Extracts.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 72, 19 December 1844, Page 4

Extracts.

New Zealand.— There is something in the nature of an English colonist—of which his countrymen at home may be justly proud. Other nations foster a d protect their colonies, yet they make little progress; we first oppress and then neglect our settlement, notwithstanding which, they rise superior to the difficulties opposed to them. The watchful care of the infant offspring of other countries is not thought beneath the notice of their wisest statesmen ; the early youth of the newly born offspring of this country is turned over to the clumsy dry-nursing of the underlings of the colonial .office; by them it is abused,and it is not till the brat, in consequence of bad treatment, kicks and squalls in a manner as to awaken the sympathies of its unnatural parent, that any notice is taken of its cries. In spite-ofall this, the youngster becomes vigorous, and groyvs to sturdy manhood; its first act, after emerging from non-age, as is generally the case with all cruelly treated children, being to turn round and kick its own uno.ther ! This is the history of all the offshots of Great Britain, from the United States of America, which have long ago kicked to some purpose, down to Canada, which is only waiting an opportunity to do so with impunity. New Zealand is in the squalling stage of its existence, notwithstanding which, it has contrived to bestow some clumsy thumps upon its persecutors; and what is more to the purpose, its cries are beginning to disturb the placid slumbers of its very respectable mother. The young gentleman will not be quieted with “ Godfrey’s Cordial, or Soothing Syrup to ensure natural rest, it requires nourishing food. It was born against the orders of its nurse, Mr. Stephen, yet having seen the light, that is no reason why the said Stephen should be allowed to quack it to death; such a catastrophe would be downright infanticide, and MyLord Stanley, who has been deputed by Mr. or Mrs. Bull, no matter which, to stand to it in loco parentis, would be clearly an accessory before the fact.— N. Z. Journal.

The New Zealand Company.— amid all its difficulties the Company has this consolation :—lt may fail as a proprietary speculation, but it has begun a good work which even the Colonial-office cannot undo. Ten thousand Britons have planted themselves on the soil of New Zealand, and are already reaping a partial return from their labours. No Governor, no Colonial Minister dare long refuse justice to so many British subjects, whatever they may be to one company. The settlers are sure to get lands, and that at no distant date. If shame do not urge Government to afford them protection from the assaults of their barbarian neighbours, they will soon be able to defend themselves and that they will do so with moderation and justice, the deep root the Anglican Church has alieapy struck in these settlements is to us a guarantee. The clear and energetic spirit of their truly Christian Bishop wili exercise a dove-like influence over them amid all their provocations. A tree has been planted that defies storm and canker. The islands of New Zealand, which a weak weavering Ministry were on the eve of throwing away, have been won for the cause of civilization—for us and for our children. And this, whatever the servile and callumnious may say, has been the doing of the New Zealand Company. In the interest of the nation at large, and of the young British community in these far ocean isles, we commenced these papers, and in that interest, with God’s blessing, we will go on. We have shown, in part, the obstructions our Anglo-New Zealanders have experienced from the settled policy of the Colonial-office. Next week we will direct attention to the treatment of them by the local officials, which has been sanctioned by the authorities at home.— lbid.

WELLINGTON. (From the hew Zealand Spectator.) We understand that the Governor has given a sa reason for not employing more labourers at Taranaki, that he has been obliged to employ a great many atWellington and Nelson, and dwells with great emphasis on his burdens arising from the failure of the N.Z, Company. What stuff! There may be ten or fifteen men employed by (he Government here, and the following account of the matter at Nelson will speak for itself. No burdens whatever have been thrown on the Government by the cessation of the Company’s expenditure. “ We understand the police magistrate has received an intimation from the Governor that no public works will be proceeded with in this settlement until he hears from home; but that our destitute mechanics and labourers, if they can manage to pay their passage to ton, will be employed there at ten shillings a week. It fortunately happens that out of the large number of men discharged by the New Zealand Company a few weeks since, amounting to nearly 300, about half a dozen- only have lately been dependent on the fund to prevent destitution, placed in the hands of the police magistrate by the superintendent. So active have the settlers been in extending cultivation, that a considerable number have been and still continue to be employed by them in fencing and breaking up new land ; others find employment in sawing timber for exportation, others again in collecting spars for a like purpose; while those whose industry and frugality have furnished them with the means to remain on and improve their own little farms are striving manfully to render themselves independent of working for hire at all. There is reason then to believe that few, if any will be found to avail themselves of His Excellency’s offer. The crops, we hear from every quarter, are most promising; and then there can be little doubt that the result of the forthcoming harvest will induce many to farm who have hitherto been deterred by mis givings as to the capabilities of the soil. The ‘ swamps’ of the Middle Island are beginning to be appreciated.” —Nelson Examiner .

A correspondent, on whom we can rely, has informed us, that the probable amount of the receipts for the first quarter, from the property and income tax, will be about £l2O, in this place, whereas the amount received from the Customs’ duties last year, during the same period, was about £IBOO. The Governor’s debentures are at a great discount;, the highest offer for a £SO debenture at Taranaki being £3O,

We understand that Major Richmond has received a communication from Captain Fitz Roy, dated the Bth inst., on board the Hazard in Taranaki roadstead, to the following effect, that he (the Governor) had come to an agreement with Te Rauperaha and Rangihaeata, that the natives under their control should immediately remove from the valley of the Hutt, and that the two chiefs had been paid about £4OO, part of the sum,paid into the Bank.by the New Zealand Company’s Agent when Captain Fitz Roy was here last, as the purchase money of their conseut to this arrangement, that the Governor believed that a similar arrangement would be forthwith made with Te Ringa Kuri, who would also quit the Hutt district. That an officer of Engineers, would as soon as possible be dispatched from Auckland to select a site for a fort capable of holding thirty soldieis, to be built in the Hutt district, for the purpose of keeping off the natives if necessary. That the Governor did not intend revisiting Wellington, till after he had received dispatches from England, and that in the meantime he requested Major Richmond to assure the settlers that, as soon as the Hutt district had been fairly purchased, they, the settlers, should be maintained in tranquil possession of their land.

A correspondent has informed us that several gentlemen from the Hutt waited upon the Superintendent on Thursday morning, in order to learn whether he was about to give notice to the natives to leave the valley of the Hutt, according to the arrangement made by the Governor with the chiefs at Waikanai, and that the Superintendent said, that he should go to the Hutt, and desire the natives to leavd

immediately. He also said that no doubt the natives would leave, on receiving compensation for their crops. The Superintendent did not name any day for the natives leaving, but the impression on the minds of the gentlemen who waited on him was, that they would be asked to leave immediately, and that if they refused, military force would be forthwith employed to make them. Let the Government proceed according to this plan, and the settlers may yet be saved from impending ruin. It is the only business like proceeding that has been adopted since the natives repudiated their bargaius with the white men.

There was a report in town, generally believed to be correct, yesterday evening, that Major Richmond had returned from the Hutt after having seen the natives, who had positively refused to leave the land. If this should- prove true, what will be done? Will the soldiers here be employed ? Will the Fort written about by tht Governor be built? Or will the matter pass away like many others, as a piece of pure unadulterated humbug?

Since writting the above, we haveascer tained that the scheme, for getting tht natives away from the Hutt, is a perfect failure and never had a chance of success We have also seen a gentleman, who was present at an interview with the Superintendent last week, of which some account by a correspondent appeared in our last number, and he is most positive that the Superintendent said, that he would forth with employ military force if the natives refused to quit the valley o f the Hutt. The natives have refused to leave. The Superintendent will not use force of any kind and thus will end the first farce res pecting the land since we began this journal. We shall take care to record succeeding ones in their order.