CALIFORNIA. STRAWS FROM THE GOLD COAST. [From the Polynesian.] No. XIII.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 487, 3 April 1850, Page 4

CALIFORNIA. STRAWS FROM THE GOLD COAST. [From the Polynesian.] No. XIII.

Arrival of mail steamer — Detentton of mails — Anxiety for letters — Scene at the Post Office — New speculations — Complaints of passengers in. the Pacific steamers — French interference — New Steamers — Lumber — Building — Bain — Wind — Rail-Road through the Sierra Neveda\ — Death of Captain Warner. San Francisco, November 5, 1849.

Dear Polynesian. — You know the stir an arrival from " the States" used to produce (and perhaps does still) at Honolulu, after a month's dearth of news — but that stir was nothing to the excitement produced here by the arrival (Oct. 31) of the steamer Panama with the immense aggregate mail of the last three months. Till this arrival no regular mail has reached us since that of June. Steamer after steamer came — expectation was on tiptoe — but the announcement of "no mail" threw a shade of disappointment and indignation over the features of the tantalized multitude. The excitement among our great community of absent husbands, brothers, friends, countrymen and lovers, was waxing to a feverish o height — nor was the fever abated by the appearance of the Unicorn on the morning of the 21st, which

steamer was reported to have on board the back mails, for she had "no mail." As a vent for public indignation mass meetings were called for the evening to take the subject in hand ; but the opportune arrival of the- Panama towards evening — the actual oidering of four heavy waggons to convey the large mail to the Post Office, quieted the excitement. Two days and two nights were consumed by the whole busy corps of Post-Office clerks in getting the letters alone ready for delivery. Saturday morning the anxiety of out citzens to hear from loved home, or from business associates, was manifested by the denseness of the crowd at the office. Each man must wait his turn to inquire — and lorig lines of several hundred people were formed, stretching away from each orifice of delivery many rods down the street. The long columns moved up like the hour-hand of a clock. Nearly half a day was required for the rear of the procession to reach the window. Each new comer took his place at the foot of the line ; but positions farther up were often purchased by anxious expectants who could not afford time to wait their turns, for a bonus of from two to ten dollars — the seller of his chance taking his place at the foot of the line. This scene at our Post Office clearly convinces one that really there is no mail in the in the wide world so important as that from the Atlantic States to California — none at the reception of which so many anxious hearts beat and such depths of feeling are stirred ; and none perhaps, or but few, on which depend business transactions involving so large an amount of value in dollars and cents. Why these mails have been delayed so long at the Isthmus is not satisfactorily explained. There is gross culpability somewhere, but whether on the part of the mail contractors or of our government, does not clearly appear. The passengers of the Panama express in the strongest terms their disapprobation with the treatment and accommodations they received on board ; and the impression seems to be general that the propietors of the line of steamers by no means do what they might or ought for the comfort of those who pay roundly for their services. The latest news from the East is Sept. 16, which you will gather from your files. Symr pathy for the defeated Hungarians seems to be deep and general; and indignation at the conduct of the French towards Italy equally deep anJ general. And this latter sentiment will scarcely be softened by the news of the recent French outrage at your Islands. We may anticipate for the Hawaiian embassy, which left in the steamer of the Ist, a favourable hearing and cordial sympathy. There are now three steamers in port recently from Panama ; the Senator, to run on the Sacramento ; the Unicorn, a fresh boat on the Pacific line ; and the Panama, of the same line. The latter will leave on the 14th ; and it is expected that hereafter the trips of these boats will be semi-monthly. The amount of houses and lumber to arrive from the East is enormous ; but doubtless an enormous quantity will be needed to build up all our " homes" in a " day." There is no abatement, but rather an increase in the general hurry of building as winter approaches. Three or four days ago another rain commenced, damaging immense quantities of goods exposed in the streets, and still continues falling, producing mud and mire in our thronged and unpaved thoroughfares, equal to anything imagination can picture. A sample of vind came also on Friday night, illustrating what is to be anticipated for the shipping in port before winter is over, upless it be removed or better secured. The^teamer Senator dragged anchor several nflp and lost an iron boat. Several ships also became restive, and ran foul of each other, doing more or less damage; but nothing to the havoc which would follow a regular norther. sent out in July_by Government to survey a rail-road route from the head waters of the Sacramento through the Sierra Neveda into the Great Basin, has returned, reporting the route we entirely feasible ; but Captain Warner, oxffke Topographical Engineers, an excellent officer who commanded the party, did not return, having been killed with two of his men, by the Indians. There is now little doubt of the practicability of i rail-road * across the continent, if it can be protected from hostile Indian tribes. But until these tribes shall become extinct it is to be feared, their savage treachery and malevolence. wijl present an insuperable difficulty. Panorama*