The New=Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 480, 20 November 1850, Page 2

The New=Zealander.

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

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1850.

The arrival of the Arabia, after a rapid passage, has placed us in possession of California news to the 30th of September, and of American and European intelligence to later dates than we could have obtained otherwise than by this — incomparably the best, because the surest and most expeditious route. California itself, we need not say, has for some time past, been the object of almost pa-*| ramount attention here, and is likely to continue so for some time to come, so many associations, connections, and interests of our fellow-colonists being still more or less involved in its destinies. We are now in possession of sources of information respecting that glittering but delusive land, which will enable us to speak of it more largely, and perhaps, in some respects, more accurately than before : but to-day we give precedence to facts of recent occurrence, and to extracts from the latest Californian papers. Our Sheet and Supplement furnish many of these. It will be seen that another destructive fire had desolated a portion of San Francisco. We give at considerable length the account of its origin, and ravages. It appears that, in proportion to the extent over which the flames reached, the actual loss of property was smaller than in the former conflagrations, owing to the comparatively inferior value of many of the houses ; but still the loss was very great, many industrious persons being entirely burnt out. It is noticed by one of the papers that, out of ( the four fires which have ravaged the city^J three were known to have originated in drinking and gambling houses. Without the notice this might have been deemed likely. The ruined part of the city was rising with characteristic speed from its rums. The buildings, however, were not of a permanent construction. We are told, that many of the most recent erections in San Francisco are of the most fragile and flimsy fabric — just such houses as would be set up by parties who had no confidence in the stability of the place, and who sought merely temporary accommodation until they could ascertain what they might secure for themselves on the " winding up" of the concern. Turning to these matters of trade and export which may be of especial interest in these Colonies, we find no very encouraging Report,, With many other* we had once thought that New Zealand timber would command the market, and more than repay its exporters. The result has disappointed us in theory, and more sadly disappointed some of them in reality. Lumber has frequently not produced its mere freight. Quantities were still pouring in from the States, from Oregon and the contiguous parts, and so general a preference is given to this timber, that the article imported from New< Zealand or any other country meets with only secondary attention. An immense stock yet remainedon hand. Within six weeks of the sailing of the Arabia, about seven million feet of lumber had been brought into the market. As to Flour, abundant statements assure us (as we intimated in the New Zealander some weeks since) that it is not an article of export which is likely, except under special, and almost accidental, circumstances, to remunerate the shipper. Lately indeed there was a rise in it, the prevalence of contrary winds having hindered the arrival of the quantities of Chilian Flour on the way. This raised the current price from 7 to 10 dollars per bag up to 20 dollars. But it was evidently a casual rise ; — one of those vicissitudes which are continually taking place in the Californian market, and which make it a mere chance whether the cargo of a vessel coming into the port shall fetch an extravagant figure, or shall be sold for less than the charges *of freight and landing. Hay has not paid, so far as we can learn. The charge of freight in addition to the original cost, prevents its successfully competing with the fresh supplies from,

the banks of the Sacramento. This we regret, as we supposed it to be an article of safe export. As respects Vegetables, we are informed that the carrots and turnips which were shipped for San Francisco generally arrived in a condition only fitting to be thrown overboard, — entirely unsaleable. Potatoes suffered much also, from the effects of climate, salt water, and, in some instances, being made up for exportation before they were fully ripe. Still they seem the most promising article of export from New Zealand. Oregon will, no doubt, pour in its supplies after a year or two, and the agricultural capabilities of California itself will be more fully developed. But, for some such period, there will, we have every reason to believe, he a good market for potatoes, provided they arrive early in the season : — and those of our agricultural friends who have planted them on that anticipation need not be discouraged. Let us here take the opportunity of warning those who may ship potatoes that, if they would not have their hopes frustrated, care must be taken on twa all-important points ; — that the potatoes be ripe ; and that they be shipped in dry vessels, and vessels which will be well ventilated during the voyage. The general prospects of the country, however, are marked by great discouragement. The man who would propagate a contrary opinion now would be socially and morally guilty in a high degree. Those who are there wish to return to the countries which they left, and are actually doing so, as the statistics of immigration and emigration would show. From notes made upon the spot, we are enabled to state that, from the 15th of August to the 30th of September, 4,249 passengers had arrived, and 4,732 had left San Francisco for other countries — the emigration exceeding the immigration for the first time since California obtained notoriety. A Nostalgia (a vehement longing for home, as medical writers describe this malady in professional works,) is becoming epidemic in California. Very many who have been to the mines have had more than enough of hardship and uncertainty to induce them to relinquish the hazardous enterprise, and to wish they were again at home. This is true, not merely of the overland emigrants from the United States, many of the survivors of whom have reached California in circumstances of destitution which might almost make them wish that they had shared the sad fate of their comrades who had perished on the Plains ; but of not a few from New Zealand also, who wish very much they were back again. It is not necessary that we should particularise. Private letters quite abundantly verify the fact. The Extracts of Californian intelligence which we publish to-day will cast light on the statements which we have thus briefly made, and will possibly suggest much more to the reflective reader. We shall ourselves have many more extracts and not a few more comments to make.

The intelligence from America, although not much later than that which we published a few days since, is of deep and even startling interest. Its most important feature is the death of the President of the United States, General Zachary Taylor, which occurred, all but suddenly, at Washington, on the 9th July. Only a very few days before, ho had attended a public celebration connected with the Washington Monument : and his friends were admiring the evidences of what some of them described as " the strong, vigorous, iron, hardy constitution of old Zack," who, though sixty -six years of age, manifested the fire and energy of youth. But Cholera seized him, and — even in a shorter time than Sir Robert Peel's accident removed thai one amongst the greatest of living men from every earthly sphere of action, — this fearful disease removed from his field of honorable exertion, one who, both officially and personally, occupied beyond ail dispute, a place in the first rank of living men. The details of the President's last hour manifest the interest taken by him in the affairs of the Republic. Even his wanderings of speech aie said to have borne a relation to those affairs. One of the notes of his dying hours is that, " as if in a dream of the celebration at the Washington Monument," held three or four days previously, he said " let it tower aloft to its completion, a fitting emblem of the greatness of the Father of this country." Amongst his last words were these, addressed to his assembled family, " I am not afraid to die ; I have done my duty ; my only regret is leaving those who are dear to me." rlher Ihe general conviction of those who knew most of the President's life is, that this was no vain boast, but that, in the highest civil position to which the Republic could elevate him, as well as in the field of battle, he had " done his duty," and done it well. The highest tributes were paid to the memory of the •' illustrious dead." This honour was shown not merely in his own locality but throughout the United States, in California (with great and general mourning), and even in England, where inter- national animosities were so buried in the universally respected President's grave as to permit of the most flattering eulogies on his memory being uttered by the leading metropolitan journals. We shall, another day we trust, give a fuller sketch of the life of this great man, and, in doing so, we may pay an ampler tribute to his memory. The following elotjuent sketch of his career

and character, given by the Hon. Ei.can lleydenfelt, at the funeral obsequies at San Francisco, will be read with interest : — Mr. President — Fellow Citizens — An allwise Providence has deeieed that the nation mourn. Brightness is turned into gloom, gladness into sorrow, and fair and happy anticipations and hopes are darkened by the sombre pall of death. But while grief and sonow oppress us, with heavy hearts and tearful ejes, we must remember the assurance, that "He loveth whom he chnstencth ;" and it becomes us, with deep submission, to bow to the dis pensaiion which we could not avert. It would be useless to announce the cause of our assembling together this day— for if a nation's tears and a nation's prayers— if fervid hope and sincere aspirations could have prevented if, we would now be spsued the pain of mingling in this " pomp and pageantry of woe ;" and it therefore only becomes my duty to give utterance to the thoughts aud feelings which animate and inspire us all. Far from "home; 1 ' from "our own, our native land," this scene, sad and solemn though it he, tenus to inspire us with feelings of joy for our present lot, and for the bright and glowing future ; foi no sooner did the winds and waves waft the solemn knell, an» nouncing our nation's desolation, to the -bores of the Pacific, ihnn every pulsation of evbkv heart beat in common unison with our biethren afar off ; proclaim ing that— separated as we may be by long and weary distances, with oceans and desett* between us, yet the golden cord of national brotherhood still exists, aud binds us together as citizens olone common and beloved country. Fain would I dwell on this bright side of the picture ; but we come to-day to mourn, and not to rejoice ; and though we mourn " not as those that have no hope," yet the burden is oppressive, and the mind nlmost smits under the melancholy berea\emeut. The illustrious dead requires no eulogy or biography on this occasion at my hands, for his character and virtues are written on every American heart, and ins histoiy is that of the age in which we live. Vet it affords us a sad pliasme to speak of the distinguished services and high moral qualities of one we admired and esteemed so much while living, and whose metnoiy will ever remain a rich legacy to the country. General Zachary Taylor was born in Orange county, Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1784, of highly respectable patents ; his father having borne an honorable and distinguished position in the revolutionary war. Till the age of twenty-one he worked on the farm r.f his fathei , but early developed a taste for military life. He was appointed a fust Lieutenant in the 7th infantry, on. May 3,, 1808 In 1810 he manicd Miss Margaret Smith, of Maryland. In 1812 he served as ( aptain under General Harrison, ii. the Indian war of the North West, and in September gained credit for bravery and coolne s in defending Fort Harrison against tbe savages, and received the rank of lircvet Major in consequence. In tbe course of the war he fuither distinguished himself. When it ended, being reduced to the rank of Captain, on account of the general reductioa of the army, he resigned and went back to his farm. He was reinstated as Major in 1816", and commanded for two years at Green Bay, on Lake Michigan. Afterwards he served mostly in the South, being scarcely ever absent from active duty. On April 19th, 1819, he received the commission ot Lieutenant Colonel. After 1826", he was again sent to the North West, where he remained five years. In 1882, he was made Colonel, anil served in the Black Hawk War. Afterward he was stationed at Prairie dv Chien till 183G, when he was ordeied to Florida, where, on December 25, 1837, he fought the battle of Okeecohee, one of the most memorable in the annals of our Indian hostilities, which viitually put an end to the wai ; for this he received the bicvet tank of Biigadier General. He remained in Florida till 1840, when he took command of the liist department of the army in the South West, his head quaiters being at Poit Gibson, in Arkansas. In 1845, he was ordered to the Texian frontier, in anticipation of the Mexican war, and at the beginning of August had taken up his position at Corpus Christi. On March Bth, 1846", in compliance with the oidcrs of President Polk, he began his march ( n the ltio Grande. The events which followed this step are too well known to need recapitulation here. The battle of Palo Alto was fought May 9, 1846; that of Hesaca dcla Palmathe neUday, Matamoras was taken May 18. On the 3oth he was made Major General by bievet, and on June 291h, he was promoted to full rank, 'J he attack on Monterey b'gan September 21, aud was closed by capitulation on the 24th, His great and final battle of Buena Vista was fought on February 22, 1847. He was called by the voice of a grateful people to the Presidency in 184,9, and died on the 9th July, 1860With regard to his general character, it may be truly said, it was without fault, — at least, without reproach. Honesty of purpose, sterling integrity, high moral firmness, undisguised sincerity, and almost unerring judgment constituted the great characteristics of the man, both in his military and civic career ; and this has been conceded by all— even those who most bitterly denounced his civil policy, during his short occupancy of the Presidential chair, and who most violently oppo-ed his elevation to that distinguished position. But these are facts that it is unnecessary to dwell upon, and we will leave them to the silent communion of our own hearts, where, if I mistake not, they are indelibly impressed. It behoves us then to speak more particularly of ourselves, and the relation existing between us and the deceased President of the United "tates. All have done honor to his name and his memory, throughout the entire Union ; and is it not just that we should render our tribute! For what better friend than Gencial Taylor — with the power over our destinies that he pos sessed — did California ever have ? Despite the bickerings of sectional feeling, and local prejudices, he remained to the last, true to his first feelings and recommendation, |;that she should become another star in the constellation of our glorious Union- And though this great calamity has deprived California of the one dearest to her, we trust, as we believe, that the mantle does Dot rest upon an unworthy successor. Fellow citizens— the occasion is sad and solemn, and we feel the deep gloom that surrounds us ; but we have bright hopes of him and for him who has gone before uSi and whose f uncial obsequies we are now celebrating- For if there can be anything that can illuminate the " dark valley of the shadow ol death," while we are painfuliy and weaiily walking through its midst, it is the conscientiousness of being abe to say, " I am about to die, I hate always performed my duty faithfully, and regret nothing hut parting with my fiiendb." Such were the last words of Zachary Taylor ; ami although it has been repeatedly quoted . " No bound can awake him to glory again," yet we have an abiding assurance that his spirit will be awakened by the blast of that List trump that shall summon the virtuous and the good to the mansions prepared for them on high, in which they will enjoy an eternity of glory. A dreadful conflagration had occurred at Philadelphia. About four hundred houses were burned, and property to the value of one million dollars was destroyed. The subterfuges of Professor Webster had finally failed. The execution of the wretched culprit was fixed for the 30th of August.

The complete files which we have received from the Southern Settlements by the Government Brig do not add much to the intelligence which, by the kindness of the Master of the Adelaide and other friends, we were alieady enabled to

lay before our readers. We have a fuller repoit of the correspondence, arising out of Mr. God ley's identification of himself with the j Wellington Anti-Government " Settlers' Association," and his special adoption of the allegation that every man who had accepted a seat in the Legislative Councils of the Colony had thereby " inflicted a most serious and irreparable injury on the colonists of New Zealand," and had made himself " undoubtedly the puppet and obedient servant of the Governor ;" and, moreover, those who withdrew from that position did so under the very equivocal impulse of having at length found their " moral instinct levolting against the degradation" to which they had previously voluntarily submitted themselves. We can find nothing to induce us to depart from the conclusions which we have already expressed on this subject, and which we here take leave substantially to repeat. They were, and are, First, that — whatever may be the merits or demerits of that Nominceism — which is now about to be abolished by Sir George Grey's almost ultra-liberal Representative Institutions measure — Mr. Godley has, in the heat of his political partisanship, libelled the gentlemen who have, from tune to time, occupied, however temporarily, seals in Council, by including them all, without a single exception, in his sweeping condemnation. The plain, com-mon-sense, interpretation of Mr. Godley 's words involves an insult to every individual who at any time accepted a seat in Governor Grey's Council. Many of our readers do not need to be informed that there are amongst those gentlemen some whose views of Colonial policy never altogether accorded with those of Sir Ge"orqe Grey, and who, indeed, in and out of Council, were and are the opponents of some of his measures. Mr. Godley might have wailed to learn a little more of the facts, before he rashly pronounced a wholesale censure applying so palpably to men whose political opinions perhaps substantially agree with his own, and who regard themselves, and are regarded by their fellow-colonists, as not inferior in independency of spirit or of action to the newlyarrived gentleman who has arrogated a right to- pronounce such severe judgment on their motives and conduct. Then, Secondly, we repeat the expression of our opinion that Mr. Godley has been imprudent in connecting himself, immediately on his arrival in the colony, with a violent party ; and, we must add, — for we believe it to be the truth, — unfaithful to the long known and well known principles of many of the leading men in the " Canterbury Association," as whose Representative he came to this colony. Many of those Pi elates, Clergymen, and Church of England Laymen, make loyalty- -(in which they include respect for their Sovereign's Representatives as well as for the Sovereign herself) — part and parcel of their religion. They never contemplated sending out a " Principal" Agitator, here. They thought, in their confiding simplicity, they were only sending out a " Principal" Agent, for the transaction of the proper business of their settlement. Has Mr. Godley ever read his " Instructions?" Or is it necessary that an Auckland Newspaper should remind him of their import? It would, we rather think, require some hither! o unheard of rules of logic to reconcile the directions respecting the course which he (as the Agent of the "Canterbury Association") was enjoined to observe towards the Colonial Government, with the course which he has actually pursued since his arrival in the colony.

Wesleyan Missionary Anniversary. — The Annual Services of the Auckland Auxiliary to this Society were held on Sunday and Monday last, in the Wesleyan Chapel ; the Rev. Mr. Wallis preached on the Sabbath morning, and the Rev. Mr. Buller in the evening. At the Annual Meeting, Alexander Shepherd, Esq., (Colonial Treasurer) presided. A succinct but very interesting Report of the Society's operations was read by the Rev. Mr. Buddle. In the course of the proceedings, the Rev. Messrs. Whiteley, Macdonald (Independent), Lawuy, Hazlewood, Ironside, Watkin, Wallis, Buller, Hobbs, and Ward (Primitive Methodist), addressed the Meeting. We hope to give a more ample Report in our next, but must meanwhile remark that there seldom has been a Missionary Meeting, even at home, in which so large an accumulation of really valuable and telling facts were presented to the hearers.