The Emigrant's Hand-Book of Facts [New Zealand sections]

Samuel Butler

First published by W. R. McPhun in 1843

Digitised and made available online by the University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services and Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Epub © 2016 Early New Zealand Books Collection

ISBN 978-0-947487-66-9

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[Cover]

[Inside Cover]

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THE
EMIGRANT'S
HAND-BOOK OF FACTS,
CONCERNING
CANADA, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, &c.;

WITH THE
RELATIVE ADVANTAGES
EACH OF THE
COLONIES OFFERS FOR EMIGRATION,
AND
PRACTICAL ADVICE TO INTENDING EMIGRANTS.

BY
SAMUEL BUTLER , ESQ;
Author of "The Hand-Book for Australian Emigrants."

GLASGOW:
PUBLISHED BY W. R. M'PHUN, 84, ARGYLL ST.
AND N. H. COTES, CHEAPSIDE, LONDON.
MDCCCXLIII.

Glasgow Edward Khull, Printer to the University.

[CONTENTS]

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION................v

CHAPTER I – BRITISH AMERICA.

Sect. 1. Canada. Boundaries – Provinces – Government – Inhabitants.........1

Sect. 2. Lower Canada. Extent – Divisions – Natural Features – Quebec – Montreal...........2

Sect. 3. Lower Canada, continued. Geology – Soil – Productions – Population – Educational Institutions.........6

Sect. 4. Upper Canada. Boundaries – Inhabitants – Divisions...........10

Sect. 5. Upper Canada, continued. Toronto – Kingston – Canals...........14

Sect. 6. Upper Canada, continued. Geology – Soils.........17

Sect. 7. Upper Canada, continued. Population – Educational Institutions..........19

Sect. 8. Canada. Climate.............23

Sect. 9. Canada, continued. Commerce...........27

Sect. 10. Nova Scotia and Cape Breton............32

Sect. 11. New Brunswick and Prince Edward's Inland............34

Sect. 12. Newfoundland...................39

Sect. 13. Advice to Intending Emigrants. Who may Emigrate?.............41

Sect. 14. Advice to Emigrants, continued. Passage Charges – Victualling, Cautions regarding Provisions...........43

Sect. 15. Advice to Emigrants, continued. Best Period for Sailing – Cautions as to the Selection of Vessel – Emigrant Agents – Arrival – Directions regarding Landing – Conveyance up the Country..........48

Sect. 16. Advice to Emigrants, continued. Emigrants with Capital – Purchase of Land – Prices – Titles – Cleared Land – Wild Land – Expense of Clearing – Land Offices – Profits on Grazing – Tillage – Expense of Erecting Houses – Wages of Labourers..............60

Sect. 17. Advice to Emigrants, continued..............7l

Sect. 18. Accounts given of these Provinces by Settlers..........76

Sect. 19. Conclusion. Emigration to British America...........101

CHAPTER II. – AUSTRALASIA.

Sect. 1. Australia...............108

Sect. 2. Australia Felix.................132

Sect. 3. South Australia.............135

Sect. 4. Western Australia...........150

Sect. 5. New Zealand.............158

Sect. 6. Opinions of a Settler...............178

Sect. 7. Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania............198

Sect. 8. Conclusion of Australasia............202

CHAPTER III. – AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA.

Sect. 1. Cape of Good Hope..............204

Sect. 2. Falkland Islands.................213

APPENDIX.

No. I. Abridgment of Act for Regulating the Carriage of Passengers in Merchant Vessels...........217

No. II. Colonial Markets..............236

[INTRODUCTION]

INTRODUCTION.

THE subject of Emigration has been from year to year increasing in importance to this country, and certainly it never was of greater interest and importance than at the present moment. The depressed state of trade and manufactures, and the consequent overstocked state of the labour market, has forced attention to emigration to our extensive and valuable colonies as a means of relief. Thousands of the labouring classes, unable to find constant employment, or a sufficient reward for their labour when employed, and of those having small capital, who find it impossible to use their little capital with profit in this country, are looking anxiously to the shores of Canada, and of our Australasian settlements, as fields where their labour and their exertions will be duly rewarded.

The purpose of the following work is not to advise or persuade to emigration. The necessity of this being extensively resorted to, has become too apparent to require this; and the benefit to the sober and industrious emigrant so indisputable, as no longer to require evidence to establish its truth. The great benefit likely ultimately to arise to this country from extensive emigration to her various colonies is now also generally admitted. The removal of the superabundant labourers who at present overstock the market at home, while it must incalculably benefit them, opening up to them the means of attaining by industry and

sobriety a comfortable independence, will benefit in two ways those left behind: – First, by the withdrawal from the market of the competition of labour, which cannot find employment except at reduced wages, and with difficulty even then; and, Second, by the creation of new markets for our manufactures; for it is certain that every emigrant, however poor in this country, who finds his way to Canada or our Australasian colonies, becomes in a very short time a consumer of British goods.

Neither is it our object in this work directly to advise the emigrant to one colony over another. We have no partiality for one more than another – no desire to give an undue preference; or to depreciate one colony at the expense of another. This has been too much practised; and several valuable colonies have been seriously injured by unjust statements made, and unfounded prejudices created regarding them for the benefit of others, possessing in no way superior advantages. Our object has rather been by detailing facts to give the intending emigrant ample means to guide him in mailing a proper selection for the scene of his future exertions. Emigration – the removal from the scenes around which ail our affections have hitherto been concentrated, is a matter of grave importance, and one which ought to be deliberately and seriously considered, and the choice of the colony which the emigrant is to make the scene of his future home, are equally entitled to careful and deliberate consideration.

The labouring man, in so far as emigration depends on his own exertions, is in the mean time, in a great measure restricted in his choice among the British colonies, to Canada or the other provinces, belonging to Great Britain, in North America. The expense even of a steerage passage to Australasia, puts it far beyond his power to seek any of these colonies, however strong his desire may be to do so. Indeed, Canada has been emphatically called the "Poor Man's Home," and in the extended regions there, belonging to Great Britain, the sober and industrious labourer or

mechanic is certain of having his labour duly rewarded. We do not certainly hear of such ample fortunes being made in Canada, as have been realized in Australia; but we have sufficient evidence to show that after a very short residence in any of the British North American provinces, the exertions of the labouring man, if steadily and soberly pursued, will lead to comfort and independence.

The effects also of the late changes on the British Tariff must be of immense benefit to this important colony, and cannot fail to give a great impulse to Canadian agriculture. But this is not all. There seems now no longer any reason to doubt, that in the course of the present session, a measure will be proposed to Parliament for the admission of Canada-grown wheat and flour into Great Britain at a merely nominal fixed duty. The only obstacle to this hitherto, in the words of lord Stanley, was the local position of Canada with reference to the wheat-growing districts of the United States, and the admission of that staple into Canada free of duty. The Canadian legislature, however, have just passed a law imposing a duty of 3s. per quarter on all United-States-grown wheat brought into the colony; and there is every reason to think, that the consequence will be the free admission of Canadian wheat and Canadian manufactured flour into Great Britain. Canada will thus really be – what all our colonics ought to be – an integral part of the Empire. It will in fact be another great county added to Great Britain, and the improvement and extension of its agriculture must be great and immediate. The manufacture of flour too, will be greatly increased and improved, and the extensive water-power which Canada affords, will be more fully opened up. To the emigrant of capital, as well as to the labourer, this colony will now offer a field for exertion, it has never yet done.

Where there are such numbers of working people unemployed as is at present the case in this country, it is impossible that our valuable Australasian colonies

can be allowed to languish as some of them are doing for want of labourers. Means must be adopted either by the government, or by joint stock companies for supplying the wants of these colonies by an extensive and general system of emigration – and thus benefiting them, while we relieve the pressure at home. Various means have been for a time acted upon, with advantage, for sending out labourers free to our Australasian colonies, and various suggestions have been made for a more extended and general system of free emigration. To be successfully carried into effect, however, it must, we strongly suspect, be undertaken by government; and it is to be hoped that the absolute necessity of taking some measures for the relief of the wide spread distress at present prevailing in this country, by emigration at the public expense, will be forced upon the attention of the legislature. In the mean time, however, every exertion should be made by means of joint stock companies, to give facilities of removal to eligible emigrants to these distant but valuable colonies. And it would be well that parishes and landlords would look more to emigration as a relief from poor's rates, than they have hitherto been inclined to do.

The following plan has been suggested to us for carrying out a system of emigration from this part of the country, by means of a Joint Stock Company. We give the plan in the words of the gentleman with whom it originated, without pledging ourselves to the propriety of all its details; but there can be no doubt, that by some such mode, much relief might be afforded to the unemployed labouring population, and at the same time, an opening be made for the profitable investment of capital: –

1. That a joint stock company should be formed in Scotland, having its central committee of management in Glasgow, for the purchase of a block of land in New Zealand, or Australia, say 100,000 acres; which the government were in the habit of selling to the New Zealand Company, on certain conditions at 5s. per

acre, who sell it out again at 30s. per acre, and expend a third of this in sending out emigrants and surveyors.

2. Were such a company formed in Scotland, it is proposed, in place of sending out emigrants free, that this company should advance the money for taking out the emigrants to the colony, on condition that the emigrants who apply to be sent out, shall unite in parties of six or ten, binding themselves jointly and severally, to repay the company by monthly instalments, say the sum of 30l. sterling for each, within two years from the time of their landing in the colony. If paid within one year, a discount of 10 per cent, to be allowed, or if the party purchase land from the company for the purpose of cultivation, the money to be allowed to lie for five years upon the security of the land, the parties paying 7 per cent, interest.

3. That none shall be eligible as emigrants above 36 years, unless married and having a family, when 40 years shall be the limit, additional payment being made in proportion to the number of children, a preference being given to young married couples.

4. That besides being sent out to the colony in well-provided vessels, an outfit of not less than five pounds in clothes, tools, &c., be given to each.

From the above outline of the scheme, it will be seen that the first outlay of the company will be in the purchase of land from the government, which cannot amount to a large sum at the outset; and the first purchase of the company being sold, they will have it in their power to extend their purchases from government.

It is probable that such a scheme would give rise to the formation of other companies, such as a company for prosecuting the whale fishery – which is at present almost wholly in the hands of the Americans and French, who find it an extremely lucrative trade – thus giving employment to our shipping from the Clyde; while emigrants, joining in parties of their own selection, and becoming jointly and severally bound together

for the repayment, will ensure a superior body of emigrants, to the present mode of selecting them. Indeed, from the nature of the obligation to be come under by the emigrants, making each individual responsible for the whole, we should think so much caution would bo used by parties themselves, to ascertain the real character of the companions they select, that little or no risk would attach to capitalists lending their aid to the above scheme, while they would have a profitable employment for their present idle capital – and as the season for action has now arrived, we sincerely hope that some of our public-spirited townsmen will step forward, and at least make the attempt of ameliorating the condition of thousands of their unfortunate, but not less deserving, countrymen who are desirous, but unhappily want the opportunity of exertion.

While we have refrained from giving advice regarding the selection of a British colony, leaving the matter to the choice of the emigrant from the facts we have detailed, we feel called on to warn small capitalists and labourers against emigration to the United States. We do not speak of the total abandonment of every national feeling, and the adoption of a foreign nation as his future home, – and with one who has severed so many ties as the emigrant must do, this is no light matter; neither would we urge, that by emigration to a British colony, the emigrant in reality only removes to a more distant portion of the Empire, where the state of society is no way essentially different from what he has been accustomed to at home; but we would emphatically call his attention, in addition to what is elsewhere stated on this subject, to the following solemn warning from Mr Buckingham, in his recent work on the United States. This gentleman is one of those cosmopolitan philosophers who look with equal eyes on all nations, and who consider love of country as a mere prejudice. He recommends emigration to the United States, while he shuts his eyes to the rich districts of Canada, lying open to the emigrant; but he cannot shut his eyes to the fate of num-

bers of our unfortunate countrymen, led to the United States by representations such as his, which they unhappily do not find realized. The following is the warning he has given, and we would recommend intending emigrants to read it in connexion with what we have elsewhere given on the question of emigration to the United States.

The improvement of the condition of the emigrants themselves would be as great and as certain as that of the two countries, if they pursued a right course: and that, with good advice, and proper regulations, could almost be ensured. At present, as soon as they land in the sea-port town, they are beset with as many harpies as surround the unhappy sailor when he first touches the shore, especially by the keepers of low taverns, and dram-shops. By them they are decoyed to their houses, made drunk under the pretext of a welcome and hospitality, their money taken from them if they have any, and if they have not, a debt for board and drink contracted against them. They then roam about the city in search of employment, where little or none is to be had: they become inspired with a distaste for the country, where alone a sure and certain harvest awaits them; and like the moth which lingers around the flame until consumed by what dazzles it, they hang about the skirts of the cities and the grog shops, till their poverty tempts them to crime, when they become the inmates of the poor house or the prison, and there end their days in neglect and misery.

"It is ascertained as a fact, that more than ONE-THIRD OF THE EMIGRANTS FROM EUROPE, DIE WITHIN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THEIR RESIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY, THOUGH THEY GENERALLY COME OUT IN THE FULL VIGOUR OF LIFE!"

Note. – In our notice of the Falkland Islands, we have mentioned the recent appearance of an advertisement announcing the intention of government to

colonize these islands, and stating the terms on which this is to be done. Since this, a paragraph has appeared in the Times, in which it is said they are authorized to state, that this advertisement has not emanated from government, that it was published without the authority of the Emigration Commissioners. Although, however, this advertisement may have been prematurely issued, and its details incorrect, it seems almost certain that measures will be speedily taken by government to colonize these islands.

NEW ZEALAND
BY SAMUEL BUTLER ESQR.
The two dotted lines mark the possissions of the New Zealand Company.

SECTION 5. – NEW ZEALAND.

SECTION 5. – NEW ZEALAND.

195. New Zealand consists chiefly of three islands, called the North, or E'Ahinomauwe in the native language, Middle Island, or Te Wai Poenenamu, called by Polack Victoria Island, and South or Stewart's Island. North Island and Middle Island are separated from each other by Cook's Straits; and Middle Island from South Island by Foveaux's Straits. Numerous smaller islands are scattered around the shores of the larger islands. They lie in the great Southern or Pacific Ocean in an easterly direction from the south-eastern shores of Australia, from which island-continent they are distant about 1200 miles, but they belong to the same great division of the globe, Australasia. They are about the same distance from the New Hebrides and the Friendly Islands, about 3000 from the Marquesas, 3600 from the Sandwich Islands, about 1800 from South Australia, 5000 from China, and the same distance from Valparaiso on the coast of South America. The New Zealand group lie between the 34th and 48th degrees of south latitude, and the 166th and 179th degrees of east longitude. In fact they are the lands nearest to the antipodes of Great Britain – Queen Charlotte's sound on the southern shore of Cook's Straits being only 700 miles from the Equator. North Island is about 400 miles long, and varies from 5 to 30 miles in breadth. Middle Island is about 500 miles long, and from 100 to 120 in breadth. South Island is but of small extent, being only about 50 in length, by 30 in breadth. The two larger islands are estimated to contain nearly 95,000 square miles, of which about two-thirds are fit for cultivation. The distance of New Zealand from Great Britain is rather more than to New South Wales, or about 16,000 miles. The line of voyage is the same, round the Cape of Good Hope, and the return is made by Cape Horn. The average time occupied by the voyage out, is 6 months.

196. New Zealand was first discovered in 1642 by Tasman, a Dutch navigator, who, however, did not land, supposing it to form a part of the southern continent. Captain Cook first sailed round the islands, and surveyed their shores with so much accuracy, that his charts are depended upon even to the present day. These islands are evidently of volcanic origin, there being many extinct and a few active volcanoes in the interior. According to Mr Darwin, a naturalist who visited the islands in the ship Beagle, "the soil is volcanic; in several parts we passed over slaggy and vesicular lavas, and the form of a crater could clearly be distinguished in several of the neighbouring hills." Hot springs have also been found, some of which are described as higher than boiling heat, and most of them "of a sufficient temperature to cook any kind of native food. There is one spring of a very remarkable quality; it is to the touch as soft as oil, and, without the use of soap or any alkali except what the water itself contains, will cleanse the dirtiest garments, removing every particle of grease, however sullied they may be with it."

197. These islands exhibit every variety of mountain, hill, dale and valley. The principal chain of mountains runs through a considerable part of the north island and the whole of the middle island. Some of these mountains are as high as 14,000 feet above the level of the sea, their tops being covered with perpetual snow, and their sides with forest-trees and luxuriant ferns. Besides this chain of mountains, there are other subordinate ranges, which for the most part, are covered with vegetation to the top. From their volcanic origin, these mountains are studded with large caves; the diameter of whose openings was ascertained in some cases to be above thirty feet. The mountains are all abrupt, and highly picturesque in appearance, the perpetual snow on the tops forming a fine contrast to the agreeable climate and rich vegetation of the valleys below. "The hill country in New Zealand," says Mr Heaphy, who

assisted in surveying the country, "is at the same time far from being useless; it is always preferred by the natives for their plantations of potatoes and maize, and yields, by hand labour, a good return. Throughout the various parts of New Zealand which I have visited, I have seen but little land, with the exception of the snowy summits, which would not produce the vine and olive, as well as in Italy or Switzerland, all the hills being covered with rich mould, which at present gives root to the loftiest forest trees. Between the mountain ranges the valleys extend parallel with them; and are generally covered with a soil of alluvial deposit, which is productive in the extreme." New Zealand is probably more similar in character to Scotland, than it is to any other European country, being, like it, mountainous, at the same time that it contains much beautiful and fertile level land. The geology of New Zealand is even now but little known; and it is impossible to say whether the country contains valuable minerals or not. Of the existence of precious metals, there have been found but few indications. Copper ore was discovered by Dr Dieffenbach; and, in many parts of the country, the magnetic sand near the sides of rivers, proves that the stream has washed ferreous matter. But these signs cannot be stated as indicative of the existence of those metals in quantity.

198. These mountains give rise to a greater number of streams than appear to exist on the same extent of surface in any other country so near to the tropics, the consequence of which is a perennial vegetation on the most gigantic scale. Several of the rivers are navigable to a considerable extent, and possess waterfalls which afford the means of establishing mills in most parts of the country. From the shape of the islands, and the mountains which intersect them, the rivers do not run to any great length, from 100 to 200 miles being the average. In 1808, the ship Pelorus entered a river in Middle island falling into Cook's Straits, and sailed up nearly forty miles, and her boats continued the navigation for twenty miles farther.

The river Hokianga, in North island, situated almost opposite the Bay of Islands, has been navigated thirty miles by vessels of 500 tons burthen. Another river, the Haritoua, which falls into Port Nicholson, is said to be navigable for nearly 100 miles. Mr Yates says, "the River Thames, the mouth of which lies about a hundred miles from the head of the Bay of Islands, is a splendid run of water, which from Aotea, or Barrier Islands, as far as Kopu, – a native fortification just within the narrows, – is navigable for vessels of 130 tons burthen." The Knowsley river, laid down in recent charts, empties itself into Foveaux's Straits, and is said to be navigable for large ships. Besides these, there are numerous streams which cross and intersect the country in all directions, affording abundant means for irrigation where this is necessary. The waterfalls, as affording mechanical power in all parts of the country, are very important. As specimens, we may refer to the falls of the Kerikeri. "The river rolls over a rock, whose perpendicular height is about ninety feet." "The Waianiwaniwa, a mountain stream, passes swiftly through a deep ravine, for nearly the space of a mile, when it joins another stream, and rolls peaceably on for a few hundred yards: the united streams then fall over another rock about thirty feet high, and then, rushing on to the Kerikeri settlement, the river again falls ten feet, and then mingles with the ocean." "The Wairoa, another stream, though not so considerable, falls at least sixty feet – The Hararu, though not a perpendicular fall, is a greater current of water than the preceding; it is rather a succession of rapids, which is the case with the Hokianga and a great many others. All these are in the northern island, and are described by Mr Yates.

199. It will be apparent, from an inspection of Cook's chart, in which soundings are given, that, for the size of it, no country possesses finer harbours, in greater number, or better situated. "They are now generally known from the vast number of whaling and

other vessels which visit all parts of the coast for timber and flax, and. for supplies of fresh provisions. "Commencing to the northward, the harbour of Wangaroa, lying twenty-five miles to the north-east of the Bay of Islands, is beautiful, romantic, and capacious, – capable of containing the largest fleet, and of obtaining good anchorage, in from five to eleven fathoms, completely sheltered from the sea and all winds." "The Bay of Islands – properly so called from the number of islands with which it is studded – is a remarkably fine and capacious harbour, affording security for an almost unlimited number of vessels, in all weathers, and at all seasons of the year. The value of this harbour is enhanced, from the perfect ease and safety with which vessels are able to enter it." Shouraki Bay, or the Frith of the Thames, affords excellent shelter and anchorage, and is navigable for a considerable distance. The "Bay of Plenty" may be considered an immense roadstead, affording anchorage, to a great extent, for the purpose of shipping produce, – having also the advantage of several bays and harbours, which afford shelter to small vessels. Proceeding to the south, Poverty Bay – the first place where Cook landed, accompanied by Banks and Solander, on the evening of Sunday, October 8, 1769, a day for ever memorable in the history of these islands – is considered by that great navigator to be a safe anchorage. Hawkes' Bay is capacious, and affords shelter from the prevalent winds. Port Nicholson is thus described by Mr Heaphy – "On entering Port Nicholson, one is struck with the grandeur of the view. The harbour resembles an inland lake rather than an arm of the sea, and in beauty, certainly far surpasses that of our English lakes. As we worked up to the anchorage, the noble expanse of water, surrounded by a country of the most picturesque character, formed a scene of indescribable beauty; and as the valley of the Hutt river opened to our view, apparently extending far inland until bounded by the snowy range, we wondered that a place which seemed so much to

invite, settlement, had not before been colonized." The bay is about twelve miles long and three broad, perfectly sheltered, and ships may enter or leave with any wind. The depth of water is from seven to eleven fathoms, and the whole bay is described as of sufficient capacity to hold a navy. The River Haritoua falls into this port, the banks of which are high and well wooded. Port Nicholson has the disadvantage of being upon a lee shore; but this objection can only have weight with regard to the navigation of Cook's Straits, not to vessels lying in the port itself. The harbours and bays on the western side of the south island are numerous; but, owing to the prevalence of the westerly winds, have not been much frequented, except that of Hokianga, which, on account of its bar, is only accessible to vessels of light burthen; but from its contiguity to the lake Maupero, abounding in fish, to the Bay of Islands, and to the harbour of Whangaroa, has already become important. The harbours on the middle island are also numerous and excellent. In the southern island, within Cook's Straits, is the fine harbour of Queen Charlotte's Sound, which is nearly thirty miles long. Ship Cove, within this sound, is a very fine harbour, to which European vessels have long repaired, in consequence of its having been described by Captain Cook. The harbour is perfectly sheltered, and the soundings show ten fathoms, a cable's length from the shore. At the north-western extremity of this island is Cloudy Bay, which runs fifteen miles inland, and is about four miles broad. This bay is thought the best station for the black-whale fishery, and, in consequence, several Europeans have already settled on its shores. Besides these two harbours, there are many others in the island, such as Lookers-on Bay, visited by Captain Cook, Port Gore, Blind Bay, Admiralty Bay, and others which have not yet been properly surveyed.

200. New Zealand, from the great length to which it extends north and south, presents considerable variety of climate. From every account, however, it

appears to be highly salubrious, and most favourable for British constitutions. Mr Yates says of its climate – "Those who come here sickly are soon restored to health; the healthy become robust, and the robust fat. North of the Thames snows are unknown; and frosts are off the ground by nine o'clock in the morning. The country, during six months in the year, is subject to heavy gales from the east and north-east, which generally last for three days, and are accompanied with tremendous falls of rain. These gales usually commence in the east, and gradually haul round to the north-west, where they terminate in a violent gust almost approaching to a hurricane; the clouds then pass away, and the westerly wind blows again with some violence. In the winter season the moon rarely either changes or wanes without raising one of these tempestuous gales; and during the whole year the wind is sure to blow, though it be only for a few hours, from the east, every full and change of the moon. The spring and autumn are delightfully temperate, but subject to showers from the west-southwest. Indeed, however fine the summer may be, we are frequently visited by refreshing rains, which give a peculiar richness to the vegetation and fertility of the land. The prevailing winds are from the southwest and north-west, which, within this range, blow upwards of nine months in the year; more frequently the wind is due west. During five months, sea-breezes set in from either coast, and meet each other half-way across the island."

201. Colonel Wakefield compares the climate to that of the north of Portugal; and another writer, Mr Ward, to "that of the land lying between the south of Portugal and the north of France – pervading but without exceeding the most favoured part of the temperate region; and numerous witnesses, of ample experience, concur in describing the extremes of cold in winter, and heat in summer, as being within peculiarly narrow limits; which is to describe the climate as one of the most equable in the world." Mr Watkins, in

his examination before the Committee of the House of Lords, on being asked if the vicissitudes appeared great as compared with the European climates, said – "Not anything like our climate. The frost was there at one time, a very gentle frost indeed – the ice was not entirely over a small pool of water: they told me that they saw ice sometimes in the bay the thickness of a shilling, but I did not see any near that thickness. I have slept out frequently in the bush. The fern grows in great abundance. I found myself very comfortable and warm in my greatcoat and a bed of fern, rather than sleeping in the houses, which are very unfit for English people." Augustus Earle says, "Although we were situated in the same latitude as Sydney, we found the climate of New Zealand infinitely superior. Moderate heats and beautifully clear skies succeeded each other every day. We were quite free from those oppressive feverish heats which invariably prevail in the middle of the day at Sydney, and from those hot pestilential winds which are the terror of the inhabitants of New South Wales; nor were we subject to those long droughts, which are often the ruin of the Australian farmer. The temperature here was neither too hot nor too cold, neither too wet nor too dry." Mr Cruise, in his "Ten Months' Residence in New Zealand," – which period included the whole of the winter season, but neither of the two finest months in the year, namely, January and February, corresponding to July and August with us, and who kept a record of the indications of the thermometer – informs us that the lowest degree of heat during his residence in the islands, (though he does not inform us at what hour of the day the observations were made,) was 40°, and that only on three days-the highest was 78°; another writer informs us, that the annual range is from 40° to 80°. The climate is not more healthy than it is pleasant. In the summer season, which may be said to last for eight months, the weather is particularly fine, while even then it is never oppressively hot. The thermometer in the

middle of summer ranges between 65° and 75°, rarely exceeding the latter, and in winter seldom falls below 40°. It does not appear that there are any diseases peculiar to the climate of New Zealand: all accounts agree in describing the inhabitants as a robust and healthy-looking people. The climate of New Zealand has a great advantage over that of Australia, in not being subject to the severe droughts which have so often there destroyed the hopes of the farmer. Its insular position, and the great height of its mountains, ensure a constant supply of rain. This circumstance alone gives it a decided superiority over Australia, in an agricultural point of view, rendering it more suitable for the growth of grain.

202. In general, throughout these islands, the soil appears to be excellent, and well adapted for the cultivation of all sorts of grain. "That the soil," says Mr Heaphy, "is pre-eminently of that nature suitable for the production of grain, cannot now be doubted, as the specimens already obtained prove that, with but little attention being paid to its culture, wheat especially will thrive. Wheat grown in the valley of the River Hutt was of the first quality, and has been pronounced excellent by competent judges in England. It was grown on rank ground which had just been cleared, and from being planted in the wrong season, was not expected to turn out well. For some time, it was feared that it would run to stalk, from the great height of the straw; but with the straw between five and six feet in height, the ear was in length as many inches. Oats, also, flourish in Port Nicholson; and may be seen growing wild in many of the deserted potato grounds. Of the other kind of grains I have met with no specimen in Port Nicholson, but I remember having seen before the house of one of the missionaries, in the Hokianga, country a fine field of nearly ripe barley, the state of which was fully satisfactory to the owner. It is certain that before long, New Zealand will supply the Australian colonies with wheat; the climate of New Holland not being adapt-

ed for its culture, in consequence of the excessive drought to which it is liable. The South American States now export grain and flour to Sydney and Van Diemen's Land, but that from New Zealand will, of course, forestall it in the market, through the smaller expense of shipment, and by taking the Australian staple in return." Mr Yates says – "we have here almost every variety of soil. Large tracts of good land, available for the cultivation of wheat, barley, maize, beans, pease, &c., with extensive valleys of rich alluvial soil, deposited from the hills and mountains, and covered with the richest vegetation, which it supports summer and winter. We have also a deep, rank, vegetable mould, with a stiff marly subsoil, capable of being slaked or pulverized with the ashes of the fern. All English grasses flourish well, but the white clover never seeds; and, where the fern has been destroyed, a strong native grass, something of the nature of the canary grass, grows in its place, and effectually prevents the fern from springing up again. Every diversity of European fruit and vegetable flourishes in New Zealand." Mr Yates then enumerates all the most important productions of Europe which are raised in New Zealand, and adds, "where the rich alluvial valleys are cultivated, the labourer receives an ample harvest as the reward of his labour." Mr Nicholas says "the lands in this country, which are at present overrun with fern, might be brought to produce grasses of every description; were the experiment tried, I doubt not but it would prove invariably successful, and that the islands in general would afford as fine pasturage for sheep and cattle as any part of the known world." The experiment has been successfully tried by the missionaries. Augustus Earle says, "in whatever direction I travelled, the soil appeared to be fat and rich, and also well watered. From every part of it which the natives have cultivated the produce has been immense. Here, where the finest samples of the human race are to be found, the largest and finest timber grows, and every vegetable yet planted

thrives; the introduction of the European grasses, fruits, &c., is a desideratum. Were this done, in a very short time farms would be sought after more eagerly than they are in New South Wales. All the fruits and plants introduced by the missionaries have succeeded wonderfully. Peaches and water-melons were now in full season; the natives brought baskets full of them to my door every day, which they exchanged with us for the merest trifles, such as a fishhook or a button. Indian corn was very abundant, but the natives had no means of grinding it.

203. Mr Earle saw 100 head of fat cattle at a missionary station, and was surprised to find, "that, although they never tasted anything but fern, they gave as good milk, and were in as healthy a condition as when they grazed on the rich grasses of Lincolnshire." Mr Yates says, in another place, "the forest land is peculiarly rich; indeed, were it not so, it would be utterly impossible for it to support the immense vegetation constantly going on. In spring and summer, autumn and winter, there is no visible change in the appearance of the woods; they are as beautiful in the depth of winter as in the height of summer; leaves no sooner fall to the ground than others directly assume their station; no branch withers from its trunk, but another, and a more vigorous one puts out in its stead. The fairest and most tender shrubs shrink not from the southern blast, nor faint beneath the rays of the sun, when he rides highest in the heavens." It may be briefly mentioned here, that "the only animals indigenous to the country are the field-rat and a harmless lizard; there are no snakes, nor any venomous creatures of any description, large or small."

204. The forests of New Zealand abound in timber of gigantic size, peculiarly fitted for naval purposes, and for house building; and from its workable quality much more economically convertible and serviceable than the timber of any other country in the southern hemisphere, most of which from extreme hardness is almost unmanageable. In particular, these forests

afford the finest spars for masts and yards in the world; and the consequence is, that these have now become one of the staple articles of export. It is impossible to enumerate all the varieties of timber with which it is enriched, but a few of them may be mentioned.

205. "The Kauri or yellow pine has hitherto attracted most attention, and will challenge comparison for beauty and tapering height, with any forest-tree known. This tree exudes a large quantity of gum. The trunk grows to the height of from fifty to nearly one hundred feet without a branch protruding. The western coast produces the best timber and largest of the tribe, from the effect of stormy winds, which have a serviceable effect in stopping its hasty growth. The attention of the British government was first called to the value of the timber of the country by Cook; but an attempt to procure a cargo was not made until 1820, when the store-ships, 'Dromedary and Coromandel,' were sent expressly for this purpose from England, and a small vessel, the 'Prince Regent,' from Sydney. It is never regularly applied for in our dock yards. The spars of this timber contracted to be furnished by respectable traders in Hokianga and the river Thames, or Mercury Bay, to the British government, are required to be in length, from seventy-four to eighty-four feet long, from twenty-one to twenty-four inches in diameter, perfectly straight, without the knots caused by branches interfering, and ready squared for stowage on board. The Kahikatea is very similar in outward appearance to the Kauri, for which it has been often mistaken by strangers. The name by which it is distinguished is that of white pine; it is found in forests, but principally in alluvial or swampy soils. The timber is very light in colour and weight, and exceedingly sappy; and the weather produces on the plank of this tree a barometrical effect, for after it has been worked up as inside lining for rooms, for which it is most calculated, it shrinks and gives with every change of weather, even after the lapse of years.

206. "Tanikaha is a very valuable species of pine, and extremely serviceable to the shipwright and general builder. This wood is hard and tough. Unlike the preceding tree, it is less affected by change of season than any other pine in the country; it is seldom seen beyond the height of fifty feet, with a circumference of twelve feet. It is remarkably durable, but suffers much from worms; when exposed to mud or water, and perforated like a honeycomb, yet it retained its pristine hardness. It is in much request for quarterings, stanchions, and exposed flooring, such as for ships' decks, verandas, thrashing-floors, &c. It exudes less gum than others of its tribe, has less sap, and of a darker hue.

207. "Totara is similar in colour to the former wood, and is known as the red pine. It grows to the height of sixty feet, with a circumference often above twenty feet. The timber is brittle, snapping short, and consequently splits well into shingles, and is very serviceable to the builder. This tree is a great favourite among the natives, especially to the southward of the River Thames, who make their canoes principally of the Totara. It flourishes best on the west coast, where it often grows thirty feet in circumference. It is found on the banks of rivers of a size so immense as to give a name to the locality in which perhaps a single tree only is to be found.

208. "The Rata is an invaluable wood to the shipwright. The branches of this tree are twisted in a natural manner, that form, when dressed, excellent timbers and knees for the largest ships. It grows to the height of sixty feet, and the head and branches extend very far; the wood is close grained and stringy, and when polished, of a deep mahogany red – the grain is remarkably handsome, and well fitted for furniture.

209. "The Pohutokaua or Potikawa is the hardiest of timber-trees, and is found jutting out in immense crooked limbs from every nook, however craggy, or exposed rocky headlands on the sea-side, and often

surprises the traveller, that so many cubical feet of heavy timber can be attached to its station, with the extremely scanty proportion of soil around its stem. It is well adapted for ship timbers, is crooked, close grained, brittle, tough, and of a deep brown colour. It is difficult to work up by the joiner, for its extreme hardness, but when polished, forms a beautiful and durable article for furniture.

210. "The Puriri is a wood whose durability equals any of the timbers in the country; it is very tough and close grained, and has been termed the Oak of the Pacific; but the Teak would be more appropriate, as its properties more resemble the latter wood; as similar to that eastern production, it does not lessen in value by lying exposed in salt water; it is equally hard, and of a pale olive colour. This wood has been taken out of a river, where it had been used as a stake to fasten canoes, for perhaps upwards of twenty years, and found to be in no degree affected by the immersion or by worms.

211. "The Rimu is one of the most graceful trees of the country. The wood is tough and brittle; the grain is very beautiful when polished, and will be much admired by future connoisseurs in ornamental woods.

212. "The Kaikatoa is remarkably hard and durable, and through the country is an especial favourite with the natives, who make their spears, paddles, fishing-rods, &c., of this useful timber. It has an oleaginous moisture, scarcely any sap, and similar in colour to our oak.

213. "The Kaikatoa, in the middle island of Victoria, grows often to the height of fifty feet, the temperature being more agreeable to this hardy tree. A very similar wood exists to the southward, called Rohito, of which carved boxes, for holding small trinkets and feathers, are made by the people.

214. "The Hinou is a handsome tree. Its plank is very frangible on exposure to the sun or air. It is in much request by the native tribes, who make use of

the bark for dyeing jet black the threads of the muka or dressed flax, of which they either wholly make, or interweave with, their superior garments. The bark, which is easily pulverized, is kept some time immersed in water, and this infusion forms the dye. The leaves terminate in a point, and in colour are of a deep green.

215. "Towa or Taua, is a useful timber for boarding the interior of houses; and though entirely differing in genus or outward appearance from the Kahikatea, is of a similar shortlived service to that wood. It attains a large size – its branches are irregular – leaves pointed, and the colour of chrysolite – it cuts easily

216. "Mairi Maidi, is the closest grained and toughest of woods in the country. It is found to grow largest on the west coast, where it attains the height of sixty feet. It is extremely durable, and so very hard as to turn the edge of the tools applied to it. Besides these there is a great variety of other useful and elegant timber throughout the forests."

217. The next great staple of the country is the native or indigenous flax, or Phormium Tenax, which grows in great plenty throughout the country. It is found most abundant in the vicinity of swamps. There is a variety of the species – principally caused by climate and soil – some flax-plants, to the northward, scarcely attaining the height of six feet; others, to the southward, attain the height of sixteen feet. Sir Joseph Banks was the first discoverer of this staple, and says – "A plant, which, with such advantages, might be applied to so many useful and important purposes, would certainly be a great acquisition to England, where it would probably thrive with very little trouble, as it seems to be hardy, and to affect no particular soil, being found equally in hill and valley, in the driest mould, and the deepest bogs." From the experiments of M. Labillardiere, the strength of the fibre of this plant, as compared with that of the Agave Americana, flax, hemp, and silk, is as follows: –

The fibre of the Agave breaks under a weight of 7
" " " " " Flax " " " " " 11 1/2
" " " " " Phormium " " " " " 23 7-11
" " " " " Silk " " " " " 24

Thus, it appears of all vegetable fibres, the phormium is the strongest. It possesses this advantage over the hemp and flax, that it is of a brilliant whiteness, which gives it a satiny appearance; so that the clothes made of it do not need to be bleached by a tedious process, or through those other means by which flax is injured. Flax is prepared in New Zealand by the females and slaves. Simple as appears the native mode of separating the flax from the leaf by a shell, the European has not succeeded in his endeavours to prepare the fibre for himself, either by that, or any other means that have been tried; nor has any instrument or piece of machinery yet been invented to enable him to strip off and prepare this valuable filament for the English market. The Port Jackson traders must still be dependent on the native women and their shells for the cargoes they obtain. The flax thus obtained by the merchants of Sydney undergoes no heckling, cleaning, or other preparation, previously to its being shipped for the English market; but is merely made into bales, by being put into a press and screwed down. It is subsequently manufactured into every species of cordage, excepting cables, and its superiority of strength to the hemp of the Baltic has been attested both by experiments made at Sydney, and in the Queen's yards at Deptford. The phormium has been in use for many years past, made up into tacks, sheets, braces, stays, &c., and its superiority in bearing a great strain over hemp has been well attested. Were mills erected for the preparation of the flax, as there is abundant water-power to propel them, it would prove an incalculable source of riches to those engaged in its cultivation.

218. The whale fishing is another source of profitable industry for which New Zealand is most eligibly

situated. Even before the British government had taken possession of this colony, the number of shipping engaged in whale-fishing that entered the Bay of Islands annually, was 150. This trade, however, has hitherto been pursued to a great extent by French and American whalers; but as New Zealand becomes colonized, there can be little doubt that it will be prosecuted to a greater extent by the British than has hitherto been done.

219. Various settlers had located themselves around the Bay of Islands, and a missionary station existed there long before the British government formally took possession of the country. At length, in 1840, the attention of government having been called to the value of New Zealand as a British colony, Captain Hobson, R. N. was sent out as lieutenant-governor, and by him Auckland, the capital, was founded. It is situated on the west coast of the North Island, opposite to the Bay of Islands. The other settlements which have been made are Wellington, at Port Nicholson, in Cook's Straits, New Plymouth, at Taranakie, on the west coast, both on North Island, and Nelson, at Blind, or Tasman's Bay, on the Middle Island, at the entrance of Cook's Straits. These settlements, with the exception of the capital, are all within the district belonging to the New Zealand Land Company. The progress of these settlements has been retarded by the unfortunate disputes which have taken place between the settlers and Governor Hobson, and between the New Zealand Land Company and the British government; still, notwithstanding, their progress has been very great, and all that is wanting to render New Zealand one of the most flourishing of the British colonies, is a continued flow of the tide of emigration, especially of emigrants of the labouring class.

220. Up to the end of the year 1840, the New Zealand Company had despatched 19 ships to Wellington, its first and principal settlement, carrying out 341 cabin passengers, and 2061 emigrants of the labouring

class. 1 A ship had also been despatched to the settlement of New Plymouth, 2 with 14 cabin passengers, and 148 labouring emigrants. This settlement is situated in the fertile district of Taranakie, on the west coast of the North Island; and a number of the Wellington people having formed a location in the Waganui district, lower down the coast, there appears no doubt that the progress of the settlement will rapidly spread, so as to embrace the whole line of the western coast, as well as Cook's Straits. This has been materially facilitated by the formation of a road from Wellington to a place called Porirua, whence the country is practicable for the whole distance to Waganui, for cattle.

221. In the early part of the year, the Company determined on forming another settlement, to be called Nelson. A number of persons left England in a body for Nelson, in the autumn, and the total number gone to that settlement is 1736, including 148 cabin passengers. A steady succession of emigrant ships, also, was kept up by the Company during the whole of the year to Wellington and New Plymouth, with 163 cabin passengers, and 2046 labouring emigrants; so that, up to 1842, 43 ships, conveying altogether 667 cabin passengers, and 5843 emigrants of the labouring class, making a total of 6510 persons, have been sent out by the Company to their different settlements; and if we add to this number the immigrants who are said to have arrived from the neighbouring colonies, we can scarcely fix the white population of the Company's settlements at less than 7500.

222. Wellington, the principal settlement formed by the Company, has made rapid progress in prosperity and wealth. Colonel Wakefield, in one of his published despatches, dated the 20th February, 1842, says, –

"Let us now glance at our present state and future prospects. These I cannot but regard as in a high degree satisfactory. It is established, almost without doubt, that the north side of Cook's Straits will be colonized by Englishmen, in immediate connexion with the Company. A considerable number of settlers are already at Wanganui, preparing to select the land which has been surveyed for them with praiseworthy despatch, and which will be open for selection in a few days. Large reinforcements to their number may now be daily expected.

"Proceeding higher up the Straits, we find the foundation of New Plymouth already laid in the vast and fertile district of Taranakie. The surveyor-general of the Plymouth Company, with assistants, is employed in marking out the site of the future city. From Taranakie and Wanganui immense supplies of agricultural produce and of flax will be conveyed to Port Nicholson, and the fisheries on the coast will also become the source of much profitable employment. In anticipation of a large coasting-trade, numerous small vessels are now building in the various harbours and inlets on both sides of the Straits.

"It is impossible to overrate the value of flax as a staple article of commerce; and the only impediment to the introduction of the phormium tenax, into Europe and America, has been removed by the discovery of a cheap method of preparing large quantities for export, in reduced bulk, and without injury to the fibre. A short time only will elapse before our settlement will provide a profitable return-cargo for the foreign vessels visiting Cook's Straits. Already, and before the agricultural resources of the settlement have had time for development, the shipping belonging to Port Nicholson has become worth 5000l.; and this is almost exclusively employed in bringing pigs and potatoes, in return for blankets, guns, and other articles sought after by the natives.

"The houses erected in Wellington have cost at least 18,000l.; and the merchandise and provisions now

in the place may be safely put down at not less than 200,000l. In every direction large stores and private buildings are springing up. Within a few weeks, measures have been in progress for the erection of a large steam saw and flour mill, brought from England by Messrs Hopper, Petre, and Molesworth. A company is formed with sufficient capital to carry on the business; and ships, not full of flax and oil, will be supplied with sawn timber for home consumption, and for the neighbouring colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land." . . . . .

"My confidence in the success of this settlement, rests in no slight degree on the vigour with which many gentlemen are now employed in raising stock, and in farming operations. Even inferior land has produced some excellent wheat and barley, whilst some of that grown on the banks of the Hutt is the finest I ever saw. The importation of cattle from New South Wales supplies us with the means of increasing the best breeds. " . . . . .

"All that has been said or written of the extraordinary healthiness of this place, has been borne out by experience. I believe that every temperate and well-conducted person in the colony, is entirely free from disease of every description."

223. Previous to Mr Petre's departure for England, the settlers had had under their consideration the best means of cultivating the phormium tenax: a reward bad been offered for the invention of a suitable machine for the preparation of the plant, and a considerable subscription entered into for that object. Mr Petre says, –

"The production which I think is likely to yield a larger profit than any other, and is therefore better calculated to engage the attention of the colonists, is the phormium tenax, or New Zealand flax.

"This plant grows in great abundance in every part of New Zealand. No soil seems to be unsuited to it; but as there are several varieties of this indigenous plant, it yet remains to be ascertained which is the

best species, and on what soils it may be most beneficially grown. Formerly the phormium tenax was extensively cultivated by the natives; but at this time all that is gathered grows spontaneously. The best kinds flourish at Port Nicholson, at that part of the Taranakie district which has been chosen for the New Plymouth settlement, and, it is said, around Hawke's Bay. Taranakie formerly yielded the largest quantity for exportation; but the natives abandoned that part of the country some years since for Port Nicholson, where they occupied the place of the original inhabitants, who emigrated to the Chatham Islands."

1 These details, as well as others following, are extracted from documents published by the New Zealand Company.

2 The formation of this settlement was originally undertaken by a Company under the name of the "Plymouth Company of New Zealand," since merged in the New Zealand Company.

SECTION 6. – OPINIONS OF A SETTLER.

SECTION 6. – OPINIONS OF A SETTLER.

224. THE following letters from Mr Perry, late of Glasgow, to his father, Dr Perry, will give a better idea of the state of the principal settlement, that at Wellington, than anything which could be said upon the subject: –

"WELLINGTON, 3d January, 1842.

"MY DEAR FRIEND, – I have never been able until now to command time enough to reply to your kind letter. You cannot conceive how cheering it is at this distance to receive a communication from a friend. Mr W. did quite right, having a saw-mill, to leave this. There is none of the Cowrie pine here, which is the only wood yet exported; and, although every hill and valley is thickly clothed with timber, owing to the rugged nature of the country, and the want of large navigable rivers to float it down, persons clearing land are obliged to burn and destroy the most splendid timber, which, could they manage to get it to the sea, would pay them well, so that there is scarcely enough cut here to serve the local consumpt; and we often can buy imported seasoned timber cheaper than that raised here.

"The country is much intersected with hills and deep gullies; they are unlike the hills of any other country. They do not run regularly in ranges, but are scattered

about, and those that do run in ranges are divided by deep indentations, and, in the sides, almost into separate hills, merely connected by a ridge at the top, along which the Maoris (or natives) form their footpaths, thereby avoiding all the gullies. The valleys, too, are, in general, small and isolated, which will make the expense of roads to each very heavy. I have only had time to make one excursion into the country – for one sees nothing of it here but the precipitous ends of hills running down into the bay, like the gable ends of so many houses, and the flat at one end of the bay, on which the town is built, and the valley of the Hutt at the other, stretching away to the high mountains in the interior, which are often covered with snow. The day was very fine, and Mr J. and a number more of us set off, early in the morning, to go to a valley called the Makara, which had lately been surveyed and given out. Our way (for road there was none, except a Maori footpath, or a surveyor's line, cut through the bush), lay through Yuill's section in the Karori district. We had tea in their cottage, and they accompanied us on the day's excursion. The Karori district, as far as I saw of it, is perfectly level, and thickly covered with timber of a most gigantic growth – the trees towering as straight as an arrow to their very top, with few branches. It is situated on a higher level than the Makara, which is of quite a different character, being covered with low brushwood much more easily cleared. The soil, too, seems to be richer, with more vegetable matter and less clay, than the Karori, and would raise every plant cultivated at home, and many which we never see but in the greenhouse. Every one declared it was the finest soil they ever saw. In these valleys the wind, which blows with so much violence in the bay, is scarcely felt. It would be a beautiful place for growing fruit, surpassing even the banks of the Clyde from Hamilton to Lanark; and did any one go there with a little capital (especially a man with a good active family), they could soon raise everything they would require; but it will

be a long time, I am afraid, before they can get a road to convey their produce to market. New Zealand is a strange country in that respect – where you find a good harbour, you have no extent of land whose produce can be easily brought to market; and where you find the largest extent of available land you have no harbour.

"Here, in consequence of the small quantity of available land in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, many people are living about as regardless of agriculture as if they were in a large town at home; in this way many who came out with a little capital have spent their all; there is a good deal, however, of clearing going on about the Hutt, and the land, judging from the crops, is of the greatest fertility. If there is any failure of the crops, it will be from over-luxuriousness, the grain has stooled so much; one-fourth of the seed required at home will do here. In a walk of a few miles up the banks of the river Hutt we were quite delighted. The trees are of immense size on the uncleared parts, and very thick set. We could not help looking back on Wellington, and, seeing the improvements going on around, thinking here they are doing something substantial for their living. There they are living one upon another. We dined with S – – -, who came out with us; he lives with his cousin, who saws timber. We drank tea with Dr L – – -; he seems pretty comfortable, and is as sanguine as ever about the country, although he is getting very frail and can do little. I spent New-year's-day with Mr S – – -; we had a pleasant party, and most excellent hotchpotch made by Mrs S – – -, as good as ever we had at home; they are very kind, and would have me oftener than I can spare time. The people here are unfortunately divided into two parties, called the Company's and Governor's; the one blames the Company for everything wrong, and the other the Governor, not always with right judgment. You will see by the newspapers I have sent the result of the inquiry into the circumstances of Milne's murder; it is said little

doubt rests with those who were on the inquest but that it was perpetrated by a native, yet the authorities seem afraid to apprehend him for fear of offending the rest, although I believe nothing is to be apprehended from them, as they neither, as a body, approve of the deed, nor would interfere to prevent him being punished, if found guilty. The whalers and others who know them best laugh at the cowardliness of the authorities, and say, that, if any one of them were desired, they would apprehend the suspected native amongst five hundred. They are perfectly aware of the power of the law, and always, when wronged or assaulted by Europeans, claim its protection; as for fighting and quarrelling with one another in the same tribe that is what you never see; they live in their pahs like one family, having all things in common, and come nearer to Owen's idea of Socialism than any other people I know of; they are a very good-natured people, great mimics, and have a keen perception of the ludicrous; the young children are the best behaved of any I ever saw; you seldom hear them crying or squalling like European children; they repose quite peaceably on the backs of their parents, covered with their mat or blanket. Many of the natives have great quantities of European clothing, but they seldom wear it, preferring their mats or blankets. I have seen Warepori one day dressed in a fine suit of blue clothes, trousers, waistcoat, and surtout, and the next day with nothing but a blanket, and I confess I like him better in the latter than in the former dress. Their seriousness and attention whilst in church is most remarkable, and during the time of prayer every one's head is buried in his blanket; many of them can read and write. They are a most shrewd people, and the veriest Jews alive in their dealings. When they adopt our customs, and turn their attention to business, the Europeans will have no chance with them. Few of them act as servants to the whites here. They stay altogether in their pahs and cultivate potatoes, catch fish, &c., which they sell for their own benefit. In the middle

island it is said they are more serviceable to the Europeans, and have adopted more of their customs, living in houses and wearing European clothing, and instead of the native canoe they have well appointed whale boats. Although not Christians, they seem to be more civilized than those here, from the fewer number of themselves, and the greater number of whalers settled amongst them. Their language is much different from that spoken here, so that those who understand the one often do not understand the other. The climate of the middle island nearly equals this, and surpasses that of Port Nicholson in one respect, which, from its position, is the most variable in New Zealand. Have the New Zealand Company an agent in Glasgow? Are the Company's means to be squandered in sending out unfit people from the large towns of England, when plenty of emigrants of the best class could be got from the country districts of Scotland?

"MONDAY, 24th January. – This has been a most joyous and merry day to the settlers, the 2d anniversary of the first settlement, warm, the sun brilliant, with a gentle breeze. The turn-out of people was surprising. I am certain there were upwards of two thousand collected on the flat to witness the different sports of the day – boat-racing, horse-racing, hurdles, &c. The natives joined in the sports; of all the sights and sports what pleased me most was the horticultural exhibition. It was truly gratifying to see such splendid vegetables raised in a colony of such short standing, and reminded me of the passage in Numbers describing the return of the spies, with specimens of the produce of the land of promise. I left the rifleshooting, pole-climbing, &c., &c., and went on board of the Fifeshire, arrived from London, to make inquiry about a young man who had been asking about me, expecting to hear some news from home, but missed him. I have got off from the evening party, and am occupying the time in writing you, but I must to bed; so good night, wishing you many happy returns of the season. – I am, &c., "A. PERRY."

"WELLINGTON, 10th Feb, 1842.

225. "DEAR FATHER, – On the 7th, the Auckland arrived and brought me letters and papers from home, which, you may be sure, have proved a great treat. I am happy to see you continue all well. Mr Imrie has gone from Wanganui to Nelson, and writes me in high spirits about that settlement, but I expect him here again soon.

"Notwithstanding the rage for Nelson, and the general agreement as to the seeming extent of available and flat land in the neighbourhood, and the snugness of its harbour, I am inclined, from all I have learned, to think that Port Levi, or Port Couper, which the Company would have gone to in preference, had they not been hindered by the Governor, would have been a more eligible place. These are two ports on the north of Bank's Peninsula, separated from each other merely by a headland, forming a sort of angle. They run up until they nearly meet. Port Couper is the largest and most sheltered.

"None should come out to this colony without capital, except as labourers, and the two ought always to go together. It is worse than folly to send out labourers without capital to employ them. It should not, therefore, be undertaken by government. Much of the land here is owned by absentee proprietors, who expend no capital upon it. This is a great evil to a colony, as small capitalists, who wish to become farmers, are unwilling to lease land when they can buy it out and out at a cheap rate, and clear it as their capital increases.

"I have thus sketched out a scheme of emigration, and urged the occupation of Port Couper by a Scottish Company, because I think it would be of immense benefit to both countries, and this is probably the last and best opportunity a Scottish Company will have. It is a good thing to secure a good harbour. Look at the Plymouth Company's settlement at Taranakie, which, although located in confessedly the finest agricultural district in New Zealand, yet, from want of a port,

will be many years before it does any good. A vessel could, on an average, run down to Port Couper as soon, if not sooner, than she could enter this port, and be snugger when she is in. A newspaper, bank, and other companies, would require to be established from the very commencement of the settlement. These the directors could keep in their own hands. They would be a profitable way of investing any capital they might choose to advance. Your last letter was written in autumn, and you complain of the coldness and wetness of the weather. This is written in our autumn, and if one could think about complaining of such delightful weather as we have had for some time past, it would be that it was too dry and warm. What crops have been harvested have been got in, in the finest condition, without a shower. I saw a crop of oats which was beginning to ripen (before Colonel Wakefield's house, in one of the most exposed situations here), before it was cut down for cattle, sending up a second vigorous growth from the same roots; indeed, I believe both wheat and oats turn perennial in most parts of the country after they have been once sown. What I have admired most in the weather lately is the cessation of the high winds which generally prevail, and which, were they to continue to blow as they sometimes do, would shake and scatter the ripened grain. But it seems wisely ordered by Providence that they should cease about this time, and that the weather should be dry and warm, in order to allow the crops to be secured in good condition. What shows that this is the usual weather we may expect about this time is, that the Maoris wait till this time to burn the trees they have cut down in clearing the land. There is just as much rain as is required to bring forward the crops, after which it clears up, and the sun shines in an unclouded sky of ethereal blue. If we had just a country with as much level available land as Great Britain, and such a climate as this, it would be the first in the world; but nothing here below is perfect, Providence having wisely balanced the advantages which one country or one situation has

over another, by countervailing disadvantages, so as to call forth our faculties into exercise. I have just now got a letter from my friend Mr Imrie at Nelson. He is quite in raptures with it, and says he feels confident, from what he has seen, that it will become one of the most flourishing settlements in New Zealand, and you know he is not one of the most sanguine. Should the middle island he colonized, the seat of government must be changed. The governor, in the new Municipal Bill, has given universal suffrage in the election of councillors. But I must close this, and believe me, dear Father, yours,

"A. PERRY."

"APRIL, 1842.

226. "I THINK the climate even here, although from its situation and exposure, not nearly so good as that of other parts of the island, is delightful; and were it not for the high winds which prevail as much, I am told, in summer as in winter, would be unexceptionable, otherwise the weather is most excellent. Enough of rain, succeeded by warmth and sunshine, vegetables of all sorts, and animals, grow and thrive surprisingly; indeed, I think they are in general more indebted to the climate than the soil, for you see vegetables growing luxuriantly amongst mere sand and gravel, which at home would produce nothing.

"Before the house in which I lodge, there is a little plot of ground about 17 yards long, by 13 broad, which supplies us with as many vegetables as we require, so that we have very frequently broth. We have always a new crop of pease, turnips, and cabbages, coming forward in succession to supply the place of those we are using. Mr Imrie has taken the whole charge of it, and it is certainly one of the best kept little gardens in the colony. I content myself with showing a proper appreciation of Mr Imrie's labours, by consuming the fruits of them.

"Many in passing stop and look into it, and two or three of the newly arrived immigrants have come in and

requested to be allowed to pluck a piece of the mignonette which lines the walk from the road to the house, and which, in the morning and evening, sends forth a delicious perfume.

"We have also some Indian corn which is thriving well, and beginning to send forth ears. By the time you come out we may, perhaps, also be able to give you a bunch of grapes from the same garden, as Mr Imrie has planted a vine on each side of the door. Colonel Wakefield, and others, had a quantity of ripe cherries in their gardens this year, and I have seen beautiful apples grown up the Hutt. I have no doubt the fig would thrive well if planted, so that in a few years one might "sit under their own vine and fig-tree, no one daring to make them afraid," in a land where, a few years since, one was thought to run the risk of their life even to land, amongst what was then esteemed the most ferocious of cannibals. But the New Zealanders may say, tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis, for they are now a quiet, peaceable, good-natured, well-behaved, pork-and-potatoe-eating race of savages, – if you will, although I think many at home are more deserving of the appellation. They are perfectly aware of all that is going on around them, and are much better acquainted with their own country, and its productions, than most Europeans are with theirs. They can give you a name for every plant in the country. The house in which I now write is built upon what was formerly the site of one of their pahs or village, called Kumo toti, the chief's name is Etako; he and his family, which consists of all his relations, and a number of cookees, there may be about 20 or 30 of them altogether. He lives in a house built after the European style, just one remove from where I reside. I wish all our other neighbours were as quiet and well behaved as he. Etako himself is a most gentlemanly fellow.

"As to the healthiness of the climate – I lodge next door to a young gentleman who came out, attended by a brother, for the benefit of his health, apparently

in a deep decline, and who is now going about quite recovered. I think we shall get many to reside here instead of going home from India and China. And they will have all the advantage of a change of climate without having to undergo the severe winter which is so trying at home. Here the winter, according to those who have experienced it long, although colder and wetter, upon the whole, is as good as the summer, the weather is more equal, and not so stormy inland. At the Manewatu, for instance, where Mr J. has a fine section, the climate is described by all who have been there, as much superior to this, although even this, I believe, in winter, is superior to what you usually have in the finest summers at home. No frost or snow, and none of that continual drizzle for weeks together, more disagreeable than either. It rains heavily for a day or two, and then clears up for, perhaps, a week. In summer, although as hot in the day-time, as you have it at home, I have never been so incommoded by it at night, but that I could enjoy the warmth of a blanket.

"Farming here requires a great deal of capital, from the thickly wooded nature of the country; but the chief drawback is the want of roads on which to convey the produce raised, to market. These will not be easily formed, from the hilly or rather mountainous character of the country; however, I am in hopes that something will be done to remedy this deficiency. A great number of the labourers who have lately come out, will not, I am afraid, get employment for some time, from private individuals; and till once they are so employed, the company will have to give work, and pay them for making roads or other improvements for the benefit of the country – the great want now is capital, not labour, of which there is abundance. It is men with some capital, who have a knowledge of, and are fit for, country work, that are wanted. Had those who came out been generally of that description the colony would have been much farther advanced than it is to-day. Mr R – – - has fallen into the error

which many commit who come out with the intention of engaging in other than mercantile pursuits, of bringing out a good deal of money in goods, such as agricultural implements, which he finds will be of no use for himself or any other body for years, and for which he will never get cost price, besides locking up his money which he might be turning to better account. He has put all his things into my store for me to sell them. I would advise no one, except he means to engage in business, to bring out his money in goods, and even then he would require to have a varied and judiciously selected stock until he once knew the nature of the market. Twelve months' supply of good common clothes is all that one, not going into business, need bring, and a small assortment of the most common and useful tools; fine clothes, or large lots of seeds, and ironmongery, are of no use, and have often to be parted with at a sacrifice. Mr R – – -, now that he has got his things ashore, will immediately go into the bush, and commence clearing one of his sections. And B – – - intends setting out next week to see his land at Wanganui, where, if he finds he cannot get possession of it without being disturbed by the natives, who have been lately annoying the settlers there, he will either return to this, or go to Sydney and purchase some sheep and cattle, and commence grazing. Hence, nothing will yield a surer or more profitable return; indeed, that and dairy farming are just now, and likely to continue to be, for a long time, the most profitable and sure wray in the colony of investing money. As long as beef and mutton continue at 1s. per lb., and butter at 3s. 6d., those who invest their capital in cattle must make a splendid thing of it, even if prices should fall a half, which will not happen for years. M'Donald, who came out in the Blenheim with the Highlanders, sold, the other day, a lot of young cows he purchased 3 or 4 months since, at 14l. each,) and cleared nearly 10l. a-head on the lot; and sheep which can be purchased in Australia for 12s., and which will bring, when imported here, from

20s. to 25s., are sold to the butchers after fattening for a short time, at two guineas a-head, and the butchers are obliged to go, and probably lose a day in catching them, so that I cannot see but if Mr B – – - conducts himself well he will make money, provided, as I said before, he 'is not annoyed by the natives, who now, that a good deal of the land is giving out, are preventing settlers from locating themselves on their sections, saying they have never got paid by the company for the land.' The other day Rangehaiti, a chief, who has all along been hostile to the whites settling on his land, came with a band of followers, and totally demolished some houses which some newly arrived emigrants had erected at Porirua, about 8 or 10 miles from this. You will see by the papers, we have had a meeting upon the subject, and passed a resolution calling upon the sheriff to issue his warrants for his apprehension, in pursuance of an indictment which has been filed against him, and offering to turn out to his assistance if he thought the force at his disposal insufficient – but how it will end I don't know. There is no fear of the natives if they are firmly and promptly dealt with, but the authorities seem neither to have the power nor the inclination so to deal with them. Although four-fifths of the European population are now settled along Cook's straits, we have not a soldier in case of need, the whole force being kept at Auckland, "the proclamation capital," as the editor of the Gazette calls it, 400 miles off. From the neglect with which this settlement has been treated, and the tardy extension to it of the benefits of law and government, one would almost be inclined to suppose with Dr Evans, the Auckland authorities were trying the solution of the problem, at how little expense, and with how small a degree of protection, and encouragement, a community can be kept together in a taxable form. At Wanganui the settlers cannot go on their land for fear of the natives, which will be the case until they are in sufficient numbers to overcome them, or are supported by the government. Although the company

had not fairly paid them, which I believe is not the case, they will be making fresh demands for hute, or payment, as their land rises in value by the influx of Europeans, unless restrained by the idea of a superior force. Now that the lands of the company are held like others from the government, it is surely its duty to see that the company have fairly extinguished the native title, and that settlers holding from them are allowed quietly to go on their land without molestation. People have enough to contend with in the hilly nature, and thickly timbered character of the country, and above all, in the want of roads, without being obliged to maintain their title to their land by force of arms against the natives. I hope Commissioner Spaine, who has arrived to-day in the government brig, from Auckland, to investigate the land claims, will settle this question. But, as I formerly said, there is not much to be apprehended from the natives; they are well aware of the advantages they derive from the colonists, although they are good customers to the shop-keepers, and have hitherto been of the greatest service in furnishing a supply of pigs and potatoes, yet they are not much employed by the settlers as labourers – you cannot depend upon them – they may work well for a short time, but they have no idea of continuing at it with the perseverance of a European. They are more lazy, or rather, their wants are fewer and more easily supplied. It is different with the settlers round the coast. There European labour is not to be had, and they employ the natives, and get them to do a great deal more for them, and have a greater command over them than we have here, where, you may say, they only work for their own benefit. The natives and the settlers here have hitherto been on the best terms – people are continually travelling about amongst them, from one district to another, trading and bartering with them, and are not only not molested, but treated most kindly, and always made welcome to a share of what they have. In those parts where there are none or few European

inhabitants, pork, potatoes, and fish, are very plentiful and cheap, so that a person can live at little or no expense, but it is different here, where the presence of so many people makes every sort of provisions very dear. Fresh pork is 8d., mutton 1s., bread 1s. 4d., the 4 lb. loaf; raw sugar 6d. to 7d.; tea varies according to the supply, from 4s. 6d. to 8s.; cheese, from 2s. to 2s. 6d.; and salt-butter, from 2s. 3d. to 2s. 8d.; fresh do., 3s. 6d.; and other things in proportion, so that the expense of living comes high.

"Wages are proportionally high, 5s. a-day for a common labourer, 10s. for carpenters, and other skilled workmen. One would imagine that, in such a country, enjoying such a climate, and soil, farming would be a sure and profitable undertaking, but the labour required to be employed before one can prepare the ground for a crop, comes so expensive that very few can afford it.

"The country is so thickly wooded that it takes 20l. or 30l. per acre to clear it, but even that expense will be returned with a profit by the first crop. It is as cheap, and ultimately is much more profitable, to cultivate such thickly wooded land, rather than fern land, with which all the unwooded land is covered. The fern is generally found growing either on exposed situations, or on very poor land. It impoverishes the land so much, and is so difficult to extirpate, requiring to be so often ploughed and harrowed, that the expense necessary to be incurred is little less than on wooded land, and the return is neither so sure nor so profitable; you will see by this that it requires a considerable capital to commence cultivating even a few acres. Independent of the expenditure for labour, one would require to have as much as maintain himself for 12 months, till once his crops come forward.

"The loss is, we have very few who can afford to do that, and many of those who could are afraid to begin, being quite unacquainted with agriculture, having been brought up all their days in large towns. What we want is an importation of bien farmers, with grown

up working families, from Ayrshire, or the Lothians, – they would soon become wealthy. Were a number of such to come out and set a proper example, and the government or company at the same time to assist them in opening up the country by making roads, I have no fear but the colony would come on quickly. It is a country of great resources, were these developed, capable of supporting a very large population. Every day is discovering fresh tracts of land which were before unknown. The country is so hilly, and so thickly wooded, as to be almost impenetrable, except by the mauri or native footpaths, so that the surveyors have first to discover them, and then cut their way into the different valleys, and often in cutting through one valley they discover another.

"But business, not farming, is what you and I are more interested in, and here, I would say, you would find a field suitable to your active and enterprising disposition, You know what a new country is, and what are its drawbacks, and you can put up without repining with the loss of many of the little comforts and conveniences you have been accustomed to at home; you have done so before in a country where you lost your health, and where you were frozen up for half the year, and would think nothing of them in such a healthy and temperate climate as this, so that I have no hesitation in advising you to come out. With others it is different, and glad as I would be to see all my friends out here, I would not take the responsibility of advising them. If they had been brought up farmers at home, and could come out here with a little capital, especially if they had a large grown up family to assist them, they must do well; but for one unaccustomed to such work, or without capital, to come out, his chance of bettering his condition is uncertain, although to a pushing fellow with a little money the opportunities of turning it to advantage are numerous.

"In sight of where I write there are no less than five large three-masted vessels at anchor, besides two

schooners, and other smaller vessels. One of the three-masters is the Maria Theresa, a Yankee barque, full of Boston notions, all sorts of provisions and furniture. This is the second barque from America, similarly ladened, which has been here since I came. They are a sort of floating warehouses. It is wonderful to see such a young country dealing in such a variety of fancy articles, as they generally have on board, beautifully finished chairs, tables, sofas, clocks, &c., which they can afford to sell at a cheaper rate than the same can be imported from England, notwithstanding our low wages, and small profits, and overcrowded population. The whaling season will soon commence; it begins in May, and a great quantity of goods will then be required for the supply of the different parties along the coast, so that I expect business to be brisker than it has been for some time past. The worst thing with me now is, that almost all my saleable goods are, for the present, disposed of, and to purchase other goods from the wholesale houses, except to sell in a retail way, would not answer. I have hitherto done only a wholesale business indeed, without going to a considerable expense. I have not convenience in my present premises to carry on any other. But were you coming out, I would advise you to open a retail place principally for the sale of provisions. If we could get a partner, resident at home, with a little cash, to send out such goods as we deal in, and beat up for consignments, a very good business might be carried on.

"Were a company got up at home to send out a Scotch colony to Port Couper, as I have recommended in some of my letters, that would be the opportunity to start a good business. From all I can learn, I think a company formed to colonize that Port, and the country to the south of it, would succeed better than in any other part of New Zealand. I am inclined, from all I have heard, to think that Port Levi, and Port Couper, to which the Nelson settlers would have gone in preference, had they not been

hindered by the governor, would have been a more eligible place. There are two ports to the north of Banks' peninsula, separated from each other merely by a head-land, forming a sort of angle. They run up until they nearly meet. Port Couper is the largest and most sheltered. A river runs into it, and a large tract of fine grazing land, immediately available for grazing, is seen stretching far into the interior.

"But what renders it particularly valuable is, that it is the resort of so many whaling vessels of all nations, particularly American, who find it a very lucrative business. Not like this, and the Bay of Islands, which are resorted to solely for the purpose of procuring supplies; but there they lie off and on it, to catch the fish and bring them in to prepare the oil. 3 It is to the southward where the most vessels resort, and where the best fishing stations are. Now that there exists so much distress at home, which could be greatly relieved by emigration, could not a company be got up in Scotland to colonize Port Couper, and share these advantages? The government, I am sure, would be friendly to the scheme, as it would be the most effectual way to put down French pretensions, by swamping their colony at Banks' Peninsula, by a large British population in the neighbourhood. All the merchants in the large towns would be found to take an interest in it, as it would be a fine opening for getting quit of their surplus hands and goods; and the landlords might be got to take an interest in it, in order to get rid of their superabundant tenantry. Besides, what an opening it would be for the merchants and shipowners of Glasgow and Greenock, who are at present quite shut out by the London company from any participation in the trade or profits derived from this and the Nelson settlements. Almost all the money required would be derived from the sale of land, which they could sell at the same price as in the Nelson settlement. Very little capital would require

to be invested, and that I think might be easily and beneficially raised by dividing it into a number of shares of small amount, so as to interest the greater number of people.

"I would recommend that the township, instead of consisting of 1100 acres, like Wellington and Nelson, should only contain 600, and those divided into quarter-acre lots which might be sold at 5l. along with 50 acres of country land, at 30s., in all 80l., quite enough for any one either to buy or cultivate for the first two or three years. As many as possible should be sold in the first place to parties actually coming out, and the remainder taken by the different boards of directors in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, and other towns.

"Their agents in those different towns should be instructed to go into the villages around, in order to beat up for emigrants, and converse with intending ones, who ought principally to be selected from the country, or country villages, where a better class of emigrants can be got than from large towns; for even tradesmen in small villages, although not so expert at any one thing, as those in towns, from being used to turn their hands to a variety of work, are on that account better fitted for a new country. The lowland Scotch, from what I have seen of them, are best fitted for a new colony. They are not only more enterprising and industrious, but being worse off at home, think less than the English of the hardships and want of comfort, which they must at first undergo on their arrival in a new country, where everything is to be done and created. I have no doubt, a Scotch colony placed in the same circumstances would sooner commence the work of production, and spend less in keeping themselves in the mean time than an English one; who, however uncomfortable their houses may be, or however shabby their clothes, must live well, and are besides more stupid and impracticable. Every encouragement may be confidently held out to farmers of small capital, who could support themselves for one

year, till their first crop was brought home, – every year after would increase their comforts and their capital, and in a very few they would be independent lairds and none to make them afraid. What with the climate, the soil, and the abundance of moisture, there is no other colony to be compared with it for agricultural purposes, not shut up for six months of the year with frost as in Canada, or burnt up with heat and drought for four or six months as in Australia. A country in which every kind of European productions thrives. One valley has lately been discovered, near Wellington, extending for about fifty miles, covered with luxuriant grass fit for pasturing innumerable herds of cattle. And the wool of the sheep pastured in the island of Mana, in the straits, is equal to any produced in Australia. 10th June – in an excursion I lately made a short way into the country with the surveyor, I slept two nights on the ground in the open air with impunity – and, as I formerly mentioned, fevers in this part of the island are unknown. So you see there is nothing wanting in this colony but capital, and Scotch farmers, to make it the most flourishing under the British crown.

"Purchasing cattle is the rage just now, so that I hope every cottager will soon have his cow. It has blown such a violent gale from the south-east, for the last week, that no vessel could possibly arrive from Nelson. The weather has been very stormy and cold for the last fortnight, but the wind has taken off tonight, and it feels more mild; I expect that it will be round to the north-west to-morrow morning, and then we will have fine weather again. This is our winter, but I have never seen ice yet – and I am now writing in a room without a fire – there is, indeed, neither fire nor fire-place in any room of the house except the kitchen. Mr H. has just gathered a dish of green peas from the little garden before the house; and the border of mignionette (sown by Mr Imrie), which has been cut four or five times, is sending out fresh shoots, and a most delicious perfume. We have from this

little garden a constant succession of vegetables for the kitchen.

"Our society is good – many of the surveyors come about the house I lodge in, so that I am well acquainted with them – all the young surveyors lately come out are connected with most respectable families, and are fine looking young men, accustomed to good society. I have enjoyed good health, and feel myself very happy in Mrs Miller's. She thinks you will be pleased that I am with her. Remember me kindly to all my friends.

"A. PERRY."

"WELLINGTON, July, 1842.

227. "Vessels from Sydney principally bring flour, tea, sugar, rice, &c., which are now much cheaper than they were some time ago. Most of the larger vessels which have arrived have brought down cargoes of cattle from Sydney or its neighbourhood – one from Brulee and Two-fold Bay, and others are daily expected from the same places; so that we are likely soon to be overstocked from want of land to feed them on. Not but what there are plenty of districts in the neighbourhood available for that purpose if we had access to them by roads. Indeed, I believe it will be found that the quantity of land in the neighbourhood dependent on this part for its supplies, and for an outlet to its produce, is very great, and this port is second to none in the country. Within a few hours' sail of this, running up from Palliser Bay, for at least fifty or sixty miles, is a large fine valley called the Wyrairapa or Wydrop, consisting mostly of clear land, covered with the finest grass, capable of supporting thousands of cattle.

"The surveyors having gone up the fine river, the Manuwatia, for ninety miles, found it connected with this valley by a fine level country, through which they entered it, and after coming down it a considerable way crossed the mountains to the Hutt.

"Thus proving this part to be the centre and the

outlet to one, the finest agricultural, and the other the finest pastoral districts yet discovered in this island. Unless the Wydrop or some other grazing district is speedily opened up, many of the cottagers and labourers who have contrived to purchase a cow or two, will be obliged to part with them from the impossibility of finding food for them, – hitherto they have allowed them to pick up what they can get on the unoccupied sites of the town, and the sections round about it; but a great part of the former is getting enclosed, and the proprietors of the latter are either keeping cattle on their sections, or letting them for that purpose to others. A dairy is one of the best paying things here – and cattle have been for some time the favourite investment. Were a ship coming from the Clyde they could not bring out a better thing than a good Ayrshire cow and bull – they would fetch a high price. Mrs Miller, who purchased the cow brought out in the Bengal Merchant, for 27l., has refused 100l. for it; and she has been offered 50l. for its calf, not a year old. Good stock of any kind, either horses, cows, or sheep, would sell if brought out. I wish we had a good stallion and draught mare of the Lanarkshire breed. Land here is likely to rise rapidly. No. 116 Town Acre sold the other day for 950l. There were buildings on it worth about 300l.; and an acre at the head of the bay, with a water fontage, sold by Mr Bidwell for 1,200l.; and were this made the seat of government, lands would rise very rapidly.

"A. PERRY."

3 The Americans have about 200,000 tonnage employed in the South Sea whale fishery.

APPENDIX.

APPENDIX.

No. I.

ABRIDGMENT OF ACT FOR REGULATING THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS IN MERCHANT VESSELS.

5th and 6th Victoria, Chap. 107. – 12th August 1842.

I Repeals previous Acts.

II. No ship carrying passengers on any voyage from any port in the United Kingdom, or in islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, to or for any port or place out of Europe, and not being within the Mediterranean Sea, shall proceed on her voyage with or carry more persons on board than in the proportion of three persons to every five tons of the registered burden of such ship, the master and crew being included in such prescribed number, and no such ship shall, whatever be her tonnage, carry more passengers on board than in the following proportion to the space occupied by them and appropriated for their use, and unoccupied by stores not being the personal luggage of passengers; (that is to say,) on the lower deck or platform one passenger for every 10 clear superficial feet, if the ship is not to pass within the tropics during the voyage; but if the ship is so to pass then one passenger for every 12 clear superficial feet, if the voyage is computed not to exceed 12 weeks, and one passenger for every 15 superficial feet if the voyage is computed to exceed 12 weeks; and under the poop and on the orlop deck, one passenger for every 30 superficial feet in all cases; and if any ship carrying passengers shall carry any passengers beyond these proportions, the master of the ship shall, for every passenger constituting such excess, be liable in a penalty not exceeding £5.

III. No ship shall carry passengers unless she have lower or hold beams forming part of the permanent structure of the vessel, and also a lower deck or platform, of which the under surface shall be not lower than 3 inches above the bottom of the lower beams, and properly and substantially secured to the same, nor unless such lower deck or platform shall be of not less than 1 1/2 inch in thickness.

IV. No ship shall carry any passengers upon any such voyage unless she shall be of the height of 6 feet between the upper deck and lower deck or platform, nor carry passengers on the orlop deck unless the height between the orlop deck and the deck immediately above the same be 6 feet at the least.

V. No ship shall have more than 2 tiers of berths, and the interval between the floor of the berths and the deck or platform beneath them not to be less than 6 inches; the berths shall be securely constructed, and their dimensions not be less than 6 feet in length and 18 inches in width for each passenger.

VI. On hoard every ship there shall be issued to the passengers daily a supply of water at the rate of at least 3 quarts for each passenger per day, and there shall also he issued, at convenient times, not less often than twice a week, a supply of provisions after the rate of 7 lbs. of bread, biscuit, flour, oatmeal or rice per week, provided that 1/2 consist of bread or biscuit, and that potatoes may be employed to the extent of the remaining half, 5 lbs. however of potatoes being computed as equal to 1 lb. of the other articles; and such issues shall be made throughout the whole voyage, including the time of detention at any port before the end of the voyage; and further, no ship shall be cleared out until there shall be laden and on board such quantity of pure water, and of good and wholesome provisions, of the requisite kind, as shall be sufficient to allow of the issues aforesaid during the period assigned to the voyage under the act.

VII. The water to be laden on board shall be carried in tanks or sweet casks, and no cask shall exceed 300 gall. in capacity; when any ship shall be destined to call at a port in the course of her voyage, for the purpose of filling up her water, a supply of water at the rate before mentioned, for every week of the computed voyage to such port of calling shall be deemed to be a compliance with the provisions of the act, subject to the following conditions;

1st. That the government emigration agent at ports where there is one, and the collector or comptroller of customs at ports where there is no such agent, signify his approval, in writing, and that the same be carried amongst the papers of the ship, to be delivered to the collector of customs or Her Majesty's consul, as the case may be, on reaching her final destination;

2d. That an engagement to call at such port or place be inserted in the bond required to be given to the crown by the owner or charterer and master:

3d. That if the computed length of voyage to such port or place he not declared in this act, it shall he competent to the government emigration agent, or the collector or comptroller of customs, to fix the same in each case; and,

4th. That the ship shall have on board, at the time of clearing out, tanks or water casks sufficient for stowing the quantity of water required for the longest portion of the whole voyage.

VIII. The number of weeks deemed necessary for the voyage shall be determined by the following rule of computation;

For a voyage to North America, except the West Coast thereof, 10 weeks:

For a voyage to the West Indies, including under that term the Bahama Islands and British Guiana, 10 weeks:

For a voyage to any part of the continent of Central or South America, except the West Coast thereof, and except British Guiana, 12 weeks:

For a voyage to the West Coast of Africa, 12 weeks:

For a voyage to the Cape of Good Hope or the Falkland Islands, 15 weeks:

For a voyage to the Mauritius, 18 weeks:

For a voyage to Western Australia, 20 weeks:

For a voyage to any other of the Australian Colonies, 22 weeks: For a voyage to New Zealand, 24 weeks:

IX. That for the purposes of this act it shall be computed that two children, each under 14 years, shall be equal to one passenger, and that children under the age of one year shall not be included in the computation of the number of passengers.

X. Before any ship shall be cleared out the government emigration agent, or in his absence, the collector or comptroller of customs, shall survey the provisions and water for the consumption of the passengers, and ascertain that the same are in a sweet and good condition, and that over and above the same there is on board an ample supply of water and stores for victualling the crew of the ship and other persons (if any) on board.

XI. That such officers shall see that the other directions contained in this act be complied with, so far as the same can be complied with, before the departure of the ship from any port in the United Kingdom or the before-mentioned islands.

XII. If doubts arise whether any ship is seaworthy, so as to be fit for her intended voyage, and such doubts shall not be removed to the satisfaction of the collector and comptroller of the customs at the port from which the vessel is to be cleared out, or to the satisfaction of the emigration agent, it shall be lawful for the collector and comptroller, or emigration agent, at any time to cause the ship to be surveyed by two competent persons, and if it shall be reported to be not seaworthy with reference to the voyage, it shall not be cleared out, unless the contents of such report be disproved to the satis-

faction of the commissioners of the customs, or of the colonial land and emigration commissioners in those cases in which the report shall nave been made at the instance of a government emigration agent, or until the ship shall be rendered seaworthy.

XIII. No ship shall carry any passengers unless he shall be provided with good sound boats of suitable size, and properly supplied with all requisites for their use, in the following proportion to the registered tonnage of such ship.

2 Boats, if the tonnage be 150 tons and upwards, but under 250 tons:

3 Boats, if the tonnage be 250 tons and upwards:

4 Boats, if the tonnage be 500 tons and upwards, and the number of passengers exceed 200:

Nor unless one of the boats be a long boat of a size duly proportioned to the tonnage of the ship.

XIV. Two copies of the act to be kept on board every ship carrying passengers; and one of such copies shall, upon request made at seasonable times to the master of the ship, be produced to any passenger for his perusal.

XV. No ship carrying passengers except to any port in North America, shall, in case the number of passengers shall amount to or exceed 100, or in case the estimated length of the voyage, computed as herein-before is mentioned, shall exceed 12 weeks, and the number of passengers shall amount to or exceed 50, clear out for the voyage, unless there shall be rated upon the ship's company, and shall be actually serving on board such ship, some person duly authorized by law to practise as a physician or surgeon or apothecary, and no ship shall actually put to sea or proceed on such voyage unless such medical practitioner shall be therein, and shall bona fide proceed on such voyage, taking with him a medicine chest, and a proper supply of medicines, instruments, and other things suitable to the intended voyage; and no ship carrying passengers to or for any port or place out of Europe, and not being within the Mediterranean Sea, shall clear out for any such voyage unless there shall be actually laden and on board, medicines, and printed or written directions for the use of the same, and other things necessary for the medical treatment of the passengers on board during the voyage, and available for that purpose, nor unless such medicines and other things shall be adequate in amount and kind to the probable exigences of the voyage, and, together with such medicines and other things, shall also be put on board every such ship previously to her clearing out for any such voyage as aforesaid, a certificate under the hands of any one or more such medical practitioner, qualified as aforesaid, who shall not have been the seller of the medicines and other things, or any part of them, to the effect that the same have been inspected by him, and are in his judgment adequate to meet any probable exigences, and further, that he has no pecuniary interest in the supply of the same.

XVI. In any ship carrying passengers, no spirits or strong waters shall he sold to any passenger during the voyage; and if the master of the ship shall, directly or indirectly, sell or cause to he sold any spirits or strong waters to any passenger during the voyage, he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £100.

XVII. The master of every ship carrying passengers shall, before clearing out his ship, sign and deliver, in duplicate, to the collector or to such officer of Her Majesty's customs at such port or place as may clear the ship, a list of all the passengers on board of the ship, specifying, as accurately as may be, all the particulars by the form required, and such collector or other officer shall thereupon countersign and return to the said master one of such duplicate lists; and the said master shall exhibit such duplicate list, with the additions, if any, to be made thereto afterdirected, to the collector or other chief officer of Her Majesty's customs at any port or place in Her Majesty's possessions, or to Her Majesty's consul at any foreign port at which the said passengers or any of them shall be landed, and deposit the same with such collector or chief officer of customs, or such consul, at his final port of discharge.

XVIII. In case any vessel shall have cleared out with a number of passengers less than the number she could lawfully carry under the provisions of this act, or in case any passenger or passengers named in the list aforementioned shall not proceed on the voyage, and there shall afterwards be taken on board any additional passenger or passengers, the master shall add to the first list so countersigned and returned to him as aforesaid, the names and particulars of such additional passenger or passengers; and shall moreover prepare, in the form aforesaid, a separate list of such additional passenger or passengers, and deliver the same, together with the said first list so added to as aforesaid, both being signed by him, to the collector or other officer of customs as aforesaid at the port or place where any such additional passenger or passengers may have embarked, and thereupon such collector or other officer of customs shall countersign the additions made to the first list, and return the same to the master, and retain the separate additional list, and so on in like manner whenever any additional passenger or passengers may be taken on board: provided that in the event of there being no collector or other officer of customs stationed at any port or place where such additional passenger or passengers may be taken on board, then such separate list, and also the first list, with the additions shall, in case the vessel shall subsequently touch at any port or place at which there shall be stationed any officer of Her Majesty's customs, he delivered by the said master to such officer of customs, and the same respectively shall be dealt with in all respects by such officer of customs as it would have been dealt with by the collector or other officer of customs,

had there been one at the port where the additional passengers embarked.

XIX. If any owner, charterer, or master of a ship, or any passage broker, agent, or other person, shall receive any money from any person, for the conveyance of any person as a passenger to any port or place in North America, the person so receiving such shall give a written acknowledgment for the same to the party from whom the same shall have been received, and in default shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £10 in respect of each passenger, and if he shall be licensed, his licence shall be forfeited, in case the justices before whom the penalty shall be sued for shall declare the forfeiture thereof.

XX. No person, not being the owner or master of the ship in which passages shall be taken, shall carry on the business of a passage broker or passage dealer in respect of passages to any port in North America, or shall sell or let, or agree to sell or let, to any person, any such passage, unless he shall have previously taken out a licence to carry on the business of a passage broker or passage dealer, and unless such licence shall continue in force; and if any person shall carry on such business, or sell or let, or agree to sell or let, any such passage, contrary to this enactment, every person so offending shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £10 each offence, and shall further be subject to all the same penalties and liabilities to which licensed passage brokers and passage dealers are subject under this act; and that it shall be lawful for any person desiring to carry on the business of a passage broker or passage dealer, in respect of such passages to North America, to make application to the justices assembled in petty or quarter sessions held for the district or place in which such person shall reside, for a licence to carry on such business, and such justices so assembled are hereby authorized to grant such licence to the party making application for the same, such licence to continue in force for the period named, unless sooner forfeited; and where any such licence shall be granted such justices shall cause notice thereof to be forthwith transmitted by the post to the colonial land and emigration commissioners at their office in London: provided nevertheless, that no such licence shall be granted unless the party applying for the same shall show to the satisfaction of the justices that he has given notice to the colonial land and emigration commissioners of his intention to apply for the same twenty-one clear days at least before such application, such notice to be transmitted by the post to the office of the said colonial land and emigration commissioners.

XXI. If any licensed broker or dealer as aforesaid shall receive money for or on account of the passage of any passenger to any port or place in North America, without having a written authority to act as agent for the party on whose behalf the contract for such passage purports to be made, or shall by any fraud or false pretence whatsoever induce any person to engage a pas-

sage in any ship for any such voyage, every such broker or dealer shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £10, and it shall be lawful for the justices before whom the penalty shall be sued for to declare, if they shall think fit, the licence of such broker or dealer to be forfeited, provided that in any case in which any justices shall declare the licence of any passage broker or passage dealer to be forfeited, such justices shall cause notice of such forfeiture to be forthwith transmitted by the post to the colonial land and emigration commissioners, at their office in London.

XXII. If any passenger or person on his behalf shall have entered into a contract for a passage or passages for such passenger, or for him and his family, in any ship, to or for any port out of Europe, and not being in the Mediterranean sea, and if such passenger, or such passenger and his family, shall be at the place of embarkation at the time appointed by the contract, and shall apply for such passage or passages, and shall, on demand, pay or tender such part of the passage money not already paid as shall be payable under such contract previously to embarkation, and if, owing to the previous departure of the ship in which such passage or passages shall have been engaged, or the neglect, refusal, or other default of the owner, charterer, or master thereof, or of the party with whom such passage or passages shall have been contracted for, such passenger shall not obtain such passage or passages, or shall not within a reasonable time obtain a passage or passages by some other equally eligible vessel to the same port or place, and in the mean time be paid subsistence money, or be provided with lodging and maintenance, as after mentioned, such passenger shall be entitled to recover all monies which he shall have paid for such passage or passages, from the party to whom he shall have paid the same, or from the owner or charterer of the ship for whom such party shall be the agent, and also such further sum not exceeding £10 in respect of each such passage as shall, in the opinion of the justices who shall adjudicate on the complaint, be a reasonable compensation for the loss or inconvenience occasioned to such passenger or his family by the loss of their passage or passages.

XXIII. If any ship shall not actually put to sea, and proceed upon her intended voyage, on the day appointed by any contract made by the owner, master, or charterer, or by their agent, with any passenger who shall on that day be on board the same, or ready to proceed on such intended voyage, then and in every such case the master of such ship shall victual each and every such passenger in like manner as if the voyage had commenced, and if the ship does not put to sea after the interval of two clear working days from the day appointed for sailing, shall be liable to pay to each and every such passenger, instead of victualling him, subsistence money, after the rate of one shilling in respect of each day of delay, until the actual clearing out and final departure of such ship on such voyage, provided, that such subsis-

tence money shall not be payable in lieu of victualling in respect of any unavoidable detention by wind or weather, and also shall not be payable to any passenger who shall, with his own consent, be suitably lodged and maintained on shore at the expense of the parties who are bound to provide him with a passage.

XXIV. The master of any ship carrying passengers shall not land or put on shore, or cause to be landed or put on shore, any passenger, without his previous consent, at any port other than the port or place at which he may have contracted to land or put such passenger on shore.

XXV. At the close of the voyage every person arriving as a passenger at any port or place shall, during the space of 48 hours next after such arrival, be entitled to continue on board the ship, and to be provided for and maintained on board the same, in such and the same manner as during the voyage, unless in the ulterior prosecution of her voyage the ship shall quit any such port or place within the said period of 48 hours.

XXVI. The master of every ship carrying passengers as aforesaid shall afford to the government agent for emigration, or to the proper officer of customs at any port or place in Her Majesty's dominions from which such ship shall sail, or at which such ship shall touch during the voyage, or at which such ship shall arrive at the end of such voyage, and to Her Majesty's consul at any port or place at which such ship shall arrive, being in a foreign country, every facility for the inspection of the ship, and for communication with the passengers, and for ascertaining that the act has been duly observed.

XXVII. If in any ship carrying passengers on the lower deck or platform of such thickness as herein-before directed shall not be laid and continued throughout the whole duration of the voyage in such manner as before required; or if the height between such lower deck or platform and the upper deck shall be less than six feet; or if there shall be more than two tiers of berths; or if such berths shall not be securely constructed, or shall not be of the dimensions before required; or if there shall not be throughout the whole duration of any such voyage such an interval as is before prescribed between the deck and the floor of the berths; or if any such ship shall clear out and put to sea not having on board tanks or sweet casks of such size and number as aforesaid, and such water and provisions as aforesaid, for the use and consumption of the passengers, of the kind and to the amount and in the proportion required; or if such water and provisions shall not be issued in manner required; or if such ship shall not be provided with good boats according to the rates aforesaid; or if copies of the act shall not have been kept on board and produced on demand as required; or if there shall not be on board any such medical practitioner as aforesaid, or such medicines and other things necessary to the medical treatment of the passengers as required; or if any such ship shall be cleared

out before a list of passengers shall have been delivered; or if the additions to the list and the additional separate list or lists be not made in the cases aforesaid, and delivered in the cases in which they are required to be delivered; or if any such list, or the additions to the same, shall be wilfully false; or if any such list, including the additions, if any, to the same, shall not be exhibited to or deposited with the proper officer at any port or place at which it is required to be exhibited or deposited; or if any passenger shall, without his previous consent, be put on shore at any place other than the place at which the master had contracted to land such passenger; or if any passenger shall not be allowed to continue on board such ship in manner before provided; or if every facility for inspection shall not be afforded as required, the master of any such ship shall for and in respect of each and every such offence be liable, to the payment of a fine not exceeding £50 sterling.

XXVII. Nothing contained in the act shall take away or abridge any right of suit or action which may accrue to any passenger in any such ship, or to any other person, in respect of the breach or nonperformance of any contract made or entered into between or on behalf of any such passenger or other person, and the master, owner or owners, of any such ship.

XXIX. All penalties imposed by the act may be sued for and recovered to the use of Her Majesty, in the United Kingdom, by any government emigration agent, or any collector or comptroller of Her Majesty's customs, or by any other officer of Her Majesty's customs, authorized in writing by the commissioners of Her Majesty's customs to sue for penalties under this act; and in any of Her Majesty's possessions abroad, by any such government agent, collector or comptroller, or other officer so authorized as aforesaid, and also by any officer authorized to sue for penalties under the act, by writing under the hand and seal of the governor or officer administering the government of any such possession; which respective authorities the commissioners of Her Majesty's customs and such governors or other officers are hereby empowered to grant; and all sums of money made recoverable by the act as return of passage money, subsistence money, or compensation, may be sued for and recovered, by or to the use of any passenger entitled thereto under this act, or by any of such officers as aforesaid, on behalf and to the use of any such passenger, or on behalf and to the respective use of any number of such passengers, and either by one or several complaints; and all such penalties and sums of money may he sued for and recovered before any two or more justices of the peace acting in any part of Her Majesty's dominions in which the offence shall have been committed or the cause of complaint shall have arisen, or in which the offender or party complained against shall happen to be; and upon complaint being made before any one justice of the peace he shall issue a summons requiring the party offending or

complained against to appear on a day and at an hour and place to be named in such summons; and every such summons shall be served on the party offending or complained against, or shall he left at his last house, place of residence or of business, or on board any ship to which he may belong; and either upon the appearance or default to appear by the party offending or complained against it shall be lawful for any two or more justices to proceed summarily upon the case, and either with or without any written information; and upon proof of the offence or of the complainant's claim, it shall be lawful for such justices to convict the offender or adjudicate the complaint, and upon such conviction or adjudication to order the offender or party complained against to pay such penalty, as the justices may declare to have been incurred, or to pay to the party suing for the same the sum of money sued for, and also to pay the costs attending the information or complaint, summons, conviction, or adjudication; and if forthwith upon any such order the monies thereby ordered to be paid be not paid, the same may be levied, together with the costs of the distress and sale, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the party ordered to pay such monies, the surplus, if any, to be returned to him, upon demand; and any such justices may issue their warrant accordingly, and may also order such party to be detained and kept in safe custody until return can coveniently be made to such warrant of distress, unless such party give sufficient security, to the satisfaction of such justices, for his appearance before them on the day appointed for such return, such day or days not being more than eight days from the time of taking such security; but if it shall appear to such justices, by the admission of such party or otherwise, that no sufficient distress can be had whereon to levy the monies so adjudged to be paid, they may, if they think fit, refrain from issuing such warrant of distress; and in such case, or if such warrant shall have been issued, and upon the return thereof such insufficiency as aforesaid shall be made to appear to the justices, they shall by warrant cause the party ordered to pay such monies and costs as aforesaid to be committed to gaol, there to remain without bail for any term not exceeding three months, unless such monies and costs ordered to be paid, and such costs of distress and sale as aforesaid, be sooner paid and satisfied.

XXX. If in any proceeding before any justices under this act, or upon any action whatsoever, against any person for anything done either contrary to or in pursuance of this act, a question should arise whether any person is a government emigration agent, or an officer of the customs, viva voce evidence may be given of such fact, and shall be deemed legal and sufficient evidence.

XXXI. Any passenger suing for any sum of money made recoverable by this act as return of passage-money, subsistence-money, or compensation, shall not be deemed an incompetent

witness in any proceeding for the recovery thereof, notwithstanding the same, if recovered, shall be applicable to his own use and benefit.

XXXII. Where any distress shall be made for any penalty, to he levied by virtue of this act, the distress itself shall not be deemed unlawful, nor the party making the same he deemed a trespasser, on account of any defect or want of form in the information, summons, conviction, warrant of distress, or other proceedings, nor shall the party distraining be deemed a trespasser ab initio on account of any irregularity which shall be afterwards committed by the party so distraining, but the person aggrieved may recover full satisfaction for the special damage in an action upon the case.

XXXIII. No plaintiff shall recover in any action against any person for anything done in pursuance of this act if tender of sufficient amends shall have been made before such action brought, or if after action brought, a sufficient sum of money shall have been paid into court, with costs, on behalf of the defendant.

XXXIV. No action shall he commenced against any person under the authority of this act, until 21 days' notice has been given thereof in writing to the party against whom such action is intended to be brought, nor after three calendar months next after the act committed for which such action shall be so brought; and every such action shall be brought, laid, and tried, where the cause of action shall have arisen, and not in any other place; and the defendant in such action may plead the general issue, and give this act and any special matter in evidence at any trial which shall be had thereupon; and if the matter shall appear to have been done under this act, or it shall appear that such action was brought before 21 days' notice given, or if any action shall not be commenced within the time before limited, or shall be brought in any other place than as aforesaid, then the jury shall find a verdict for the defendant; and if a verdict shall be found for such defendant, or if the plaintiff in such action shall become nonsuited, or if upon any demurrer in such action, judgment shall be given for the defendant thereon, then and in any of the cases aforesaid, such defendant shall and may recover treble costs.

XXXV. For the more effectually securing the observance of the aforesaid rules, and the payment of the penalties, it is enacted, that before any ship carrying passengers, if the number exceed 50, shall clear out for any such voyage as aforesaid from any port in the United Kingdom, the owner or charterer, or, in their absence, one good and sufficient person on his behalf, to be approved by the collector or chief officer of customs at port, and the master of the ship, shall enter into a bond to Her Majesty, in the sum of one thousand pounds, the condition of which bond shall be that the said ship is seaworthy, and that all the regula-

tions made and prescribed by this act for the carriage of passengers shall be well and truly performed before and during the voyage, and that all penalties, which the master of the ship may be adjudged to pay for the nonperformance, before or during the voyage, of any regulations, shall be paid: provided always, that the bond shall be without stamps; and that no such bond shall be put in suit, and that no prosecution shall be brought under this act, or upon the breach of any of its provisions, in any of Her Majesty's possessions abroad, after the expiration of 12 calendar months next succeeding the commencement of the voyage, nor in the United Kingdom, after the expiration of 12 calendar months next after the return of the ship or the master to the United Kingdom.

XXXVI. Nothing in this act shall extend or be construed to extend to ships carrying passengers on such voyage if the number of passengers shall not exceed 3O, nor shall anything in this act contained extend to any of Her Majesty's ships of war, or to any ship in the service of the commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral of the United Kingdom, or to ships of war or transports in the service of the East India company.

XXXVII. This act shall extend and apply to the carriage of passengers by sea from any of the British West Indies, in which term are included the British West India islands, the Bahamas, and British Guiana, and from Malta, and from the British possessions in Africa, and from the Mauritius, to any other place whatsoever.

XXXVIII. It shall be lawful for the governor or officer administering the government of any British colony not enumerated in the enactment lastly before contained to declare by proclamation, to be issued for that purpose, that this act shall be extended and shall apply to the carriage of passengers by sea from such colony to such places as may by him be named for the purpose in such proclamation, and this act shall be thenceforth so extended and shall so apply accordingly.

XXXIX. It shall be lawful for the governor or officer administering the government of any of the British colonies to which the act, as respects the carriage of passengers by sea therefrom, is thereby extended or shall be extended by proclamation, by any proclamation to be by him from time to time for that purpose, to declare the rule of computation by which the length of the voyage of any ship carrying passengers from such colony to any other place shall be estimated for the purposes of the act: provided nevertheless, that the act shall not, except as respects the West Indies, extend or apply to any such voyage, if the length thereof so computed shall not be three weeks or upwards.

XL. It shall be lawful for the governor of any of the British colonies to which the act has been hereby extended, by any proclamation or proclamations to be by him from time to time issued for that purpose, to substitute for the articles of food and

provisions specified in the act such other articles of food and provisions as shall be a full equivalent for the same.

XLI. Every such proclamation shall be transmitted by the governor by whom the same may have been issued to Her Majesty, through one of Her Majesty's principal secretaries of state, for Her Majesty's confirmation or disallowance; and in case the same shall be disallowed by any order to be made by Her Majesty for that purpose, with the advice of her privy council, then from and after the promulgation of any such order in council within any such colony, any such proclamation shall cease to be of any force or authority, but until so disallowed the same shall be duly observed and obeyed: provided also, that on the production at any one of the colonies of an attested copy of any such proclamation, under the hand of the governor of the colony, and under the public seal of such colony, such copy shall, in the colony wherein the same shall be so produced, be received as sufficient evidence of the issuing and of the contents of such proclamation.

XLII. All the powers and authorities vested by the act, in the collector and comptroller of the customs, for determining the seaworthiness of any ship carrying passengers from any port in the united kingdom, shall, in respect of any ship carrying passengers from any port in any of the colonies aforesaid, be vested in the respective governors of the said colonies respectively.

XLIII. It shall not be necessary for the master, owner, or charterer of any ship carrying passengers from the colonies, to enter into any bond required to be entered into by the master and owner or charterer of any ship carrying passengers from the United Kingdom.

XLIV. The provisions of this act shall not extend to voyages from the colonies, so far as relates to the following subjects; (namely,)

The keeping copies of the act on board:

The use of the form of receipt required to be given for passage money:

The licensing of passage brokers:

The return of passage money and compensation, in case the party cannot be forwarded by the appointed ship, or by some other eligible vessel, and victualling or the payment of subsistence money in case of detention.

XLV. The provisions and regulations of this act, with the above exception, shall extend to voyages from the West Indies of less duration, computed as above, than three weeks, but being of not less duration than three days, except so far as relates to the following subject; (namely,)

The construction or thickness of the lower deck or platform:

The berths:

The height between decks:

The surgeon and medicine chest:

The maintenance of passengers for forty-eight hours after arrival:

And as respects voyages from the West Indies of less computed duration than three weeks, the owner or charterer of a ship may, if he think fit, contract with the passengers engaging passages therein, that they shall respectively provide themselves with necessary food (not including water) for the voyage; and in such case the regulations of this act respecting the issue of provisions by the master shall not be applicable to the passengers on such voyage.

XLVI. It shall be lawful for the governor of any British colony (other than the West Indies) to which this act, as respects the carriage of passengers by sea therefrom, has been extended, by proclamation to declare that the enactment herein-before contained respecting voyages from the West Indies of shorter duration than three weeks shall extend to voyages from the colony, such voyage being of less duration than three days; and thereupon such enactment shall extend and apply to such voyage.

XLVII. Nothing in the act contained shall be construed to extend to prevent the enactment by the respective governors, councils, and assemblies, or other local legislatures, in the British West Indies and South America, and in the Bahama Islands, and in Bermuda, or by Her Majesty, with the advice of her privy council, of any such acts of general assembly, or ordinances, or orders in council, as may be requisite for establishing such regulations as are required by this act, or any of them, or for carrying the same into full and complete effect: but it shall not be lawful for any such governor, council, and assembly, or for any such local legislature, or for Her Majesty in council, by any acts of assembly, ordinances, or orders in council, to make or establish any enactment, provision, rule, or order which shall be in anywise repugnant or contradictory to this act or any part thereof, and every such enactment, regulation, provision, rule, or order shall be, and is hereby declared to be absolutely null and void and of no effect.

XLVIII. Nothing in the act shall be construed to apply to any of the territories under the government of the East India Company, or to any of the governors appointed by the said Company; nor shall anything in the act be construed to affect the powers now vested in the governor general of India in council to make laws and regulations whereby the provisions of this act, or such of them as to the said governor general shall seem expedient, shall be extended to the territories under the government of the said company, or in respect of which the said governor general has now by law a power of legislation; but it shall be lawful for the governor general, from time to time, by any act to be passed for that purpose, to declare that this act, with such exceptions as are herein-before mentioned, shall extend to the carriage of passengers upon any voyage from any ports within

the territories of the East India Company, to be specified in such act, to any other places whatsoever, to be also specified, and also in like manner to authorize the substitution of other equivalent articles of food and provisions for those before enumerated, and to declare the rule of computation by which the length of any voyage shall be estimated, and to confer the powers herein-before conferred upon government emigration agents, and collectors and comptrollers of the customs, with respect to ascertaining and deciding on the seaworthiness of a ship, upon such officers of the East India Company, as the said governor general may think proper; and from and after the passing of such act, and whilst the same shall remain in force, this act shall, with such exceptions as are herein-before made as respects voyages from the colonies, apply to and extend to the carriage of passengers upon such voyages as in the said act or acts shall be specified; which acts shall nevertheless be subject to disallowance and repeal, and shall in the same manner be transmitted to England, and be laid before both houses of parliament, as in the case of any other laws or regulations which the said governor general in council is now by law empowered to make.

XLIX. It shall be lawful for the governor general of India in council, from time to time, by any act, to declare in what manner, and before what authorities, and by what form of proceedings, the penalties imposed and the sums of money made recoverable by this act shall be sued for and recovered within any places or territories under the government of the East India Company, and to what uses the penalties shall be applied.

L. The provisions, regulations, penalties, and forfeitures set forth in this act shall extend and be deemed to extend to foreign vessels carrying passengers upon any voyage from any port or place in the United Kingdom, to or for any port or place out of Europe, and not being within the Mediterranean Sea, or upon any other voyage to which the provisions of this act shall for the time being extend.

LI. Wherever the term "passage" or "passenger" is used in this act, it shall be held not to include or extend to the class of passages or passengers commonly known and understood by the name of cabin passages and cabin passengers.

LII. In the construction of this act, unless there be something in the subject or context repugnant to such construction, every word importing the singular number or the masculine gender only shall be understood to include and shall be applied to several persons, matters, or things, as well as one person, matter, or thing, and females as well as males respectively.

SCHEDULES referred to by the foregoing Act.

SCHEDULE (A.)

Referred to in the 17th Section of the Passengers Act.

NOMINAL LIST OF PASSENGERS. *

SCHEDULE (B.) referred to in the 19th Section of this Act.

PASSENGERS' CONTRACT TICKET.

N.B. – Any one receiving Money from or in respect of any Passenger about leaving the United Kingdom for any Place in North America, without using this Form, and correctly filling up the Blanks therein, and signing it with his Name in full, will be liable to a Penalty not exceeding £10 for each such Passenger.

SCHEDULE (C.) referred to in the 20th Section of this Act.

FORM OF PASSAGE BROKER'S LICENCE.

A. B. * of – – – – – in the – – – – – having shown to the satisfaction of us, the undersigned justices of the peace in quarter/petty sessions assembled, that he hath duly given notice to Her majesty's colonial land and emigration commissioners of his intention to make application for a licence to carry on the business of a passage-broker or passage-dealer in respect of passages to North America: we, the undersigned justices so assembled as aforesaid, and having had no sufficient cause shown to us why the said A. B. should not receive such licence, do hereby license and authorize the said A. B. to carry on the business of a passage-broker or passage-dealer as aforesaid, until the 31st day of December in the year following the present year, unless this licence shall be sooner determined by forfeiture for misconduct on the part of the said A. B., as in the passengers act is provided.

Given under our respective hands and seals, this – – – – – day of 18 – , at – – – – –

– – – – – (L. S.) Justice of the Peace.

– – – – – (L. S.) Justice of the Peace.

SCHEDULE (D.) referred to in the 20th Section of this Act.

FORM OF NOTICE to be given by Passage Broker to Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. Gentlemen,

I A.B. * of – – – – – in – – – – – do hereby give you Notice, That it is my intention to apply, after the expiration of twenty-one clear days from the putting of this notice into the post, to the Justices to be assembled in the quarter/petty sessions to be held for – – – – – – – - for a licence to carry on the business of a passage broker or passage dealer in respect of passages to North America.

Signature – – – – –

Date – – – – –

To Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners.

SCHEDULE (E.) referred to in the 21st Section of this Act.

FORM OF NOTICE to be given to Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners of Forfeiture of Passage Broker's Licence.

Gentlemen,

THIS is to give you Notice, That the Licence granted on the – – - Day of – – – – – 18 – , to A. B. of – – – – – – in – – – – – to act as a Passage Broker or Passage Dealer, was on the – – - Day of – – – – – now last past duly declared by us, the undersigned Justices of the Peace in Petty Sessions assembled, to be forfeited,

Signatures – – – – – – – – - – – – – – – – – -
Date – – – – – – – –

To Her Majesty's Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners,
London.

* The names in full, with the additions and address of the party, applying for the licence, must be here correctly inserted. Also the place or district in which the party giving the notice resides.

NO. II. – COLONIAL MARKETS.

CANADA.

MONTREAL.

Flour. 13s to 13s 4d per quintal. United States, 27s to 27s 6d per barrel. Provisions. Beef, 17s 6d to 22s 6d per 100 lbs Fresh pork, 18s 6d to 20s per 100 lb. Exchange. For bills on London, 9 1/2 per cent., and private, 8 to 8 1/2 per cent. Drafts on New York, 2 1/2 to 3 per cent. Upper Canada notes, 1/2 to 1 per cent, discount.

TORONTO.

Flour, per lb, 196 lb 15s to 17s 6d Oatmeal, 11s 3d to 17s 6d Wheat, per bushel 60 lbs, 2s 9d to 3s 9d Rye, per bushel 56 lbs 1s 9d to 2s 6d Barley, per bushel, 48 lb 1s 8d to 2s 3d Oats, farmers', per bushel, 34 lbs 8d to 10d Oats, merchants', per bushel, 34 lbs 1s to 1s 3d. Peas, per bushel, 60 lbs 1s 6d to 1s 10d Timothy, per bushel 60 lbs 4s 1d to

5s 6d Beef and pork, per cwt, 12s 6d to 17s 6d.; do. per lb 2d to 4d Mutton and veal, per lb 2d to 4d Butter, per lb 7d to 10d Turkeys, each, 2s to 3s 6d Geese, each, 1s 6d to 2s Fowls, per couple, 1s 3d to 2s Chickens, per couple, 10d to 1s 3d Eggs, per dozen 6d to 8d Potatoes, per bushel, 1s to 1s 3d Hay, per ton, 35s to 45s Straw, per ton, 30s to 35s Whisky (per cask) Canadian proof, per gallon, 1s 3d to 1s 6d Hides, per 100 lbs, 5s to 26s 3d Salt, per barrel, 10s to 11s 3d Lake Ontario supplies an abundance of fish. Magnificent salmon, from 2s 6d to 5s each – weight ranging to 15 or 16 lb. Salmon trout, weighing from 7 to 10 lb, from 1s to 1s 3d each. A very superior kind of white fish, from 2s to 3s 9d per dozen, weight from 3 to 5 lbs each.

HALIFAX.

Flour, 36s 3d in bond, American superfine imported through Canada, sold by auction at 36s Corn meal 4 dollars. Teas – E. I. Company's congou is selling in lots at 3s in bond 3 months. Butter, 9d

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

CAPE TOWN.

Aloes, per lb, 3 1/4d Potatoes, per muid, 3 bushels, 13s to 18s Beans, per muid, 24s to 30s Butter, per lb, 1s to 1s 6d Brandy, per leag. 11l 5s to 12l Peas, per muid, 22s 6d to 24s Barley, per muid, 9s to 9s 9d Geese, each, 2s 10d to 3s Oats, per muid, 8s to 8s 3d Hay, per 100 lbs, 4s to 5s 8d Turkeys, each, 3s 7d to 6s 4d Wheat, 10 muids, 10l 17s 6d to 14l 2s 6d Flour, fine, per 100 lbs, 10s 8d Onions, per muid, 9s to 13s Pigs, fattened, each 2l 5s to 2l 10s 6d Unfattened, 22s 6d to 30s Suckling, 3s 9d to 5s 3d Salt, per muid, 7s 4d to 8s 10d Soap, per lb, 5d Buckskins, 1s 1 1/2d to 2s 0 3/4d Dry ox hides, 4s 6d to 8s 7d Honey, per lb, 4 1/2d to 5 1/2d Lentil, per muid, 30s Maize, per muid, 15s Elephant's teeth, per lb, 1s 11d Rye, per muid, 10s 8d to 10s 10d Raisins per lb 1 1/2d to 4 3/4d.

GRAHAM'S TOWN.

Meal, per muid (3 bushels), 32s to 37s 6d Oats, do, 18s to 21s Barley, do, 18s to 28s Potatoes, do., 12s to 18s Hides, per lb, 2 1/2d to 3s 0 1/4d Butter, do., 1s 6d to 2s Tobacco, do., 7d to 9d Soap, do., 5d to 6d Oat hay, per 100 lbs 5s to 9s.

Prices of Live Stock. Oxen, 30s to 75s Cows, 30s to 5l Sheep, (wethers), 5s 3d to 9s Ewes (Cape), 4s 6d to 6s Do., (1st and 2d cross), 7s 6d to 9s. Do, (3d and 4th do.) 12s to 15s Goats (Kapaters), 6s to 8s Do., (ewes), 4s to 5s

PORT ELIZABETH.

Aloes, per lb, 9d to 11d Butter, 1s 10d to 2s 4d Buckskins, each, 3s 6d to 5s 9d Barley, per muid, 7l to 9l 2s Beans, 14l to 16l 2s Meal, 16l 4s to 18l 7s Indian corn, 10l 4s to 13l 3s Hides, each, 5l 2s to 10l 1s Calfskins, each, 1l to 2l 2s Sheepskins, 4d to 8d Soap, per lb, 11 1/2d to 1s 1 1/2 Fat, 10d to 1s Tobacco, 11d to 1s 2d Beeswax, 2s 8d to 2s 11d Wool, to Oat hay, per 100 bdls., 23/to 38l Horns, each, 6d to 1s Oats, per muid, 10l 1s to 12l 3s Potatoes, 7l to 11l 1s Onions, 10l to 13l Fowls, each, 2s 2d to 2s 10d Turkeys, 3s to 4s 4d Ducks, 1s 1d to 1s 3d Plank, per foot, 6d to 9d Quartering, 4 1/2d to 6 1/2d Stinkwood, 1s 10d to 2s 3d.

NEW SOUTH WALES

SYDNEY.

Tea, from 7l to 8lper chest for Hysonskin Coffee, from 6d to 8d per lb Soap 30l per ton Sugar, 21l 12s 6d per ton Manilla, at 22l 10s to 24l per ton Iron, 9l 5s per ton, for small lots Rope Manilla, 32l 10s Europe, 55l per ton Whale line, 90s per cwt Beer and Ales, per hhd, 5l 12s 6d Flour Fine, 21s to 20s Seconds, 18s to 17s Rations, 16s to l5s No. 1, biscuit, 26s No. 2, ditto, 21s per cwt Bran, ls 8d to 1s 10d per bushel Bread The 2 lb loaf sells at from 3 1/4 to 5d, according to quality Maize The retail prices are from 4s 9d to 5s 3d per bushel Oats – From 4s 3d to 4s 9d per bushel Barley – The best Cape barley for seed is 4s 6d per bushel – the brewers are giving from 3s to 3s 6d per bushel Hay – the average price has been about 7l per ton; the best samples realized 7l 10s Straw – From 30s to 40s per load, the average price has been about 6s per cwt Fat Cattle, 10s 6d per cwt Milch Cows, 3l 2s 6d, per hhd A flock of 641, by auction, only produced 2s 10d per head Swine, from 30s to 50s per head, according to the size Roasters are from 4s 6d to 5s per head Butchers' Meat-wholesale prices – beef, 12s to 16s per cwt Mutton, 12s 6d to 16s 8d per cwt Pork, 50s to 60s per cwt Veal, 48s to 60s per cwt Retail prices – beef and mutton, from 2 1/2d to 3 1/2d per lb Pork and veal from 7d to 9d per lb Dressed roasting pigs from 5s to 5s 9d each Poultry-fowls, 4s to 5s per pair Ducks, 6s to 7s per do. Geese, 12s to 14s per do. Turkeys, 12s to 20s per do. Eggs, 1s 4d to 1s 6d per dozen. Dairy Produce – Butter, Glenlee, 2s 9d per lb Other sorts, 2s to 2s 6d per lb Salt butter is from 1s 4d to 2s per lb Colonial cheese, uncut, from 8d to 10d per lb In smaller quantities, from 10d to 1s per lb Colonial ham is from 1s to ls 3d per lb Bacon, from 9d to 1s per lb Salt pork is offered at from 4d to 7d per lb Vegetables – colonial potatoes are from 6s to to 8s per cwt Derwent potatoes are from 9s to 12s per cwt Candles, from 6s 6d to 7s per dozen lbs Lard, from 10d to 1s per lb Suet, from 5 1/2d to 6 1/2 d per lb Rabbits, from 6s 6d to 7s 6d per pair Lime, at the Liverpool-street wharf, at 1s per bushel.

MELBOURNE (PORT PHILIP).

Fine flour, 22l per 2000 lbs Seconds, 20l per do. Thirds, 17l per do. Bran, 2s 3d per 20 lbs. – General Wholesale. Fat bullocks, 650 lbs, 4l 15s to 5l per head Sheep, 60 lbs, 10s per head Working bullocks, 16l to22l per pair Sugar, per ton, 35l to 42l Refined do., cwt, 8d per lb Tea, finest, 8l 10s to 9l per chest Second quality, 5l. to 6l do. Tobacco, American, in bond, 1s to 1s 2d per lb Soap, 40s to 46s per cwt Rice, by the bag, 2 1/2d to 3d per lb Oatmeal, by the cwt, 19s to 22s Coffee, raw, 10d to 1s per lb English candles, moulds, 10d to 1s per lb Colonial do., moulds, 7d per lb Dips, 6d per lb Paint, white lead, ground, in kegs, per cwt, 38s to 40s Green do., 2lto 2l 10s Pork, Irish, 4l 10s to 5l per barrel Porter, solid, 5l to 6l 10s per hogshead Ale, Scotch, 3l 15s to 4l 10s per barrel Pearl barley, by the cwt, 3d to 3 1/2d per lb Rope, Europe, 4l to 5l per cwt Salt, stove, 4l to 4l 10s per ton Liverpool, do., 4l per ton Fine dairy salt, 5l to 6l per ton Brandy, 5s 6d to 6s per gallon Rum, 3s 9d to 5s 6d per gallon Hollands, flat, 2s 9d to 3s per gallon Whisky, Scotches to 7s 6d per gallon Van Diemen's Land timber, 16s to 18s per 100 feet Turpentine, 7s to 8s per gallon Vinegar, 2s 6d to 3s per gallon Port and sherry, 25s to 40s per dozen, 30l to 45l per pipe Claret, 30s to 45s per dozen Champagne, 5l

to 3l 10s per dozen Woolpacks, 6s 9d to 7s 6d General Retail – Ship biscuit, 25s per cwt Bread, 2 lb loaf, 6d Beef, per side, 2 1/2d per lb; per quarter, 2 3/4d: per lb, 3d to 5d Mutton, per carcass, 2 1/2d; per lb, 3d to 4d Pork, 6d to 9d per lb Veal, 6d to 9d per lb Turkeys, per couple, 20s to 30s Fowls, per couple, 5s to 6s Ducks, per couple, 7s to 9s Wood, per load, 8s to 10s Radishes, per bunch, 1 1/2d to 2d Turnips and carrots, per bunch, 3d to 4d Cabbages, each, 3d to 5d Onions, per lb, 4d Thyme and sage, per bunch, 2d Pumpkins and melons, 1s to 3s each Potatoes, 12s per cwt Apples, 10d per lb Fresh butter, per lb, 2s 6d Salt do., per lb, 2s 4d Sugar, 4d to 5d per lb Tea, 4s per lb Tobacco, 4s per lb Soap, 6d to 7d per lb Rice, 4d per lb Red herrings, 4s 6d per two dozen case Coffee, roasted. 1s 8d per lb English candles, moulds. 1s 2d per lb Colonial do., moulds, 9d per lb Dips, 8d per lb Stock – Working bullocks, from 18l 18s to 21l per pair Cows, and calves, from 5l 10s to 8l 8s each Also, sheep, at about 2d per lb.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

ADELAIDE.

Colonial Produce – Wheat, per bushel, 7s to 8s Flour, fine, per ton, 28l to 30l Seconds, do, 20l Bran, per bushel, 1s 5d Barley, 4s to 5s Oats, 7s to 8s do. Maize, 5s to 7s Potatoes, per ton, 10l to 12l Beef, per lb, 3d to 5d Mutton, 4d to 5d Veal and pork, 8d to 10d Bread, per 4 lbs, 10d to 1s Eggs, per dozen, 2s Butter, per lb, 2s Cheese, per lb, 1s to 1s 6d Cabbages, 1d each Cauliflowers, 4d to 6d do. Carrots, 3d per bunch Turnips, 2d per dozen Onions, 3d per lb Cucumbers, 2d to 4d each Water melons, 6d to 2s each Sweet do., 6d to 2s Radishes, 3d per bunch Ale, per gallon, 3s 6d to 4s Hay, per ton, 3l 10s Hides, salted, per lb, 9d to 10d Prices at the Mills – Flour, S. A., fine, per 100 lbs, 1l 10s Seconds, do., 1l 5s Thirds, do., 1l Bran, per 29 lbs, 2s Pollard, per 20 lbs, 2s Wheat, S. A., 10s Indian, 6s,

NEW ZEALAND.

Ale, per dozen, 13s Bread, 2 lb loaf, 8d Beef (fresh), per lb, 10d to 1s Irish butter, per lb, 1s 9d Fresh do, 3s 3d Brandy, per gallon, in bond, 6s to 9s Brown Stout, per hogshead, 6l Cigars, per thousand, 1l 10s to 4l Coffee, per lb, 1s 4d Cheese, per lb, 1s to 1s 6d Candles (dips), per lb, 10d Do. (English wax), 3s 6d Do. (moulds), 1s Flour, per ton, 25l to 33l Gin, per gallon, in bond, 2s 6d Hams, per lb, 1s Mutton, per lb, 9d to 11d Linseed oil, per gallon, 5s to 7s Black do., per ton, 15l Sperm do., per ton, 75l Pork, per lb, 4d. Irish do., per barrel, 5l Potatoes, per ton, 5l to 8l Porter, per dozen, 12s Rice, per cwt, 20s Rum, per gallon, in bond, 4s to 5s Sugar, per cwt, 2l Loaf do., per lb, 9d Salt, per ton, 3l to 4l Soap, per ton, 36l to 40l Shingles, per thousand, 1l 7s to 2l 5s Tea, per chest, 12l 12s Tobacco, per lb. 1s 8d Turpentine, per gallon, 8s Sherry wine per pipe, 28l to 40l Milch cows, 20l to 30l Brood mares, 50l to 90l Working Bullocks, per pair, 40l to 60l Sheep, each, 1l 8s to 1l 10s.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

HOBART TOWN.

Wheat, per bushel, 7s 3d to 7s 6d Oats, 5s 6d to 6s Cape barley, 5s 6s do. English do., 6s to 7s do. Hay, per cwt, 7s to 8s Straw, per do., 3s to 4s Port Arthur coal, 25s Sydney do., 42s She oak, 14s

Gum wood, 10s per ton Potatoes, 6l to 7l per ton Carrots, 4s per cwt Cabbages, 1s 6d per dozen Turkeys, 10s to 12s per couple Geese, 8s to 10s do. Ducks, 6s to 8s do. Fowls, 4s to 4s 6d per do Eggs, 2s 6d per dozen Butter, fresh, 2s 6d per lb Shingles, 7s to 8s per thousand Sawn timber, 10s per 100 feet Posts and Hails, 25s Paling, 5s per 100.

LAUNCESTON.

Ale, per hhd, 5l to 5l 10s Bottled do., per dozen, 10s to 12s 6d Porter, per hhd, 4l to 6l Bottled do., per dozen, 10s to 12s 6d Spirits -Brandy, per gallon, 6s to 6s 6d Rum, proof, B. P., per gallon, 4s to 4s 6d Hollands, in wood, pale, duty paid, four gallon cases, 4l to 4l 10s Fruits – Currants, Zante, per lb, 8d to 10d Raisins, Muscatel, per lb, 6d to 10d Cape, 6d to 7d. Wines – Sherry, wood, per pipe, 45l Bottled, per dozen, 1l 12s Port, per pipe, 50l Bottled, per dozen, 1l 15s Tea – Hysonskin, per chest, 8l 10s to 10l Hyson, 12l to 15l Congou, 10l to 12l Souchong, 12l to 14l Gunpowder, per lb, 3s. Sugar, per ton, Mauritius, 34l to 35l Manilla, 28l to 30l Bengal, white, 35l to 40l Gin, English, per gallon, 6s to 7s 6d Whisky, 7s to 8s 6d Soap, per ton, 45l to 50l Tobacco, per lb. 1s 3d to 3s 6d Cigars, Havannah, per thousand, 2l lOs to 4l Coffee, per lb, 8d to 1s 1d Vinegar, per gallon, 2s 6d to 3s Mess Pork, prime Irish, 4l 15s to 5l 10s Beef, Irish, per tierce, 8l 8s Hams, per lb, 10d to 1s 2d Salt, Liverpool, per ton, 4l 4s to 5l Butter, Irish, per lb, 1s 3d to 1s 9d Cheese, per lb, 8d to 1s 3d Herrings, pickled, per dozen, 3s Rice, per bag of 168 lbs, 1l 5s to 1l 10s Wheat, Van Diemen's Land, per bushel, 5s 6d to 6s 6d Barley, 6s 6d to 7s 6d Oats, 4s to 5s Oatmeal, per lb, 4d to 6d Flour, per 2000 lbs, 16l to 20l Candles, per lb, 10d to 2s 6d Metals – Iron, assorted, per ton, 11l to 14l Copper sheathings, per lb, 1s 3d to 2s Lead, rolled, per ton, 28l to 32l Rope, Europe, per cwt, 3l to 4l 4s Deal Plank, Norway, per foot, 3 1/2d American, 1s Gunpowder, per lb, 9d to 5s Hops, per lb, 1s 3d to 2s Mustard, per bottle, 1s 4d to 2s Pickles, 1s 6d to 2s 6d.

THE END.

Glasgow: – E. Khull, Printer to the University.

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