The New Zealand COMPANY'S REPORT.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 23, 10 January 1844, Page 3

The New Zealand COMPANY'S REPORT.

(From ihe New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator.) Below we furnish the substance of the New Zealand Company's report, which we have taken from the New Zealand Journal, of the 31st May : The seventh Report of the Directors of the New Zealand Company, which was yesterday read to the General Meeting of Proprietors, is the opening a new Era of New Zealand Colonization ; and we feel confident that this impression was more or less felt by every one present. In the Colony and at Home, every difference has been adjusted. every cause of alarm has been removed, and the success or failure of one of the greatest colonial enterprises yet undertaken by British capital, must now rest solely with ihe Directors of the Company at home, aud with their Agents and Settlers in the Colony. We shall reserve all comment on the points subs mitte-d in the Report for a future occasion. Means time, we may with advantage shortly recapitulate here the main matters treated, which, for the sake of easy reference, we shall do. under the several prominent heads. The Report premises a brief. Retrospect. T. The New Zealand Company has been in existence tour years ; lias now lairly surmounted all its late difficulties, and offers greater promise than at any foimer period, 2. Three settlements have been formed, embracing not less than 10,000 souls, possessed already of many great social and Other advantages ; municipal government, churches, schools, banks, markets, newspapers; abundance of live stock ; provisions are comparatively reasonable, aud agriculture and commerce have afforded tjirat returns, S. In little moie than three years, 502 ships had arrived at Wellington, with a uriied tonnage of 50,79*1 tons. In one year, 77 ships had visited Nelson, wilh a tonnage of 12,272 tons. The total expendituie of the Company during the wjlioJa pewod had been £200,000. In Wellington. 3. Numerous capitalists have settled from Sydney ; large importations of live stock have taken place. Abundance of fertile land has been discovered in the Ruamahanga, twenty miles from Port Nicholson ; 60,000 acres of rural land were to be selected in January, completing the preliminary allotment; the surveys would then be In advance of the fales- A municipal election had,i taken place. The Bishop had visited the settlement in Sept. 1842, and bad effected a judicious arrangement for letting the Native reserves. Two of the Company's Builds ings had been granted for a school and infirmary ; and £IOO advance towards the school by the Company. 126 sbipi bad entered the Port during the half year, ending Midsummer 1842, and during the same period the Customs duties had amounted to £B,OOO. A fire had occurred, causing a loss to the value of £15,000; £sofl had been subscribed towards ihe relief of the poorer sufferers, and nsw and more substantial buildings had been ereoled. Nelson. 4. The population is presumed to be about 3,500. During the half year ending Midsummer, 1842, 58 vessels had entered Nelson. The Customs' revenue is estimated at £4,000 per annum. The surveys were in a very forward state. By April last the town sections were distributed—coal fields had been discovered as well as limestone—and large impor. tations of stock had been made. The local governnient had sanctioned the establishment of bonded stores, the licensing of pilots, and the appointment of a harbour master. All the suburban sections were given out, and 1,000 acres were under cultivation. 125,000 acres had been found available in Waiinea, Montura, iMotuaka, and Coal Bay, ami the remainder of the rural lands, amounting to nearly acres, would probably be chosen in Wairau. Some of the Company's town reserves had been leased on favourable terms. The Bishop had visited the settlement, and had made arrangements, in cordial co-operation with the Agent, tor the educational and religious objects in view in the formation of the settlement. The Church and the Company had together advanced £-100 for the benefit of the natives, on the security of their reserves—a fund has been vested for purposes of elementary education—one half for of England School—the other for one on the principles of the British and foreign. School Society. Upwards of 200 children were attending the elemeniary school, The pioceedings and conduct of the Bishop bad given great satisfaction. New Plymouth. 5. Its great agricultural capabilities promised success to the agriculturist. The roadstead had been made safe by moorings, and a commodious harbour might by and bye bs constructed. Several proprietors were occupying and cultivating, A chain suspension bridge over the Enui, a raft over the VVaiwaikaio, in Waitera, a road to Kafia, and a road to Patea, Wanganui, and Wellington, were in rapid progress. The surveys were in advance of the sales, and nearly 7,000 rural acres had been chosen, arid sales of the Company's reserves were being made in the colony. Stock was imported—and more oxen and dairy cows were in demand. Cob or wooden houses were being built, and the labourers were purchasing or renting small plots of land. Coal had been found on the Mokau, and limestone at Moturoa. Within six months between twenty and thirty vessels had discharged without accident. All differences with the Natives had been filially adjusted. General Review. 6. All accounts concur instating that in respect of soil, Cimate, rivers, harbours, and oilier natural advantages, New Zealand presents an admirable fit-id for British colonization. The settlers have almost inVarinblf improved their condition. Discontent has been the exception, and satisfaction the general rule. 7. As a mercantile adventure, the colouring of New Zealand had never been sor.

passed, or even approached, by any previous colonial speculation! The company is at this moment entitled to nearly a million acres of land, in a fertile and beautiful country, at present the most popular field of British emigration; At even the present market value, these lands are worth half a milliousterling; but the progress of settlement, and the probableeventual increase of the Government price, and the appropriation of a large emigration fund, must incalculably increase that value. 8, The capital of the Company has been laid out in the most legititfiate way, in the acquisition and re.sale of its lands—i the mode eontemplaud alsa by its charter. Emigration. 9. Daring the last year eight ships have been sent to Nelson, two to New Plymouth, and one to Wellington, carrying upwards of £1,600 souls. The total number] of passengers conveyed up to t!i« present, time, is—to Wellington, 4,431 ; Nelson 3,385 ; New Plymouth, 1,030; total 8,796. Economical Passages. The Company bad chartered the Phxbe on * principle of economical cabin passages, which induced the emigration of a large number of a most valuable class of capitalists; aud it was hoped that, in time, the cost of a passage to New Zealand would be not more than tbiu to America, German Emigration. During the yeai a ship had been despatched t» Nelson from Hamburg, with a body of active and industrious German settlers, whose passage was defrayed from sales of land in Germany. A favorable report fioin this body of emigrants, would give a stimulus to German emigration to New Zra ! and, ind an agency had buen established in Hamburg nuh this lu.peLand Sales. In Nelson, 28 allotments had b»en sold during ihe past year; 20 in England, and 8 in the colony. Still remaining for sale, 280 allotments in Eugland, 192 in the colony. Satisfactory Arrangement with) Government. 10. The directors had thought it their duty, pending the settlement of the question of title, to »afpeud all sales. Now all doubts as to this point were finally removed by an arrangement with tha Colonial office, and the sales of land are accordingly resumed. All differences have been adjusted— nxx officer will be appointed to administer the government in the Company's settlements, and an pendent jurisdiction established there. Auckland, 11. The Company will henceforth be engaged also in the colonization of Auckland, having- agreed to give back to the Government 50,000 acres of land at the price for which sum credit is to be given to the Company on purchases which it may make in th« Auckland district. Not only is pecuniary benefit anticipated from this arrange, ment; but it is hoped that an end will thus b» put to all jealousy between one teUltment gaud! another. 3 The New Governor. 12. The Company express great tatisfaetfflQ with the appointment of Captain Fitzroy, who his declared his intention to protect the interest of all classes in the colony, and earnestly to promote tha colonizing of the island. New Settlements. 13. Plans of new settlements have been contemplated by various parties of character and property; but these have not yet been fully matured. Economical Management, 14. The directors had effected considerable reduction in the expenses of the home and colonial establishments, and were deteimined to enforce strict economy in every department. The largest item in the Company'* expenditure is the cost of the surveys; but this is returned by the Govern* ment in the shape of land. Dividend' 15. A dividend of per eent for the balf-yetr, ending s'h April last, is declared.