The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 509, 1 March 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1851-

He just and ienr not : Let .ill the ends thou anm't at, \>o thy Country's, Thy God's, and Tiuth't.

The recent departures of vessels for California having completed what may he called the exportation for the season from this poit, we are induced to take a summary review of the whole as affording an index to the amount of speculation which our meichants aie still encoulaged to venture in that direction, and also to the punciples according to which, — now that they have acquired experience (some of them hy sufficiently dear purchase) — they find it their wisdom to regulate the enterprise. Within the last two months, the following six vessels have cleared out at Auckland : — on the 23rd of January, the Arabia ; — on the 31st of January, the Novelty ; — on the 17th of Pelruary, the Glencoe ; — on the 23rd of Fein vary, the Helen S. Vugz; — on the same day, the Lightning ; — and on the 26th of February, the Iho-mama. The tonnage of these vessels collectively amounted to nine hundred and nine tons. The particulars of their cargoes having been given in the usual lists of exports in our Shipping columns, we here present only the totals of the most important articles on board ail of them. We find that the shipments were, of Potatoes, twelve thousand, eight hundred and se\ emy -six boxes :— of Onions, one thousand and seventy -seven boxes: — of Barley, live hundred and twenty -two bags : — of Oats, about five hundred and seventy-one bags. In addition to these there were some minor shipments of maize, rope, and butter, together with a miscellaneous variety of articles which call for no specific notice, as they were limited in quantity, and not the produce of New Zealand, to which produce our attention is just now more immediately directed. It is plain from the above summary that

the greatly preponderating article of export ha s been Potatoes, and that the issue of the whole? viewed commercially, must tarn upon the price which may !>e obtained for this article m the San Francisco maiket. We aie almost loth to hazard any opinion as to the probable result; for, in common with our brethien of the press both in the colonies and at home, we have more than once been compelled by the realities of Californian adventure to qualify, if not to retract, the opinions which, judging from the evidence befoie us at the time we deemed ourselves warranted in expressing And yet we feel that we are standing upon a firmer ground than we could have formerly occupied, when we entertain a confidence that, should no unforseen disaster or source of disappointment arise, the present speculations will prove more successful than those of last year. We indulge tins expectation because they are so much less characterised by what is usually understood by the teim " speculation,' 1 — that is, an adventure made under circumstances so contingent and untried as io render the issue a matter rather of chance than of sober and ptactical calculation. Our merchants have now learned by expeiience that the profitable sale of vegetables sent from this country to California will depend not only upon the condition m which they reach the matket, but also, and in a very great degree, upon Hie livie of their arrival. It was owing to enor or misfoitune in one or both of these respects that so much loss was sustained last year. When, as in the instance of the Johnstone, the vegetable caigo was landed early and in good condition, the proceeds wee amply remunerative : — but when, as in other instances, it arrived at a later period of the season, or was deteriora'ed in consequence ot the leakiness of vessels, or the unripe state in which it was put on board, more or less of loss was the invariable and inevitable result. Decayed or decaying potatoes would not have be^n bought at nntj season; for, we behe\e potatoes are not sought after in San Francisco I with the avidity some have supposed, biead being the staple food, and potatoes furnished at the " Restaurants" only in small quantities, and almost as a luxury, just as we aie accustomed to use com paiatively scaice vegetables; — and again, however prime might have been their condition, they could have brought only a low puce when the quantities received from the Sandwich Islands and Hobart Town had made them absolutely a drug in the maiket. We trust that these sources of failuie have been adequately guarded against this year. Everything that care could accomplish has been done to ship the vegetables in a state of matm ity and soundness, and to secure that the vessels should be dry and well ventilated ; and they have been despatched so early that, supposing them to have moderately quick passages, (and we may look for more than this from the proved sailing powers of at least some of them) they may be expected to aruve before the market can be glutted by supplips from other quarters in our hemisphere, and before the home produce of those Noithern latitudes shall have attained maturity. It is true tlMt in December last, there were considerable quantities advertised in the San Francisco papers for sale, while in the winter months of 1849 there was scarcely a pound of any vegetable to be procured there ; but the consumption in San Francisco and the rising towns on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers would soon remove this abundance, — and even should pait of the supply remain on hand at the arrival of the vessels from this port, still the superiority of the new potatoes which they would bring in would obviously secure for them a general and decided preference. If good wishes could fill the sails and ensure a speedy and satisfactoiy return, our enterpusing merchants would have little to apprehend. Apart horn any personal interest in them or their ventures, the community at large cannot but feel some solicitude that exportations which, at a rough calculation, we may estimate at the value of from twelve to fifteen thousand pounds sterling, may prove so successful as to requite the exporters, and through them, as a necessary consequence, to benefit the town and neighbourhood which already owe so much to their capital, their industry and their public spirit. It may perhaps be too closely " taking time by the forelock" were we now to advert in detail to the prospects of our trade with California next year ; but we only repeat what we have intimated more than once when we express an opinion that California will not long continue to afford an advantageous market for any large quantities of our vegetable productions. Within its own proper boundaries, agricultural production is already engaging an amount of attention which will rapidly increase as the proceeds of the "diggings" become (as they very lapidly are becoming) more scanty and precarious ; and Orego n has , capabilities and facilities for pouring supplies 1 into the new with which we might v.unly attempt to compete. But however this may be, our farmers have prospects which — in spite of the lestiictions upon the acquirement of land — it will be their own fault if they do not brightly realize. Although it may seem rather a digression from the general purpose of " this aiticle, we would again and earnestly remind them of the vast importance of a larger cultivation of wheat. RIor Io say nothing of the opprobrium connected with the fact that in this,

one of the most fertile and naturally blessed countries on the face of the earth, we have hitherto left ourselves to a great extent dependant for our supplyof bread on neighbouung colonies, which are far less fitted for its abundant production than our own, we may take a lesson of pounds-shillings-and-pence prudence from the present price of flour, which — although, thank Goo, not at a " starvation" rate, — is yet so high as to make a very seiious difference in their"daily expenditure to families of limited means There is no reason in heaven or eaith Avhy New Zealand should not produce bread enough for its own population, aye, and bread to spaie for expoitatioa to adjacent colonies in their seasons of need, if our agriculturists wiil only set themselves m light earnest to thewoik. An additional inducement may be found in the recent mulUplication of facilities for the manufactuie of flour. It is only a very short time since there was only one flour mill within any convenient proximity to Auckland, and even that was as far distant as Epsom. Now we have fnur or five nearly or altogether in Avorkmg older, one being the powerful steam mill actually in the town, to which a few days ago we called the attention of our readers. Let us then by all means avail ourselves of the passing (and we appiehend they will prove only passing) advantages which the Californian market may afford ; but let us cultivate more of the spirit of self-dependence ; and then, in the energetic and persevering development and application of our own resources, we shall find that a bountiful Providence has cast our lot in a land endowed with gifts which may well preserve us from any temptation to be envious of those confened on California. But, "The gods sell all things for labour." The Heathen aphorism^ has a truthfulness which has lost none of its force by the lapse of time, the difference of place, or the reception of a more generall y pure and perfect moral code.

Odd Fellows' and other Benefit Societies. In the resume of the history of the Pailiamentary Session of 1850, given in our last two nunibeis, we referied briefly to a measure, intioduced by Mr. Sotkeron, one of the Members for Noith Wiltshire, and warmly supported in its main principle by the Government and many of the leading men in both Houses, the object of which is to give greater stability, and to extend legal protection, to the numeious 1 riendly Societies which of late yeais have been organized with a vie.v of securing to the mdusttious classes benefits such as those of which the provisions obtained through Life Insurance and Annuity Companies may be taken as the general typ?. A fuller accouat of this wisely conc<Mvprl measure will probably be acceptable to our leaders, not a few of whom are associated for similar prudential purposes. The following repoit of the discussion ou the second reading of the Bill — which we transfer with very little abridgment from the Times — will exhibit the characteiutic features of the measure, and the cordial spirit j in which it was received. Mr. Sotiieron proceeded to move the second lead I ing. The bill was of the greatest interest to the working classes of this country, a vast number of whom I were enrolled in one or other of these societies. The total number of enrolled friendly societies auioui.tetl I to nearly 14,000, numbering; | 600 0 0 memncr^ j with an annual revenue of £2 80O,0()0 and an accumulated capital or £ J G,d'QO,OOO. There were numerous other fane eties established for bimilar purpobes, but which, for soms reason or other, were not em oiled. Of these there we- e, oi the Manchester Unity. 4.00 U societies, with 284,000 members, and an nnniu.l revenue of £'l<QO 0O'). In addition to these there wen the Foresters, the Duuds, the Rechabites, the Olu Friends, and oihers, presenting a grand tot >l in En^lanl, Wale-, Scotland, und lieland, of 33,223 societies, with 3,052,000 members, an annual revenue of iM',981),000 and an accumulated fund, the stvin«s. ot these poor person-*, of no less linn £\l 3b'0,000 (Cheers.} Now, taking the whale male population above 20 years of age in Great Britain and Iraland, according; to the last census at 6,300,000 persons, it would bo seen that nearly one-half of the whole male population — without refei'^noe to rich or poor — were actually members ot these brnefit societies. Tiic bill winch he now proposed had in view the consolidntion of all the laws at present existing relative to enrolled friendly soceties, and the securing to thit large number of societies which up to the pri-stnt mud were not sanctioned by the law that legal piotect'on to which they were entitled. With regard to the societies that had been up to this time unentolled, lie proposed that they should undeigo the same protess a-, uther societies, namely, that they should scud uj) | to the registrnr in London copies of their rule-, the ' number ol their members, and other necessary niforI (nation, which should entitle them to registration. He did not require, however, that they should have their j tables certified by an actuary. He proposed that for ihs legislation the nuin body should pay the customary fee of one guinea, but that in the cisc ot the ■ branches the fee bhould be only 2b. Cd. To this he believed there would be no objection. He further required that these societies should appoint trustees in whom the property shoald be vested, some office i whose duty it should be to keep the accounts, and a board or committee of management. And he proposed to give to these societies, which be designated " provisionally registeied societies," that one privilege which was possessed by the Freemasons of exemption (torn the penalties ot the Corresponding Societies Act, ah bough they did u-.e seciet signs and passwords. The bill aho extended to huiial societies, altering the provisions ol the 9th and 10th Victoria so as to require the cm tificate of the surgeon and coroner as to the cause of death, instead of the ceitificate of the surgeon and a householder. He required, moreover, an attestation that, the whole of the money had been expended in the burial, and that no child should be entered under the age of 10 years, instead of 0 yeirs, as by the present law. He believed that these piovisions would afford sufficient guarantees against the abuse to which these societies had been subjected, In

return for the aihantages which this bill convfyed to the3e societies, all ihat he required was publicity— hat each of these societies, whether certified or provisionally oertifi-d should publish an annual baltncesheet. fid placed the utmost rHianre up<m the cir-curastHincc-i of publicity, which would enable the most humble member at one view to ascertain the exact position of '.he club to which he belonged. He bt-1 eyed th-re was no objection to iheseiond reading. At the same time he had teceived several valuable suggestions, which he should be anxious to cdopr. Mr. Cockbuiin seconded the motion. The object of these societies was most excellent — directly, they pio« vicled in case of sickness or accident for the poor, and iuduectly, they encouia^ed the working classes in tidbits ot prudence, forethought, and economy. Still, A3 the law at present siood, they weie not pioiected as they ought to be. They wi.ro subjecicd to frauds and injustice, and they had not the means of protecting th'ir rights. The object of the bill was to secure ihPin those rights ; and he appiehended, whatever 0 ije tion '.hers might be to some of the details, that the House could lm\lly hesitate in adopting the pnn« ciple ot the bill. Mr. Roibuck believing this to be by far the most itn,>onant biii of the session, as regarded the GOmfort and morals of the greater poition of the labouring 1 population, thought it very desnable that the Government should lake upon itself the responsibility of the measuie. Hitherto benefit societies had been used by the rich for their own special purposes : they had been converted into means of a-burauce, and the high rate of interest offeied by the Government had been taken advantage of by the richer poition of the community, inU hto tneu' discredit. Atjawst that evil he thought; the hon. gentlemen hail provided mo*>t (.onapletely. Complied with this bi'l, all paity dispu'es were as dv tin the bildnce. It affected ihe heajt, and feeling, and coustitutbn of the great laborious population of this country, and there was no labour that Parliament ou^lit not to be wi'lmg to dedicate ror the purpose of ma n' dining that high feeing amongst the laboming daises which it was intended to maintain. (Hear hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer considered the hon. membei tor North Wiltshire (Mr. Sotheron) deset vtng or the best thriaksof the House for the attentio \ he had paid fur army years to this subject. (Cheers.) With respect to the present bill, there could he no objection to its principle, though there were no doubt seveial ckuses which m committee would call for observation, and, in all probability, amendment', by some member of the Government* He did not underrate the uiiputunce of the subject, nor the difficulty «f dealing with it; but he considered it wou'd be impossible to protect members of societies ot this Kind fiOtn a'l risk, ftom bad management and ftaud. But for the sake of preservuig the principle of self-govKi'nmeut, it was better to incur that liik than adopt that dei^ree of Government interference which, to afford complete security, would he aOEoluttly necessary — an inteilercnce, however, which lie was sure the House and the public would strenuously oppose. It was trii's some lich persons had i> vailed themselves of these societies to obtain thatb^neru which it was intended to confer exclusively on the poorer classes. That was notoriously a per.version of t e intentions of faihameut and it would bo desirable, 1 | ossible, to iulroduce a clause which bhonld preyeot for the future that abuse, if not actual breach of the law. Mr. Addbrley was glad to see the unanimous feeling which prevailed in the House on tin* subject. With regard to the drawing up model tables, if it were practic tb c, it would not afford any additional guarantee. The insecurity of these societi.-s arose, not fio.n an imp. i faction of their tables, bui from mismanagement ; and publicity was the only effectual guarran'ee ihut any oDe hud been able to htiggest. Tne bill was then lead a second time. In its subsequent progress through Parlia-« ment, the details of the Bill underwent considerable discussion, but it does not appear that any difference of opinion as to its principle was expressed. In one of the clauses, which provided that on the death of a member of any Fiiendly Society entitled to a sum not exceeding £50, the Ttustees, if no Will has been left by such deceased member, may pay the amount according to the rules of the said Society, the "words " according to the rules of the said Society" were struck out by a majority of 32 over 25, on the giound urged by the Attorney -General that it would be better there should be one rule, the rule of law as to the disttibution of an intestate's effects, and if a person wished his property otneiwise distributed, he could make a Will. In the House of Lords, Loid Redesdale, while he did not oppose the Bill as a whole, expressed doubts whether Friendly Societies might not change their character, and from being provident institutions become conveited into associations of an objectionable, if not a dangerous character. In committee he moved an amendment prohibiting the use of secret signs. Lord Beaumont (who took charge of the measure in the House of Lords) opposed this amendment, arguing that the signs were employed for no other purpose than the protection of the Societies against fraud ; and, after a short conversation, it was withdrawn. The Bill then passed without any material alteration, and received the Royal Assent on the 15th of August. The measure was understood to have the full approbation of the officers of the Manchester Unity and of other chief associations of a like character m England, — as might indeed have been anticipated, when it is recollected that it confers upon them a recognition by law which, under various easily conceivable circumstances, might prove of the greatest importance to their well-being, and to the safety of their funds. As one of tne advocates of the Bill observed, however successful the Societies might be in the care exercised in the admission of members, unless one of their mysteries was the power to perceive the disposition and , foresee the future conduct of candidates, they must expect, in the rapid increase of their membeis, to have some whose ostentatious zeal and whose activity in office would in the end be found mere pn te ice to favour and forward dishonest designs on money which, under the circumstances existing before the passing of this Act, might not improbably be embezzled with impunity. It is gratifying to

see the encouragement that legal sanction affords extended to every institution which simply and sincerely aims at nurturing that forethought to which, perhaps far more frequently' thau to unavoidable calamities, pecuniary embarrassments may be justly attributed.

Supreme Court. — We remind such of our readers as may be in any way concerned in the proceedings of this Court, that the Session for despatch of Criminal Business will commence this morning at ten o'clock. Last quartei we had the gratification of recording that— so peaceable and fiee from crime had the town and district been during the preceding three months — not a single case stood for trial. We regret to say it is now our duty to give a diffeient report, as there is an unusually large number of prisoners to be tried, and two of them on charges of the most giave character. The following is the List:— Francis Buicher for the wilful murder of Frvncis McKeown : — Hfkc, a Sandwich Islander, for the wilful muider of Jacky Maitara, also a Native of the Sandwich Islands : — John McGregor, stealing wealing apparel from Isaiah Crowthlr: — John IVlgGrixor, stealing a vva'ch from William Bacon -. — Petlr Mooru, stealing wearing appaiel from Martin Jordan : — and Ann Lamb, and Mary Martin, stealing wearing appatel from Elizabeth, a Native Woman. We understand that, should the Grand Jury return true bills on the several indictments, the minor cases only will piobably be tiicd to-day, and that the trials of Butcher and the Sandwich Islander aie not likely to come on before Monday.

Odd Fellows' Festival. — The Annual Dinner of the Loyal Fountain of Friendship Lodge, 1. 0.0 F, M U., was held on Thursday evening at the Masonic Hotel. Thomas Lewis, Esq., efficiently presided, The usual loyal and other toasts were received with the accus • tomed honours, and responded to by several of the gentlemen present, and the occasion passed off agreeably in the enjoyment of the good cheer piovided by Mr. Hunt, and of pleasant social mtercouise. The attendance of the Band of the 58th Regiment added, we need scarcely say to the gratification of the evening.