CALIFORNIA.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 470, 16 October 1850, Page 3

CALIFORNIA.

The following is an Extract from a Letter from San Francisco, which (having been received by the Monarch) is not so late as some already before our readers ; but it comes from a source on which we may rely, and evidently contains hints of practical importance. Its date is July 22. There it no such thing as rafting timber here. It hai all to be taken from alongside the vessel in what is called " scows "" — large flat-bottomed punts— the usual charge for such service being #5 per 1000 feet. We have got ours taken on shore, or the qi eater part of it, at #4%. It is impossible to raft timber in the harbour, the tide runs so rapidly— five or six knots an hour — and the wind blowing strongly throughout the day, from 11 or 12 o'clock. * * A lot of Chinese built houses — very neatly got up but nlim — only brought #8 a hou.»e by auction the other week. There hits hardly a Tessel a rived from the States, or our own colonies, since my arrival that had not on board more or less of framed houses. The place is glutted with them, and they will not bring as much as the lumber of which they are made would realise in an unmanufactured state. Capt. ■—• ■"■, of the -, arrived from Hobart Town the other day with timber and a lot of houses. Several of thrm were beautiful constructions—one cost £400 at Hobait Town. He brought coloured plans of eich house with him in a tin caie. The plans were worth about as much as the houses, and lie has offered the whole batch for a mere song, still they will not sell just now. The parties who bnd freight in the vessel refused to redeem it, although the half was paid at Hobart Town. He offered to take it to Honolulu free of charge for them, they still declined, and then he offered to let them off JE2OO of the amount owing. They would come to no terms, and the cargo is to be sold in a diy or two by auction to meet a moiety of the vessel's demands. Thii is only one out of a large number of similar cnies, which may give you some idea of the enormous losses that have been sustained by shippers of lumber and houses to this port. Still I can perceive now that within a few months, the price of timber must be very high. The mail steamer arrived last night from Pansma, bringing New York news to the 13th June. It seems thit the shipping of timber from the States h»s altogether ceased. The February vessels are dropping in here day after day and will soon have all arrived. Timber shipping from the colonies has no doubt been altogether stopped. The cargoes that now arrive are passing into the hands of speculators, and at soon as it is fully understood that the supply has stopped, then the price will rise enormously, and the public will have to pay dearly for their lumber. The American stuff here chiefly consists of planed boards, there is very little scantling. These boards are stacked so very carelessly, that in ths opinion of good judges, a great deal of them will rot and become useless, as soon as the wet weather sets in. * * As respect! theexport of potatoes from New Zealand to this country, it will not pay to be carried on to any extent. A cargo or two would pay well in March, April, or May ; but after this the new potatoes come in— scarca this season — but they will be plentiful enough next year. In August the Honolulu and Chinese potatoes aio expected to arrive in large quantities, and keep the price low till January or February. - But potatoes and every other vegetable will be grown 'here shortly in large quantities. The toil at ban Francisco is sandy, and during this season, it has a whitish and look, resembling much that on Albert Hill at Auckland. But every one says that \vi liiu a few miles of the town there is a very luxuriant vegetation, and up the Sacramento River the country is said to be delightful. Wild oats, wholesome grassoi, and vetches covering large prairies of miles iv extent. Id* deed, in the immediate suburbs, I have seen several fine patches of potatoes iv blossom. * * But, 1 bave no doubt that good will come out of it for us all. Our religious, social, and domestic privileges at Auckland have not been justly appreciated by any of us. I over-

heard an American say to a fellovr-stranger in tliii land, (*ho stood beside him at the out-door service in Portsmouth Square last Sunday) "Neighbour, 1 guess it would be Tery comfortable if we could only travel home erery Saturday night, and spend the Sabbath at we used to do amongst our own people at home." I felt the force of this remark ; but, thnnk God, He hat a people here. Mr. Taylor it a zealous good man, the Lord, his Master, is using him for his glory in this dessrt j I neter see him but I think of Mr. — — .