NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 425, 19 November 1861, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

ARRIVAL OF THE TASMANIA,' DEPLORABLE NEWS FROM 'THE DIGGINGS! OFFICIAL WARNING. TWENTY-FOUR DIGGERS RETURNED! MURDER AND STARVATION ARE RIFE ! {From J. R. Falconer, Esq., Inspector of Telegraphs.) A MAN has been murdered, and the amount of lawlessness prevailing is said to be indescribable. The local Government, finding itself without resources, is unable to maintain peace. Capt. Clinch reports that hundreds of persons are crowding the vessels that are leaving for Melbourne. Provisions are scarce and fetch fabulously high prices. There is no fuel or sheltsr, and the weather is very severe. Capt. Clinch says that so serious is the aspect of the starving multitude, that the Government have been compelled to employ them on the roads at 4s. 6d. per day, and to send to Auckland for troops in anticipation of food riots. Meat is Is. per ft>.

THE COLONISTS TO BE PILLAGED TO THE EXTENT OF .£346.000 IN FAVOR OF MEN WHO CANNOT. OR WILL NOT, EARN THEIR OWN LIVING: THE INDUSTRIOUS TAXED THAT A SMALL CLASS MAYBE SUSTAINED. The story of the Sibyl is to be reversed at the Antipodes, as it no doubt ought to be considering our geographical and moral position. The longer the choice is delayed' in Tasmania respecting state aid the more liberal the concession becomes. A hundred thousand pounds subsidy was denounced as unmitigated spoliation, and when that is refused, as a compensation for all claims the life interest of incumbents is secured and a hundred thousand pounds added as a bonus. This will necessitate economy with a vengeance. It will abridge: the enjoyment of every solvent household in the island. Every one will have to economise to meet the expenditure. The madness of the vote is only equalled by its injustice, and a clinging curse will attach to its promoters and recipients. It will make the former insolvents, the latter infidels. As a piece of • political scoundrelism it is unequalled; it will become a perpetual source of discord and a concentrated curse on posterity. It is the very essence of iniquity, and we can only regard the present ministry its abbettors, as a standing blight to the colony, and traitors to its material, social, and religious progress. We observe it is proposed to give a public entertainment to Mr. Chapman, and he deserves it. He has discarded his avowed principles. He stands before the world as the author of a piece of political" profligacy never before equalled, and as the destroyer of his country. He has used the power with which he was entrusted to inflict exaction upon and carry suffering into every family. Gregsonism, Diabolism, any other ism, would be better than Chapmanism. With a show of respectability, it wounds, and irritates, and impoverishes, destitute either of pity or remorse. Mr. Chapman's ministry takes advantage of the credulity of a confiding community to spoil them of £346,000, to which every mail, woman, and child will have to contribute for many years. We repeat the continuance of the stipends to the death of the present incumbents, and the grant of £100,000, with interest, will amount to three hundied and forty-six thousand pounds. Better sell off the island and confiscate the private property of the settlers and divide the proceeds among the parsons. The Government is at the present moment in insolvent circumstances; the banks will soon be compelled to cease their advances and to recall their loans, and then there will be a crash ! No one is now thriving except the wool growers and the lawyers: it is a time of severer desion than any the colony has before experienced, arid this is the moment taken by infatuated men to give a last and fatal blow to the prosperity of the country. It could only be saved by retrenchment and economy in every direction; but instead of this there is. a lavishness of expenditure which will bring grief to multitudes. The feeling outside the walls of Parliament is that we are helpless, betrayed to ruin by our representatives, and there is the start of surprise and the stare, of incredulity when the proceedings of Parliament are mentioned.

Disgraceful Occurrence.—Two men were fighting in Lower Patterson-street, near the foot of the Cataract Hill. They were pulling each other by the hair of the head, and otherwise behaving themselves in a very disgraceful manner. Dr. Grant happening to ; pass by, drove up to the Police Station, and having got a constable, drove back to where the men were fighting. The constable secured one of them, named Peter Murray, and he was yesterday fined 20s. but the other man escaped. Dr. Grant deserves praise for his conduct in this matter. Many persons would have passed by without even thinking of calling the police.