New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 5, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 141, 5 December 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 5, 1846.

We have willingly deferred>our observations on the last Session of the Legislative Council to make room for a moat interesting and valuable communication which we have received on the subject of the Phormium Tenax or New Zealand Flax. -From our correspondent's statements it would seem the chief difficulties which prevented the flax from becoming a marketable article are overcome, the principal question appears to be the cost at which the flax can be shipped from New Zealand, so as to return a profit to the shipper after all expences are -paid. We hope the time is not far distant when New Zealand flax will become the staple export of the colony.

We understand that a Public Meeting was held at the Aurora Saloon on Thursday evening. As it was generally believed that the originators of the meeting were actuated solely by selfish and personal motives, the meeting was very thinly attended, and all those who have hitherto, on public questions, usually taken a leading part, carefully abstained from being present. The suspicions entertained as to the views of its movers appear, from all we have heard, to have been most fully justified, for the grossest personal abuse was indulged in. One of the parties (not at present resident in the settlement) who addressed the meeting, avowed himself the author of the advertisement inserted in last Wednesday's Spectator. All admit that the proceedings were anything but creditable to the parties concerned in them, and that the meeting was a complete failure. If Public Meetings are to be called for the pur- .. pose of allowing parties to vent their private pique, we fear that these meetings will be deserted by all the respectable part of the community, and that no weight will consequently be attached to their proceedings. As such a result must be deeply regretted by all who take a real interest in the welfare of .the colony, and who are desirous of seeing their fellow settlers unite in their endeavours to promote the common good, we trust that an effort will be made to prevent similar scenes (as those enacted last Thursday) taking place. We understand that another meeting is called for next Thursday, but unless it is distinctly understood that this is not an adjourned meeting — not a continua- | tion of last Thursday's proceedings — we do not expect that it will be countenanced. Unless some guarantee be given, that personal quarrels are not to be intruded, we are satisfied that very many of those who have generally been the most ready to advocate the interests of the settlement, will decline to take any part in the meeting.

Earthquake. — One of the most severe earthquakes which has occurred since the formation of the settlement, took place yesterday evening, about twenty-five minutes past five. The shock lasted several seconds, and the buildings rocked and shook in so alarming a manner, that the inhabitants rushed out into the open air. The wind had been strong during the day from the North-west, and it continued to blow freshly after the earthquake. For the last six weeks we have had a succession of dry weather altogether unusual at this season of the year. We have not heard of any accidents caused by the earthquake in Wellington. Several slighter shocks were experienced in the course of the evening.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. Geo.. Hunter, Mr. R. Jenkins, Rev. S. Ironside', and Mr. W. Fitzherbert, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposita at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the sth December, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 7th December.

We are also requested to give notice that the monthly meeting of the Superintending Coonnittee will take place at Barrett's Ho, tel, on Monday evening, the 7th December, at eight o'clock.