NEW YEAR'S DAY!

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 65, 3 January 1846, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY !

Although the Settlers have " no Chimes" to ring the Old Year out, and the New Year in, the close of 1845 did not pass away unobserved by them. At midnight the guns from the shipping marked the termination of the Old Year, and in many private circles the settlers waited anxiously for the signal which was to usher in the year 1846 — a year which we sincerely hope may, under our new Governor, prove more auspicious to the Settlement than any of those bygone, and that to each and all of us it may not only in itself be prosperous, but lead in its train many HAPPY NEW TEARS !

On Tuesday, the 30th December, 1845, the Lady of R. Baker, Esq., of a son.

Baptized, on Sunday, 28th December, 1845, in St. Mary's Catholic Chapel (by the Catholic Pastor) Richard, the infant son of Ri-* chard and Mary Conlan.

Sheep shearing has commenced at nearly all the stations, at the Wairarapa, and the clip promises -to '^e^very satisfmctftry. t The first 1*"1 *" bales from Messrs. Clifford and Vavasour's station were brought round in a whaleboat on Wednesday last.

New Zealand flax is much lightegihan Jiemp ; so that rope made from it goes .much farther. A hundred weight of 2-inch European rope measures 1 12 fathoms, while a hundred weight of rope of New Zealand flax runs to 160 fathoms.

Extract of a letter from a commerc'al house in London.

" Wool.—The colonial sales are now in progress; the receipts have been upwards of 9,800 bales this month, and it is expected before the scene closes, they will almost all be run off at full prices, the manufacturers having plenty of orders. The accounts from the Continent are also favorable, and at the German fairs good prices are well sustained.

•' Oil.—There is little or no speculation in this article, and it is called in a quiet state, nevertheless consumption isVgoitig "oriTfri pros*"""* portion to manufacturing activity, and the purchases are unobserved. The stock, however, is large, which keeps down speculation, even if the desire existed, but of late years business has materially changed its character in England, and speculation is no more thought of in commerce; it is all involved "in railroads. " Wequote sperm oil at 80/. and 82/.per tun'; South Sea, £26 and £28; the last sales were however, 50 tuns of colonial sperm at £78 and £79, and headmatter £79, 155., and 50 tuns colonial South Sea best pale at £27, 15s. and £28, and middling to good £26 and £27. — Whalebone, heavy of sale, £245 and £250. New Zealand wool may be quoted at Is. 4d. to Is. lOd. per lb."

Spirits and tobacco under bond this Ist day' of January 1 846 — Brandy 1,203 gallons. Rum 573 do. Gin None. Tobacco 3,430 Ib. Cigars 554f lb. Snuff 80 ft.

We understand that William Fitzherbert, Esq., has been appointed Lloyd's Agent for Port Nicholson and. the coast adjacent. . lathe instructions/ which he has received from this establishment, is the following .letter, which we publish for general information : — - The attention of the committee for managing the affairs of Lloyd's, having been called to the frequent claims made upon Underwriters for averages, grounded upon surreys, respecting which, the agents to this establishment have not been made acquainted, and which having' thereby the appearance of irregularity, difficulties and disputes have arises in consequence ; lam instructed to request, with the view to securing just and prompt settlements in future, as also to obtain for^Jngents that importance, and those advantagespwhich should attach to their office 3 that you will, (in addition to your regular advices) report to me the names of the vessels, and masters, arriving at your port, having damaged goods on board, which have been^surveyed under. your superintendence? and (so far as you are able to ascertain) the names, of such vessels with damaged goods, that have not been surveyed under your directions, and the reasons thatnmay have prevented you from attending the surveys of the whole, or any part of the damaged goodt in each cargo.

The additional matter introduced into the Almanack for this year, has in some degree de-. layed its publication ; but we beg to inform our Subscribers that it will be ready for delivery, without fail, on Thursday morning next.

public expense, a work of admitted public utility, or is all the money voted for public works to be spent at Auckland ? If the hard labour gang were employed for a fortnight on this road, they would do all that is required, and we venture to think, that as far as the public convenience is concerned, they would be more usefully employed than they are at present.

On Sunday morning last, some miscreant maliciously wounded a horse belonging to Mr. Hendry, in such a way as to cause its death. The horse was discovered on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock lying on the ground bleeding, and died within an hour afterwards. We hope the police will use their utmost vigilance to discover the perpetrator of this cruel and wanton crime, that he may meet with the punish* menthe so richly deserves. A reward of Ten Pounds has been offered, to be paid on the apprehension and conviction of the oflender.

1841. From 25th Aug. to Jan. 1842, The year ending -* Jan. 1843, Ditto do. Jan. 1844, From Jan. 1844 to 30th Sept. 1844, £50,000 112,000 88,000 35,000 .£285,000

An account (in round numbers) of the value of merchanjiis^ iragißFted -«flnto thesJWt of Wellington (except from the coast), in the following years :—: —