NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, September 4, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 740, 4 September 1852, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, September 4, 1852.

As public journalists professing .to give an account of current events, it would be impossible for us to pass over without any reference or allusion the present strong excitement, which the return of | some colonists who have been successful in Jheir visit to the ",diggings" at. Melbourne has caused in the New Zealand settlements. Numbers have left the Canterbury settlement, and numbers are preparing to leave Wellington for a time, to try their fortune in this new lottery. Several respectable tradesmen and mechanics are about to leave their wives and families, and property, with the view of embarking in this new pursuit, and after engaging in its prosecution for some months, of returning again to New Zealand with the fruits of their labours. It would be as useless for us to attempt to argue the point with those who have thus suddenly adopted this resolution, as it would be idle to hope by any dissuasives that can be offered, to induce them to forego their purpose. Each man who is going persuades himself that he must infallibly be successful ; the only question on which he seems to have any doubt is as to the amount of his success; how much, in the general scramble for gold, is likely to fall to his individual share. It is difficult to form any correct conclusions as to the effect of the present movement, and the changes which it is likely to produce : for a season it must inevitably create a good deal of inconvenience and confusion. We are now going through the same ordeal to which- some of the I neighbouring colonies have already been subjected ; we are beginning in some degree to suffer some of the social inconveniences to which they have been long exposed. The want of labour will be sensibly felt in the different New Zealand settlements; cultivation by Europeans will for a time be generally neglected throughout all the Australian colonies, while at the same time, from the increased and extensive European emigration that is certain to take place to them, the consumption of food will be greater than ever. In this respect New Zealand is more fortunate than her neighbours in having a numerous and industrious native population, who cultivate to a considerable extent themselves, and who, will-be of great assistance to those country settlers that may stand in need of labour. ' With this prospect in view, we believe they have in the present year-, considerably increased their cultivations ; Itnd the Government, by their influence and advice, has done all in its power to stimulate them in the different districts to grow as much wheat and other produce as possible, as they were assured they would be certain to meet with a remunerating market; and a circular to this effect, drawn up in the native language, was lately extensively circulated among -the natives - by^the Government. And this allusion to the natives leads us to notice the fact that the excitement about gold, and the desire to visit the diggings (stimulated by the reports which they have received from some natives who have visited the diggings and prospered) has also reached them; and we understand that several natives are going to Melbourne by the present opportunity. These, of course/ are sure to return with their gains to their country, — while there can be little doubt that the majority of those settlers who feel disposed to leave New Zealand for a time will eventually return to it,' and add to the wealth of the colony by the fruits of their success : there is every reason also to suppose that many others of the fortunate gold diggers, especially those who have suffered in their health while in pursuit of the golden harvest, will be induced, from. the many advantages, both natural and social, which this colony pos-

sesses, to make it their home; so that ultimately it is very probable we shall be gainers by the movement which is now taking place. However attractive Port Phillip may be from the powerful inducements it holds out to those who are in haste to get rich, a gold producing country cannot be desirable as a home ; and those who, after a season of hard toil, realise a certain amount of money, will look out for some other place more desirable, as a permanent residence, and every effort should be made to direct' the course of such persons to New Zealand on the part of the colonists.

Thb Elizabeth Warren brought over this week from Queen Charlotte Sound, a cargo of five hundred bushels of wheat, -with maize, poultry, and other produce belonging to natives living in the Sound ; the vessel also, we understand, is the property of natives and is commanded by a native. The wheat sold readily at 7s. per bushel, and the other produce realized equally remunerative prices.

Opening op the New Wellington Hotel. — A ball in celebration of ( the opening of the'! New Wellington Hotel was given on the 31st I ultimo, and turned out one of the most delightful entertainments we ever witnessed in Wellington. About 120 persons were present, among whom we noticed : — His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Eyre ; Col. M'Cleveity; Colonel and Mrs. Gold; Mr. Justice, -Mrs. and Miss Stephen ; the Attorney-General and Mrs.Wakefield; the Hon. Mrs. Petre; Major and Mrs. O'Connell, &c. &c. The whole of the ground floor of the new building, the upper portion being yet unfinished, was tastefully arranged into dancing, lounging, refreshment, card, and ladies' rooms. The portico was enclosed for the reception of the Band of the 65th regt., which by permission of Colonel Gold and the officers of the regiment attended, and contributed by their performance to the exquisite recreation of the evening. Two supper tables were laid out in the back rooms of the establishment. They were covered with a profusion of dishes, which, for variety and excellence were equally creditable to the liberality of the proprietor, and the taste of Mr. Laing, who provided them. Dancing was kept up with great vivacity till daylight, when the guests retired highly gratified with this most successful entertainment. We cannot close our notice of it, without expressing our conviction, that the hotel is needed, either as an ornament to the town, or as a most useful addition to it as supplying a want of accotnodation which has been long felt by all classes, and is the most complete, thing of the kirid m New Zealand. This opinion Has not met with a single dissentient amongst the numerous persons whom we have heard speak on the subject, all of whom agree that the building reflects infinite credit on the architect, Mr. Roberts, on the builder, Mr. Cotter, and on the enterprising spirit of- the proprietor. -

The following is a list of the unclaimed letters in the Post Office, Wellington, August 31, 1852 :— A Atkinson, W. S. Esqr. ; Abel, Francis Graham, 2 ; Atkinson, Mr. 2 B Brown, William; Baker, T. B. ; Beatter, Miss Mary; Bryant, Mr.; Buckle, Mr., 2; Borrie, D. ; Baynton, J. H., Esq. 2, C Collins, Frederick ; Crawford, P. R. 2 ; Cameron, James ; ChalHers, Edward ; - Clark, William: Carroll, John ; Calder, John; Cotton, George ; Cooper, James, 3 ; Chappell, James ; Carmont, Mrs. ; Chamberlain, Thomas ; Cook, George; Campbell, A. J. D Dee,' Thomas; Durie, Capt; Duffy, Hugh ; Denet, Edward, 2 ; Davison, R. H. ; Douglas, George ; Davies, Edward ; Dodds, Thomas ; Dewhurst, Arthur, Esq. 4 ; Davies, Mrs. James ; Davis, John. E Emonts, Joseph William ; Ellenstan, Joseph ; Evensfield, Mr. ; Ewington, Mrs. ; Ellingham, Thomas. F Farrell, Thomas ; Ferras, E. J. A. Esqr. ; Finigan, Miss Sarah ; Fletcher, Mrs. J. G Gillies, Archibald; Griffith, L. S. H. ; Galpin, Mr. ; Gray, Captain, 2 ; Goodchild, John S. ;' Gullery, James; Gillman, H./ Esquire; Grant, Alexander t' . H. Henderson, David ; Holder, James ;. Haynes, Abraham ; Hurley, Joseph ; Henderson, Joseph ; Hay, , Elizabeth ; Hill, George ;" Hildebrand, John, Esq. ; Hall, J., Esq. ; Hopkins, Josiah ; Hallett. James ; Hucne, Peter; J. Jabet, J. F. ; Jackson, Thomas. K. Knott,Mrs.Charlotte; Knott, William 2; King, Charles F., Esq. ; Kidd, Mr.; King, B. C. ; Klipsch, Edward ; Kettle, Mr. L. ,' Lahridge, William ; - Lodge, Miss E. M-.-f Lindsay, Crawford ; Low, William ; Lancaster ,- E. ; Lucena, W. L., Esq. ; Leighton, William. ' M. M'Clatchie, W., Esq. 2 ; Munday, James ; Moore/ John r Miller, Robert, (late 65th ;) Moore, Christopher ; Morrison, Walter ; Megan, James; Muny, Mrs. R. ; M'lntyre, Robert; Martin, Alexander; Mitchell, Mr.; Moffat, David ;. Meredith ; M'Kenzie, Mr.; Mahony, E.; M'Kenzie/Mr. Donald j Miller, J.; M'Laggan,. John ; Mear, John;.Miln, John ; Marshall, Mr. .

- N ' Norgrove, William ; Negan, James ; Nichols, John. ■ l O Omeara, Jno. ; Ovam, Jno. ; Oxenham, N. P Parry, Chas. ; Perrin, Edmund. R Rhyder, Miss Eliza; Russell, Miss Ann; Robson, Margaret ; Roberts, Mrs. ; Radford, Chas. ; Read, Edward: S Slatter, J. W., 5 ; Spence, R. ; Slater, Mr.; Shears, Robt. ; Smith, Aloah, 2; Stricken, Gustavus ; Sproul, Ann ; Swain, Levi ; Smith, John, late 65th. ; Sim, James, 2 ; Stoorey, W. Esq. ; Shearer, Wm. ; Smith, Wra. ; Smith, Wm. ; Summerfield, Wm. ; Snaffer, Wm. T Tennant, Wm. A ; Tanner, Thos. ; Thomas, Wm. U Uren, Thomas ; Underdown, Wra. V Viles, James ; Vincent, Nathaniel. W Walker, Ronald; Wilkins, Jno.; Watts, James; Wilcox, John Smith; Watson, George; Williams, William ; Walsh, Jane. John Hoggard, Postmaster.