The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 433, 8 June 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 , 1850.

The most important intelligence from Europe brought by the late arrivals, is the startling news of hostile proceedings on the part of England against Greece. We have no information on the subject beyond what is copied into the Sydney Herald of the 18th ult., from the Straits Times Extra of the Bth March. We subjoin that news as we find it, deferring all comment on a transaction which seems of unexpected and extraordinary a character, until we shall be put in possession of further and fuller information. As the case at present stands before us, both Lord Palmerston's and Sir William Parker's proceedings cannot easily be accounted for. It would be amongst the strangest incidents in the strange history of Europe, during these years of revolutions, if a quarrel about the paltry islands of Sapienza and Elafornisi, should lead to a rupture — (and who can tell what the results of that rupture mightbe) — between the British Government and the Governments of Fiance and Russia. But the times in which we are living, are so eventful, — crisises in national affairs occur so rapidly and marvellously — that we have almost ceased to wonder at any new political occurrence, however contrary it may be to our preconceived notions of what was settled and

stable. In our other columns the very importan intelligence to which we advert, will be found.

Returning to the papers lately received fron the Southern Settlements of our colony, we fini in the Otago News a valuable digest of infor mation respecting the Settlement, at the clost of the second year of its establishment. W< cannot afford space to copy the article in eav tenso, but a condensed summary of its mattei is well worth a place in our columns. Dunedin, the capital of the Settlement, hai been growing larger, and apparently better ir all lespects. The temporary erections of the previous year have been improved into comfortable dwellings, and a more substantial description of building is generally taking the place of the " wattle and dab" system of architecture. The amount of traffic in the street was greatly increased. The only place oi service formally set apart for Divine service is still the Free Church — the Police Court being kindly appropriated to the use of the Wesleyan Missionary, the Rev. Charles Creed, on his visits to the town. "Store-keeping" — our

lOOlbs.}, bread the -Mb. loaf, 9d.,< beef Cjd. per lb., mutton 6d. to 6^1., poik G{d, buttei Is 9d , potatoes £3 10s, to £A 10s, pel ton, sn«*ar 4(1. to 6d. per lb. milk 4d. per quait, loastcd coffee Is. 5d per lb., tea 2s. 6'd., tobacco 3s, 6(1 to <fs. Firewood is delivered in quantities at 95., 10s. and lOs Cd. per <oid, co.il is not yet biought into the maiket, mould candles Hd. per lb. ; lime, composed of bnrnt shells, 2s. per bnsiiel Wages. — Daily labourer, 3s. to 3s 6d. per day; shepherds, £,\0 to £i 0 per year, with rations ; agtieultuial laborers. X'2s to i.30 per year, with lations ; domestic servants, X'B lo jflS per j ear; carpenters, ss. to Cs. (jd. per day; masons, ss. to 7s. per d.iy ; woodcutlers 4s. to ss. Cd. per coid ; sawyeis, 12s. to 14<. per 100 feet ; shingle splitters, 9t,. to 10s. per 1000. On a review of the whole summary, it will be seen that the young Otago settlement is in a prosperous condition ; and that the " Pilgrim Fathers" — after they have outlived the affectation of the absurd title which they at first gave themselves — are likely to become valuable and thriving colonists. We cordially wish them all success

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, on the Ist of June, Alexander M'Artiiur was charged with a breach of the Merchant Seamen's Act, in harbouring two deserteis from the barque Undaunted. After a patient investigation, M'Artiiur was found guilty, and sentenced to pay a fine of £10, with costs, — if not paid by the Ist of July, to be imprisoned for two months, with hard labour, — half the fine to be paid to the informer We are gratified to notice the vigilance with which the police detected and followed out this case, which is obvioulsy so important in an increasingly mercantile community like ours.

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