New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, April 27, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 494, 27 April 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, April 27, 1850.

We are persuaded that the able and elaborate paper on steam communication with Australia and New Zealand, which we have reprinted in our present number from the Times, will be perused with the greatest interest by our readers in New Zealand. The writer, who appears to be ful y conversant with his subject, embodies in this article all the latest information, and incontestably shews that on national grounds, as well as on account of the distance saved, and other prospective advantages, the shortest route between England and her Southern Colonies, — that, namely, by way of the Isthmus of Panama — is to be preferred. From this paper we learn that the British Government at length seriously entertains the intention of connecting the Southern Colonies with the mother country by steam communication, and that unless it be speedily done it is probable that Great Britain may be forestalled in this magnificent undertaking by the citizens of the United States, who already contemplate a line of steamers | from Panama to the South Pacific, embracing Valparaiso, the Society Islands, New Zealand, and Australia. This great change is mainly to be ascribed to the stream of emigration from the United States and the different countries in the Old World to California, and, from the immense number of passengers, the greatest inducements are held out for the profitable investment of capital m facilitating the means of intercourse. In a short time the barrier which the Isthmus of Panama has hitherto presented to commercial enterprise will be removed by means of a railway and ship canal, and in any plan of steam communication between Great Britain and the Southern Colonies by this route. New Zealand, from its geographical position, holds the most prominent and important place. We are thus doubly' benefited by California. A large and increasing market is opened for the timber and I agricultural produce of the colony, while

from the inducements it holds out for improving the means of communication, and the extension of steam navigation, in short, for turning the stream of commercial activity in this direction, the prospect of removing as it were one half the distance between Great Britain and New Zealand by means of steam, becomes a certainty, while New Zealand is advanced to the first place among the Southern Colonies, a proud pre-emi-nence which her natural advantages and the energy of her inhabitants well fit her to maintain. It also follows as a natural consequence that if the communication by steam between Great Britain and New Zealand is established, local steam communication between the different settlements of theif colony cannot any longer be delayed.

Mechanics' Institute. —On Thursday evening a paper was read by W. Mantell, Esq., at the Mechanics' Institute, of some additional notes of a tour through the conntry between Canterbury and Otago, in the Southern Island. There was a full attendance of Members and visitors, who appeared to take great interest in the account given by the Lecturer, which, besides affording . them a description of the natural features of the district, contained notices of the geological formation of the country, and was interspersed with anecdotes of the habits and customs of the natives to the South as contrasted in several particulars with those in the Northern Island.

We understand that the Woodstock will positively sail oa Monday next, on which day her mail closes. She is quite full, beingfreighted with wool and other produce of the Colony : a considerable portion of her cargo consists of sperm oil purchased by Merchants in Wellington at the sale of the Orion. Being a good sailer, she will pro* bably make a quick passage home. We are informed all her cabins are engaged, but several of the passengers intend returning* again to the Colony, as does also her Comraander, Captain Nicholson, who intends tosettle at Nelson.

We are requested to state that Major Baker was not present, as stated in iast Saturday's Independent, at the meeting of Magistrates for. granting Pjuhlican&..Licensesv ..-^