The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 519, 5 April 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1851 .

Be just and fear not: Let nil the ends thon aims't at, be tliy Country a, Thy God's. awl-Truth's.

We have read with considerable interest the Report of the Committee of the " Auckland and New Ulster Agricultural and Horticultural Society," which has just issued from the press. It contains statements of progress 1 in the division of the Colony to which it refers, and suggestions respecting the best modes of securing future and further improvements, which deserve to be more generally known than they are likely to be through the exclusive medium of a Report printed merely for subscribers, and perhaps even in some of their hands destined to share the too common fate of Reports of Societies of all kinds— which frequently is to be cursorily glanced over, and then thrown aside or torn up as waste paper. ! We therefore have pleasure in giving any advantage which may be derived from our wider circulation to a notice of the contents of this unpretending but valuable little pamphlet, although in doing so we may have occasion to refer to proceedings, accounts of which have already appeared in our columns. The reorganization of the Society (which had been in a state of suspended animation since 1843) took place in 1848. In March of that year, a Provisional Committee was appointed to arrange preliminaries ; and in the December following, the plans proposed by this Committee were formally adopted at a General Meeting of the Members, and a President, (Major Matson), two Vice-Presidents, (A. SimpHEßn, Esq., and Dr. Weekes), a Treasurer, (A. Kenneoy, Esq.), with a Committee and Serrptariea were choson to transact the business of the Society for the year 1849. So actively did these officers engage in their duties that, on the 6th of March, a Public Show wae held, which— considering the shortness of the time allowed for preparation — was highly creditable to the producers, and afforded clear evidence of what could be effected in such a climate, especially in the rapid production of fruits and vegetables. A Market Dinner, to be held on the first Saturday of every month, was also established, and a negociation with the Government was commenced which has happily issued in the erection of a Market House, the completion and opening of which we recently recorded, and from which, under the judicious superintendence of the Committee of tfce Society, to whom (until Auckland shall have a Corporation) the management of it is entrusted, much and increasing benefit both to the producer and the consumer may be confidently anticipated. The Second General Meeting was held in November 1849, and the Second Show was fixed for the 1 3th of March, 1 850. The i competition for Prizes on this occasion was far greater than it had been in the preceding year, and the produce and stock exhibited were most encouraging both in quantity and quality. A very gratifying fact was that many of the Natives evidently participated in the objects and spirit of the Society, one of them, (Maka) carrying off a prize for wheat, and the breed of pigs reared by them having manifestly improved. The fruit — paiticularly the apples — and the butter, also afforded much satisfaction. The Society's first annual Ploughing Match came off in April, and " the Committee expect next year a full field, and that a good assemblage of teams will contest the prizes for skilful work." With a view of encouraging the improvement of Maori labourers, on whom so much of the advancement of the district at present depends, it was resolved to give a prize to the most meritorious Native servant. For this there were three competitors, — Inoka, in the employment of Perwval Berrey, Esq. ; Hakopa, fioui St. John's College ; and Tiaiia, in the employment of W. F. Porter, Esq. All had certificates of the most creditable character, but the premium was awarded to Inoka, who, in addition to other qualifications, had the merit of having remained for the longest period in his master's service. The following testimonial from Mr. Berrey shows this man's proficiency in useful work, and may aid readers at a distance in forming their estimate of the capabilities of our fine aboiiginal people :—: — "TkisW to certify that Inoka (Enoch), an abori-

ginal native, has been in my employment for four ye "r* and nine months continuously, during which period he has always been a most steady, hard working, and faithful servant. He is an excellent groom ; can mi'k well, churn .and clean butter ; he is a very good sow^r of seed and grain, a very good spndesniati, can drive both cart and plough well ; he is a very fair carpenter, has shingled homes, made gates, and trought (or pigs for me. He is also a very good fencer, and an excellent helper in the garden. He has betn employed by me in all the above occupations, as well as looking after and pulliog in a boat. (Signed) " Percival Berrey. " Auckland, April 13, 1850." The following remarks of the Committee on j this part of their plan are judicious and practical :—: — A rery great service it rendered to the community by those who thus inttruct natives in handiwork, and render them useful iervants. As European workmen goon sate sufficient money to buy small homesteads of their own, the farmer* of Auckland will ftr a long time have to rely chiefly on native labor, and it becomes their interest to improve the habiti of Maori labourer!, to encourage them in attaining a knowledge of rough carpentry, ol sowing seeds, of ploughing and managing horses, and thus remove some of the objections to the employment of natives,— -the greatest of which objections i» their leaving their masteis without notice when their services are most needed, «nd when work on which they have been engaged is unfinished. This laabciluu* ltluuuvcuienoc, fell \At\vtly by lliube \vlio employ nntive* occasionally to perform work which does not admit of delay. It is probable that this evil, springing from the unsettled nature of the people who are fond of change, will be gradually diminished as they become more accustomed to regular employment ; tliose who are most successful in the management of natives engage them for three or twelve months, with an allowance of food and sometimes the use of a piece of ground on which to cultivate a crop of potatoes by which their stay is rendered pretty sure. This course the Committee recommend to farmers as the moit beneficial to their own interests, and the most conducive to the improvement of the Maori. It is also suggested that before an engagement is made with a native reference should be made, if possible, to his lormer employer as to his character and reasons for leaving, and for both parties to thoroughly understand the agreement. On the Bth of November, the first Flower and Horticultural Show was held, with pleasing results which we stated and commented on at the time. The paragraph of the Report in connection with this is worth attention :—: — The Committee would remark, that much beauty will be added to this country by gardens tastefully kept— they give an appearance of comfort and order to a settler's house, which, when surrounded by shrubs, fruit treei, and flowers, looks as though he deiignei it for his home for life. Such improvements attract the eye of the stranger who mny be visiting our colony, and will have an f ffect when ipoken of elsewhere. Hitherto the people of Auckland have had too many urgent claims on their time to bestow much attention on horticulture ; but now, when the first roughings ot the early settlers arepHst, a taste for gardening, the most natural and one of the most refined, begins to appear, and several gardens have been laid out in a tasteful manner in the neighbourhood of Auckland and the village of Epsom. The facts stated in the following passage are cheering, and afford a sufficiently strong foundation ou which to rest the hopes of future progress which are expressed or implied in it : — The Cotrmittee now resign their duties to the scceisors whom the Society may appoint satisfied that the aspect of the country aroHnd Auckland warrants the praises which have been bestowed on New Zealand us ati eligible colony for our countrymen at home to »elect as a productive field for their energy and enterprise ; the pasture lands in every direction have this year produced heavy crops of hay; ami the appearance of the grain and potato cropi is very promising. The quantity of stock a pasture field, in proportion to its acreage, will : maintain throughout the year is equal, if not greater, J than in England. A large extent ot land is now under grass, and more under preparation to be kid down dur« ing th? ensuing autumn. The rapid increase of stock, the diiadvantage of bush feeding, and the greater profit realized from cattle kept on pasture, have induced the farmers to lay down every acre they could, aod their intention has been chiefly devoted to this object. A few statistical statements are given in the latter part of the Report. The average of crops in the district was, — Potatoes, six tons per acre ; Wheat thirty, Oats foity, and Barley thirty bushels per acre -, and Clover, one and a half tons of hay per acre. A comparison with the Nelson Returns, published in our last, will show that the average of the grain crops here is considerably higher than in the South. It is to be noted also that " these averages are for land on which manure has not been used." Wheat has not hitherto proved a remunerative crop ; but the increase in mills will so lessen the cost of grinding as to afford an inducement to our farmers to grow it, — the generality of our soils being well suited for its production. The Natives are likely to be its chief producers. The Funds of the Society for the year 1830 amounted to £87 3s. Bd. ; the Expenditure to £69 9s , leaving a balance in hand of £17 14s. Bd. A Statement of Crops, Pasture, Cultivated Land, and Stock for 1850, within fourteen miles of Auckland, is added by the kindj ness of th» Commissioner of Police. We need not repeat the figures here, however, as we recently gave them with others of a similar kind in considerable detail. . . .There is also a Table of Meteorological and Thermometrical Observations taken in Auckland during 1850. It appears that there were one hundred and eighty-three days without rain ; one hundred and forty-six showery days ; and thirty-six wet days. The highest temperature was eighty -seven — which was in the month of Febluary ; the lowest thirty -four — in July. s We commend and re-commend the Society whose Report we have thus introduced to the favourable consideration of our readers. The importance of its objects are too obvious to require enforcement ; but its

utility must necessaiily depend in a great degree on the amount of public support it mayreceive. We have not forgotten indeed that its last Show (1851) was not equal to those which are noticed in the Report ; , but we willingly believe that the falling-off was owing to merely accidental and temporary circumstances ; and we look with strong hope to its next Exhibitions for a verification of this conclusion.

We were compelled by other demands on our space to break off in our last summary of English Intelligence before we had got through all the items of news which we had intended lo introduce. We now recur to our files in order to compile from them the particulars then omitted, and a few others gathered especially from the Scotch papers. An unusually large number of fatal accidents are recorded in our late files. Nine men had been killed and several other severely burnt by an explosion of fire damp in a coal mine at Haydock, in Lancashire, — the same pit in which thirteen lives had been lost by a similar explosion in 1845 A yet deeper tragedy had occurred at Houghton Pifi, near Newbottle in Durham, where twenty-six men and boys were killed by an explosion ; one hundred and twenty others who were in the pit with much difficulty retained a position where they could breathe, but in which they were hemmed in on all sides by the fatal chokedamp, and remained for hours in utter darkness momentarily expecting to be suffocated by the foul air. .... At Bent Grange Colliery, Oldham, sixteen miners perished by an explosion, caused by a falling of part of the roof which broke a safety lamp. But, in this, as well as in the former cases, there was reason to believe that the catastrophes might have been prevented by due supervision and care An explosion of gunpowder at the Lisburne lead mines had killed several persons The last paper which has reached us contains an account of another dreadful explosion of fire-damp at the Black Rock Vein Pit, in South Wales, the full results of which had not been ascertained, but it was certain that three of the miners had been killed. About four years since an explosion in the same pit was attended with the loss of forty lives In addition to these melancholy occurrences, there are numerous accounts of the loss of single lives by fire, drowning, and railway and other accidents. More distressing than the catalogue of accidents is the catalogue of crimes in the English papers, which equals — if it does not exceed — any similar catalogue for a corresponding period which we can call to recollection, not only in the number of offences, but also in the atrocity of some of them, and the ingenuity — the perverted talent — displayed in the commission of others. The newspapers comment on this strongly. Thus the Spectator says, " Public affairs shrink into commonplaces compared to the startling manifestations of criminal violence ; the journals teem with every sort of murderous and burglarious excess." The Britannia observes, "The increase of crime, in the intensity as well as the number of the cases, continues to force itself on the public attention." Amongst the murders, that which (next to the murder of the Rev. G. E. Hollest, at Frimley, which we mentioned iv a former number) engaged the largest share of public attention was one near Bermondsey. The perpetrator was a very young man named Drory, of respectable connexions ; the victim a girl whom he had seduced, and whom he strangled under circumstances of the most revolting atrocity, having, for the fell purpose, enticed her into a lone field under pretence of making arrangements for their marriage. It was a double murder, as the wretched victim was in an advanced stage of pregnancy There was no doubt that the real assassins of Mr. Hollest had been apprehended, as one of four men in custody had made a full confession of the horrible details. We regret to observe that the widow of the murdered clergyman was left in such straitened circumstances as to render necessary an appeal on her behalf to the benevolence of the public. Secessions from the Church of England to Rome, from the ranks of both the clergy and the laity, continued to be reported. The most notable conversion amongst the clergy was that of the Rev. Henry W. Wilberforce, Vicar of East Farleigh in the diocese of Canterbury (worth £1000 per annum), son of the great philanthropist, and brother of the Bishop of Oxforo. This gentleman's mind appears to have been decidedly imbued with Romish views for some time before he took the final step. He had conceived such an admiration for the Founder of the Order of Jesuits that he had given the name of Ignatius to one of his children. At length he went to Brussels, and after passing some days "in retreat" at the house of one of the Jesuit fathers, was baptized on the 15th of September, and subsequently confirmed by theCardinalof Malines. His wife accompanied him in this change of faith. It is observable that the Bishop of Oxford's family has now furnished no less than five accessions to Rome, the Rev. G. Dudley Ryder, married to his sister-in-law, — Mrs. Ryder, his sister-in-law,— and Mrs. William Wilderforce, another sister in-law having previously embraced its creed..,..

Another secession which had excited more than ordinary attention was that of the Rev. Eyre Batiiuust, formerly Fellow of Merton College, Oxford,— a convert of Dr. Newman's, w ho evidenced at least the sincerity of his change of opinion by resigning a living in Leicestershire worth £ 1 500 per annum The Scottish Episcopal Church was also furnishing its full contingent of converts. Amongst °them was the Rev. W. Maclaurin, Dean of the United Diocese of Moray and Ross. Dr. Forbes, Bishop of Brechin, (son of the late Lord Meowyn, the Scottish judge) was also reported .as having "gone over." The fact was denied, but re-asserted in the papers. The truth is that the Scottish Episcopal Church is already so ultra- Tractarianized that the passage from it to the Church of Rome is comparatively a short step. A man who believes, for instance, in the plain teaching of its Communion Office, makes but a slight advance when he adopts the doctrine of Transubstantiation. in its full-blown completeness. Bishop Forbes was formerly the Curate of St. Thomas, Oxford, and, (should he really have seceded) is the third curate of the same parish, and the fourteenth of the parochial clergy of Oxford, who have left the Church of England Amongst the Protestant (?) laymen who were " suspected of being suspected," (to use a significant phrase now frequently employed in referring to the "Transitionists"), was LordLvTTELTOtf ; hut his lordship had written a long letter to the (Tractaiian) Guardian, the meaning of which, so far as we can make it out, seems to be that he does not intend to secede, although he is far from being satisfied with the position of the Church of England, especially since the judgment in the Gorham case. The general aspect of the harvest is stated to have been such as to allay anxiety. The Times pledges its reputation for accurate commercial knowledge to the calculation that the wheat crop, though not redundant, had been vouchsafed in " merciful sufficiency ;" that barley and oats were above the average ; and that, although the potato crop had suffered much, especially in Ireland, yet the quantity sown had been so great that enough would remain for the actual wants of the people. Immense importations of bread stuffs from abroad were, however, anticipated. The returns of the Board of Trade, published in the beginning of November, were very satisfactory. For the month ending on the 10th of October, the total declared value of Exports exceeded those of the same month last year by £807,712. "The increase," says the Times, "is all but universal, and includes every branch of manufacture." The Imports exhibited a corresponding improvement, especially in the articles of Avheat, flour, coffee, sugar, tobacco, fruit, and wine. Thus (to quote the Times again) " It appears that during the month under review, and indeed during the present year as a whole, the country has been exporting and importing, producing and consuming, very much more than last year, and that, as far as the Customs' Returns can inform us, the increase of production and consumption has pervaded all employments, and probably all classes."

We learn with regret from the Scotch papers that much distress still existed in the Western Highlands. The potato crop had again failed to a considerable extent ; the Relief Funds, '< notwithstanding the prudence with which they had been administered, were entirely exhausted ; and those best qualified to judge concurred in the opinion that before the spring ' of 1851 severe want would be experienced on the western coasts and islands of Inverness and Ross. 1 Measures were said to be in contemplation for extending the grounds around Holyrood Palace, and making other arrangements — to be completed by the time of the next expected visit of the Queen, who wishes to hold a Levee at the ancient palace of the Scottish Sovereigns. The inauguration of the Free Church College, for the professional training of candidates ; for the ministry, took place on the 6th of November. The Seminary forms a splendid memorial of the liberality of the contributors, 'twenty-one of whom gave one thousand pounds each towards its establishment. The total cost of the Building, including the Free High Church attached to it and the site, was £48,500, of which only a deficit of £1,300 remained. The sum of £2000 had also been subscribed towards endowing the Chairs of the College. Lord Ashley had been on a visit to Scotland; not however at the call of pleasure, which at that season attracted so many of the nobility and gentry of England to its moors and mountains, but in pursuit of the philanthropic objects with which his name has become equally familiarly and honorably identified. At Edinburgh he actively engaged in the promotion of the iiagged Schools with the Rev. Dr. Guthrie, the chief promoter of that benevolent enterprise there. Next, he laid before the public his scheme for improving the dwellings of the industrious classes, with so much success that it was determined forthwith to erect a building capable of furnishing accommodation for fotty families on the plan of the model establishment of the kind in London,— the site to be adjoining the house in

which John Knox resided in the Nether Bow. And finally, he passed some time in consulting with the Committee of the Sabbath Alliance on the means of promoting the due observance of the Lord's Day, in which of late years there has been a remarkable declension in Scotland. According to to the Brechin Advertiser, agricultural emigration from that district to Ireland was engaging the attention of the farmers, several of whom had visited that country to ascertain the nature of the soil, the rents, &c, and had reported very favourably on their return. A monument had been raised at Fordoun to the memory of George Wishart, the Protestant martyr, who was burned at St. Andrew's on the Ist of March, 1546; — and arrangements were in progress for erecting a monument to the memory of Colonel Gardiner, who fell at the battle of,vPreston on the 21st of September, 1745, — " in commemoration of his eminent patriotic and Christian virtues." A Committee had also been formed — (it was full time!) — to arrange for the erection of a monument to the Scottish hero Walla.cc ; and Mr. Patrick Pakk, the sculptor, was engaged in modelling the figures for it. The arch projected at Dundee in the year 1844, in honour of Queen Victoria's visit in that year, was nearly completed. It is the only permanent memorial yet erected to commemorate Her Majesty's Scottish progresses. The number of Irish reapers who had entered Scotland, via the Clyde, during the last harvest was estimated at more than two thousand. Steps were being taken to construct eleven miles of railway through the county of Elgin, for which an Act of Parliament was obtained in 1846. Illicit distillation was on the increase in Scotland. Two stills had been seized in the H ighlands. It is said that whiskey can now be extracted from the mountain heather '. The health of the Lord Advocate was in so precarious a state that it was not likely he would be able to resume his official duties. Sir Wm. Gibson Craig was named as his probable successor.

Annual Muster of the Enrolled Pensioners. — On Friday week, the divisions of the Pensioner Force located at Onehunga, Panmure, and Otahuhu, were inspected at Onehunga by Lieut.-Colonel Wynyard, C. B.; and, we are informed went through their various evolutions in a manner highly satisfactory to the gallant Inspecting Officer, and affording ample proof that they have not forgotten their military skill in their pursuit of the more quiet occupations in which they have recently been engaged. Their state of discipline reflects high credit on Major Kenny, and their other officers ; and we are happy to be enabled to state on undoubted authority, that the conduct of the men themselves has been most praiseworthy. We are informed not an individual was absent during the preparatory drill.

Matakana Coal. — We understand that the Committee for conducting the experimental operations at Matakana met yesterday afternoon. Corporal Hyde, of the 58th Regiment, (who had been superintending the trial), had come to town, supposing that his leave of absence had expired,— it had, however, been renewed for a month. He did not make any formal report; but we are informed that he entertains strong hope of being ultimately successful, although hitherto coal has not been reached.