A NEW PAPER IN A NEW WORLD.*

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 658, 22 November 1851, Page 4

A NEW PAPER IN A NEW WORLD.*

[From the Times, July 5.] A slice of England, cut from top to bottom, was despatched to the Antipodes in the month of September last. A complete sample of Christian civilisation, weary of the difficult fight for bread within the compass of these narrow isles, took ship’at Gravesend in search of less crowded markets on the shores of New Zealand. The step was enthusiastic and of doub ful practicability, but by no means wild. It was not a blind helterskelter rush from known trouble at home to more painful hardship to be discovered abroad, but a deliberate, long considered, solemn, and devoted pilgrimage to a temple erected by Nature for the good of all comers, blessed with strong limbs, and courageous hearts. Greece in the heyday of heathen glory had given her picture in little to the colonies she deigned to establish. Why should not England present a miniature of her own Saxon face to her new bom dependencies ? Noah’s ark did not more completely treasure up specimens of the creature world than did the ships bound for the Canterbury Settlement preserve casts from all the old moulds left behind them in the mother country. At the head of the pilgrims stood an actual bishop, behind him were working clergy, working schoolmasters, working landlords, working labourers-—workers every one! Between deck and keel were the elements of a college, the contents of a public library, the machinery of a bank, yea the constituent parts of a constitutional government. The adventurers stepped onboard British subjects, with British feelings, British associations, and British habits, asd let them be drowned or disembarked where they might, they would carry to the bottom or to any other landing place the British character as emphatically impressed upon their persons as the effigy of Britannia on their familiar halfpence. It is superfluous to add that the enterprising voyagers took on board with them type, a press, an editor, a reporter, pens, ink, paper, and a determined resolution to stsrt a journal for the enlightened public of New Zealand at the very earliest opportunity. No English traveller is rash enough to deposit himself even in a railway carriage without his newspaper. John Bull could scarcely be said to be represented at the Antipodes unless, with his day’s work done, he could be shown with a pipe in his mouth and his feet under a table, deliciously absorbed in “ the latest news,” and the exciting conflict of his local politics. It is certainly not a matter of astonishment that the Canterbury settlers should settle upon an organ half an hour after they were fortunate enough to reach their distant home; but it is really worthy of remark and admiration that all the conditions of “a highly influential journal ” should present themselves in an instant to an antipodean contemporary, on a decert coast, quite as readily as to the journalist in the centre of this ever restless city. It is difficult to glance at the first number of the Lyttelton Times, now before us, and to associate its existence with a community not quite a month old. So far from being ashamed of our namesake, we are positively proud of his acquaintance and envious of bis power. If the editor of the Lyttelton Times can create so much out of notbimy. what would he make out of such a breeding heap as this of London ? There was no need for such a man to travel in search of bread and cheese as far as New Zealand. He should have stayed at home, where geniuses are still rare, however much the market of mediocrity be overstocked. “The settlers on board the first Canterbury fleet,’’ says a London writer, “ have taken possession of a lonely land—a country which has yet scarcely had its natural lineaments modified by the handiwork of man.” That writer has not seen the Lyttelton Times. Lonely forsooth ! “Lineaments not modified by the handiwork of man!” Why, the settlers have not yet recovered from their sea-sickness and found sleeping holes for their children, and yet there are three whole columns of advertisements, every one smacking of the true old world flavour, and indicating the handiwork of man as busy at the other end of the sphere as it is at this moment in Cheapside, There is “ a three-year-old filly, unbroken,” for sale in one corner, a “card” from “Richard Beamish, general commission merchant,” in another; here the well known “underisgned,” who has been “fortunate enough to secure the co-operation,” &c.; there the announcement of Mr. Alport, “ who has had the honour to receive instructions to sell by auction,” &c.; now the notice that “ the price of adve tisements in this paper is 3d. a line for the

first advertisement;” now the warning that “ all persons found cutting or damaging timber or underwood on lands, &c.;*’ and now the intimation (for what British advertisement list, either at home or abroad, would be complete without it?) that the subscription set on foot for the widow and children of an unfortunate and departed brother is still open waiting for donations, which will be thankfully received on behalf of the bereaved ones.

An aniipodeau paper that is to reflect th' journalism of the mother country must, of course, have its column for accidents and offences, though the paper be but an hour old and the community to which it belongs just as young. English newspapers, like the British constitution, have grown gradually into their present strength. In the Canterbury Settlement nothing begins from the beginning on principle. Society, journalism, laws, institutions, are all eighteen hundred and fiftyone years old at starting. If the child, in this instance is not father to the man, the child is, at least, as old a man as his father. Under the head “accidents” we are sorry to learn that, “ during the afternoon of Sunday last, the sth instant, a large party, consisting of, &c.” were “ returning on board from attending divine service, when a squally breeze from north-east, &c.;” but we are happy to state that, “ with the exception ol some fatigue no inconvenience has resulted to any of the party.” The “ police report ” gives us no murder, which is on the whole satisfactory, but “ Joseph Bennett,” knowing what is due to the mother country from one who has undertaken to represent her institutions in his own proper person, gets drunk, and is accordingly fined ss. (the very price at Bow-street). “Eli Salt was charged with having stolen a door, the property of the Canterbuiy Association, of the value of 55.;” and Eli Salt, not having the fear of the bishop before his eyes, reveals his origin, and vindicates the national genius of his class by assuring the bench that “he had bought some doors of Mr. Gartner, the storekeeper to the Association, and he thought that the door he had taken was one of them.” There is no doubt that Mr. Hardwick would have given Eli Salt, notwithstanding his ingenious defence, one week in the house of correction. Seven days’ incarceration is the fac simile sentence of the Canterbury magistrate. Heading the leading article stands the orthodox “ Notice to Correspondents,” without which the Lyttelton Times would certainly have failed to complete its mimic mission. It is very true that no correspondent has, as far as we can see, rendered the slightest notice necessary ; but, lest he should at any future period, be is very properly reminded that “no communication will receive any attention unless accompanied by the name and address of the author ’’ —an intimation, we conceive, somewhat unnecessary on a spot where “ the lineaments of nature are still unmodified by man,” and where one general “address” answers pretty nearly to every living soul in the place. To say that we have a “ Poet’s corner ” is but to add another instance of the daguerreotype fidelity of our Canterbury shadow, who will inevitably turn their settlement into a second London ages before Mr. Macaulay’s promised New Zealand chief ruminates upon the decay of civilisation at the foot of the new London, or any other metropolitan bridge.

Our eye glances with natural avidity to the Lyttelton Times' “leader.” Is our contemporary for protection or free trade? Does he cal! Lord John Russell a miserable incapable, or heap vituperation on the head of Mr. Disraeli? Is he for an extension of the suffrage, for all the points of the charter, and for the repeal of the act of 1829? Our ingenious brother is evidently nonplussed. He and the whole family of colonists are wrecked upon the leadingarticle. They have carried all England out with them, from a dignitary of the Church down to tJ-n domestic fowl, hut they have left the ingredients of the leading article behind them. Had they these, their stock of national produce would be complete. It is a painful and humiliating confession to make, and it takes two columns to arrive at it, but there is no edncealing the fact, “ parties and parly distinctions are among the products which the Canterbury colonists must raise by their own industry.” They cannot, with the best disposition to do so, begin to squabble the moment they land upon their virgin shores about abstract theories of government, about radical reform of abuses which do not exist, about the venality of a government which is not Ac hiHes was weak in one point. This is the vulnerable heel of the Anglican colonists. They set up a newspaper complete m all parts but that which is deemed at home essential to its life. But for one gleam of ope, happily visible at starting to the editor ° the L y tt . elton Ttmes > he would sink from envy and despair. “No doubt,” he cheerfully writes, various objects of Joed interest creatin”"? —’ Calling ort h dlscumion and creating division, and parties will^, rm them-

selves, clustering round the ani) l P , winch t.m. win ,|, row »t al landing, or he might have at once. According to the custom gulations m force on the arrival o f .h * >ehigh import duties were char ce( l . brought out for the purposes of P °? Before the pilgrims had colonists was held ; resolutions “ COUOci l of and a letter of remonstrance was al?’ p1,8e4 the governor of the island. p nr , to the settlers, but, as before said fot the writer, who looks for vari’ou V local interest to arise ‘* calling forth j; Jeeu °f and creating division,” the governor w - 1011 reach, open to reason and blessed mon sense. His Excellent, „„ ,' h issue instructions to the Custom.}, ’ ea 10 the most favourable construction * h placed upon the custom lawg o f .. be as regards all goods brought by tU fi C .°« DUy tiers for their own use;” the chattels 7?* colonists were landed duty free, and ‘'.t the pie of discord" to which our contemi)or st ? P * feelingly refers, was for the momeiil? from his lips. Reports of public meetings are net to complete this microscopic picture ofT 8 British life. England would not be Euglant without its parish vestries and theconZ exeicise of the right of unrestrained discusaion The Canterbury colonists had been too I O J pent up in their floating prison homes not to relieve themselves at once of their accumulated eloquence and to proceed to business after the manner of their fathers. Meeting No. 1 00 board ship, we have above referred to. Mett. iug No. 2, of land purchasers, took place on shore immediately afterwards. The site of the capital of the settlement was then decided on —a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, “ and the meeting separated.” A few days afterwards we have meeting No. 3, when a communication is read from Mr. Godley, who receives the thanks of the assembly, and the assurance of “ entire confidence in his integrity, ability, and judgment." On this ocrasion the council 6f colonists resign their funciions into the hands of their constituents but express their readiness to reaccept the trust if called upon to reassume their duties, Thereupon Mr. Crompton moves, ”That the present council be requested to retain oflfoe for two months from the present hale;" Mr, Pollard seconds the motion, but an amendment follows upon its heels, extending the two months to twelve. Seventeen are tor the amenlment, ten for the original motion. The council have British bosoms beating under their waistcoats, and are bound to act unto the well known patriotic standard. In the teeth of such a minority they have no option but to resign. They will hold office Ouljuuul a new council is appointed. “Cordial thanks" are proposed and carried, and this meeting separates like the rest. Meeting No. 4 brings graver matter on the table. Dr. Selwyo. the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, desires to address the assembly! Silence for his Lordship ! A rumour had got abroad that the bishop had been opposed to the dismemberment of the diocese of New Zealand. Nothin’ could be further from the truth. He, the bishop, had actually written to Lord Lyttelton to propose the dismemberment. (Hear, hear,) “ He wished also to mention to the colonists that he found the clergy bad come out with only very limited incomes guaranteed to themHe hoped as soon as the clergy were settled in the various districts the colonists would, by some voluntary additional aid, make up for the time a sufficient income.” On both subjects the meeting expressed itself to the perfeet satisfaction of bis Lordship, who “thanW the meeting for a vote of thanks” and retired, as did the meeting very shortly »• ter wards.

And so proceeds our grown upt° n il^e antipodes, in laudable imitation of bi**** ther-beaten but tough old sire. Who say that the boy is not the very image o 18 father ? Who ever doubted he could run alone If we have any lingering fear that he WV stumble, it is only because we cannot cboo but remember the difficult paths through w 1C the old man has beaten his way to and be conscious that there is n° r °y B * rO . < to civilization, or to any other goal tn B mands patient self-denial from the beg B,lD » of the journey and gradual developmen power and resources on the way.

* The Lyttelton Times, vol. 1., No. 1, Saturday, January 11, 1351. Price sixpence.