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The New-Zealander.

He jtiHt and fear not : Let nil tlio ends tlion alms't at, bu thy Country'H, Thy God'i, and Truth's.

SATURDAY, JU N E 7, 1851.

Whatever benefit the sanguine may anticipate to this colony from the discovery of the New South Wales gold-mines — (and we ate of those who think that the probability of any immediate good resulting to us from it is very problematical indeed)— the purchasers of the necessaries of life here are already sustaining palpable loss, in consequence of the sudden rise in the prices of almost every article of daily and indispensable consumption. This is not produced by any actual scarcity ; for we believe the supply in, the hands of merchants and dealers is, generally speaking, quite up to the average stock ; but from an apprehension that there will be such a continuous demand in the Sydney market as to perpetuate for a considerable time an increased rale there, which must of course, while it lasts, affect the puichasesmade in that market for this and all other places. Wo can see no reasonable ground, however, for entertaining that supposition to the extent to which many seem disposed to carry it. Intercourse between Sydney and other important ports is constant and rapid ; the intelligence of the state of affairs there will soon reach districts where many of the commodities most sought after are abundant j commercial speculators in those districts will not be slow to act upon the news ; merchandise will be poured in from various quatters; and in Sydney, just as at San Francisco, a temporary and feverish excitement will be succeeded by a glut and a depression in the market. That this will occur sooner or later no reasonable man can doubt; — that such an approach to it as will reduce the prices of many articles to somewhat near their natuial and ordinary level will soon take place, appears highly probable when we remember the number and proximity of the neighbouring colonies, and the facilities of communication between them, — to leave out of the question for the present the more slow, but ultimately the absolutely certain, supplies which will be sent from England, and other distant countries. Just now, therefore, a panic, or any of the steps to which a panic usually leads would be rash and irrational. Some amount of loss must unavoidably be borne, as the articles on which the most marked advances are made are such as cannot be done without ; — those who have stores in hand will of course reap a present profit from the exigencies of a slate of things which consumers could not foresee so as to prepare against ; — but for the public, we submit, the part of prudence will be to wait cautiously and patiently for the settling of the maiket which the common f>ense of the case may teach us cannot be very distant, Men with small incomes cannot indeed but feel the pressure, however shoit its duration may be; but a steady and painstaking perseverance in their respective pursuits of industry will live

the difficulty out ; and it is better to bear, until they manfully overcome it, here, where they have something solid and certain to rest uponthan to rush into scenes and circumstances the doubtful, delusive, and dangerous character of which is written in tho hi&tory of California with tears and blood. A word, however, to our agricultural friends. We have repeatedly urged on them the expediency of directing more attention and devoting more enterprise to the cultivation of Wheat. A new and most powerful argument to induce them to do so arises so obviously from the present demand for flour, that it cannot be necessary to point it out at any length. For that product of the soil, there was always a suie market ; bnt now there will be one even surer, and much wider, both for home consumption and exportation to New South Wales, where the fields are deserted in the chase after gold, and where such a rapid increase of population will inevitably take place The season for sowing this all important grain has happily not yet passed, and we trust, that many of our settlers, and many of our natives also, will he wise in time on this matter, and thus safely and honourably secure for themselves — us we are persuaded they may — a share in the riches of the mines of "Ophir." As respects the Natives, we trust that those who have often exercised in other ways a salutary influence over their minds, will stir them up to exertion for their own advantage and the good of the colony in this instance.

Although Gold is necessarily the engrossing theme of the Sydney papers which have last reached us, we find in them a few other matters, a brief view of which will not be unacceptable to most of our readers. A very interesting meeting of the members and friends of the recently organized Australian Boaid of Missions was held in the Infant School Room, Castlereagh-street, on the 19th ultimo, the Bishop of Sydney in the Chair. A Report, of which the following is the substance, was read by the Rev. W. B. Clarke, one of the Secretaries. Sir Charles Fitzßoy had accepted the office of Patron of the Society. A Sub-Committee, appointed to purchase a vessel for the purposes of the Misnon, had, after careful deliberation and survey, bought the Border Maid, 91 tons registered measurement, as that which seemed to be the best fitted, amongst several vessels proposed, for the object in view. The purchase money had been £1200, of which £1000 had been supplied from the Sydney Diocesan Board, and the remaining sum of £2CO had been derived from the Diocese of Newcastle. The vessel was to be conveyed as a free gift to the Bishop of Nkw Zealand and his successors, for the service of the Mission. It was deemed desirable to change the name " Border Maid" to " Southern Cross, 1 ' as more appropriate to the work of evangelism in which the ves&el is to be engaged ; but it was found that there might be difficulties in altering the name of an already regisleied vessel, and the Committee could only leave it to the Bishops of Nkw Zealand and Newcastle to apply to the proper authorities in England for a removal of the technical or other objections to the change. An expenditure of £50 had been incurred over the cost of purchase in providing additional stores, &c, which the Bishop of Sydney was to defray for the present, trusting for repayment to the missionary collections in the dioceses of Tasmania, Adelaide, and Melbourne. It was proposed also that the further su bscriptions from those dioceses should be appro • priated to the expenses of the repairs and navigation of the vessel. A considerable sum had been contributed in England, and placed at the disposal of the Bishop of Nkw Zealand, in aid of the purpose. The Committee proceeded ,to state that while they were thus attending to the wants of the heathen in the Islands of the Pacific, they were not unmindful of the claims of their own aboriginal population; but steps upon this subject were postponed until the return of the right reverend the President from a visitation of the districts on the Macquarie, Lachlan, and Murrimbudge Rivers, and to other parts beyond the boundaries, on which he intends to enter in September, The Bisnoi* was about to issue a pastoral letter appointing Whitsunday, the Bth of June, for preaching sermons and making collections on behalf of the Society. It was also recommended that Deputations should visit various parts of the country in order to establish District Committees in connexion with the Board... The Meeting was addressed by the Bishop of Sydney, Dr. Nicholson (Speaker of the Legislative Council), the Rev. Dr. Jackson (Bishop- Designate of Lyttelton), Captain Kino, the Bishop of Newcastle, and Messrs. C. Kemp, C. Cowpeh, and R. Johnson ; and Resolutions in accordance with the Report were unanimously adopted. A few days previously, the thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Now South Wales Auxiliary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society was held in the Centenary Chapel, York-street, — Alderman Allen, M.L.C., in the Chair. Several ministers of various denominations addressed the Meeting. It appeared from the Financial Statement that the net receipts of this Auxiliary for the past year amounted to £1014. Although the time that will be required for the completion of the new Electoral Lists will make the middle of September the earliest

date at which the General Election can take place, yet different parties were mustering their forces for the contest. It is to be regretted that, in addition to the ordinary sources of contention on sue]) occasions, the element of religious discord seems likely to be thrown into the Sydney election. Passing by an advertisement calling ou the clergy and laity of the Church of England not to pledge themselves to vote for am/ candidate at present, (which being anonymous deserves little notice), we find a regularly organized Committee, appointed at a meeting of Roman Catholic Electors, appealing to the constituency to support Mr. Lonomoue, — just because he is a Roman Catholic. "Of his political principles," they observe, " we shall say nothing." That is, according to the just comment of the Jlerald, " He belongs to our Church, and that is enough : on that ground we entreat both Protestants and Catholics to give him their votes." The Empire referring to this new plan of starting " Denominational Candidates" asks, " Why not the Congregationalists 1 and our friends of the Hebrew faith, where is their man? Will no community be ridiculous besi les the Church of England and the Catholics'?".. The other candidates named for Sydney are Mr. Lamd, Mr. Wentworth, Mr. Cowper, and the immaculate Dr. Lang, who hopes to show (not for the first time) with how much self-possession he can step out of Jail into the Council Chamber.

We insert in another part of our present number, an article from the London Times, on "The Commercial Year," which, notwithstanding its length, will well repay an attentive perusal. It is a historical retiospect of the commercial affairs of the year 1850, — of which the writer says, •' In commercial history, there never was a year that could be reviewed with more satisfaction ;" — and a prospective glance at what may be anticipated for 1 851, respecting which he maintains that "favourable as the hopes were for 1 819 and 1 850, they are now brighter and more extensive, although thr current of events must be less smooth." Whatever may be the claims of the Timet to hi deemed " the leading journal of Europe" on other subjects, there can be no second opinion as to its pre-eminence amongst the daily paperd on matters affecting trade and commerce j and we willingly postpone other claims on our space to give early and full insertion to an article which we regard as possessing an important documentary character.

Mr. Whytlaw's Lecture on Flax. —This Lecture was delivered, according to advertizement, in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, yesterday, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and repeated at eight o'clock in the evening. Dr. Bennett (as a Member of the Committee) presided. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the audiences were numerous and of the highest respectability, including most of those gentlemen in the town and neighbourhood whose judgment on such a subject would be likely to have weight in directing public opinion. His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor was present at the afternoon Lecture. We cannot to-day enter at any length into a description of Mr. Whytlaw's process, but we may state that its leading principle is the separation of the fibre by an action across the leaf, instead of lonyitudinally as it is done by the Natives. The object is to accomplish in the best manner the mechanical part of the work here, leaving the chemical action on it to be effected in England, where it can be done cheaply and on a larger scale. The Lecturer exhibited a working model, constructed for the carrying out of his plan, the parts and operation of which he, clearly explained, mentioning bis intention of having a number of machines made under his own inspection, to be sold at a moderate price to parties wishing to engage in the work, lie added that he would himself be a purchaser of fibre so prepared, —there being at present an almost unlimited demand for it in England, where, by a new process, flax is found to be an efficient substitute for cotton. The Lecture, and the replies given by Mr. Whytlaw to inquiries on various points arising out of it, afforded great satisfaction, and the general conviction seemed to be that his plan is likely to prove of the utmost practical value and importance.

Proposed Public Bakery.—lt will be seen by our advertising columns that a Public Meeting for the purpose of considering the best means of establishing a Public Bakery iv this town will be held in the Mall of the Mechanics' Institute at five o'clock this afternoon. There will most probably be a large attendance, as just now the obtaining of bread at an equitable rate both to the seller and the buyer is a matter of urgent and universal interest. For some time past Bread has been charged at a higher rate here than at other places,—for instance at Wellington—situated for supplies of flour in nearly the same circumstances as Auckland ; but the rise of fifty per cent over even that high price which has taken place within the last few days makes it full time that the public should see whether they cannot help themselves in the case.

Early Closing.—An advertisement in another column announces the resolution of the principal Grocers in Auckland to close thei r

shops during the winter months at seven o'clock in the evening. We have not space to day for more than a cordial expression of our gratification that this step has been agreed on by them ; and an earnest call upon the public to support them in it. Supreme Court. — Civil Side. — The only case that stood for trial this day was settled out of Court on yesterday afternoon. Consequently, jurors who have been summoned will not be required to attend the Court this morning.

In our last number, we gave, so far as other demands on our space permitted, a summary and comments on some of the leading particulars of European intelligence received by the last arrivals. Much necessarily remained, however, on which we could then scarcely touch. We now therefore resume our task of presenting to our readers an epitome of such portions of the news before us as may be likely to possess interest here, directing our attention first to Ireland, The accounts from that country, we are happy to state, contain more of an encouraging character, with less of a distressing detail of contrary influences, than it has frequently been our lot to record. Prominent amongst the gratifying facts is the prevalence to an unwonted extent of tranquillity, even in the aistricts which had become almost proverbial for turbulence. Thus, in Tipperary, which had acquired so unenviable a notoriety in the annals of ciime, we. find Mr. Sergeant Howley, Chairman of the County, in opening thu Coutt at Nenagh, congratulating the Grand Jury on a lighter calendar than he remembered to have ever seen there before. " I can truly aver," he said, "that the county, within my experience, was never in such a state of tranquillity, so free from the heavier crimes, and general outrage, and in such general subordination to law and f order; indeed the agrarian offences have altogether disappeared." A similar testimony was borne by Mr. Hartstonge Robinson, Chairman of the County of Sligo, who declared that "the dawn of improvement" in this and other ways which was discernible when he last met the Magistrates, "was becoming daily more distinct," and that there were "unequivocal symptoms of amendment, sufficient to dispel the gloom which has long hung over the country." Connected with tranquillity — in the relation we may readily believe of cause and effect, — was a diminution of distress. There was less sickness, and a smaller amount of grinding poverty. In some of the Poor Law districts, the number of persons claiming relief on the first of last January did not exceed half the number of pauper claimants on the corresponding day of the preceding year. To take Mr. Robinson's testimony again, — "rents were being paid with greater facility, and the prices of cattle, and of every description of agricultural produce were buoyant and remuneiative." A higher testimony than even these, however, was that borne by the Lord Lieutenant at an inaugural banquet given at the Mansion house in Dublin by the new and universally esteemed Lord Mayor Guinness, on the 22nd of January. His Excellency said, Speaking, gentlemen, in the presence of many so much better informed than myself upon the subject I should regret to indulge in any expectations which they might think too sanguine; but still I hope it is not an exaggeration to say, with reference to the times that we lately passed, that the commercial and indns« trial prospects of Dublin are improving, that many of our artizariß are better employed, that the necessaries of life fire more within the reach of the poorer classes, and that bus'nesi, although perhaps not so extensive as formerly, yet is now conducted on a system far more cautious and secure. Generally too, throughout the country, I trust that the tide has turned, and that the termination of the disaiters which for five years have fallen so heavily upon Ireland, has been hailed by increased energy and exertion on the part of all c'asses of the community. And if such be the case, and if the present general state of tranquillity be maintained, — which I see no reason to doubt—if the diminution of crime continues to give the most satisfactory evidence ot diminished destitution— as it has done in the year 1850— I trust that this state of things will beneficially ce-act on the metropolis, and that your lordship's year of office will be one of progressive amelioration ; and this would repay you for the personal sacrifices you have made, and for the responsibility you have undertaken. (Applause.) The latest sales of Encumbered Estates were the best since the opening of the Commission ; higher prices were realized, and there were several Englishmen among the purchasers, — " not," as the Northern Whig observes, " your plethoric money holders," whose purchases might only have perpetuated the absentee evil, tut " sturdy industrious men, with moderate capitals, who will come to work the ground themselves, and by their enterprise and energy, set a good example to their neighbours." Even the Times — certainly no flatterer, and scarcely a friend to Ireland or the Irish — says with reference to the investment of English capital in that country, — " the fortunes of Ireland are decidedly on the ascendant. Its railways that join sea to sea, the vast sums of money lately spent on its roads, and its drainage, not to speak of the intended cultivation of flax to a very large extent, and the mercantile value discovered in bog earth, add some speculative attractions to an investment which can be recommended on the most solid grounds." In the same article, however, the " leading journal," holds out as an important inducement that the population of Ireland is rapidly lessening and is likely, " according to present

appearances to be reduced in a few years below the average of European States." This qualifying consideration seems to be borne out by facts, which cannot be gainsaid. Disease and starvation have undoubtedly greatly thinned the numbers of the peasantry ; and the extent to which emigration has proceeded may partly be inferred from the statement, which we find in statistical returns from the United States, that the number of Irish emigrants who landed at New York in the year 1850, amounted to 119,552 souls. Probably, this may also in some measure explain the seemingly anomalous fact, that notwithstanding such tokens of improvement as those to which we have referred, the revenue of the Port of Dublin, and the tonnage of the highly prosperous Port of Belfast both exhibited a falling off during the past year. The Tenant-League movement was progressing. Roman Catholic priests in the South, and Presbyterian Ministers in the North, being as heretofore the principal orators at its meetings, although very many of all parties so far concurred in its general object as to desiie some arrangement which would secure remuneration to the occupant of land for his improvements without inflicting wrong upon the landlord. The League had sustained a heavy blow in the defeat of its nominee at the Limerick election. There were three candidates, — Mr. Goolb, a Whig, who was successful ; Captain Dickson, a Conservative ; and Mr. Ryan, the Tenant- Leaguer who was left at the bottom of the poll. On the other hand, however,, the R. C. Archbishop Cullen had, so recently as the 24th of January, written to the Secretary at Armagh, assuring the League of his " fervent prayers" for its success ; and Dr. Keank, (whose appointment to the new Roman Catholic Bishopric of Ross was noticed in our last), will no doubt use his increased influence in promotion of an object with which he had already fully identified himself at the Tenant Conference in Dublin. We had prepared some additional notes on the state of Ireland, but must defer them, with further gatherings from our late files, to another day.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18510607.2.8

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 537, 7 June 1851, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
3,606

The New-Zealander. New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 537, 7 June 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander. New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 537, 7 June 1851, Page 2

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