New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 9, 1848.,

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 264, 9 February 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 9, 1848.,

The Gazette published last week is important in many respects. It officially declares the appointment of the Lieutenant Governor of this Province and his assumption of office, and the separation of the colony into two distinct Provinces. The Official Proclamation confirms and perpetuates one of Captain Hobson's mistakes which the present would have been a convenient opportunity to rectify. Instead of the more intelligible designation of Northern and Southern Province, which already obtains in general parlance from its obvious propriety, we have the names of Irish Provinces with the prefix New — betraying a poverty of imagination and sinning against good taste. We may be told that a name is nothing, that it is a matter of indifference — but even in things indifferent it is as well to consult general convenience, and not to make alterations merely through caprice. We shall find the two Provinces seldom mentioned by their Official name except in official or legal documents ; in the same way the name of New Plymouth is lost in the original native name of Taranaki, and that of Petre in Wanganui, common use consulting sound as well as sense. Another more serious adoption of Hobson's choice appears, in the forced and unnatural union of Taranaki with the Northern district, as may be inferred by the published list of magistrates, those belonging to Taranaki being included in the commission for the Northern Province. Now Taranaki has always been considered one of the Cook's Strait settlements having been founded by the New Zealand Company ; its

intercourse with Wellington is regular and constant, scarcely a week passing without some arrival, the greater part of its produce is sent to Wellington, and it receives its supplies in return from this port, while its communication with Auckland is irregular and infrequent. We protest therefore against such an arrangement which would nominally transfer the garden of New Zealand as Taranaki, from its fertility, has been aptly styled, to the Northern Province, and though " the law allows it and the court awards it," interest and inclination will alike preserve the union of the Cook's Strait settlements until this objectionable arrangement is done away with. We defer for the present our observations on the Quarter's Revenue except to remark its steady progressive increase. The report on the Roads by Capt. Russell and the Medical report are botli very interesting, from the decided proofs they afford of the improvement and advancement in civilization uf the natives. The account of the system pursued by Capt. Russell in the management of the road parties ana its results, the effect of the union of strict justice and firmness in keeping the natives to their engagements, and in making them useful members of the community, we hope will not be thrown away — where a sensible judicious treatment of the natives is found to answer so well it may be deemed adviseable to leave " well alone." Whiie on this subject we may mention the difference in the cost of road making in the two Provinces, the Porirua road through a hilly and difficult country costing £700 per mile, while the roads made in the neighbourhood of Auckland are reported to have cost £2400 per mile.

The brig Bee arrived on Monday from Sydney, but brings no news of importance. Shortly after leaving Sydney she spoke the Orwell going to Twofold Bay to fill up again with cattle, having lost all her previous cargo of stock but five, When off Manakau she saw a barque going into that harbour. The Bee also spoke H. M. Steamer Inflexible on Sunday, on her way to Akaroa, so that his Excellency the Governor will make his intended tour of the Southern Island before returning to Wellington.

New Appointment. — Capt. Sharp has been appointed Harbour Master of this Fort : the appointment of one so well qualified to discharge the duties of the office, will, we are sure, give very general satisfaction.

Fire. — On Tuesday morning, between two and three o'clock, a fire broke out at the slaughterhouse of Messrs. W. B. Rhodes & Co., Te Aro, a wooden building adjoining and in front of their large stores at the head of the Bay. The fire was observed by the sentinel on duty at the Ordnance stores, near the pa Te Aro, who immediately gave the alarm, and a strong detachment of the military, with the most praiseworthy energy and promptitude, at once repaired to the spot, and exerted themselves most effectually by breaking down with axes and levers portions of the building, and in dragging the burning materials to the water's edge. Major Patience, Lieut. Rhatigan, and Mr. Lardner of the Commissariat, were particularly active in rendering assistance, and in directing those employed, so as to render their services most available. Soon afterwards the Government Fire-engine was brought to the spot, and a supply of water being obtained, a plentiful stream was dii rected on the burning timbers, which eventually arrested the progress of the flames. A number of settlers living in the immediate neighbourhood, among whom we noticed Mr. M'Donald of the Union Bank, Mr. George Hunter, Mr. W. Lyon, &c, on hearing the alarm, lent their assistance, and a boat well manned, was sent by Capt. Sotheby from H.MS. Racehorse to assist in putting out the nre. By the united exertions of those present the fire was confined to the building in which it broke out : most providentially also the wind shifted a few hours previously from the north-west to the south-east; but for this circumstance, such was the rapid progress and fury of the flames, the large stores adjoining must have been burnt down, in which case the flames would have inevitably extended to the office of this Paper, which is built on the same section, and the whole of the premises and their contents must have been destroyed; the fire would also have extended to the Te Aro pa. Eight sheep and one bullock intended for slaughter, which were in the building perished in the flames; a large fat bullock which had been slaughtered the previous afternoon for supplying the troops was also consumed. The fire is supposed to have originated in some woodwork near the fireplace in which the tallow is melted down, and which must have remained smouldering, until by some accidental circumstance it burst into flames during the night. The amount of property destroyed is estimated at £250.

The Maories of Te Aro pa assembled outside the palings of their pa, and sat down on the ground looking on with the utmost indifference, and with two or three exceptions, refusing to lend the slightest assistance : some who were asked wanted to know first what utu they were to receive. It might perhaps be found useful, in the event of an alarm of fire, if directions were given that the sentinel at the Commissariat should immediately rouse the BarrackSergeant, who has charge of the fireengine, so that no time would be lost in getting it ready for use.