AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 256, 12 January 1848, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The intended visit of his Excellency to the South has been postponed for a few days, in order that he might be sworn in as Governor-in-Chief under the New Charter. This ceremony will take place on Saturday next, at two o'clock, p.m., in front of Government House, and on the Monday following he takes his departure. A Government Ball is also intended to be given on Friday evening, when the votaries of Tl.erpsicore will have an opportunity of bidding adieu to the told, and welcoming in the nev/ year: We believe that nothing will be done towards the elections until the return of the Governor from the Southern Settlements, by which time it is expected that despatches will Jbe received from the Home Government in answer to some suggestions of Captain Grey relating to some mode of representing the natives in the Assembly, as well as other matters of detail. Those then who are impatiently ambitious of civic honors will have to suffer a little unpleasant delay ere they approach the attainment of their wishes. — New Zealander, Dec. 29. H. M .S. Dido sailed last night for the Feegee Islands. His Lordship the Bishop is, we understand, a passenger. Various reports are afloat relative to the object of this expedition. One is, that the Dido has instructions to demand satisfaction for some outrages which have lately been committed upon the crews of British vessels by these islanders, and to take formal possession of the Islands for the Crown. Another is, that the King of Tonga, or it may be of Fegee, or some such august person, has I been prompted to write to the Governor, praying for British protection from his foes. Now, supposing this latter to be true, we think that Governor Grey has plenty to do here without prompting elsewhere ; and it is not from an inhuman feeling of indifference to the Maories, of the poor savages who are destroying each other, that we deprecate any movement of the government in the matter, but simply because we know that in such cases foreign interference only increases, instead of preventing, the evil. If the first report be true, we can only say, — takcpossession of Fegee ! why, in the name of- goodness, what do we want with more islands. Have we not enough to do already to keep those we have, without running headlong into new enterprises that must involve us more. — Southern Cross, Dec. 25. By the Marys, which arrived yesterday from Tahiti, we have received news from that island to the 27th ult. A scarcity of food prevailed generally, and was causing some distress. Things were very quiet, and the French were on their best behaviour; although the morals of the islanders were not said to have been much improved by their "protectors." A set of regulations had been enforced for the due peace and order of the port, — necessary on account of runaway sailors, et id genus omme. No native was allowed abroad after the eight o'clock gun; and no European after ten o'clock, without a light. We hope affairs will soon so much improve as to enable the "Protectors" to lay aside such stringent regulations, which do not smack much for freedom, especially in L'Oceanie. — New Zealander, Dec. 22. The Sir John Franklin, schooner, arrived, on Monday from the Feejee Islands, and the missionary brig John Wesley, yesterday ; the former after, a passage of nineteen days, and the latter of nine days from Rewa. The

Rev. Walter Lawry, General Superintendent of the Missions in these seas, has returned in the John Wesley, after visiting the various stations in the islands. At Rewa, a sanguinary war has been kept up for a considerable time, and many of the villages and settlements have become depopulated in consequence ; but at the other islands which have been visited, peace prevails, and Christianity appears to have taken root, and is tending to produce a civilizing influence. — Ibid. On Tuesday, 28th ult., the annual feast of the schools iv connection with the Episcopalian Church was held on the grounds of the Rev. Mr. Kissling, at the Tamaki. The day was most propitious, and excellent arrangements having been made for the entertainment of the scholars, nothing occurred to interrupt the flow of rational eujoyment, in which both the teachers and visitors participated with the children. About 500 sat down to dinner in two long tents, tastefully ornamented with flowers; and the rapid manner in which one ox, three sheep, and five pigs, with the et catera, disappeared, speaks well for the healthy state of the gastronomic and digestive powers of the rising generation. The afternoon was agreeably passed in exhilirating amusements, in which we were pleased to see the natives heartily participate ; and in enjoying the refreshing sea breeze on the beautiful beach which fronts Mr. Kissliiig's residence. Another mustering having taken place to participate in " the feast of plumcake and the flow of tea," the meeting separated ; some pioceeded to Auckland by water, some to the interior by various conveyances, but all to the conclusion, that the exhibition of so much decorum and harmonious feeling among so many children, must have been the result more or less of the schools, the anniversary of which they had that day met to celebrate. — Ibid. Singular Accident. — A native of the Ngatiwatua tribe, was busily engaged up the river, wirh a large party of his people in shark fishing. The fish were abundant, and numbers were being hooked. The man in question had two large hooks attached to one line. He got a bite at one hook — hooked a large fellow — hauled him, and with powerful effort swung him into the canoe ; but in so doing, he got hooked himself. The loose hook entered the back part of his neck just below the hair of his head, and came out within the side of the jaw-bone. He was conveyed with all speed to Dr. Ford, who extracted -the hook, and sewed up the wound. The poor fellow bore the operation most patiently, and with a few days' rest and quiet, will probably be well again. Native Labour. — There are at present employed on the Government works upwards of 110 natives from all parts of the country, belonging to upards of 16 different tribes, and connected with the most influential chiefs. These natives are employed at all kinds of work ; some build the barrack wall, others dress the stones, in a style too, equal to any European workman, while others make mortar or execute labourer's work in general. They also quarry the stones themselves, can blast them, or use the wedge to split them with equal dexterity to any European, and their work is done without almost any trouble to the overseer, and in the most orderly, peaceable, and satisfactory manner ; keeping the same hours and arrangements as other workmen. Indeed, so efficient are they, that we heard with much surprise, that there is not at present a single European labourer in the department, notwithstanding the great amount of work now going on. The natives have thus been employed for about a year, but it is right to mention that only about 30 of the number mentioned have steadily remained all that period. Nevertheless the supply is easily kept up, and they are so readily taught, that the new comers are not found to give much additional trouble, as they are first put to inferior employment and gradually advanced as their practice and information increases. Their wages vary from Is 6d to 2s. 6d. per day, according to merit ; with which arrangement they are perfectly satisfied, perceiving the relative ability of each other as readily as an European. In their habits they are very orderly, and even exemplary. We believe that only one case of drunkenness has occurred, and no instances of other misconduct. Every morning and evening they have worship among themselves, and on Sundays they duly attend the church to which they may be attached. Some are Episcopalians, others Roman Catholics, and some Wesleyans. With, the exception, we believe, of one or two, they can all read and write, acquirements which three or four weeks are quite sufficient for them to attain. In their dress they also conform to that of other workmen, but their wages are chiefly expended in the purchase of articles of clothing, to send as presents to their relations in the interior of the country ; for true to the native character, they must give away the greater part, or even the whole of their earnings ! The custom is universal, arising from innate disposition originally, but now in } many in-, stances the result of habit ; still it is an ami-

able and praiseworthy trait of character, and one to be sought for in vain among any European nation. Another excellent feature in the management of the natives on the ordnance works, is the practice of the overseers of calling things as far as possible, by their English names — such as all terms used in their Work; thus teaching them gradually to acquire our language, an object of the greatest consequence. There was at one time a school established for teaching them after working hours, but \re are sorry to hear it was broken up, because the clerk of the -works and the overseers had not sufficient time to superintend it. The experiment altogether is one of the most interesting description, and proves at once what might be made of these natives with proper management, so that we may look forward, anfl that'at no distant day, to obtain any extent of labour, — even artificer work — from the natives at a moderate price, as the colonists may require ; nor ought we to conclude this notice without stating that the engineer department, we believe, will most readily assist private individuals by penvitting some of the native workmen we refer to, upon application, to work for private individual?, to encourage which as much as possible, is the wish of the Government. — Southern Cross.

[From the New Zcalander.] An extract from the Adelaide Register, which will be found below, declares a truth, and conveys a warning applicable not only to the town for which it was especially written, but for every place where human beings are congregated together. It appears that Adelaide, so very healthy at first, is, by inattention to public cleanliness and drainage becoming so unhealthy, " that it is rare to meet with a perfectly healthy individual." -JNow we confidently assert, that this town ofAuckland, erected in the healthiest country in the world, has enough filthy lanes and dirty drains to keep up a perpetual plague, had it been situated in a less airy country. Even as it is, renovated as the air is by constant breezes, how many cases of sickness are there met with in the back streets of the town, which never would have existed but for the uncleanly causes we refer to. We strongly advise the authorities, and beyond all, oar fellow-townsmen, that they had better look to it, — for depend upon it, let a fever be once originated by neglectfulness of proper precautions, which are as simple as they are important, and it will visit other streets and other places than those which may be assigned as its natural abode. Increasing Sickness in Adelaide.— How happens it that Adelaide up to 1841, with a population as dense as in 1847, continued as healthy as any town in the world ; while from 1841 to the present moment it has been gradually increasing in unhealthiness ? It may be objected that last year was an unusual one ; that the summer was damp, and that moist winds and calms prevailed to an extent never before known. But making every allowance for these irregularities in our climate, the fact still stares us in the face, in all its hideousness, that Adelaide, summer and winter is, year by year, losing its claim to the character for salubrity, which all persons, friends and enemies, visitors and residents, have conceded to it. * * * But we can no longer close our eyes to the fact, that cases of fever, formerly of rare occurrence, now are met at all seasons, — and that Influenza, in other years, a slight and trivial affection, is now bringing affliction into the bosom of numerous families ; while dispepsia is so universal that it is rare to meet with a perfectly healthy individual. * * ♦ Now upwards of ten years have elapsed since Adelaide became a city, and we believe that scarcely one attempt has been made to empty a cesspoolj or sweep a yard. Every cellar is full of stagnant, stinking water, and the town is studded with pools of the same character. As jackals, hyenas, vultures, pelicans et id genus omme, in some measure cleanse the large towns of the East, so, goats and pigs were at one time the scavengers of Adelaide. Can we be surprised, then, that sickness has entered every dwelling, with its train of domestic bereavements and distress — or can we doubt that unless energetic steps are taken to prevent the accumulation of acknowledged sources of disease, that pestilence will some day scatter the inhabitants. — Adelaide Register.