CALIFORNIA. SAN FRANCISCO. [From the "Polynesian," March 3oth.]

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 432, 5 June 1850, Page 3

CALIFORNIA. SAN FRANCISCO. [From the " Polynesian," March 3oth.]

By the IJrititth schooner Coquette, we have received thr Panjic Newi to the Ist inst.mt, in r.illicr a novel dress, printed on brown wutpptncf paper, which the editois sny is used " (or w<mt of any oilier fo be obtained in California " CM course nothing l.itei from the States had bei'ii leceived, and but little of gencial interest is contained in flic paper. The mining during tlie winter had been geneially successful, but attended with a great de.il of sickness. The News snys — " There aie now 12,00' inhabitants in Uililoniia, mostly malo adults; it can well sustain a population of sevtnl millions — <md even m the mii>ei<il regions several bundled thousands could not occupy all the ground," The use of sleatn to extra t the gold fiom the dirt is now being generally introduced, and piovcs to be vastly profitable. Some fifteen or twenty RtcamciK me now employed on the rivers in cairying lici»b f and passmgcis liom S,m Francisco to the dirti'ient points The ni.ii kots have been veiy depiessrd, "but a mndual improvement is confidently looked foi altei ihe sailing of tho steamer of March Ist." As iluic have b' en some changes uinec om last ieceij)Ls, \su inaUc (jnoi.iL ions.

Cori'm; — Tlio stock of police in iiist liandi is extremrl.y light, with <i I. risk di'inuml fur coiisuiuption .uul expoit. S.iles li.ive been nude .'it IC, 17, '>»d 19 cts. for Kio and M.iniln— holdcia ntc now asking 20 cts. Hurnt nnd ground coffee in tin cannislcrs lioin the St.itcs lcidily commands 27 cts. Nugahs— llhvc again become scarce, nnd pi ices for all descriptions iiie rapidly adv.incing. Huir-niNo Matkri als — The lumber market continues flat, without any immediate prospect of improvement, The l.ngoand increasing stock, both afloat and landed, the absence of all demand, and the fiequeiil forced snles which arc made by holders, many of whom aie totally unaccustomed to the usages of tiatlo, and having . no connexion with any business establishment on shore, ' or possessing *my f.icilitiei for holding, throw their consignments in the hands of auctioned s with instiuclions to sell at any price, arc tho principal causes of depression at present. Bricks, lime, and cement, nro tending downward, without any immediate prospect of impiovemcnt. Beef, mess 5*12.00 " prime .. .. „ .. flutter, per lb 80 to 1.25 Hi cad, pilot .. .. .. .. 8 " Navy 5 Coffee 16 to 18 Flonr, Chile, 2001bs. 12.50 11 Amciicm .. .. 10 to 12 00 Lumber, good Amciican „ 100 to 175.00 " by the cargo ... 80 to 100.00 Molascs, S.I J.OO to 1 25 Oil, Hpcnn 1 .75 to 2.00 •' whale (i oto (i' 2 Pickles, per gallon .. „ 1 50 to 1.75 Poik, mess 27 (o 30.00 " prime 18. to 20.00 " ciear .. „ .. 40 to 45.00 Potatoes, per lOOlbs 10 to 12.50 Sugar, blown .. „ . . ]8 JJucks pcrM. .. .. 3^.00 to 40,00 Oiangcs, S. 1., pci 1 00 .. 12.50 to l«. 00

To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. Gicntlkmkn, — Having been nearly three years connected with tlio Sydney Morning Herald, as Shipping Reporter, I feel it v duty as well as 11 pleasure to lurnibli you with all the information in my poßSesbion respecting this much talked of " country of gold." 1 sailed from Sydney on the I2ih October, in the good ship Maria, commanded by Captain Plank ; put into Honolulu (Sandwich Islands), ior water, on the 18th December ; sailed from thence on the 23id ; and arrived in this harbour on the 18th January, having hud ou the whole a very pleasant passage, notwithstanding we met with very unfavourable winds. Piioi to my speaking of California, 1 would remark that I was much surprised to find at the Sumlwich Islands such a l.irgc nnd flourishing town an Honolulu. There were about seventy vessels in harbour, of all sizes and nation's, discharging and loading— and much business appeared to be daily ttanisacled. Provisions of all kinds arc now exceedingly high, owing to the market having been drained by California speculators. JJnindy sold at twelve shillings per bottle — other spirits in proportion. ItentH were also very high, nnd n night's lodgings whs unobtainable nt any respectable hotel, which circumstance was attributable to the number of poisons fiom California sojourning there for the winter. A common meil was not to be had under a dollar. However, I was altogether much pleased, with my visit to these) islands. During my stay, I obtained information from San Francisco up to the 30th November, — to the oil *c t that tlio country uhouridrd in »old, but that it rcquiicd a great deal of silver to obtain it— that the r.uny seabon had com* menccd a month earlier than usual, it having rained almost without intermission from the 27th Oc ober. Hundreds of people weie daily arriving mnl depuitmg, and tbousandd were unable to obtain employment. Nothing daunted howe>ci by these nccounts, a'though I might have obtained v tolerably good situation at llomolulu, hud I icmnined, I determined on seeing this El Dorado,\ and nccoidingly arrived here, as I stutcd before, on the 18th J.muary. Within two hours niter the vrsßel came to anchor, I Uinded once moie on terra firma, and >oon found my. self Itueo dtcp in mud. 1 heard thar biiMness was very dull, anu that there was not the ulightest chance of my obtaining, for some ty'me, a situation either as clerk, shipping reporter, or compositor, and that provision*, as 1 expected, were very high. Mr. li, Boyd having kiully furnished me, on leaving Sydney, with a letter of introduction to Mr. T. W. Carnpbe'l, and Captain M'Leod, of i\v. bii|r Margaret, from these gentlemen I received much kindness, and remained on boaul with them until they failed for Sydney on the lOih IMmiaiy. Dining the first week I wasd>ulyon shore in scaich of a situation hut was unsuccessful. I boon obt.iinod, li iwcvcr, a ecvero cold, which w<n followcil by dysentiy. On ihe dcpnrluie of the Margaret I took up my quarters with an old fiiend, who «i rived here by the Incfunnan (Mr. Scott, of George-street), with whom 1 now remain. It rained fiom ihe I Blti January to the 27th, two fine duyfi then intervened, and it rained a^.nn until the Gth February. The remainder t)i' the month was very fine, and every one thought Lhe uiiny scuson was over. Not so, huwevcr, for on the l^t March, it set fn agnin an bad as ever, and continued until yesterday. I have not up to the present time earned a cent, bvt fully expect to obtain n Cusloim' situation of rbout £500 per annum on Monday next- Ilundicds of people, me daily arriving in harbour from all pans or the world— hundreds aie duily |irocecding to the mines, and numbers arc leaving for Lhe United States and the colonies, some with money md others worse off than when they arrived. A jreat many get disgusted with the place on fust landing, and immediately enter into an arrangement to jo buck from whence they came, either by paying or ■virking their passage. This hue been the case with nany Sydney people, and I doubt not thfy will profess ;o know a great deal of California on their niurn. I'heir opin on, however* should be connideied ab a preudiccd one. l ( 'or my own part, I was aa much disgusted as any one at fist, and had,alm)Ht made up my Tiind to rettun, but on seeing more of tlio place, I felt mtibfied that money was to he made here, and deleinined on giving ihe aountry a fair trial. 1 hope to ■etam the situation 1 am promised for twelve months, — 1 shall then pioceed to the mines, God willing, and •eliiin to Sydney to spend the Clmstmasof 1851, with uore Rold in my pocket, and much more wibdoin than vhcii 1 left it. San Francisco, in the opinion of all parties, is desined to become one of tin: grnitqu cities in the woild, rom its comiiiriiididg <to n p«ri, — its rich uu leial pioductions, and line a^iicukuiul country. Gold < being found in l>»r«er lumps, r.ml grcito rpiautilies ;han ever, arid many me now turning then altintion 0 ngnculturw. Noihing would pay beu«r h re thun a, ;ood miirki t garden. About 70( 0 |iei«oiis h.ivu pro:(!i><lcd to >he inini.s during the lust month, and it is :aUulntid about 00,000 will he employed in digging luring thu ensuing dcuhoii. From couveiMittOiis 1 have wul with partieb who havi; bci'ii at lhe mines, I can ■oniidciilly Ht«tc, that the icpoiis puolislud in Iho jw«>ei'H I liuve v.iH yon aio < once t. Mining, li wcvii,is 1 ompkti: loLlui ) . A man my in one inivilh r(Ja1 1 s ■

n fortune, «r may work llireo rrontlis without making more thmi his expenses It mjmircs at icait ISO dollar* to can v a miiTi to the mines. I'lio population ol San Francisco, is t'stittinti'd nfc 30,000, that of Sacramento City, 15,000 ; Stockton, 5, 000 ; Sun Jose, (the cnpilul and seat of Government), 1000.— Total population of California about 100,000. From information kindly furnished me by Mr. Charles Tibbey, o/" the llaibour Master's Department, I find thi>t from tin; Ist of Aptil, 1849, to the 28th of February, 1850, there arrived in this harbour from America, 217,417 tons of shipping, bringing 30,574- male, and 1)30 female passengers. From all other countries, 65,!K)J tons, with 9,507 malm, and (J27 females. There are at present about 350 vessels in this haibour, fium 800 tons downwards, betides n large number in the Saerameuto and Janquin Rivera. No foreign vessels are nllowod to trade up the rivers. There are about thirty employed as store ships in this harbour, among them the Eleanor Lancaster mid Lindsays. The crews of nlmost evciy veshd that arrhes make a bolt of it the first day, and will not leave the port under 100 dollars per month— many, indeed going to the mines in preference to taking that amount. In another month, I gueis, seamen will be hard to obtain even at 200 dolJais per month ; nothing will latisfy them but nen'ug the elephant. Labouring men obtiiin nt present from five to eight dollars per dny, cirpenters and painteis from ten to sixteen dollius per day when employed. Thnre is, hoviev( i r, un abundance of labour here now. What it may be in one, t« o, or three months hence, 1 would not pri tend to nay. It must be home in mind, however, that the lowest chnigu for rough board ami lodging is sixteen dollars pur week, and lor what a man could get in Sydney /or £i per week, be will have to pay £10 her*. Gambling is carried on to a great extent, and moro on Sunday than any other dny in the we< k. 1 hem houses of vice are open clay and night, and bpve bands of music playing tt> attract the paster by either to upend his money at the bar, or to niake it on ii monte table. In most of these houses, thi re are fiom ten to twenty tables, with from sixteen to thirty thousand do'lars on each, and men and boya inny be constantly seen playing from 25 rents up to 50 i dollars. Occasionally an amount is staked equal to that on the table, which is termed tapping the bank. The Senate, however, intend, 1 believe, to endeavour to put a stop to gambling, which will be a good thing for the country. Many who returned fiom the mines I tut acuson, witli large sums of gold, have tcarcely sufficient to carry them up again this year, from the eonsnpicneps of gambling. By the majority of the inlmtiitunts ot this city, the. Sabbath is not thought more thin nny other tay of the week. Yon will perceive from bills' I havo scut you, that the theatre was open, and that n grand fancy and masquerade dress ball was given on Sunday evening last. I am happy to say, howevi r, there are Episcopalians, Presbyterian, Congregationalism Baptist, and Ca holic Churches here, rfn'l the congmgniions (i bough at present small) tire gradually increasing. The mindit of most men here are, indeed infatuated. They think only of making money and spending it. There exists a very strong feeling here ngninst Sydney people, all anivmg from the colony being looked upon generally speaking as nothing better than convicts. This may be attributable in some measure to the circu.nsrance of four men from Sydney having within the last three months been convicted of theft*, and sentenced to twelve months in the chain gang, Any one who statei he round from Sydney has but htLle chance of getting o» in this city. It is an astonishing fact, that though tho country abounds in gold, money is commanding at the present time 15 per cent, per mouth. This state of things has been caused by ovor speculation inhnd. The rooult will be a pretty geneial bunktuptey, us land muit and will fall in value. Mucb dittress has oecured during this winter, mid very many deaths have taken place fiom the effects of dysentery, fever, &c, brought- on by colds. II a man ii seen dying bore in the stiefts, no ori« takes any notice ot him, and nine out of ten who w'rive here have not the means of paying either for a doctor or medicine. Much illness is enured by *ople sleeping and living in tents ; but next winter I calculate there will be no occasion for them to do so, inmmueh na a luige number of substantial houses are. d/iily going up. It would bo impossible for me to give you any correct i eport of the maiket, tho fluctuation! fiom day to day being so great. Suffice it to say, that coils, hny, butter, cheese, ptcklcs, C<>rnpiny'« sugur, j'tms, &Ci, will for months to come \tv sold at a good profit, liny i« fetching now 4, J st) p-jr ton j conls jJO per ton ; buttei .Is. per lb.j pielilm JJ2 per dozen ; cheese s*. per Ib. ; augur Is. per Ib. ; eimdles Ih. per ll>. There aie (line daily papn's published here, some copies of which I semi you, and in them I think you will find much exiractiiblo mutter. Tho propuutors o{ these piipcrs aiv charing at least .£'so daily. Numbem of compositors are walking the sticits, being unable, to obtain employment. '1 lieu 1 is room for fecvcral more offices, ft luigc quantity of job piinling bijiii£ done. Sixteen shilling is the 1 nvesl cliur»e for an advertisement, and lor fifty half »heU demy bill.s, the cbaige is £i 4s. In conclusion, I would Bay, none ihould come to this coun'ry but haid worhimj wen, ami men of capital. Should such pnrt.eu come piepaml to endmo much hards' ip and pHiutiou, they will in all proba) ility soon realise iourtuncs, th>it is, if fiey iesi->t the tcmptntiotis of giuiibing anil drinking, 'lo tlio.se, however, who are comlortablu in Sydney, especially men of family, I would bay, b$ nil me.i'i.s icin.iin where you are. lie not induced to bronk up your homed for that winch is a complete lutleij. Give not up v certainty for an uncertainty. I can assure you, weie 1 now in Sydney at £:i per week, I should not agmn quit it. Should you consjdei this brief account of California worthy of publication, you vie at libtny to make uso of it, and those f lends to whom I piumised to wine, hue have not been able to do so, I truat will icud it u% coming- to them individually. I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c,, Thomas Hinioan. San Frinciseo, Marrh 8, 18hO.

JSiii'i'iii.ssioN ok Tirr. Si avi'. Thadi;.— Tlic Dritish find Foreign Aati-Sluvery Society, in a iiiuuiori.il address lo her JVJjjcsty'B Government, express their opinion that " the conceived principle, m applied to the tupprcHHitin of the oluvu-tiade, has tailed," undjiot oul) luted, l)Ut "iiggr.iviitcß, Without to any extent diminitdiing, the lionoih of the t nltw.." They, theiefore, "e.u'nebly trUHt tliat her Majesty's (Jovornimnr will rcciil the ciUiritb irotn lite const of Atricu, <iu<l .ilmiidou a sclu'iiic ol coeicivi: MipprcHßion winch ha^ been found, in opciatiou, powdloss for god, and pro'lu'tive ot many and i^ienf evil i." " The iccil of the ciuisiTh," they add "ia cqu-illy cnll.-d lor by jiistKo uml Iji'iievoh nee." — Edinburgh Advertiser. From the returns to llio lloime of Cumin. ms of llw tru'lii with China lor the yems 1817 and 1818, which have jiiHt l)u< n published, u appciirH tlmt iliu totiil vnlac "I the mi ich'iiiili/ip ii»|iottc<l into (,'»i)l»n w B iikli hliips, «.is Lt2,{)A'} Tio'l ; aid thui c>.|o U'd fio-n vh« ••iiimj pott w.i- JJ&AW, I' ; (I.