The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 442, 10 July 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends tlion aims't at, be thy Countiy's, Thy God's, and Tiuth's.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 18 50.

The Fairy Queen, Captain Doyle, from London, arrived in our harbour yesterday, hanging an unusually large mail. We have now, as on many former occasions, to acknowledge tha courteous attention which we have uniformly experienced at the Post Office ; but, notwithstanding the disposition of the gentlemen connected with that department to accommodate us, and through us that portion of the public for whom it is our duty to cater in the way of news, we are not able in

our piesent issue to make much use of the journals which have come into our hands. This is owing not merely or chiefly to their having reached us at a late hour in the afternoon — (for had we obtained intelligence of impoitance at any hour yesterday evening, we should have taken care to lay it before our readers) — but lo the circumstance that the papers which we have received were unfortunately not of the latest dates ; and we had oppoitunity of knowing from peisonal observation that the mass of newspapers lodged in the Post Office was so immense that the sotting and delivery of them must of necessity occupy a considerable tune. This is, however, the less to be regretted as we were already in possession of later European intelligence, via Sydney with respect to occurrences of public moment, than we could have expected by this arnval- But even the rapid survey we have been able to take of the papers bef le us shows that there is much which, in future numbeis, will prove interesting Before our next publication we hope to have onr files complete, and ue shall devote all our available space on to summaries and extracts of their principal contents,

A fuller examination of the Hob T.it Town papeis leceived by the Isabella, than we had time to make before our last number went to press, has not been requited by any information of much interest. However, lest we should seem to neglect our Tasmanian neighbours, we briefly sum up a few particulars. A plan was in agitation for the promotion . of Pauper Emigration from Van Diemen's j Land. According to the statement in the Courier, there is " a residuum of convictism," comprising " a very large number of unemployed, and, for agriculture, helpless persons, who subsist upon the mixed resources of thieveiy and charity." They " nestle in lookenes, — neighbourhoods that not only fester with internal corruption, but become the rallying point of all the unprincipled villainy within their leach." It is proposed to open a subscription for the extradition of about two thousand of "the innumerable thieves, English, lrish, and Scotch, whom the Government have leturned to freedom, prostitution, and crime." South Australia, bwan River, New South Wales, and Port Phillip are fixed upon as the places to which this interesting class of emigrants is to be transferred. It is complacently assumed that " those whose vagrant habits unfit them for steady labour, might become valuable assistant shepheids." It is tolerably evident that the " benevolent " projectors of the scheme are not over anxious as to what the logues and vagrants might become, piovided only that they can themselves get rid of them. It remains to be seen how far the other colonies will appreciate the kindness of their fair sister Tasmania in conferring upon them so novel and peculiar a boon. The removal of Judge Montagu to the comparative exile of a stipendiary Magistrateship in the Falkland Islands, has occasioned some sharp controversy, and it is attempted to cast serious blame on Sir William Denison's conduct in making representations which led to this step. He is accused of " bitter personal hostility" to " the fallen Judge," and of having, in obtaining the confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Justice Horne, " gained a victory which is a triumph over truth." The Courier, however, which is loudest in prefening these charges against his Excellency, admits not only that Mr. Montagu sometimes exhibited " serious outbreaks of temper improper in a judge," but that through " his indiscretion in the management of his affairs," he saw " creditors in every corner of his court, and could fit out the whole alphabet with their castoff bills." Our contemporary with obvious propriety acknowledges that, under such circumstances, he " could not be expected to do impartial justice," and adds,—" We admit that the case is still more perilous when one single capitalist tethers a judge on the bench, doles out his income in sixpences, and governs the decrees of Couit by a nod." Regarding these as the statements of a Jriendly journalist, we think public opinion will concur in the course adopted by fcir William. The Courier is wroth at the proceeding, however, and concludes a long article by the prediction,— "Those who have risen by magnifying his (Mr. Montagu's) indiscretion, will shaie his downfall before long. The colony has seen with scorn how they have struck their homy hoofs at the prostrate lion, and will assign them the ' burial of an ass.' " The Hobart Town public are likely to have ample means of popular instruction within their reach, so far as lectures, leading rooms, and cheap classes go, The Mechanics' Institute seems to be maintained with zeal and energy, and now another Institution of a similar character has been established under the title of " the Mechanics' School of Arts." We cannot clearly gather from the papeis the grounds on which it was deemed necessaiy to get up this rival Institution, — unless it be that the previously existing Institute was supposed to be too much under " aristocratic" management, and that it was desired to have one nearly or altogether under the exclusive control of mechanics. It does not augur well for the prosperity of either if such elements of discoid and provocatives of jealousy are allowed to operate. fn so limited a community, one Institution of the kind would, we should think, afford ample

scope for" all the talent in lecturing or otherwise that could be rendered available, and it would be far better that minor differences should be waived, and the strength of all combined for the common benefit. Considerable excitement had been produced in the New Noifolk district by a public meeting held on the 10th of June to consider the piopiiety of applying to the Government for a Road Act " more suitable to the general inleiests of the District than the existing Act of September, 1846." After a discussion, in which W. S. Siiauland, Esq., and Captain M. Fenton (both members of Council) were the principal antagonistic speakers, an amendment postponing the question until it can be considered by the Representatives of the people, elected under the Representative Constitution about to be granted by the Impenal Parliament,—was earned, the Colonial Times says, " amidst enthusiastic cheering, by an overwhelming majority."

Bay of Plenty. — We have received from a coi respondent information respecting this district which affords gratifying evidence of the progress of the Coast Natives in civilization and general advancement. For some years they have been in the habit of procuring vessels to convey their produce to town, and, we are told that in Tanranga alone they have no less than twelve employed for this purpose. We understand that Mr. John Faulkner, an old and useful settler, is now building two additional vessels, which will make a total of about three or foui hundred tons burthen engaged in this trade. We are told that they are also, — like the Waikato Natives to whose effoits in this depaitment we lately with pleasure adverted — collecting money in order to obtain flour mills They have very recently made anangements to expend £500 on the construction of one such mill. The llotorua Natives have laid their plans for the erection of two mills, which are estimated to cost about £300 each. The Tarawara people are not behind in their endeavours ; they are busily occupied in scraping flax to laise funds lvith a similar object. At Makitu and Opitiki the same plans are in contemplation. It may be hoped then— taking the effoits in diffeient parts of the country together — that the day is not distant when we may have here a regular supply of flour produced mainly by the industry and enterprise of our Native population, instead of being obliged to expoit it from the neighbouring colonies. Giatifying as this consummation would be in its advantageous bearing on the material prosperity of the Colony, it would, to every philanthropic mind, be still moie gratifying as both evidencing, and helping to promote the elevation of the Maoii lace.

THE NEW ZEALAND MAGAZINE, No 11. In a former notice of this number of the Magazine we promised to return to its contents and lay some additional extiacts before our readers, cocuparatnely few of whom may see the publication itself. We now jjioceed to do so, to such an extent as other claims upon our space, pel rait. The Rev. Richard Taylor, is (as he was in the previous number) a leading and valuable contnbutor. He has given a carefully prepared article on " The Geology of New Zealand," the opening paragraphs of which we subjoin •.—. — The solitaiy position of these Islands, separated by such a vvide e.xpanss oi ocean fiom the continent of America on the East, and Austialia on the West, their size and extent, foiming a belt of moie than a thousand miles in length, together with our recent acquaintance with them, give them a great Geological inteiest. When we look at the map of the Woild, we cannot fail to obseivc the continuous line of Islands which stretch bouthwaid from Japan to New Zealand * Thescat once stuke the eye of the Geologist, as being the dsiupted fragments of an ancient continen'al lino; noi can we help noticing that its general d'uection is parallel to another, extending iiom the Asiatic Continent, along the entiie length of Australia, and further, that these two closely poiiespond, in the diiection they run, with two othcis which are ou a still grander scale-f-the tint comprising the entiie western coast of the two Ameiicas, the other, taking in the western sides of Africa and Europe. 'Ihese four continental lines may, thei\foie, be termed the grand eostae, or ribs of the wot Id, since they have withstood all those convulsions which have so mateihlly changed the face of our globe, and, veiy piobably Fnbmeiged the far gieater poition of the southern hemisphere. They moreover possess such distinctive featuies both in the charactei of then Botnny,Zoology,and Ornithology astomaik (ach ol them .is bemga sepal ate centre. Australia widelydiffeisin ilsv.uious pioduclioni, fiom any otlier paitof the Globe. New Zealand, also, as widely differs iiom it as the lormei does fiom the lest of the woild If any weight be due to these conjectures, the New Zealand Isles, as the lemains of one of these Continental lines, may claim an equal antiquity witu them, and thus destioy the common idea of their compaiatively leeent ongin. That they have been constantly undeigomg changes in their length and bieadih, and that they aie still fai from being in a state of quiescence, may be clearly proved, but that their general frame- work is as ancient as that of oilier p.uls> of the eai til's suiface appears highly piobable % * An ancient continuous hue of land will account toi the liiescnce ot wingless buds such as the Kiwi and Moa on these Islands Captain King, K.N , states Ihcie aie soundings iiom the rinee Kings to Norfolk Island. I It is ltmaikable that the Gold Regions chiefly lie in these lines. Spain, and the toast ol Africa, which by way ol distinction, is named the gold coast, loinnng one. The Amenca-.i line taking in I'uu, Mexico, and Cahloinia. The Austialian line, Adelaide, Borneo, and seveial of the Indian Isles, and luithei acquaintance with the Otology 01 New Zealand may show that it aKo abounds m this pietions oie, for these continental lines being waves of pninal uphea\einent, and gold bung piobably the most ancient metal, is natuially lo be looked loi in the most ancient fissures ol the- eaith's suilate m which it Mas formed. % The acute termination of all the lands in ou: globe towaids the South pole tend to shew that the destmction liowm o uaused emanated from that quarto.

1 The Geological fcatuies of New Zealand are cleaily maiketl ; so that (heie is no difficulty in detecting the cliatac ci of the assent employed. These may be cousidcied under the following heads — 1. Volcanic formations. 2. Formatwni by simple uphcamment . ?>. Sedimentary depositions. Mr. Taylor has also contributed an interesting sketch of two lemaikable appearances of Ignis Fatuus which he saw in travelling through the dense foiest which extends fiom Kaitaia to Waimata, Bay of Islands. '• The Process of Expeiiments on the New Zealand Flax" is chiefly directed to the expression of complaints that greater effoits have not been made, especially by the New Zealand Company to turn this magnificent product to better account, — and of hopeful anticipations of the lesults of the efforts in progress at Wellington, chiefly under the direction of Mr. Yon Alzdorf. He takes scarcely any notice however, of the experiments, which have been made in our Nor! hem district with the same object ; — and, indeed, we may observe the general character of the Magazine evidences its immediate connexion with the Southern Province. The following extract, however, is of general interest : — We have been assured that New Zealand Flax may b conveited into excellent lope when propeily cleaned of the gum and other extianeous matter, such <ts the sample produced by the process alluded to and jpjjioved by the Company which we mentioned had been iormed in W ellington ; that it will take the tai leidiJy, and is infinitely supeiioi to Manilla flax or rope in every icspect. We are aware that a vast quantity of Manilla cordage is used in the Euiope.m and Ameiican Meicautile Navie» ; and it has been fuither asseited by maiineis of grea. expeiience that the New Zealand Flax for the purposes of rope-malung will drive the Manilla out ef a[l the South Sea markets, provided we can supply it at the prices above quoted laid on the wharf here. [From £20 to £2i per ton foi a clean five,i >ye, fit for tlie best ropi I .] At those prices even shipped to England — the inaiket of the world — the wealth of these Islands would soon outrival ail the Southern Colonies, by means of expoiting the coarse ai tide only. As to the finer qualities of flax, a great denl of ignorance still kee,»s our exertions fetteied, the several kinds which can, as yet, be distinguished by the natives only arc is follows:— 1. Paiitanewha ; 2. Ratawa ; 3. Kohunga; 4. Reieh'ps; o. One. All more or less fine and fit for manufactures of a higher order ; for this purpose the bvtter kinds should be cultivjted, and machinery of a more expensive character would be lequircd fiom England for the pro* per dressing of those qualities. An old colonist lately returned to these shores, has informed us that in England machmeiy had been erected by a number of enterprising persons at an expense of about .£3,000, by which the green flax, gathered from the diflerent botanical gardens had been first cut up into pieces from three to four inches in length, and then worked by the same machinery driven by steam, until ihe fibre came out in flakes as white as snow and as ulossy as the finest silk. We may here mention that in France, the New Zealand Flax was twenty years ago cultivated aud the fibre is known there as the '.' Soie Veyelale," of which matciial we have seen bell-iopes, coids lor window blinds, handkp) chiefs, and othoi manul.ictuie 1 ; of a silky appearance t'nd most pleasant wear. To this assertien, we can add, that we have hid in our hands a sample prepaied by Mr. Jackson of Wanganui, by a process desenbed as simple, which almost comes to our descuption of the English sample. But to procure from England Slid) machinery as would be necessary, would lequire a considerable capital, besides the heavy attendant expenses of prepaiing the ariic c. To raise a sullicieni sum for this purpose in the colony is almost hope less, and to persuade people in England who have ahe.ily hul seveie lessons, to invest much money in pveu such a legitimate and promising undertaking would bu difficult, unless all pet sons resident in New Zed and possessed of influence iv the mother country weie to combine their effoits and cieate an efficient company fii that puipose. " The Southern Colonies," by the Editor, is a pain taking digest of the use and progress of these colonies, accompanied by Statistical Tables which appear to have been compiled with much care and lesearch.