The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-06 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

WooLwicii, JUNE s.—Cammauder Thomas D. Stew-
art (1843), and Lieutenant William A. J. Heath (1844),
to study steam at the factory at Woolwich Dockyard.
The Birkenhead steam troop-ship, Master-Com-
mander Robert Salmond, left Woolwich at a quarter
past two o'clock this morning for Portsmouth, and yes-
terday took on board the furniture of the late Colonel
Mitchell, Royal Marines, for conveyance to the latter
port. Mr. Salmond has suggested several improvements
on board the vessel, which would enable him to accom-
modate a whole regiment comfortably.
The Governolo, Sardinian war-steamer, Captain Tho-
lasono, is to leave Woolwich this afternoon for Genoa.
Three of the crew of the vessel have ab±ented them-
selves, and their equipments have been found, but the
search for their persons has proved ineffectual.

NEW ZEALAND.
(From Eliza Cook's Journal)
The islands of New Zealand seem destined at no re-
mote period to become the " Great Britain" of the
southern ocean. They are situated not far distant. from
our Australian colonies; the islands abound in timber
of the most valuable kinds suitable for ship-building;
the coasts swarm with fish, and are the haunt of the
spermaceti wh ale, large numbers of American vessels
yearly resorting thither for fishing purposes; and the
numerous noble bays and deep inlets all round the coast
afford them a safe anchorage during the stormier sea-
sons of 'the year.
The extent of New Zealand is about the same as that
of the British islands. There are two large islands and
one smaller in the group, and several thriving emigrant
settlements have already been formed at various points of
the two larger or northern islands. In New Ulster
Island, there are the settlements of Wellington, New
Plymouth, and Auckland; and in New Munster, or the
Middle Island, there are Nelson Settlement, Canter-
bury, and Otago. The total British population is about
15,000, and there are about 110,000 native New Zea-
landers.

Tne coast line is of great extent, and very irregular,
being broken by numerous bays, inlets, and the wide
mouths of numerous rivers. The coast is exceedingly
picturesque, and in some places very bold, partaking of
the uneven and mountainous character of the country.
Chains of lofty mountains intersect both the northern
and southern islands ; and their summits are covered
with eternal snow ; their sides being clothed with
forest timber up to the very snow line. From these
great mountain chains, which form as it were the back-
bone of the islands, subordinate ran ;es of hills ex-
tend on both sides, holding within them much fertile
valley land of the richest and most beautiful descrip-
tion. From these, large tracts of level land stretch
away towards the sea, the soil being of considerable
depth, and capable of growing the vine and the olive
in perfection, as well as corn, flax, potatoes, and all
the culinary vegetables of northern Europe. Even the
hill country contains much excellent land, which is pre-
pared by the natives fur the plantation of potatoes and
maize, and yields an excellent return by hand labour.
The forest land is peculiarly rich, the best proof of
which is the immense vegetation which it constantly
supports. In spring and summer, autumn, and win-
ter, there is no visible change in the woods ; they
are as beautiful in the depth of winter (which is
there exceedingly mild) as in the height of
summer. The leaf that falls is immediately
replaced by another—the :withered branch is sup-
plied by one more vigorous, and there is a constant
succession of luxuriant vegetation. The fairest shrubs
preserve their beauty all the year round, neither being
nipped by the winter's blast, nor scorched by the sum-
mer's sun. The extremes of cold and heat in all the
islands are confined within comparatively narrow bounds.
Being limited in breadth, and surrounded by an immense
body of ocean, the temperature is preserved very equa-
ble; indeed, the climate of New Zealand may be pro-
nounced the nearest perfection possible. Labour goes
on in the open air i❑ summer and winter alike. All
emigrants and travellers are agreed on this point. Mr.
Carrington, speaking of the climate of New Plymouth,
which is situated ❑ear the centre of the islands, says—
" The climate has not been overrated. It is very spiels-
did: it is a magnificent climate. I have seldom or never
suffered from cold; I have been up to my middle in
water, in the swamps, and have laid down in the same
clothes at night for several nights, and have never expe-
rienced any injury. It is true that the climate is so
healthy that you can undergo wettings and great expo-
sures, without suffering any injurious consequences, such
as in England would make a person seriously ill."
It is computed that, notwithstanding the hilly charac-
ter of the country, not less than two-thirds of its whole
extent are capable of cultivation; and that it could
easily maintain a population as large as that of Great
Britain. The native fern, which grows i❑ the forests, on
the plains, and up the hill sides, is very rich and nutri-
tious for cattle. Mr. Earle saw a hundred head of fat
cattle at a missionary station, and was surprised to find
that, although they ❑ever tasted anything but fern, they
gave as good milk, and were in as a healthy condition,
as though they had grazed on the richest grasses of Lin-
colnshire. The natural growths of the country, nearly
over its whole extent, are these :—first grass, chiefly on
the eastern coast of the middle island, in the midst of
which the Free Church (Scotch) colony of Otago has
been planted; secondly, flax, which grows universally in
low situations, and has already been found of consider-
able value as an article of export; thirdly, fern, which
supports large numbers of stuck and wild swine i❑ both
the northern and the middle island, the fern root being
also used by the natives as food; and fourthly, timber,
inferior to none in the world. The British Admiralty
now imports its spars from New Zealand, and they are
also exported for ship-building, purposes, to India, the
Brazils, and New South Wales.
The soil, when cultivate d, grows all descriptions of
grain; potatoes grow luxuriantly, and the same land
will readily yield two crops in the same year. Maize is
very productive, and is largely cultivated by the natives.
The vine and the olive also flourish; peaches and water-
melons are abundant in their season; and figs, oranges,
strawberries, gooseberries, cherries, and all the garden
produce of this country, thrive remarkably well. In con-
sequence of the moisture of the air, and the frequent
showers from the clouds which are attracted by the lofty
hills from thesurrounding ocean, there are none of the
destructive droughts to be met with in New Zealand,
which are the scourge of New South Wales. A constant
rduro covers the country, and we believe there is no
instance yet of a crop having been lost there fur want
of rain.

COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
COWES, JUNE 5, 1851.
ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE,
ARRIVALS.
June 1. Dream yawl, George Bentinck, Esq„ from
Guernsey.
2. Ripple cutter, D. J. Dickerson, Esq., from London.
3. Stella cutter, 11. Frankland, Esq., from Lyming-
ton ; Drift cutter, James Lyon, Rig., from Portsmouth;
Leda schooner, Lieut -Colonel Smith, from Guernsey;
Titania schooner, Robert Stephenson, Esq., from Cher-
bourg.
4. Elizabeth cutter, lion. Augustus Moreton, from St.
Helen's; Merlin schooner, Colonel Markham, from St.
Helen's; Resolution schooner, Duke of Rutland, from
the Mat of Scotland; Turquoise cutter, C. H. Coote,
Eq., from SJuthatnpton.
5. Coquette schooner, Lprd Godolphin, from West-
ward.