New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 23, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 484, 23 March 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 23, 1850.

During this week there have been three arrivals from Hobart Town of vessels on their way to California, filled with passengers and goods. Besides these it is reported there are eighteen vessels now loading at Hobart Town for the same destination. At Sydney, Port Phillip, and South Australia also, the local journals contain numerous announcements of vessels laid on for California. A considerable intercourse has sprung up between these colonies and the new land of Promise, and these vessels, besides the numerous passengers they contain, are loaded with colonial produce. But there can be little doubt that New Zealand, both from its situation and the nature of its products, will eventually be more benefited by the daily increasing importance of California than Any other colony in these seas, if its colonists take care to profit by the advantages it holds out to them. The Abstract of Exports from Auckland to California | (from the Southern Cross) published in our last number, shows the extent to which our neighbours at the North have embarked in this lucrative trade/ while the increasing de- !

mahd for the articles enumerated, and the remunerating prices obtained will doubtless cause them £o follow up with' increased energy the beginning they have so prosperously made. We hope our. fellow- settlers *at the South will not be slow iri4mitating,the example thus set them, and that several other vessels will follow the Thames freighted with the produce of these settlements. This, in truth, is the best way in which the colonists of New Zealand can profit by California. In emigrating thither they are exposed to all the risks and dangers (and these all the accounts show are not a few) arising from the want of a settled Government, the character of the population, and the diseases incidental to the country, and the way of living. But in the supply of the wants of the rapidly and daily increasing population of California a market is provided expressly adapted to the peculiar productions of New Zealand. Both the white and red pines of the Southern Province, and the kauri of the Northern Province of this colony are so superior to the hard woods of the adjacent colonies as to obtain a decided preference at San Francisco. Where carpenter's wages are ten dollars a day, there can be no doubt that the woods most easily worked will always be most eagerly sought after, while the population of California is increasing at so rapid a ratio that it is almost impossible to keep pace with the demand for wood required for the purposes of building. As long as the profits at the diggings engage the majority of the population in this attractive occupation, the cultivation of the ground is neglected, and the country becomes entirely dependent on its neighbours for food. The price of flour (chiefly attributable we believe to the exports to California from the neighbouring colonies) is now higher than it has been for some time past, and this price is likely to be maintained, while the demand for potatoes, onions, maize and other New Zealand produce will also be increased in an equal degree. With these encouraging prospects, with the certainty of so remunerating a market in which the produce of this colony is likely to obtain so decided a preference, we hope the effect will be to inspire the country settlers with renewed energy and to cause an increased breadth of land to be brought into cultivation in the Southern Settlement?.

Odd Fellows. — The Members of the Loyj^; Antipodean Lodge celebrated the third An* niversary of the opening of their Lodge on Wednesday last, in the usual manner, in their Hall, Host Woo. Bannister's. About five o'clock the company sat down to partake of the excellent repast provided for the occasion ; and too much praise cannot be given to the worthy Host for the admirable arrangements throughout. The usual loyal toasts, together with those of the healths of Sir George Grey and the Lieute-nant-Governor, were drunk with great cheerfulness and enthusiasm. The chairman then proposed " Prosperity to the Manchester Unity," which was heartily responded to, being followed by several other toasts connected with the Order, alternately enlivened by a number of excellent songs. At ten o'clock dancing commenced, which was kept up with great spirit until six o'clock in the morning.