with which some who know them personally consider their communications. An individual who has no claim upon our own consideration beyond what is just indicated, and the inherent good sense of his own communications, writes thus to a friend in Auckland, by whose kindness we have been enabled on a former occasion to avail ourselves of a similar communication, from the same emigrant, which, at the time, was deemed interesting. The letter, from which we extract, is dated "San Francisco, Feb. 18, 1850." "In hope that you have received my former communications by the Fanny and the John Bull, I take this opportunity of continuing my account of this place, and of my own proceedings here. I mentioned in my last that I had just started for the Mines in high spirits, and in excellent heart, with great hopes of making money. But, alas! for hopes! I had but got to the mines, and commenced operations, when I was attacked by diarrhoea, — the commonest sickness here, — and confined by it to my wretched tent, almost unceasingly for five weeks. Had you seen me at that time, you could not have known me, so thin and wretched-looking had I become. * * I often thought of New Zealand, and all friends there, and, to increase my suffering, feared that I should never more see them or you. Without one friend to speak to, or to cheer me, you may imagine what I felt. "Previous to my recovery, the rainy season had set in, putting a stop to all mining in that district, and rendering the roads impassable for man or beast. Provisions rose to a great price at the mines, — quite a harvest for the store-keepers; — flour a dollar and a half a pound; pork the same; all other things in proportion, and difficult to procure even at those prices. I took advantage of the first break in the weather, and travelled by easy steps down to Sacramento; I stopped there to rest for three or four days and then returned to San Francisco, as poor as a church-mouse, and in health not fit for any work requiring strength or labour of any sort. I was kindly received by * * and am now in excellent health, and do not intend to trouble the mines again, as long as I find employment here. I am at present lightering, and I think it will pay very well this summer. * * Auckland people are as plentiful here as in the Crescent, so that it is useless to mention their names. * * There are immense numbers going to the mines every day: the town is becoming quite thin of inhabitants, and it is thought that many of those who have taken leases at high rents will regret this next summer. * * I hope you will not think of coming here, as I should be sorry to see you and your family suffering the inconvenience you must unavoidably do here. * * I hope to be back to Auckland by next Christmas, if all things go well, to roam no more. It is a remarkable thing that almost every one that comes from New Zealand purposes to go back, and spend their days there, when they have made a competency. "Business of all sorts is getting better every day, and it much needed it, as things were very dull in the winter. For mud, Auckland is a flagged street (!!!) compared to it here. * * I would beg of you to dissuade any person who has a family. But for a stout

hearty man who has an industrious wife, they were sure to do well, but they should regulate the time of their arrival, so as not to be later than October at the farthest. "Rents here are enormous. The house you live in would bring five hundred dollars a month. The commonest interest on money lent is ten per cent, per month, and, in many cases, double that sum. A consequence is that the large flashy houses are every day breaking up, while those which have no rent to pay are 'going a-head' fast. "You may tell any person who asks you that the gold mines here are inexhaustible for many years to come, though the quantities gathered are are by no means so large as we hear of in the newspapers, the average being about five dollars a day. * * This you may rely upon, as I speak from personal observation. "Any persons coming down here, would do well to encumber themselves with as few things as possible. If they bring trade, let it be woollen clothing of a strong description; preserved meats and pickles will sell. Timber has fallen very low. A Sydney Ship's cargo was sold for twenty-seven dollars a thousand a few days ago. There are forty million feet expected from the States. "Small vessels are quite useless when they arrive here, as they are not allowed to run — unless American bottoms; the consequence is that the Clyde, Thomas Lord, Frederick, Marys, Elizabeth, etc, are lying doing nothing, — perfectly useless, unless to go back again. * * "I wrote this at various times, so that it is unconnected in its form, but you may rely on its being correct. "You are quite at liberty to make what use of this you think proper, as too many come here who have little or no capital, and cannot work at hard labour. For such people, any country would be better than this. The other letters before us are substantially the same in effect. The pervading desire of the writers seems to be to warn their friends against following them to California. For instance, in one of these letters this desire is urged and repeated thus, — " Dear John, I would not advise you to think of coming here, or any other body; for I will not sleep sound until I am in Auckland again. Every body here from New Zealand is going back." . . . "Give my respects to — and tell him not to think of coming here." And again, (in a slip enclosed in the letter as a final counsel) "I would not advise you, or any other man to come to this place." May we hope that at least such warnings will be heeded? Our extracts are of a miscellaneous character — like the curiously miscellaneous and strangely made-up journals from which they are taken. They, however, only exhibit the more truthfully on this account the various phases of Californian life. We shall probably give several additional extracts in our next, with some interesting matter from the Sandwich Islands papers. Meanwhile, we think it bare justice to Capt. Pearse, of the Inchinnan, to acknowledge his frank and obliging willingness to communicate information, which we can appreciate the better from its contrast with the sordid secrecy maintained by some who have visited our port from California.

I The Adjourned Meeting on the subject of the Waikato Coal, was held on Monday, at Har- | dington's Royal Exchange Hotel, and, like the former Meeting, was attended very satisfactorily both as regards numbers and influence. The Chair was resumed by Alexander Kennedy, Esq., who explained that the Meeting had assembled in conformity with the following resolution, agreed to on the preceding Monday, — " That this Meeting do now adjourn until this day week at 12 o'clock, in order to give the deputation time to wait upon the Governor, and to hear his Excellency's reply, and that a Subscription List be then entered into. It appeared that three members of the Deputation, (two having been hindered by unavoidable circumstances), had had an interview with his Excellency, who had received them with a cordial concurrence in the specific object of their waiting upon him. Sir George had himself however, suggested that — in order to prevent the risk of those misunderstandings which often occur in conversation— it would be desirable that a letter should be addressed to him through the Colonial Secretary, to which he would reply without delay. In accordance with this view, the following letter was forwarded by the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Connell. (Copy.) Auckland, 24th April, 1850. Sir,— On the part of a deputation which yesterday was honoured with an interview by the Governor-in-Chief, and in accordance with a suggestion thrown out by his Excellency during that interview, I beg very respectfully to submit the following enquiries which were the subjects of verbal communication on that occasion . Whether there exists any law or ordinance in force in the colony to prevent the purchase by European settlers of a quantity of coals raised from land the property of aboriginal natives 1 Or to prevent European settlers from entering into and acting upon an agreement with the native owners of a coal mine or bed of coal, for permission to work the same by hired Native or European labour, and to bring the coals so purokised or raised, into Auckland, for distribution or sale. And fimlly— Whether in the event of the existence of such a law, His Excellency the Governor would

nevertheless afford his sanction and furtherance to^ the carrying out of a plan, agreed on at a public meeting, held on Monday last, at the Royal Exchange Hotel, namely:— To procure, by whichever of the two modes above mentioned may be deemed the most expedient, a quantity of coal (say from one to two hundred tons,) and to distribute the same amongst the several contributors to a subscription, to be raised for this purpose,— or should they or any of them not require the coal, to dispose of it for their benefit. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, W. CoNNEtr,. The Honorable Colonial Secretary, Am)Rbyv Sinclair! Esq. The following is the official Reply received :—: — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 27th April, 1850. Sir— l have the honor, Jiy direction of His Excellency the Governor-in- Chief, to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the 25th instant, addreiaed by you on behalf of a Deputation which had an interview with His Excellency an Wednesday last, and I am instructed to inform you that in reference to the proposed plan of procuring n quantity of Coal from the neighbourhood of a place called Kupa Kupa, on the Waikato river, and distributing the same amongst the several contributors to a inscription about to be raised for the purpose ; or should they or any of them not require the coal, of disposing of it for their benefit, the Government will gladly give its sanction to the proposed plan being carried into effect, which is likely to prove of such great public advantage. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary. William Connbll, Esq. These documents having been read to the Meeting, it was moved by Dr. Da vies, seconded by Mr. Nathan, and unanimously resolved, — " That, having heard with pleasure, the reply of his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, as communicated in the letter of the Colonial Secretary, we now proceed to open the subscription list determined upon prior to the adjournment on the 22nd instant." | This resolution was acted upon, and a subscription commenced, which on the spot reached £90, and had yesterday amounted to about £120, — although many whose co-opera-tion is promised and sure, had not yet affixed ■ their names to the list. The original Committee having been authorised to add to their numbers, Mr. Connell, presented the following names as constituting the Committee now to act, — at the same time asking the sanction of the meeting to their nomination :— Original Members— R. Lynd, Esq.; fDr. Bennett ; Messrs, Ridings, Armson, Gundry, and Connbll. Members now added — A. Kennedy, Esq.; Captain Haultain, Messrs. W. S. Grahamb, TVoodhouse, and Bain. This nomination was promptly agreed to by the meeting, which seemed to enter into the opinion expressed by Mr. Merriman that the power given to the Old Committee in this matter was so full that they might have made this appointment without any such reference to another Meeting, as they had now voluntarily offered. Mr. Connell took occasion to observe that it would have been very easy indeed to have added twenty more excellent names to the list, but that, as small Committees are generally found to be the best in working, it was deemed right to limit the number to eleven. The Rev, A. G. Purchas made an interesting statement, which, however, was mainly a repetition of those facts which, by his kindness, we have already laid before our readers. He remarked forcibly upon the benefit which would be likely to result from such an opening up of the Waikato district as might be anticipated from the success of the present movement ; and mentioned that he was aware of two other tracts of coal-land, which it was likely would before long be sold to the Government by the Native owners. After conversational discussion of some length — (in the course of which it was stated on the part of the Deputation that the Governor had distinctly informed them that the coal-land, if purchased by Goverement, would be set up for sale at the usual price of one pound per acre) — the Meeting broke up with the passing of hearty votes of thanks to the able chairman (Mr. Kennedy) ; to the'zealous secretary (Mr. Connell); to the Rev. Mr. Purchas. with reference to whom a gentleman present justly observed, — "But for his exertions we should not have been here on this occasion -," and to Mr. Hardington, the liberal proprietor of the Royal Exchange Hotel, not only for his giving without charge the use of his large room for the Public Meetings, but also for his offering, rent-free, the use for a year of a piece of ground in the rear of the Hotel, as a depdt for the coal. The Committee met yesterday, and made various arrangements as to the working of this undertaking, which will in due time come before the Subscribers. Meanwhile the list of subscribers is open to augmentation, and means were taken yesterday by which parties who have not yet had the opportunity of uniting in this important step will be privileged immediately with that opportuuity.