MR. E. G. WAKEFIELD ON THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAS AND NEW ZEALAND. To the Editor of the Spectator. Reigate, 12th May, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 671, 18 September 1852, Page 3

MR. E. G. WAKEFIELD ON THE DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE AUSTRALIAS AND NEW ZEALAND. To the Editor of the Spectator. Reigate, 12th May, 1852.

Str — In a letter signed " W," which you published last autumn/ immediately after news of the discovery ofgold in Australia reached this country, I endeavoured to predict the consequences of that event as regards the economical and social condition of our Southern Colonists. Persons interested in the subject have recently asked me to address you again ; and they wish that I should do so iii my own name, flattering by assuring me that it may have weight as that of a principal foundev of two of those colonies, and the author of the means by which the bulk of the non-con-vict population of the whole group has been established. I comply with the request, but not without reluctance ; for, in the first place, illhealth precludes me from undertaking any public responsibility ; and, secondly, I cannot hope that any individual, still less one so obscure as myself, should add usefully to the force of pleadings for the Colonies, which are ccn!;mually urged by the Times with remarkable ability, and without tho slightest practical effect. If the most powerful cause and organ of opinion utterly fails in. a persevering endeavour to move the ' public and. the Govermt'cnt to 'some effort on behalf of the Australasian world, because both Government and public are hardened in difference to colonial questions, what can any of us expect to accomplish in the same direction \ I write almost without aim or faith. Still, here is my say, for what it may be worth. The conclusions of my former letter were drawn hypothotically by an a priori course of reasoning. Their basis was not then a fact, but only matter of assumption. All depended on what should turn otit to be the extent and richness of the newlydiscovered gold-field. In these respects, the largest anticipations have been more than realized. Instead ol claiming credit for foresight on this point, I own that I had no belief in the widespread facility of obtaining gold which I assumed for the sake of the argument. But on the other hand, whilst the ifs of that argument were only imagined, they have proved most exactly, as facts, the causes of the effects which the argument foretold. The whole economy and social fabric of these colonies is in the throes of a revolution, productive indeed ofgold, but destructive of all other wealth, and equally destructive of the established relations and very foundations of society. Nothing like it was over seen in the world before. In California, there was neither wealth nor society to destroy ; still less was there a kind of wealth — an immense quantity of live-stock owned by large capitalists — not only depending for its preservation on a constant suply of hired labour, but also constituting in the form of a natural aristociacy, the principal element of social life. In the Australian Colonies, moreover, other wealth than live-stock has been accumulated — such as towns, roads, and houses in the country — which oaves its existence to the live-stock, and the relations of which towards the herds and flocks are such that the greater part of it must perish soon after the ruin of the staple of the country. Even if one could by magic preserve the cattle and sheep without hired labourers, still houses must go to wreck when bricklayers and carpenters and glaziers have disappeared. Already we hear of broken roofs and windows remaining unmended, as of flockowners, bankers, and even governors, cleaning their own shoes, because " everybody has gone to the diggings." We cannot exaggerate the overthrow^of things existing. Sudden universal suffrage here would be less convulsing. Vox the laws of nature surpass those of man; and it is an essential natural property of gold-finding (not mining) in a new country to Jacobinize society. The process no longer rc&ts on the hypotheses of my former letter, but is actually taking place. The greatest reward of industry being in the gold-fields, all labourers go thither, and nothing but gold is produced. It would be different if Australia Avere isolated from the rest of the world, because, in that case, the wants of the gold-finders would be supplied by the employment on the spot of highly-rewarded capital and labour, in the production of their clothes, tools, food, drinks, and tobacco. But their capital may be imported from England and America at prices with which, in a gold-finding state of the labourmarket, it would bo impossible to compete ; and thus their hninenso gains afroi-d no profiits to any other capital. It follows that none gain except » gold -finders, small storekeepers and publicans at the diggings, a few merchants who import supplies for the diggers, and a few dealers in wold-dust. Of course the gold does not staj in the country; and, equally of course, to a country hi which capital die 1 * from the want of hired labour to preserve it, nothing is brought in exchange for gold, which can take the fbim of permanent wealth. The old society, therefore, is dissolved. The nncru r one consists, with few exceptions, of a sort of navvies rnliino in money wiMiout a master, no small proportion of them being the mo&t hardened criminal*. The law of person and property h the revolver or the bowie-knife. It is a monstrous Socialism, under which all enjoyment and power is monopolized by the prolelaire.', without, a provision for the improvement of their baibarous second nature. But wiiafc should we in Kughtnd care, if we do but get the gold, which will relieve our encum bored landlords, benefit our farmers who have

leases, diminish the weight of our public debt, and establish free trade in peace? This question is one of the ways in which the subject is disposed of by people unconnected with the Colonies. Another way is by taking for granted, that somehow or other the inscrutable designs of Providence will bring some great good to the whole world out of so astonishing an event as the longdelayed and simultaneous discoveries of gold at opposite sides of the Avide Pacific. The latter class of optimists being content with the enjoyment of their wonders, are as careless about the means of drawing good from evil in this case, as the former class who already see nothing but good, for themselves here in the evil suffered by others at a distance. Nor do I know of any class in this country, excepting only persons in some way connected with the Southern Colonies, upon whom at present we can rely for even serious attention to the subject. It is upon these last, therefore, that, with a view to any practical result of any value, we should press the necessity of prompt and vigorous action. They are a numerous class; and if they were but organized, they would be instantly powerful. In our woollen manufactures, in the exporting commerce of London, Liverpool, and Glasgow, in the shipping interest, and, above all, in private life, where almost every family has arelativein some of the Australias or New Zealand, their is a latent influence which would be sufficient to overcome the anticolonizing dispositions of the Colonial Office and the vis inertia? of the general Government, if it were made active by means of association. In free countries, such as England and America, hardly any public good is accomplished without the aid of voluntary societies at the bekinning. By far the greater part of the colonization of the South was brought about by societies in this country — by the Colonization Society of 1830, the South Australian Association of 1832-4, the New Zealand Association of 1837, the New Zealand Company of 1839-46, and the Canterbury Association of 1848-52. I propose an Australasian Society. It would have two objects: first, to promote measures for counteracting the evil effects upon the Australias and JiSTew Zealand of the gold-discoveries In New South Wales and Victoria; secondly, to promote measures for developing in favour of the whole Southern group of colonies the vast good which the gold-disco-veries may be made to produce. These general terms will suffice for the present. I intend in a future letter to set forth the two objects in detail; to examine, and I am afraid it will be to condemn as unavailable or inadequate, some remedial suggestions which have been published; and, finally, to describe with more particularity then in my letter of last autumn the measures which, more then ever now that hypothesis is converted into fact, appear to me to be absolutely requisite and alone {sufficient as means to the ends in \iew. Meanwhile, let me declare a conviction, resulting from much experience, that mere writing on behalf of colonies, without organized association for action, is like beating the wind. I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, E. G. Wakefielb . '* Spectator, 4th October, 1851; page 947.

THE KITCHEN OF THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. Considerable merriment was afforded by MrFrench complaining of the bad management of the kitchen, by which members vrei'e driven to their clubs, and the house often counted out when it would otherwise not be. They paid Gs. a bottle for wine, "no great bargain at 35.," and when there was a change of guests there was not of tablecloths. The risibility of the house was still further excited when Mr. C Anstey gravely complained that there was no Roman 'Catholic on the Refreshment Committee, anil urged as a grievance that Roman Catholics came to the house on Fridays and fast clays, and found their dinners provided by Protestants. He proposed that tbo name' of Mr. Serjeant Mui'phy should be added" as that of " a good Catholic, a good Liberal, and the best 'of table companions." The climax of the fun, however, was produced by Lord Marcus Hill, who, having precipitately left the house during the address of Mr. French, now returned with equal empressmenl, carrying in each hand a bill of fare of enormous dimensions, glazed and framed in the manner usual in clubs and coffee-houses. The noble lord placed the culinary programme with affectionate solicitude on the Speaker's table, and proceeded, amid loud laughter to vindicate the committee from the imputation of exorbitant charges :—: — " He had often heard it objected that the prices charged for refreshment in the kitchen were too high, but he did not think that there was the slightest foundation for the assertion. Two 3 T ears ago he had caused the bills of fare now on the table to be drawn up. He invited attention to them, and challenged any member to prove that the charges were exorbitant. (Loud laughter.) He put it to tho lion, gentlemen in candour and sincerity whether there was anything so ruinously exorbitant in these : — A portion of sonp, a mutton chop, a fish, boiled or fried, a fried sole, or a whiting, at Is. ; salmon and lobster sauce, 2s. Turbots or cod's head and shoulders on terms equally moderate. (Roars of Laughter.) "With regard to cutlets, if three were taken they could be had at the low charge of 6d. each — (loud laughter) ; — and as for wine, there was no such cause of complaint on that head as the lion, member for Roscommon seemed to think ; for though, the lion, member might pay 6s. a bottle for sherry, he ought to know that there was sherry in the kitchen which he could have at 4s. a bottle. ( Laughter. ) Mr. French — " Much obliged, but I had rather not." (Laughter.) Lord M Hill — " There is no establishment in London where tea and coffee can be had so cheap ,' ' ( Laug liter. )

MOORE AND HIS MOTHER. The mother's care of Moore's early years and unabated love through her advanced age were truly beautiful. They were requited, too, with the fullest measure of grateful affection and undying respect by the son. When Mr. Moore (the father) died, having held for yeais a government appointment of barrack-master, friends sought to secure for his widow a pension ; but Mtore claimed the privilege ofh/'r support, and declined the kind ngency which would have debarred him of a son's greatest pleasure. His habit was to write twice a week, at least, to his mother; and the postman's knock at the expected peiiod was an anxiously watched moment in the old woman's fleeting hours. Any visitor could tell, on entering her drawing-room, as she sat in, winter by the fire, or in summer at her window, whether the bi weekly want was supplied. A shade upon her aged brow told either that the lettei had not come, or the news was not good; whilst a radiant smile pioclaimed, that she had got " Tom's letters." These letters, short though they might be, often, but a line, were the cheri'bed treasures of her old age. How beautiful , and the more beautiful because true, are the lines which he wrote in her pocket-book in 1822 :— ■ Tliey toll us of an Indian ticc, Which, licmsoe'ei the sun and sicy May tempt its boughs to wamlei fuo, And shoot and blossom wide, .ttul high, Far better loves to bend its aims Downwind again to that dear earth. From winch tin lite tli.it fills and warms ,j Its gr.itetui being fust had bit th. 'Tis thus, though wood by fliitteiing friends, And fed w illi lame (it Mine it be), Tin? lie.\i t, my own de.w moth-i , bends, With love's (me instinct, back to (l\cc. With what fond pride were those lines exhibited to those who had won thp mother's confidence ! A willing listener, one who dul not soon tire of " Tom's" repented piaises, was sure of such a mark of favour.—. UntLeisity Magazine.

Strange IJamlucinai/ov. — A few days «inco V, izabeth Ed'\;mls, 22 3'ears ot'age, h ying with a lady at Islington, cut off her left hand at the wiist with a cirvincr knifp, nnd iJhtw it into the firp, bavi->g previously attempted to dps'roy her eyes with iron skew t>r^. Tl)p only reason slis aligns is that she thought &he was doing God service.