THE INDIAN CHRONICLE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 282, 12 April 1848, Page 2

THE INDIAN CHRONICLE.

We have been favoured with a few copies of a new journal, lately published under 'this title. Our readers, from its name, may possibly assign to it a wider circulation than that which it actually enjoyed ; but we must undeceive them by explaining that the journal to which we allude has no reference to eastern politics, but originated in a desire on the part of the passengers of the barque Indian, to while away the tedium of the voyage from England. The principles of the journal will be best explained in the Editor's address to his readers, in which they are informed that " the Indian Chronicle will be a weekly record of all the important events which occur on board the barque Indian, on her passage from London to New Zealand, accompanied by a free commentary on those occurrences. Its principles will be strictly free trade, and its columns will be open at all times to the contributions of correspondents, subject to revisal by the Editor." The arrangements for reporting public* occurrences, and obtaining the latest intelligence of passing events in the microcosm of which it was the organ, are stated to be so complete as to defy competition, whilst the advertizing public are attracted by promises of the advantages conferred by its immense circulation — one copy weekly. Our first extract is an ode to St. Valentine's day, in which the writer with true poetical fervour sacrifices to the fair sex — " Since 'tis well known, without the sex, our sonnets Would seem unfinish'd, like their untrimm'd bonnets." But we fear we must praise his gallantry at the expense of his loyalty, since in the last stanza he betrays evident symptoms of fickleness, and appears to prefer the pleasures of imagination to those of memory :—: — st. valentine's day. St. Valentine's day is at hand, But where are our sweethearts? oh! where? They're now in a far distant land, And it's long before we shall be there. This year we must pass by that day, And no billets-doux send or receive ; But we cannot help it, so pray Give Cupid this time a reprieve. But the lasses at home may not like This plan that we needs must adopt ; And maybe there will be a strike When they find their supplies to be stopfc. If they should be fickle at home, Of their promises grant them repeal, and Being fiee o'er the wide world to roam, We'll make love to the girls in New Zealand. Our next extracts are of a graver cast : — Death of Mr. Mitchell. — It is with feelings of deep regret that we announce the decease of Mr. Francis Mitchell, who died on

■1 the 29th January, at the early age of 25 years, after a severe and protracted illness arising in the first place from cold, followed by inflammation of the lungs, and terminating in inflammation of the brain, leaving a young wife and child to lament their sad loss. It is also to be regretted that in consequence of delirium, which continued up to his death, he was rendered unable to give the slightest iustructions regarding his effects, &c, or even mentioning a word for his wife, whom he left in New Zealand in January, 1846, with a young child. We understand when he left New Zealand he was stout, and enjoying excellent health, but during the two years of his absence, he suffered three or four times from inflammation of the lungs of which he was not quite well when he came on board. And through injudicious exposure to the inclemency of the weather in the early part of the passage, his disease was repeatedly aggravated, and eventually it terminated in bis death. On the same day at 6 p. m. Captain English read the burial service and his body was committed to the deep. We think it will be gratifying to his friends to know that the whole of the ship's company attended the funeral, with a general aspect of sorrow for the loss of their late shipmate.

Fatal Accident. — About 10 a.m. on Tuesday last, (Feb. 15th) Joseph Hume was sent to serve the fore top-gallant backstay, and had not been standing there many minutes, when it gave way, when he fell, as we suppose, on the main stay, on his belly ; from thence on to the gaily, and finally on the deck, striking his head against some spare spars. He was picked up much stunned, but not insensible. Dr. Nicholson was immediately in attendance, and he ascertained that a considerable portion of the protuberance of the left side of the right eye, was knocked off; and also, that his collar bone was fractured. He had also reason to fear, that a rupture of the intestines was the cause of the extreme pain in the bowels of which the pa'ient complained, and treated accordingly. We are sorry to add, all his efforts were ineffectual ; the patient died about 1 a.m. The miscellaneous news gives evidence of the superior arrangements of the spirited proprietor, and the diligence of this department of the press. The following extracts are among the most important :— More Distress in the Manufacturing Districts. — We regret to state that in consequence of an accident to the machinery, the coffee mill has been obliged to stop the Indian corn department of its business, which was Lecoraing very extensive. By this unfortunate event several industrious workmeu are thrown out of employment, and we fear that the scarcity of mush will cause much distress. The coffee, pepper, and cocua departments are still continued with unabated vigour. Mischievous Report. — Considerable excitement prevailed throughout the ship on Tuesday last in consequence of a report being spread that Mrs. hen had laid another egg. Our reporter was immediately on the the spot, but on institutingan inquiry, he found that some mischievous individual had placed a wooden egg in the nest. Great difficulty was experienced in procuring information, but it was stated to him privately, that Mrs. boiled the egg before she discovered the mis- ' take, considering the yellow colour to be a peculiarity of the hen. We think this must been a fabrication. Our notice would be incomplete without some of the advertisements ; we have therefore extracted the following as specimens : — Advertisement. — The ship's company of the Indian will be obliged to Capt. English, if he will allow them a fresh supply of tobacco, their last stock being out. Public Notice. — A bottle of grog will be given to any sailor, who will catch a good fish, of not less than four pounds weight.