The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 27, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 595, 27 December 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 27, 1851.

Be just nnd fear not: Let nil the ends thou anns't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, diid Truth's.

■By the Lucy James, which arrived in Manuk.au on Tuesday, we have received a large number of journals from all the Southern Settlements. Some of them, however, are of very venerable antiquity, being- considerably older than even the -English papers brought by the Lord Wm. Bentinck, — thus illustrating 1 anew the already too well-known fact of the wretched irregularity and uncertainty of the intercommunication between the several parts of the colony. However, we have also recent intelligence by the Lucy James, the ! dates, coming down to — Wellington, Dec. 10 ; Nelson, Nov. 22 ; Otago, Nov. 22 ; and | Lyttelton, Nov. 22. The arrival of the Government Brig on Thursday has added the Wellington papers of the 13th instant, with news from Nelson to the 29th. of November, and from LytI telton to the 10th of this month. On first glancing- over the papers Ta^> were attracted by paragraphs reporting alleged discoveries of gold in every one of the Settlements in New Munster. Since the news from Bathurst reached the South, " prospecting" has been going forward in all directions ; and had our files broken off at some particular dates, we should have been left in suspense as to the issue in two or three places. But further information dissipated the delusion. We shall as we proceed in our summary notice the several rumours according to their respective localities, but we can quiet the mind of any reader who may be anxious on the subject, by stating that — although there was reason to believe other mineral products were likely to be obtained in remunerative quantities — it was quite certain that the "precious metal" had not been found anywhere in the province. The GovERNOR-iN-CmEFhad paid a short visit to Nelson, whence he returned to Wellington on the 26th ult. We shall notice what transpired respecting this visit when we come to sum up the Nelson news. Amongst the notifications in the Government Gazette, were the following: — Mr. Domett, Colonial Secretary, for New Munster, had been appointed, in addition, to act as Civil Secretary, " until Her Majesty's further pleasure shall be known." A Return of the Revenue and Expenditure of the Southern Settlements for the Quarter ending June 30 (published on the 4th December] showed an Income for the Quarter of £10,812, and an Expenditure of £10,192. The Return did not include Otago, from which the necessary information had not been received, but we observe in the Witness the official statement for that Settlement for the foeptember Quarter, which exhibits an ostensible Revenue of £946,— £592 being, however, in the unprofitable item of " Deposits not available" —and an Expenditure of £860 The amount of notes in circulation from the Wellington Colonial Bank of Issue on the 15th of November was, £6,466; the coin held by the office on that day, £2,466. The sum of four thousand pounds had been invested, under the Governor's warrant, in the English Funds, through the Commissariat Department A detailed Report on the Medical Topography of the Wan^anui District, by Dr. Rees, had been published in the Gazette. The Memorial from some of the Hutt Settlers protesting against the establishment of a Corporation in that District, had been replied to by the Colonial secretary, with an assurance that "in endeavouring as heretofore to promote to the utmost of his power the welfare and prosperity of the inhabitants of the Hutt District, His Excellency will duly consider the objections entertained to his erecting that District into a Borough." The Independent assiduously strives to convince the memorialists that, notwithstanding this assurance, His Excellency will not pay the slightest attention to their protest, "if he thinks he can safely force a Charter of Incorporation upon them." The Criminal Session of the Supreme Court commenced on the Ist inst., but, after the local business had been disposed of, was adjourned until prisoners expected from Canterbury should arrive. Mr. Justice Chapman, in charging the Grand Jury, commented on the gratifying diminution ot crime, notwithstanding the increase of population, and especially noticed that the dischargeandabsorption in the population of a large number of the military— who were believed to be not the best men in the regiment, the officers, having, in making the selection retained the steadiest men — had not increased the total of crime, very few of the discharged soldiers having been brought before that Court: "it might have been expected," His Honor said, "that an increase of crime might have been occasioned under these circumstances, but the result showed how a man's character altered and improved by having a stake in ,tlie country." / . , The gold-hunters had sanguinely fancied that they hadfound the object of their search in the Upper Hutt; but the specimens were carefully tested at a meeting of the New Zealand Society, by Dr. Ralph, the Secretary and the blank result was,— "not the slightest trace of gold was perceptible. The Independent, however, gives currency to a report that bismuth (known amori^ workmen as " marcasite" and "tin r glass') had been found near Wellington. This would be an important discovery, as it is not only a useful, but a rare, and therefore necessarily a valuable mineral ; but, as the Independent itself suggests, all would depend upon the yet undetermined issue, — whether "it can be found in sufficient abundance to make it an article worth finding." The new Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary had been consecrated on the 7th instant with much "pomp and circumstance," as may be inferred from the following extract which we take from a long account in the Independent: — ■ About a quarter to ten o'clock, when most eyeg wer* directed to the Bishop's residence, the procession appeared, slowly advancing in the following order:— Three girls, the centre and tallest of them beaiiig » banner, on which was beautifully drawn the figur* of the Virgin Mary ; Scholars of the girla' school, %\\ neatly dresied in white ; Maori girls and women, ex.

ceedingly well attired; Sisteis of Charity, habited in black cloaks, veils, and bonnets. Scholars of the boys ■chool, the leader bearing an appropriate banner ; three boys, the centre one bearing a large silver crucifix; the Bishop, airayed in. his sacerdotal vestments, bearing the crozier, and accompanied by nine priests. The Bishop and the priests and attendant boys then stood in fiont of the Church, reading prayers, and performing other rites; after which, they made the circuit of the Church, and sprinkled its walls with holy water as he went— on his return, he knocked at the entrance door, j and spoke several sentences in Latin, and was answered from within. Thrice this part of the ceremony was re peated, and when he knocked at the door for the thud time, it was opened ; the Bishop entered, followed by the procession, amid the melodious sounds of music, vocal and instrumental, and soon the Church was filled in every part by an eager and anxious throng, who numbered at least COO persons. The consecration was then proceeded with. The Altar presented a beautiful sight ; it was decorated in the most tasteful manner with flowers, lighted -with wax tapers, and ornamented with emblems peculiar to Catholicism. In continuing the ceremony of consecration, the Bishop traced with his crozier the Greek and Latin alphabet, in the figuie of a cross formed on the floor, " while the canticle of Zachariab, the father of St. John the Baptist, was being sung " At the termination of the consecration, and quite unexpectedly, the Maories commenced singing a psalm in such a correct and impressive manner as to cause quite j a sensation among tLe spectators. High Mass, and a Sermon by the Rev. J. J. P. O'Reilly, followed. The Building (which, though unfinished, is described as*" a handsome and imposing- structure") stands on the summit of a hill which overlooks Thorndon Flat. The Independent remarks respecting the growth of Roman Catholic edifices in this locality, It is but seventeen months since the large plot of -ground laying to the north of the tof) of Hill-street was .void of buildings, unfenced, and uncultivated. Now it >ia crowned with a neat Bishop's residence, a Convent, -several Lodges, a girls' School, a boys' School, and a Church ; a large portion of it is neatly and substantially •fenced in, and well cultivated as a garden ; more buildings are shortly to be erected, which will make the place worthy of the name of the Catholic's village. The •" New Zealand Society" was making, a'prjogress which promises stability and extension, — uales3 indeed (as we cannot help apprehending) it is chiefly attributable to the presence of Sir George Grey and the warm interest taken by his Excellency in its advancement. At the last meeting, several new members were admitted, and some valuable donations were presented to the Museum. It was announced also that the Council had purchased for fifty pounds Mr. W. Mantell's cabinet of minerals, containing upwards of five hundred specimens. The Wellington Building Society was agoing on prosperously. At its second monthly meeting, held on the Ist instant, £156 was taken in cash ; eighteen new shares were subscribed for ; and four shares were disposed of at the minimum price of ,£45 each, the Society realizing by this sale the sum of £4.0. We might have had something analogous to this to report of our projected Land Association in Auckland, ir its progress had not been retarded — not to say fatally checked — by the impossibility of obtaining the Building Societies Ordinance, in accordance with which it is essential that the Rules shou'd be drawn up, but no copy of which was to be had here, although it has been obligatory upon us as law since July last. The Burnham Water Races had been fixed for the 27th and 28th of January, in order not to interfere with the usual celebration of the Anniversary. The Independent of the 10th instant the following flattering description of -the crops, markets, &c. : — The people of Wellington, since the foundation of the settlement, never witnessed co genial a season as the one with which they have this year been favoured. The fine rains we bad a week or two ago made all the garden vegetables, the fruits, and the field crops to grow more rapidly and luxuriantly than was ever seen before. In some gardens cherries and raspberries are now fit for gathering, while in all of them the flowers are so numerous, aud beautiful that the air is'filled with their sweet •fragrance, and the eye enchanted by beholding them. Gooseberries are now selling at half the price obtained last 3>ear ; and young potatoes this week, will, we expect, .be as low as l£d. per lb. Green peas have been in the market for the last three weeks, but' we do not expect they will be very plentiful until Christmas. The grain crops are looking remarkably well, and bid fair for a good harvest. The price of bread was reduced on Monday to sd. the 2lb. loaf, and flour is down to 19s. per 100 lbs. The hay harvest is now at its height in Wellington and its' vicinity, for which 1 the late fine weather has been very propitious. The grass crops are everywhere abundant, and the activity of the settlers betokens that they mean, in more senses thim one, "to make hay while the sun shines."

The principal matters engaging attention at Nelson may be gathered from the following account of the subjects brought before the Goyernou-in-Chief during his Excellency's •recent visit, as narrated in the Examiner of the 22nd ult. His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief baa paid us Ins contemplated visit this week ; but although ' Sir George arrived here only on Thursday morning, it is his intention to leave again to-morrow evening. The short stay of his Excellency is attributable, we believe, to the circumstance that he expects despatches from England will be awaiting him in Wellington. For the two clear days which his Excellency has been able to devote to business, the greater part of his time has been taken up in giving interviews on public, as well as on private affairs. As far as we are acquain- ' ted with tbe particulars, we shall briefly notice the result df those which concern the public. Yesterday a large deputation waited on his Excellency to ascertain his views in respect of Steam Communication for the colony, and whether his Excellency I was favourable to tbe objects of tbe proposed Stenra Company. The result -was as satisfactory as could be wished; his Excellency promising generally his support to the under-taking, and expressing a willingness to give as full power aad privileges -by Charter to the Company, as is gi7en to similar companies at home. His Excellency suggested that tbe heads of the charter required should be submitted to him, and promised to giro the matter immediate consideration. The subject of fuel, so intimately connected with that of steam, led the same deputation to represent to his Excellency how desirable it was that the Native title should be extinguished to the land in Massacre Bay where the very excellent coal, which has lately been •exhibited in Nelson, is found. The Governor said that within a very short time, he hoped not exceeding two months, he should be able to extinguish tbe native title to the whole of the land within the Nelson settlement ; bat observed, that if it would tend to any practical benefit, he would endeavour to hasten the purchase of tbe Massacre Bay district. This morning, a deputation waited on his Excellency to learn generally his views with regard to incorporating the settlement of Nelson into a Municipality, aad what endowments the Government would be willing to bestow on such a corporation, if formed. As we presume the gentlemen who formed the deputation will call a Public Meeting to make known his Excellency's replies, we do not think it necessary on this occasion to go into particulars. The subject of opening the country beyond the present runs in the Awatere, bo as to enable persons taking runs in tbe Fairfield and Middlehurst Downs to reach their station* frith a dray or at least with pack bullocks was then brought under bis Excellency's notice. It was suggested that funds to construct a road might be raised by applicants for rans paying three years in advance their contributions for licenses and head money. To this the Governor objected, but stated that the Government would be willing to open the country with its own /unds, provided it could be showa that it would

be reimbursed in a few ypars by the contributions of stoccowners; and particularly, as the load, if made, would give an inland communication between Nelson and Port Cooper. His Excellency promised that the vallny of Aawiere, and the country beyond, should be exploied and the practicability of road reported upon. The subject of most general interest to the colony refeired to in this catalogue, is clearly that of Steam Communication, which at last seems fo occupy a position in some degree proportioned to its urgency and importance. We invite the attention of our readers to the Company's Prospectus, which will be found in outadvertising columns. The scheme appears feasible and likely to prove remunerative; and if so, it is one of those projects in which the claims of self-interest and patriotism very happily combine. We could have desired some fuller information of what passed at the interview lespecting the erection of the district into a Municipality. It would seem that the Deputation had not immediately called the meeting anticipated by the Examiner, as although the Wellington papers of the 13th instant refer to the lixa- j miner of the 29th of November, there is nothing quoted bearing on the subject of a Corporation, — except a paragraph stating that his Excellency had promised to present the town at his own expense with a clock, on condition that " it should be considered as the property of the public, and be placed in the charge of any future Municipal Body, who should have the power of removing it to one of its own public buildings, if it should so determine. A very distiessing accident, attended with the loss of two lives, occurred outside the mouth of Nelson harbour on the 1 9th of November. The gig belonging to the barque Lady Nugent, while on her way to the shore with the Captain, the Second Mate, and four | other persons, was struck by a heavy sea and capsized, and Captain Melville and a lad named Parsons (son of the late commander of the ship) were drowned. The other persons were saved by the exertions of Captain Taylor, \ of the Mary, a coasting vessel, and Mr. Cross, the Pilot. The Examiner in its first account of the accident imputed great blame to ChiefConstable Caute, because he refused the use of the Harbour Boat and thus rendered it necessary that the trip should be made in the gig, which was known to be unsafe in such threatening weather ; and to Captain Holton, of the Columbus, whom it charged with abandoning the perishing men to their fate, through fear of incurring personal danger. But in a postscript, it retracted the charge, so far as Captain Holton was concerned, having learned on sufficient authority that he and his crew " did all that men could to reach the capsized boat."

It had been imagined that gold was discovered in the Fairfield Downs, but on investigation, the supposed gold period (o be only sul- | phurate of iron. But though disappointed in this expectation, the settlers had better reasons for believing that rich copper ore was to be ob tamed in the Massacre Bay district, and — in the same neighbourhood — the coal respecting which the application above alluded to was laid before the Governor. The Examiner maintains that this is not only " good coal," but " far superior to that obtained from New South Wales." With reference to Land affairs, the Wellington Spectator of the 10th inst. alleges that " Crown titles have been issued to the majority of the Land Purchasers at Nelson, and more land has been sold in that Settlement by the Government during the current year than had I been disposed of by the Company with their expensive establishment for many years previous." The Examiner of the 22nd ultimo presents I the following view of the Markets, Weather, &c, in the Settlement. The Markets. — The prices of produce have lately undergone little change, wheat having continued to sell ! at from Bs. 6d. to 9s. per bushel, and flour at £2C22 C 2 to .£24 per ton. The intelligence received by the Comet however, that flour in Sydney was down to £12, with a piospect of large supplies from America, and the expected arrival here of the Don Juan, from Sydney, with a quantity of board, has checked for the present all further sales. The quantity of wheat in i the hands of private holders is now but small, so I that the growers have mostly realised the full benefit of the late prices. Barley may still be quoted at 4s. a bushel, oats at 3s. 9d.. The price of cheese is 10d per lb., fresh butter 10d., the 41b loaf continues for the present to be sold for Is. Green peas have hitherto brought Is. per peck. The Weather. — The present spring has hitherto been all that could be desired for the crops, and the prospects of the farmers are most cheering. Everywhere vegetation is very luxuriant, and never have we seen the natural pasturage more abundant. The rain which has fallen during the present week has checked the operation of hay making, which was about commencing, but the weather having again cleared up, it will now proceed rapidly.

The latest intelligence from Canterbury is connected with a visit from the Bishop of Naw Zealand, who arrived at Lyttelton in the Border Maid, from the Chatham Islands, on the 25th of November, and remained there until the 3rd of December, when he sailed (with Mrs; Selwyn and Captain Simeon) for Nelson, whence he intended to proceed to Wellington. During his Lordship's stay, he held a visitation, which was attended by nine clergymen. Mr. Godley, and Mr. C. A. Calvert, " Secretary to the Bishop Designate of the intended See of Lyttelton" were also present by the Bishop's desire. The Lyttetton Times of the l Oth instant gives the following abstract of the proceedings, with one or two other items of ec- \ clesiastical news :—: — The most important portion of tbe ecclesiastical business transacted on this occasion related to tbe direc'ion of the clergymen in tbe temporary absence of the Bishop Desigiate. Bishop Selwyn, whose every proceeding was mi *ked by the greatest delicacy, and who stated that any arr ,ngement, made by him was to be considered as only temporary, and until the erection of the settlement diocese, proposed to nominate two of the clergy, to be chosen by their brother clergymen, his Commissaries, and whose direction and opinion should be taken as that of himself, in all matters in which such aid was required, The unanimous choice of the ministers present fell upon the Rev. O. Mathias and the Rev^ R. B. Paul, who have accordingly, we understand, received the necessary powers. His lordship stated that after conferring with the -Governor-in-Chief, he had recommended the division of the islands into tbwe dioceses, one of Auckland and the northern portion, another of Wellington and the central portion, and a third of Lyttelton extending southwards from the 43rd parallel of south latitude. In order to give the settlement the benefit of the ministrations of those unbeneficed clergymen who had expressed a desire to be useful, and also to meet the wonts of the dwellers on the plains, the Bishop recommended that tbe sum of £750 proposed to be granted by tbe Association, together with the contributions of the people themseKes, towards the erection of a dvi iblp cburcb at Christchurch, should be expended in the erection of four or five decent buildings for public worship, in which the clergymen referred to might minister, and thus very inhabited part of the plains might be supplied with a church near at hand His lordship expressed himself favourable to the erection of the Collegiate Grammar School, aad to that of

the church at Lyttelton, upon the plans proposed. Upon every point mooted, the most perfect unanimity prevailed among 1 all the cleigy present. The Bishop also appointed the llev. B. Paul to be a Sunogate for granting Marriage Licenses within the Canterbury district; and C. A. Calvert, Esq., M. A., to be his Lordship's Secietary for Local purposes. With the exception of a movement to form a Marine Assurance Society, we observe littie to indicate either commercial or agricultural progress in the Settlement. Considerable numbers were leaving it for Port Phillip. The Lyllelton Times labours hard to account for the fact, describing some of those who have gone auay as Port Phillip settlers reluming home, and others as " persons whose departure no one will regret." Still the departures were taking place, some seventy or eighty having sailed by the Canteibury during the very last week of which we have any history; and a correspondent (Mr. Taylor) maintains in the columns of the Times itself that the geneial impiession is that a better field for the employment of both labour and capital may be found in any of the other Settlements of Neio Zealand. The arrival of Colonel Campbell, and the commencement of his exertions as Commissioner of Crown Lands outside the Canterbury block, had called forth a torrent of indignation — and we regret to add of abuse from the Times, The animus of the attacks on the Colonel personally is very evident from the prominence given to the alleged circumstances of his previous relations to the Association, and the tone in which the style and grammatical construction ot his official notifications are ciiticised. The fundamental grievance, howevei, no doubt is that he is the Agent of the Government in placing within the reach of the settlers in that qifarter land at one-third of the price charged by the Association, and unfetteied by any condition of a sectarian character, — by any necessity of contributing to the support of an ecclesiastical system of which they may conscientiously disapprove. Considering the severity with which want of fuel has pressed upon the settlers, it is natural that they should anxiously catch at any indication of the existence of coal. The Times of November 8 mentioned the discovery of "a superior seam" near the river frelwyn. On the 10th of December, however, we have the announcement that some miles from this seam — on Mr. Deans's sheep farm, about 35 or 40 miles from Christchurch — " a bed of coal has al length been discovered which promises to repay the trouble of woiking*" We sincerely wish it may prove so, for, strong as are our objections to the scheme of the Canterbury Association, we can bear no feeling but sympathy and kindness towards the Canterbury settlers.

After an interval of several months, during which we did not receive a single newspaper from Otago, and but very little information respecting it through any channel, we have now a heap of the Witness, the dates ranging from May last up to the end of November. In the mass of matter thus thrown at once before us, we regret to observe that nothing is more prominent than the spirit of strife, disputation, and political partisanship which seems to have acquired an ascendancy amongst the " Pilgrim Fathers," As respects the Governor-in-Chief, in addition to any previous quarrels they had, or supposed they had, with Ins administration, there has lately been a new infusion of bitterness, extracted from his strictures on the " class" chatacter of the Canterbury Association, which the Otago Associationists regard as bearing with almost equal force on their scheme, and on account of which they aie fully inclined to make it a common cause — Presbyterianism and Prelacy for the time uniting in opposition to the Government. An " Otago Settlers Association" has been for some months in operation and its proceedings have been marked from time to time by no trifling contentions. At present, it seems to be in a great measure a counterpart of the Wellington Settlers' Constitutional Association. We have rece'ved a copy of an Address to their Fellow Colonists in Otago adopted at a meeting of the Body on the 10th of November, whicn curiously illustrates the views of the party from which it proceeds, but we have not space to-day to comment on it, or on the other evidences which the papers before us supply that political feuds run high, and that they have in more than one instance led to unneighbourly and personal collisions. A Mechanic's Institute formed at Dunedin has been a special field of conflict. An " Otago Banking Company" had been organized, to carry on " Banking in all its branches upon the Scotch system." The capital was £7,500 in £5 shares. Nowhere in the South was the supposition that gold had been found entertained more confidently than at Otago. Quartz and Dust obtained at Goodwood, about 40 miles noith of Dunedin, had been tested by Mr. D. , Macandrew, " convener of Committee for Mineralogy and Agricultural Chemistry of the Otago Agricultural Association," and declared to contain gold. Captain Cakgill forthwith published the Report. Eut specimens were, by direction of the Government, tested by Dr. Ralph, of Wellington, and his Report puts a complete extinguisher on the hope. Atlhough his tests would " readily detect about the 200 th part of a grain of gold," yet he, and other members of the New Zealand Society who assisted him in the experiments, were" unable to detect even a trace of the metal in the specimens." Mr. Walter Mantell, the newly -appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands, had arrived at Dunedin. The Witness, echoing certain accusations brought against this gentleman's character by the Independent, calls on the settlers to " show his Excellency that they feel this addition to that already illustrious body ! — the Otago Bench — as a pointed insult," and suggests to the local public that " the correction of Mr. Mantell's failing lies with the community in their individual and private characters in the selection of their acquaintances." The Dunedin Market Note of the 29th of November quotes the price of Flour at 355. per lOOlbs. 5 Bread I4d. the 4lb. loaf.

Lectube on Intemperance. — The concluding Lecture of the Series on Intemperance, byjsMinisters and Members of the Evangelical Alliance, was delivered on Wednesday evening, in the "Wesley an Chapel, by the Rev. T. Ilamer. The topic was "Intemperance in relation to Youth during the Holidays." The Lecturer drew a very pleasing sketch of the prevalence of holidays in ancient times, especially amongst the Jews, and expressed his wish that there could be a greater number of them now, and thai innocently exciting recreations should be provided to draw away youth from such scenes as the race-course, the tavern, &c. He then dwelt on the more immediate subject implied in the title of the Lecture,

and impressively urged upon the young a variety of maxims calculated to pi'omote their habits of self-control, particularly in relation to temptations to Intemperance.

Sabbath School Anniversary. — We invite the attention of the friends of Sabbath School training to the announcement in our advertising columns of the approaching Wesley an School Anniversary. It will be seen that Sermons will be preached to-uiorrow by the Revs. J. H. Fletcher and T. Buddie, that an Examination of the children, open to all fi iends of the cause, -will take place in the afternoon, and that a Festival for the Children and aTeaMeeting are appointed for New Year's Day.

Suburban East Ward Election — Mr. Beckham, as Returning Officer, has given notice, by placards posted through the neighbourhood, that the election of a Common Councillor for this Ward, in the room of Mr. Merrhnan, resigned, will take place on Tuesday next, at the Resident Magistrate's Court.

Auckland Corporation. — The Common Council will meet this afternoon, at three o'clock.