NELSON.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 77, 25 April 1843, Page 2

NELSON.

(From the Nelson Examiner.) During the past week, a building has been commenced on the acre fronting the Court House, which is intended as a School and Hospital for the Maories. The chief object of the school, will be to take children from their parents at as early an age as they can be induced to part with them, to give them an English education, and bring them up in English habits. It is by this method that the Bishop hopes, and justly as it appears to us, to promote their civilization in an effectual manner. There is also an intention of setting apart a reserve acre for the purpose of instructing the Maories in the English mode of cultivation. We had intended delaying until greater certainty had been attained as to the expense, any special mention of what has been doing in this settlement in the way of preparing the flax for exportation ; but as there will be an opportu- 4 nity of sending to England to-day, we think it as well Just to tell our readers there that the prospects held out by the machinists work upon it here are of the most flattering description ; and, from the specimens which ’ have been produced; it appears to be quite certain that in a few months we shall be in a situation to export an article far superior to any. yet produced, in large quantities, and at a paying price. The Sir John Franklin schooner, while coming into port, was run ashore on the Boulder Bank about half ebb,, through the carelessness of the pilot Claringbold, where she remained

i tor about six hours, and has Since been obliged to unship her rudder to repair damages. On Wednesday last William Dale appeared at the Police Office Jto answer the charge of John Gibson, landing waiter; for having landed goods from the barque Phoebe without the same having been duly entered. The Court declared the goods and boat which contained them to be forfeited, and ordered.;the defendant to pay a fine treble the value of the goods; On Thursday, John Bright, second mate of the Phoebe, was charged by James Herliiig, chief officer of the same vessel, with having stolen a quantity of wearing apparel and property belonging to the ship. The case being ► fully proved, the prisoner was committed for trial.

(From the South Australian Register.) The Corn-Exchange. —The Corn-Exchange was for the first time opened yesterday, at the corner of King William-street, under the most auspicious circumstances. Not fewer than from two hundred to three hundred persons were present, and the show of farm produce was far from inconsiderable. In the evening a very excellent dinner was provided. Some excellent remarks were thrown out at the close of the evening, by Mr. Hewett and Craig, of a practical nature, but for which, we regret our inability to find room, and the business of the day was wound up with a snap. Upwards of seventy persons sat down to dinner, and the greatest unanimity of feeling prevailed as to the establishment and proposed regulations of the market.

Infamous Port Regulations. —Another of those disgraceful transactions, arising out of our infamous, we had almost said swindling, Harbour and Port Regulations, was perpetrated at the Custom-house, Port Adelaide, on Thursday last. A Swedish barque, the Flora, F. Miltopuz, commander, originally from Gofle, Sweden, with a cargo of timber for Monte Video, cast anchor in Holdfast Bay, in the hope of finding a market for it here, the Captain being unable to land it at Monte Video in consequence of the threatened blockade of that port. Scarcely had the vessel anchored, ere she was boarded by Mr. John Anthony, the boarding officer, and the ship’s papers procured, and sent, up to the Custom-house, an assurance beinggiven to Captain Miltopuz that no expense would be incurred unless the vessel broke bulk. Much to the Captain’s surprise, however, on coming to town in the course of the day, he v> 7 as informed by the authorities, that it was quite immaterial whether he broke bulk or not, inasmuch as his papers would not be returned to him until he had first paid 11/. 55., that being but one-half the amount usually charged upon vessels of the Flora's tonnage at this port. Colonial Horticulture. —The horticultural capabilities of South Australia have been so often and so triumphantly tested, and as frequently brought under the notice of the colonists, by public lectures and through the colonial press, that we feel some hesitation in again adverting to the subject; but we confess we cannot resist the temptation so politely forced upon us by a valuable correspondent on the banks of the Torrens, who has almost made our editorial table to groan under the weight of the specimens of colonial grapes and peaches he lias placed upon it. The peaches, which are very large and of exquiste flavour, are the produce of trees three years’ old, raised from stones brought by Mr. Stead from England (certainly of the finest description he could procure, being filched from the Lord Mayor of London’s table), but which have neither been engrafted nor inoculated. Several of this season’s growth weighed six ounces and a-half each. The trees are about three feet high, and the leaves and branches most luxuriant, one of the trees this year showing a hundred and eighty-four blossoms. The grapes too, he tells us, are from vines three years’ old, two of which have borne above thirty pounds’ weight, some of the bunches weighing rather better than a pound and a -half, and being of a fine fruity flavour. Indeed the question is put beyond all doubt that, whatever may be its agricultural suitableness and capabilities, South Australia is destined to become a vine-growing country; and as to all tropical plants, and nearly all our English ones, they are found to grow, and bear, and luxuriate in this colony with as much vigour and fruitfulness as in their parent soil, and some indeed much more so.

About ten days ago an aboriginal woman died at the station of Mr. Allen of the Pyrenees, and was laid by her coolie and others of the tribe upon a piece of bark and burned. A short time previously a boy died, and his legs and arms were cut off for the purpose of being eaten, but Mr. Allen having offered them a sheep instead, the tribe refrained, at least in the presence of any white person, but they took the entrails and placed them in the cleft of a tree, the root of which was cleared of grass, and set a w'ateli to see in which direction the maggots would creep after they fell from the putrid entrails, it being a general belief that they proceed in the direction of the enemy through whose malignity the

death of the deceased was caused. Immediately upon ascertaining the direction by this means, the whole tribe set out to kill the first man, woman, or child, they meet. Western Australia. —From the Annual Report of the York Agricultural Sofciety to Governor Hutt, it appears that the past season had, upon the whole, been most favourable for the rearing of stock, and the cultivation of grain and other products. The flocks had not been entirely free from scab, but in every instance where prompt retnedies were Applied, this disease had been kept under arid speedily removed. A greater quantity and a very superior quality of wheat had beeri raised than would be required for the immediate supply of the district. The Talavera and other sorts lately imported were successfully tried, but the preference had been given to the former, which was uncommonly productive. The six-sided skinless barley continued to maintain its superiority, and appeared admirably suited to the colony; a considerable quantity had been raised this season- Some good crops also of Chevalier barley had been raised. The Cape barley was found more suited to horse-feed when cut green, and also as artificial hay. The Society state that labour, notwithstanding the importations during the past year, is still in demand, and good shepherds and experienced agricultural and female servants are still required, more especially the former. The following table will show the number of head of stock, and acres of land in cultivation, with the increase on each, for the York district:—

The deaths of some horses on the Murray were attributed to the “ Rununculus Colonus,” ar “ Swan River Butter-cup.” It seems that this country, like our own, has suffered great loss from the careless manner in in which, generally speaking, the wool is washed and sorted. One of the first merchants has written to his correspondents at Swan River, urging them to pay greater attention to these important processes. He says —“ The wools by the Elizabeth have been sold, and at somewhat better prices than the last; but the improvement in price would have been more marked had the wool itself been cleaned and in better condition. Let me impress on you the very great importance which attaches to the bestowal of more attention to washing, sorting, &c. I am quite sure that 3d. or 4d. per lb. more could be obtained for Swan River produce with great ease if these points were better looked to ; for as to intrinsic quality, it is admitted on all hands, that Swan River, or rather Western Australian wool, surpasses that of any other of the colonies.” New Colonial Production. —We yesterday had the pleasure of inspecting a sample of superior barilla of commerce, extracted from the mangroves growing on the banks of the Creek at Port Adelaide. This article is largely used in Britain by bleachers, manufacturers of hard soaps, glassmakers, &c. M'Culloch mentions that the prices of the best, which is imported from Spain, Tenerifte, and Sicily, ranges from £9 to £l2. We are glad to hear that Messrs. Wright and Co., soap-makers here, have engaged with the manufacturers of this article for a supply of fifty tons, and that samples have been sent for from Sydney, where parties are willing, if approved of, to take any quantity that can be supplied. It is unnecessary to comment upon the importance of the new staple. o Cape of Good Hope. —The Hambro’ ship Mary Stewart, Hinrichen, which got on shore at the Mouille Point, on the 3rd instant, as mentioned in our last, having been condemned, was sold by public auction on the 9th instant, the wreck producing gross £615. Part of the cargo also saved, but in a damaged state. — Cape Shipping List, Nov. 11. Arrival of the “ Hindostan.” —This fine steamer put into St. Helena Bay at 8 a.m. on Tuesday last, Bth instant, to take in a few coals, and is expected to arrive in Table Bay to-mor-row morning, having accomplished her voyage from Southampton (under steam), in thirty-one days, with only two-thirds of her power, which proves the efficiency of the ship, averaging from England more' than 205 miles per (Jay, and being an excellent sea-boat, in every respect answering the expectations of the proprietors. Left Southampton September 24th, half-past 3 p.m., and arrived at Gibraltar September 29th, at 5 p.m.,; left Gibraltar October Ist, 1 p.m., and arrived at the Island of St. Vincent October Bth, at Bh. 35m. p.m.; left St. Vincent October 13th, at 6 p.m., and arrived at Ascension October 22nd, at Bh. 30m. a,m., from whence she started October 25th, at 7h. 30m. p.m. Brings a mail. Left at Gibraltar, H.M.S. Thunderer wad. Formidable, both 80 gun

ships; at St. Vincent, H.M.S. gun-brig Heroine; arid at Ascensioii, H.M.S. Madagascar, and steamer Albert, fitted out for the suppression of the slave trade. The Cleveland, Morley, from Table Bay, touched at Ascension during their stay. ; Algoa Bay. —ln the Cape of Good Hope Shipping List of the 7tli of October, is contained a correspondence that had taken place between the inhabitants of Port Elizabeth and J. M. Craig, Esq., acting Colonial Secretary at the port, respecting the want of a light-house on Cape Receife, Algoa Bay. The correspondence had its origin in the wreck of the Sabina, a Spanish ship, on the reef running from,Cape Receife, on the night of the 6th of August, in attempting to reach Algoa Bay for the purpose of repairs and refreshment. The consequence of the want of a light-house, it is stated, “ was the total destruction of a fine vessel of 500 tons burthen, the loss of her cargo, estimated to have been worth 90,000/. sterling, and the sacrifice of twenty valuable lives.” Mr. Craig, in his reply, stated that he had corresponded with the Governor on the subject, and liis Excellency had informed him, “ that although no instructions have been received by him authorising the erection of a light-house at Cape Receife, the Surveyor-General had, on his last visit to England, several communications with the Secretary of State’s office, and the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House, on the subject, and in consequence of their instructions, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Mitchell prepared plans and estimates of the necessary buildings, which were transmitted to Lord Stanley by the .Governor on the 19th of July last.” The estimated expense of the light-house at Cape Receife was 12,847/. 10s. The number and tonnage of sailing and steam vessels registered on the 31st December, 1841, at the ports of Great Britain and Ireland, distinguishing those under from those above fifty tons register, was as under : —Sailing vessels, under fifty tons, 8,319 ; tonnage, 249,996; above fifty tons, 13,638 ; tonnage, 2,540,952. Total of sailing vessels, 21,957; of tonnage, 2,790,948. Steam vessels, under fifty tons, 325 ; torinage, 8,166; above fifty tons, 465 ; tonnage, 87,512. Total of steam vessels, 790; of tonnage, 95,678. Gross total of vessels, 22,747 ; of tonnage, 2,886,626.

Wheat, acres .... 550 G35 Barley “ .... 220 297.} Oats “ .... 20 54 Rye “ .... 33 7&} Hay anil green crops .... — Gardens .... 39 50 Total acres in cultivation.. .. .. 891 i075 Horses, number ... 433 469 Cattle “ . 1,177 1,270 Sheep “ . 34,937 47,008 Goats “ 1,GG2 1,383 Pigs “ 5G7 584