EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 36, 2 December 1842, Page 3

EXTRACTS FROM SYDNEY PAPERS.

Wc are happy to learn that the result of the late cruise of H. M. sloop Beagle has been an accurate survey, upon a large scale, of the whole of the eastern entrance of Bass’s Straits ; and it is the opinion of the officers of the Beagle that the south-eastern part of Kent’s Large Croup is the most eligible site for a light-house. By the Beagle we also learn that there are not so many dangers in that part of the Straits as is generally supposed. Captain Stokes found a safe passage to the southward of Craggy Island. In collecting this valuable information, the Beagle had to contend with a continuance of very bad weather, but great assistance was rendered from the vessel lent by his Excellency Sir John Franklin. There are now two vessels left behind in Bass’s Straits, in the surveying department. —Geelong Advertiser .

CHINA.

The following is the copy of a letter taken from the Hongkong Gazette, of the 7th July : Security and protection arc two of the things most essential and necessary for the safety, increase, and prosperity, of the population and business of Hongkong. These are enjoyed by the Chinese, and it in impossible to foresee the limits to which the settlement will grow. Hitherto its progress has been wonderful, though several circumstances have existed to oppose and retard it. These are still in force; and I will therefore enumerate some of them, hoping that those who seek the welfare of the islands and its inhabitants will do their duty to remove or neutralise their influence. 1. The Chinese authorities of Canton have done, and are doing, all in their power to prevent the improvement of Hongkong under British rule. They are now forming designs and secl-.ing the means to work out its utter ruin. 2. All the native merchants of Canton, whose interest it is to keep the trade at the provincial city, are opposed to the growth of this settlement; and are trying in many ways to injure it, because they foresee that it will by and by diminish, their gains. 3. Many of the Portuguese inhabitants of Macao, for similar reasons, wish no good to Hongkong. 4. A few other foreign merchants, not excepting some British subjects, have such arrangements with Macao and Canton that they too wish no prosperity to this settlement.* 5. The island is the resort of many Chinese outlaws, with others, freebooters, (always numerous on the coast of China), who annoy the peaceful and unarmed people who repair thither. Notwithstanding these, and some other obstacles, the population of Hongkong, and the business which it is carrying on, have increased and are increasing with most remarkable rapidity. Already several thousands of shopmen and mechanics from Canton and other neighbouring places, have purchased land and erected buildings on the island, and are now able to furnish almost all articles, usually found in the markets of Canton, as good and nearly as cheap as they can be procured at that city. To render them equally as cheap, and as plentiful, security and protection only are needed. Give to foke these, and he will provide for you the best articles in the empire, in any quantities you please, and at the very lowest possible prices. On shore, security and protection are enjoyed to an admirable degree, especially when you consider what a great and heterogeneous mass there is to be controlled. And as this new government goes on, there is eveiy reason to expect it will improve—better arrangements introduced, and bad ones set aside. In this harbour too —and it is one of the best in the world—security and protection are as complete as possible. But beyond the reach of the guns of the forts and of the shipping, it is not so. And to this want of security and protection, in the neighbourhood of the island—l wish to invite the attention of those authorities, who may have it in their power, as it certainly must be their wish, to remove an evil which more than any other, is acting against the prosperity of Hongkong. From above Whampoa, and from Macao and its vicinity, ifi all these outer waters, every vestage of Chinese authority has been swept away by British forces. Chinese authority having been crushed, another and a better ought to have been set up in its stead. This has not ►been done. Consequently, for many months,

these outer waters have been the scene of frequent and cruel outrages. Only yesterday, one of the Chinese boats of eighty or a hundred tons, carrying sixty or eighty men, left this harbour ; and three or four, hours afterwards was acting the pirate, when fortunately some French gentlemen, in the Paradox schooner, began to reason with her, and brought her back into the harbour, a prize ! Her men made their escape, so that they may fight another day. The Chinese authorities of Canton are Well aware of the operations of these freebooters ; and as soon as they can fortify themselves in their “ ram’s city” they will concert with these sea thieves, to harass more severely those “ traitorous natives,” who link themselves in with the ‘ ‘ barbarian. ” If rum ours are to be heeded at all, the provincial government already meditate hostile designs of this nature; and if let alone, depend on it they will mature and carry into effect these designs, unless (what is not very likely to happen) peace is concluded with the emperor. Do you ask, what is to be done ? The remedy is easy, with the naval force now on this station. ’ Excepting the flag-ship, let the others be kept daily on the move, returning into harbour at least once a week. As the season for typhoons is approaching, these ships should take care to get prepared to take shelter, or to outride the severest storms. Whampoa should he visited by a steamer two or three times in a month. A ship of some size should always be in sight of the Bogue ; another between Lintin and Kapshuy Moon ; and another on the south of Lanton. The movements of these should be so arranged that the sea-thieves will always he in uncertainty regarding their course and designs. ' Native boats, such as arc most likely to be attacked by pirates, should now and then be sent on short cruises, furnished with a guard of three or four armed men, marines and sailors, trusty and brave, and should go in disguise. These measures, or some other more efficient, are I think, called for; and I hope that you, Mr. Editor, will urge this, which if answered efficiently, will speedily remove a great evil; and give a powerful impulse to the growing prosperity of the British Settlement of Hongkong.—lbid. Tiie Blow struck. —Lord Stanley’s Land Bill, as received from the Commons by the House of Lords, confirms all our worst fears. The upset price of land is never to be less than one pound per acre ! It may be raised beyond that, but even her Majesty in her Privy Council is deprived of all power to reduce it. There is, to be sure, a sort of discretionary reduction reserved to her Majesty; but it is a very curious sort. If the Governor shall have raised the upset price higher than twenty shillings an acre, and such advance shall subsequently be disallowed by her Majesty in Council, her Majesty may then order the price to be reduced, either to the original twenty shilling standard, or to any intermediate sum ; and the Governor is thereupon to make compensation to all persons who may have purchased at the disallowed price, such compensation being either a refunding of the amount paid in excess, or an allowance of its equivalent in land. But below the mark of one pound per acre, neither Governor, nor Secretary of State, nor even Majesty itself, —nothing, in fact, short of an act of Parliament— can ever reduce the upset price of Crown lands. So much the better ! “ When things come to the worst, they must mend.” Had the act only confirmed and perpetuated the existing minimum of 125., the evil might still have remained of a questionable character, and it might have taken an indefinite number of years to convince the Downing-street oracles that the price was too high; but now, the error is so extreme, so superlatively monstrous, that it will soon cure itself. It will rapidly solve the ministerial problem, and demonstrate, with the incontestable accuracy of a Euclid, the impracticable folly of the whole scheme. At twenty shillings an acre (a few choice spots excepted), there will be no land sales at all—no land fund—no immigration—no revival of our affairs—no hope, save the hope we have referred to as springing out of the very intensity of this legislative blunder. Thus will the Governor be taught a lesson which no arguments, however cogent; no opinions, however much entitled to his repect; have hitherto suffered to impress upon him. The colonists must, of course, lament that their rulers should have erred on so momentous a question; but they have nevertheless reason to rejoice that the error is so gross as to. insure its own speedy exposure and redress.— Sydney Herald. Woolwich. —A very venerable and substantial specimen of boat-building about 250 years ago has been brought down to woolwich Dockyard from Deptford, and is at present in the boat-house for the purpose of being refitted. It is said to have been constructed for the use of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of James 1., and the most accomplished Prince of of his age, who died in 1612. The boat is 40 feet in length, and to the eye has a fine full breadth in proportion, with ample space for eight rowers. The front is very plain and unostentatious, baying simply the Royal Crown painted in three or four places along the sides, and two stripes of gilded rods running the

whole length of the vessel. At the stern, where the royal seat is situated, the outside is ornamented with carved work about six inches in breadth, and above the helm is a carved shield with the Royal arms painted on the centre, and surrounded with figures of mermaids. The workmanship of the royal seat is quite simple, the back board only being painted in pannel, with a figure of Plenty with a cornupia in her hand, and. a figure like the representations of Cupid departing from her with a bunch of four keys to the four quarters of the world, and three other similar figures returning with produce in fruit, gold, and other articles. The oars are also plain, with the exception of figures of dolphins being painted on the broadest part where they enter the water. The only other appendages are a flagstaff, which is fixed when in use near the front of the boat, and a boat-hook Joy pulling the boat ashore when requisite. *he uses to which this relic of ancient boat-building has been applied renders it an object of curiosity, as it has formed a prominent feature in many parts of the history of this country. .It was in this boat the remains of the immortal Nelson were conveyed up the river when his funeral took place, yet fresh in the memory of thousands of the inhabitants of the metropolis. It is gratifying to be able to state that this interesting vessel is still as substantial in every part as when first huilt, and the wood perfectly sound. It is to be hoped the 'old painting will not be touched, as it is in fine condition, and no modern renovation would compensate for its proof of the antiquity of the boat.

One Pound Notes. —A correspondent, 'in whom we place implicit confidence, informs us that he has certain information, that Four Millions of One Pound Notes have been in the Bank of England, for the last five weeks, ready for circulation.- —English Pager.