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Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 59, 19 September 1844, Page 2

Wkett we first heard that the native, Heki, and his followers, were committing outrages at the Bay of Islands, no one ever contemplated that the freaks of a New Zealander, of very little influence among hits countrymen, would lead to tha adoption of such important measures an are now about to be submitted to oar Legislative Body. Measures that materially affect the Government, and are of t he almost importance to the whole body of the European settlers in New Zealand.

The circumstance of his Excellency having on the mere declaration of the Natives of the Bay of Islands, that the Customs’ Ordinance tended to injure their trade, virtually revoked a Law, which had been carefully framed and deliberately discussed, is au unprecedented step in our Colonial Policy.

His Excellency, no doubt, with his usual anxiety to remove grievances, and promptness of action, at once conceded to the complaints of the Chiefs, so that he might relieve Ihero from .the distress and poverty which they urged as the-cause of disaffection. But, iu removing the difficulty uuder which the natives laboured, His Excellency had not probably at tha moment time to consider the general effect which would follow the abrogation of suck an important Ordinance as that of tha Customs. Important to the Government* as its officers and servants depend npoa that revenue for their daily bread ; but of minor consequence to the impoverished settlers, as free or restricted trade will, f ps years to come, be a matter in which Urey will feel but little interest. They are however to the utmost degree interested in any Law which may impose a tax upoa their property, whether real or personal and it is needless to attempt to conceal the fact of our being now nearly destitute of cash, caused in the first instance by the ruinous prices extorted for inferic* lands, through the juggling system of th# late Government, and the length of ti** between each sale, which tended to reduce the means of a number of persons possessed of moderate capital, and who were desirous of settling down to Agri« cultural pursuits ; and secondly, by the heart-breaking delay which took place io settling the titles of the original Land Claimants. Any tax, therefore, imposed upon persons at pre»«„ t xertill^ selves for a bare existence for their families, will be difficult of collection from those already without money, and cause others to sell their lands at a sacrifice, and abandon a colony wherein they cans? aot, through taxation, render their iabouf advantageous.

The preceeding remarks have been induced from the excitement which has existed in Auckland for the last few days, on the subject of the expected opening of the Ports at the whole of the settlements, for unrestricted, or free trade ; and the publication of the following Nptice in the Government Gaze'te of tlie 16th instant* which shews that it i& the intention of bis Excellency til repeal the Custom^

Ordinance, and introduce a Bill to audio, | ljp» the levying of a fore rote on property. LEGISLATIVE. Council Office, Auckland, 16ifr sept, 1844. ** His Excellency the Governor directs if to be notified that the Legislative Council will meet for the dispatch of busiaess, on Thursday, the 19th instant, at Eleven o’clock, when His Excellency will lay the following Bills before the Council:— A Bill for the Repeal of the; Customs Ordinance. A Bill for a low Rate on Propertyr James Coats, Clerk of Councils,' 1 Whether the rate will include both reaj and personal property, or whether it is intended to affect only town property does ■at appear, but under any circumstances, it cannot fail to be an objectionable tax if imposed.

The value, of Town property is so reduced* that, io many instances, it would be better to abandon the buildings and land to the government, than pay even the lowest possible rate. If the rate is to affect Country lands, the native possessions must be included. The Europeans caunot afford to pay, and the Maories Would, no doubt, resist the payment, on j|hc ground of not understanding the reason of their being obliged to pay for the sue of.their own property. It may be urged 1 ; that persons enjoying Free Trade ,

ought to exert themselves to pay a low rate for the support of the generous Government which conferred such a boon cfn its colonists. We would however reply, that “ it is not all gold that glitters/’ and that Tree Trade, in this Colony, may ultimately tend to ruin us, and at present cannot be of any benefit to the settlers, The whalers and the natives will be the only parties who will gain by its introduction, and without contributing the required equivalent. They can support themselves from that which they produce, and have the balance of Trade in their favour. But

where the majority are non-producers, open Ports throw all the advantage on the nide of the Shipowner and Merchant. They would visit us as long as we could pay for the Goods which they would introduce, but no longer. Our Free Ports Would have no charm after all our cash is expended. They would, in the meantime, come in aud go ont without expending one shilling for onr advantage, or contributing a penny towards the support of the Government.

If we were in a position to pay for onr imports, from the produce of our lands, and have a balance to receive, instead of Bending away our capital, Free Trade might then be beneficial, but until that is the case it will be injurious.

Dealers in rum and tobacco will no doubt look upon Free Trade with a most favourable eye, and condemn our doctrine as an absurdity. A vejty sjiorttime will, however, proyc the truth of qur assertions, for they will find, as the publicans already experience, that men cannot long exist on grog and smoke. The real friends of this colony are those Who at once go into the country, and extract from the spil that which tends to the support of human life. The dealing and trafficing in towns with each other, onlv consumes our resources; and it would be well if the Legislative Couucil could impose a penalty on every man who should not hereafter produce, or cause to be produced, from the land a sufficient quantity - of some description of article to pay for the maintenance of himself and family if * married. We should then have no occasion to depend upon other colonies for the

■ necessaries of life, and go about complains: ' ing of the badness of the times. We

could grow barley and uianutacUiie for ourselves beer and spirits. Tobacco oil the best description can he grown under I our mild climate, and, w'itlt the tpcepss tion of tea and sugar, all the necessaries life could be produced in abundance —we , would therefore suggest that—-instead of repealing the Customs’ Ordinance the duties on luxuries and articles which we can produce and manufacture in the colony, should be increased to three times the present amount, so that extravagance might be checked, and industrious colonists protected from foreign opposition, as Free Trade, under the present circumstances of the colony, is quite a delusion,