SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 503, 8 February 1851, Page 2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 18 5 1.

The Pauline, which arrived in our port on Wednesday night, has brought a few items of Californian news later than any which had previously reached us, and partaking of the mingled — or contrasted — character by which intelligence from that singular country has almost uniformly been marked. There had been a new conflagration in San Francisco on the 14th of December, making, we believe, the fifth in about twelve months. This differed from those which had preceded it, in being less extensive in its ravages, — the circumstance of its having occurred when the tide was full, and the supply of water therefore more easily procurable, having happily facilitated the efforts to check its progress. Still the loss of property was estimated at about one hundred thousand dollars. On the other hand, however, it was believed to have been the work of an incendiary :—": — " it was " says the Aha California, 'undoubtedly the work of some unhung scoundrel, whom may a hempen rope strangle ere a month ; there had been no fire kindled in it " (Cookk & Co's new store near the foot of Sacramento strept, in which the flames broke oul) '• by any but the incendiary." Rapacious plunderers flocked to the scene, seizing every opportunity to " make their harvest." Twenty -five thieves were arrested in the act of robbery. It is difficult to form an accurate opinion respecting the progress of Cholera from the statements before us. The meagreness of the notices on the subject in the newspapers is of itself enough to excite a suspicion that there is a desire to give as little information as possible respecting it. On the 9lh of December, the Board of Health reported nine deaths ; but, the Alta of the 1 5th spoke sanguinely of the subsidence—even of the u disappearance" — of the disease. We should heartily rejoice to find that this tone was warranted \ but our fears that only " the wish was father to the thought" are strengthened by the report in the latest paper (the 19th), of six new cases and four deaths within the preceding twenty-four hours. Potatoes were selling c an Francisco at a lower rate than many had calculated on at that season. We see announced for sale on board the store-ship Noble, •' prime picked potatoes" at m cents per ft). Abundant supplies were said to be coming in. The advertisements of lumber sufficeutly indicated— w.iat we kn w befote— the extent to which the market is still glutted with it. There was, as uiual, later European news

than any to be obtained by other routes than the Panama; but— as usual also— it is given very briefly and unsatisfactory by our Califoruian cont tttporaries. The most interesting intelligence is the death of the Queen of the Belgians (daughter of Louis Philip?! ), which took place at Ostend on the 11th of October. Her Majesty was in the 39th year of her age. Intelligence had been received from Jamaica that Cholera was raging with great malignity at Kingston. The victims numbered from fifty to sixty daily, out of a population of about five thousand.

The Irishman of the old story who said that he was never at peace but when he was fighting, seems to have been no unsuitable type of his countrymen, if we may judge from the ceitainty and rapidity with which one form of popu'ar agitation succeeds another in the emerald Isle. The Repeal agitation being defunct, an exitement far exceeding any which has been connected with that since the days of Daniel O'Oonnell, now prevails on the subject of Tenant Right, -ince the Conference of Delegates on the subject held in Dublin in August last, the leaders of the movement have been untiring in the effort to unite North and South in one great organization for the adjustment of the relations between landlord and tenant, on principles much more agreeable to the latter than to the former class. It was apprehended by some that the Rules adopted by the " Tenant League" were illegal, but it appears that a contrary opinion has been given by such eminent lawyers as Mr. Fitzgibbon, Q.C., Mr. O'Haghn, Q.C., and Sir i olman O'Loohlfn, '4 C. Numerous meetings were in progress through the country, one of which especially, held at Kilkenny, and presided over by Mr. Serj ant Srfi-E, is described as a " gteat magnificent, and important demonstration." Disunion— the old bane of every effort in Ireland — had, however, already manifested itself in the ranks of the Leaguers. Mr. John O'Connell, avaunter in words but a wretched laggard one in action, stands aloof from it ; and a far abler and more energetic man, Dr. Grey of the Freeman's Jonrnul, has taken alarm at the project of establishing local offshoots in, connection wilh the parent branch at head-quarters, and withdrawn from the Council. Few of the gentry have joined the movement, and the Lord Luutgnant has distinctly intimated his dislike to it not only opposing the valuation and fixity of tenant pl?n, but also the demand that full compensation should be made to the t* nant for hts improvements. A "Grand General Meeting" of the League was to be held in Dublin in November. Another agitation — and one likely to be marked bv the deeper acerbity which proverbi ally characterises controversies in which the the religious is mixed up with the political element — was going forward with reference to the condemnation of the Queen's Colleges pronounced by a majority of the Synod of Roman Catholic ' ishops recently assembled at Thurles. The government having nominated Dr. Cullen, j the new R. C. Primate, to the office of Visitor of the Belfast College, received in return a sharp rebuke from the Prelate, and a repudiation of all connexion with these "most dangerous" Institutions ; and the Bishop and Clergy of the united diocese of Waterford and Lismore had declared their concurrence in the Synodicai denunciation of them, and their re- j cognition of the nece-sity for a Roman Cataholic University in Ireland. On the other hand, the Dublin Evening Post published an apparently official u Memorandum," in which it is stated that " on certain points not yet decided regarding the College, the opinions of the Bishops are so nearly balanced as to admit of a majority of one only ;" and the Globe says that a Protest signed by thirteen Bishop-, deprecating any condemnation of the Colleges was to be forthwith despatched to Rome by j the hands of one of the subscribing Prelates. We find in Punch — whose political refe- | rences, though given in his characteristic style j of pungent banter, are frequently more expressive of public feeling that some of the | formal articles of graver contemporaries — the following comment on the case : — •' The witdom of the Synod of Thurles—a wisdom denouncing the podless Colleges — a wisdom no doubt, as wisely, as sincerely and withal a* reverently admitted by Mr. Gavan Duffy of the National,— bids fair to stir up the passions of the land, and renewing the ferment that hopeful folks believed about to be stilled. Nevertheless, there may be grounds of hope for the ultimate tranquillity of Ireland, in the prophecy of Guialdus Cambmnsis, who declares that that country shall be tranquil a little before Doomsday—vix paulo ante diem Judicit '' A little before Doomsday! After mil, may not GIEALDUS Cambrensis be a little too sanguine?" Alas! that the discords of Irishman with Irishman should in almost every age in the history of Ireland have given scope to such sarcastic taunts as this ? , Another " contemporary opinion" on these topics is thus given in Charles Dicker's Household Narrative of Current i'vents, iorthe month of September, (for the loan of which we are indebted to the courteous attention of Lieut. King, K. A.):— !' The same jju-nals which deicribo 'he proceedinai <>' I th~ Synod, contain sundiy petitions of Irish pmpnet"rs to f»e relieved from the tyranuy of the pool law uiqu -rim : nor have the priestly denounces of h>- Qu c 's College! been the lent vehement oppuoenti of the

Queen's poor-law. The moral of this poinU the differ, enre between money to lift the roa-SfS from ignorance, and money to k-ep them in idleness. The one >• ' a 'nlemptuously scouted at our hands, and the other greedily cumoured for A.t the same time tl>eop»ortunity, which mi^ht huve been turned to noble profit by such in organisation a<» that of the New Tenant Leslie, bids laT to be lo*t by obstinate adhcrencr to impmcti* cable scht-mri. N >tlii q will cntent it- leadeis but to set ile by statute the valuation of rent, which is übiut is reasonable as it would be to settle wages »nd prices in like manner. Rational men turn from such mischifv<us proposals to wait patiently the working of tlie Encumbered Estates Act, to strive for amendment! that shall m've it greyer efficicy find fo found unnu it hope u anticipations against the still noniiuuini; mixeriec of mclc-rent, nnd indiscriminate eviction. Even I nailed as it now in, it ha* helped to rid us of not a few of those I iih landlords wi h the name and nothing else, with the menus of the poor and the \v<ste of the rich, with the duties of one condition and the in»eeaii'ie> of the other who hare neen the bane of the country. Nor dof» 'here i em rea-on fo d >übt Loid Clarendon s recent aver ment at hi> progress in the North, that the promise of a condition ol thing* improving with the-e changes already begins to »h >w itself in I'xpanding Cunmerce, hriving inouotry. and restored and rational trauquility, at le.nt in those portions ot the Island mutt dutsnt fiom tl.e fcite of the Synod. The progress of the Lord Lieutenant in the North, which is here referred to, must have been very gratifying to His Excbllfncy himself, as well as conducive to the welfare of the country The most notable part of his Tour (which occupied a fortnight), was his visit to Belfast, where his entry was marked by the most cordial demonstrations on the part of the citizens. He visited the principal flax and other manufacturing and mercantile establishments, and received an Address from the Hoard of Guardians, in reply to which he congratulated them on the industrious and orderly habits of the people, the prosperous state of their trade, and the fact that, in a period of unexampled distress, their poor had heen maintained without either assistance from Government, or the imposition of undue burdens on the rate-payers. A grand banquet was given to His Excellency in the Music Hall, at which men of all creeds and political opinions a 1 tended. In acknowledging the drinking of his health Lord Clarendon made remarks which, coming from one of the most enlightened and impartial Viceroy's Ireland has ever been favoured with, merit all attention :—: — He d»elt in glowing language on the returning tranquilly and dawning prosperity o( the country : " Among; th» most agreeable signs of improvement watch have of late taken place in this country, \ rank the fact that almost all men in liciand appear to recognise the fully and u»e)e«sness ot those politic il differences which have tow long de*troyed confidence, scared a«rny capital, fostrred a spirit of animosity among; the population. I do not, of coime, allud ot the le.itimae discussion of political ques'inns— the birthright ot Brit^ih subjects — w i<h has utility for its basis and the pubic good for its object. I allude t> 'h«t a«iution which on, not (or the public interest, but for individual purposes: and I «en happy in being able to appeal to this enlightened assembly whom I have the honour of addiessing, whether, in thiirrspect, a vast impiovement has not taken place—whether a period can be recollected les* characteriied by scheming agitators than that of the t»o yearn which have just passed ?" He paid a specul compliment to Belfast, on her improvement in ma< ufacture and art, and remaiked the improved moral and social character of the people of Ireland in general. One million sterling, he observed, had been already advanced under the Liud Improvement Act, and the reports from the Commissioners of public works showed how well the example of improving Undlordi had been followed by improving tenants, and how important to the l*b airing c'asspi was regular employment with money wages ; " ! certainly wan gtieved ut seeing to-day large bales of (lit— -Russian and Dutch— that nvght have heen replaced by Irish. I regretted the sight; still, it is g.uiiiying to know thxt attention is being generally turned to the cultivation of flax in thin country, and t at owners and occupiers ot land are beginning to understand how greatly their interests will be promoted by their contributing to advance the national manu* fdcu r fs. I regard the pre-ent movement* in this direction as hopeful ; and I look forward to a tim<* when the advHntages will become fully apparent, and when, the interests ot agricu'ture and man itaciur s will be interwoven and brought together into harmonious action " He then pointed out the benefiial working of the poor law throughout Ireland ; and concluded with a compliment and an advice to the liiih landlords:— "With rei-pect to the laudlords of Ireland, I would take ttiis opportunity of saying that they hate been most unjustly (oudem.ied as a cla.i. They have no due allowance — I might almost Kay no allowance at all— for unavoidable diffi.uliies of their position. I have the pleit-ure of being personally acquainted with many landlords, who, for kindness and attention towards tueir tenants, and who, for the zeal and untiring assiduity with which they peif><na the duties properly devolviug upon them, are second to none in the world, and are deserving of the highest comraenda'ion. Among a cla«a *o numerous, I am well aware that there mus' be some bad men ; hut it is the conduct of a good mm that will prevail, and I believe such conduct is prevailing I believe the time is not far distant when the evils of absenteeism will bt fully recognised in their true light; and when it will be seen thai thete is no su^erv sion equal to that ofjthe owner of the soil, and that the landlord will be rewarded more fully in wit' esaing Inn welfare nnd soci-1 comfort of his ten m* try, than in their proceeds in hit own pleasure* ttnd enjoyments eUewhere." , Amongst the undertakings for developing the resource* of Ireland which tend to the realization of the favourable anticipations expressed by the Lord Lieutenant, we look with much hopefulness on the proceedings of " The Irish Amelioration Society," which has recently commenced its operations for the employment of the peasantry in the manufacture of peatcharcoal from the Irish bogs. The Association is incoiporated under a Royal Charter, by the terms of vhich u is bound to establish at least two h ndr<-d stations for the manufacture, on each of which a number of the peasantry estimated at one thousand five hundred (including women and children) will be employed. We have a somewhat copioui state*

merit of the objects of this society, and of the manner in which it was already carrying out those objects at its first station on ttet l >c skirts of the great Bog of Allen, which is so interesting that, instead of attempting to dismiss it in a brief summary, we shall transfer it in ex'enso to our columns on the earliest day we can make room for it. The Irish Linen and Yarn Trade was extending beyond Ulster, and creating a b-tter market for flax. The Louth Advertnn, af'er describing the fine appearance ot the flax crop, and the superiorly of that grown from Irish seed, says « the Spanish market is now taking light linen and thread from us. and two extensive houses in the Irish trade have been opened at Vladrid and Barcelona." The accounts of the harvest were on the whole very favourable. The grain crop was over the average of the last three years, and, cxc pt in a few unfortunate districts, the potato crop was abundant. Even al'owing for some possib'e exaggeration in the following extract from the Monaghan Standard, it affords a gratifying view of the stale and prospects of agriculture in the North of Ireland :—: — '•The harvest may now be mid to have been gathered in, tnlam re abundant and boun iful one Providenre never tilled •»■<■> land with. The weather «as raott propitious for filling, ripening, ihearing, and ittrking; and it i* peasant o observe ihat while tbe farmyard tceilis like ft cornucopia, prices are n>t as l»w as might h«ve been expected. Wheat opened at Bs. p^r cwf., aid range* now ah- lit 8» 61. New oa s range aboUf 7'-d. a »tniie, and first samples of barley have drawn 9'l ,, — tolerably fair prices tor the sreen heavy grain. Flax where well w«s a fortune-ankins cron, broging 16/. «n ucie on the foot, an<J in many instances leilizing U 5/ an acre, dressed. But the potato, our o'd f lend, nnd the fiiund of liv t.an'ty, l"ng life to him ! it doing well. Hr bore hit fever bravely, and is r<corerin<r into stalwart »1 eniith The disease is a\ an c xl— none are rotting but iho*e tanned during tha fatal fortnight at the beginning of August. There will be m large average crop o» as line Murphiei as ever hashed in th facr of a hungry child. There is lot* of employment about us. Adverti ements posted here and there for 500 weaver*- fjr 5 0 needleworUeis— arterial drainage and harvest work— all tlieie arr emptying the poorhousei. Don't be afraid— 'tliere'i a good time c iraing'— <nly e;ive us a few yearo' peace, and industry will triumph " The important fact was announced that the formation of a Submarine Telegraph between England and Ireland had been determined on, upon a similar though more extensive scale than that between England and Prance ; and that— the preliminary surveys having proved satisfactory—the Lords of the Admiralty and the government authorities Avere negociating for its establishment from Holyhead to Kingston. The Rock'le system had manifested itself in Ulster, by the posting of threatening notices and similar demonstrations, the Marquis of Wati-rford being the landlord especially marked by popular displeasure. A public meeting of his tenantry was to be held in Newtovvnlimavady to concert measures for detecting the offenders. Another atrocious murder had been perpetrated in the County Westmeath. Roglr North, Esq., J.P., was shot dead on the public road, in consequence, it was believed, of his having taken legal proceedings against some of his tenmts In the southern and mi 'land counties there had been some dating instances of " corn-hfting" — targe bodies of the peasantry taking away the crops to defraud the landlord of his rent. The official changes consequent upon the death of Chief Justice Doherty had been completed by the appointment of Mr. Henry George Hughes, Q.O., to the "■oiicitor-General-ship. Mr. Hughes was an eminent and popular member of the Chincery bar. Mr. Fagan had declared his intention to retire from the representation of Cork, and Mr. Serjeant Murphy was a candidate for the voices of the constituency of " the beautiful city."