The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-03 00:00:00

maw of 0001., 110 W Wei usoempled sad melees, should
be applied to the purposes they were latended for—rim.,
wash-hoeimie ; sad schisms the hots, that there are in Ply-
mouth awe them 11,000 permits who are livinfr in Oasts
rooms, sad who, he the want of each an institution are
obliaed to waft, and in wet weethar to dry, their clothes is
the same roam ia which they sook, eat, sad sleep.

LITERATURE.
The Heed-book for Nov Zealots~.
The title-page of this book informs the reader that •
it ham been compiled by " a late magistrate of the '
cooloey." Pew who are acquainted with the history
a( the New Zealand settlements can hesitate in fixing
von the grave and reverend senior designated by
Nis impomusg title. This ailasion is made simply be-
Millie ilk atakka as to amore the public that the work '
seelly smanaine from the pen of one who has resided
In the islands and seen much of them, and who has
aeon to authartle information.
• The New Zealand Hand-book oontains ample and
accurate information respecting the general character
of the Wands—their soil, climate, &e. ; and respect-
mg the history of European settlement in them. To
theme general notices are added detailed accounts
of the past fates, actual position and prospects of the
existing settlements: of Wellington, Nelson, and
New Plymouth, the company's oldest plantations;
of Otago, its most recent colony ; of the go-
vernment bantling.at Auckland ; and of the northern
settlements by mosiocaries and grog-shop keepers.
All are fairly and impartially described, without
puffing and without prejudice.
Curiously enough
.precedence is given to a New
Zealand settlement se posse. The first and second
chapters of the book are devoted to the "Canterbury set-
tlement in New Zealand," which exists as yet only in
the brains and publications of an association in Eng-
land. The very site of the future settlement is un-
known; for though the Wairarapa plains have been
talked of, the number of cmtle stations established there
by Wellington settlers, on leases from the natives
render such a settlement as Canterbury is meant to
be impoesible in that locality. This is nut the only
carious thing connected with prominence given to
this projected settlement. To judge by the opening
paragraphs the book would appear to have been com-
piled for the information of those who may intend to
join ie But as there can be no statistics of a com-
munity which does not yet exist, the information it
contains of other settlements, where emigrants may
Bud countrymen who have already surmounted
the first difficulties of colonisation is more likely to
attract the readers from than to Canterbury.
The portions of the New Zealand territory at pre-
sent in the act of being settled by Europeans are :-
1. Wellington and New Plymouth, comprising be-
tween them the whole range of the north coast of
Cook's Strait, and extending a considerable way in-
land, but not to the high central plains of the north
island. 2. Nelson, occupying the shores of Blind
Bay, at the western extremity of the south coast of
Cook's Streit, and extending down the valley of the
Wairoa to a bay on the east coast fronting Wellington.
4. Otago, situated nearly midway between the northern
and southern extremities of the east coast of the mid-
dle island. 5. Akaroe, a peninsula half-way between
the Waitoa plains and Otago, where the settlers are
principally French. 6. Auckland, occupying the
south shore and inmost recess of the estuary of the
Thames. 8. The northern peninsula, over which
are scattered a number of missionary stations, and
grog, slop-selling, and lumbering stations.
Exclusive of Akaroa, of the character and prospects
of which, swing to its foreign population and other-
wise exmptional position, it is not easy to speak,
these settlements may be arranged under tour classes,
the characteristics of which are essentially different.
The first class comprehends Wellington, Nelson, and
New Plymouth, founded under the auspices of the
New Zealand Company on nnsectarian principles.
The original stolen comprised among them an un-
wontedly large proportion of the middle classes,
possessing more or less capital, and well educated. The
proportion of females to males was also greater than
has generally been the case in infant settlements.
Their numbers, however, have been from time to
time recruited by adventurers of colonial origin,
and with colonial habits, who found their way
thither from the neighbouring Australian colonies.
On their first arrival also they found several small
straggling settlements of bay-whalers and lumberers
is possession, who have been absorbed into the me
resider settlements. The colonists from England
have imparted a high tone to society, while the nolo-
nial recruits have inspired them with a good deal of
their own hardy, self-dependent, shifty character.
Notwithstanding the difficulties which these settle-
ments have been subjected to by the wayward con-
duct of government, and the misunderstandings is
which, by no fault of their own, they have been
involved with the natives, the first impediments
have been surmounted:; productive and profit-
able industry is rapidly developing itself. The
emigrant will there find much of the comfort
of an old-established society, combined with the
comparative facility of acquiring a competence, which
is the recommendation of new settlements. The
European communities are sufficiently strong to keep
their ground against the natives.
The straggling settlements of tho northern penin-
sula constitute the second class. The missionary
settlers are probably the majority among the Euro-
mins; at all events they are the most influentisi.
They have become settlers from the necessity of their
position, in defiance of the societies who sent them
out. The children of missionaries of course required
to labour for their bread, and even missionaries have
dabbled in agricultural and c.mmercial spe,odation&
Their relation to the native tribes differs from that
which prevails in the southern settlements. The mis-
sionaries as protected by, were in some sort dependent
on, the chief. ; and the chiefs have not forgotten this
in their intercourse with the descendants of it ission-
arise. The friendly relations established between the
natives and these their converters, have enabled a
number of purely lay settlers to establish themselves
in various places. Some of them are highly respec-
table characters—energetic men, with a dash of the
outre, as might be anticipated from their voluntarily
establishing themselves among sneers. Others are,
not exactly the Me of European, or even of Sydney
society. The social relations of this part of New Zea-
land present less attraction to quiet, orderly settlers
from the Old World than the Cook's Strait settlements.
There is an under-current of jealousy and ill-will be-
tween the missionary and the purely lay settlers;
there are hot polemical contests between the mimics*
aries of the church society and the Wesleyan mission-
aries on the one hand, and the Roman catholic on the
other. The native tribes have their old hereditary
feuds and friendships, and feuds arising out of the
bickering. of their protegls of European race in addi-
tion. The Governor of New Zealand has but a slender
and precarious authority in this strange country; and
the Bishop of New Zealand, who has taken upon him
to preserve the peace, "sits arbiter, and by decision
more involves the fray." Nevertheless, industry
and perseverance can here enable a man to obtain a
fortune, perhaps more rapidly than in the southern
settlements; but he must have a dash of the adven-
turer in him, and not be particular as to the ameni-
ties of civilised society, to render life at all toletable.
Auckland has a distinct character of its own, and
in virtue of that must be classified apart, thus forming
class the third. It was troecilry the first governor
sent out to keep the coition-lids in order, apparently for
the purpose of showing how much better a colony he
could make than any he found. It is an artificial hot-
house plant. The staple of society consi-ts of govern-
meet emptoyerand aspirants tooffice under government.
To these are added a few deserters from the Cook's Strait
settlements, a few from the northern peninsula, and a
few adventurers from neighbouring colonies. There
are undoubtedly men of enterpree and talent among
them • but Auckland has been mainly supported by •
the produce of taxation from the other settlements,
and by government grants. The chief branch of in-
dustry has been government contracts. The specula-
tive spirit is more developed this that of steady, per-
severing industry ; and the discovery of mines in the
neighbouring islands has not checked the speculative
spirit. The soil and climate of Auckland are good,
and when the population becomes too large to admit
of everybody living by jobbing and speculation, the set-
tlement will flourish. At present it resembles (oohing
earthly but a select circle of Downing-street officials
and government contractors with their families, sepa-
rated from all other elements of civilised society, and
surrounded by hordes of savages.!
The existing Otago and the prejected Canterbury set-
dements form the fourth class. Tbey are experiments;
endeavotirs to form communities of one religion' faith
to the exclusion of all others. Whether such a . .7.--f/--!!..5.„
of society can subsist among offshoots from 4
society is questionable. Ftem the Prvximiriold, • .j.*
meats, in which men of all creeds are to be
• • 4 .
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isr.