Auckland Times. Tuesday, Jan. 23rd, 1844.

Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 54, 23 January 1844, Page 2

Auckland Times. Tuesday, Jan. 23rd, 1844.

We are not at all disposed to apply any dreamy metaphysical doctrines to the question now agitating Auckland upon the subject of "Free Ports " these are words in every body's mouth just now—to which no one appears to attach any definite meaning. \a its widest sense, a " free port" is one where no surveillance is kept of any kind whatever: manifests and registers are alike uncalled for, and alike unrecognized if they should be produced. In this sense " free ; ports " are the favorite resort of pirates and buecajieers—they afford (what is known in Newgate parlance as) "a fence** for stolen property. We cannot suppose that any of our readers would wish to see the Capital and principal ports of any British Colony- last of all of this—- " free " in this sense of the word. We beg the question, but we think it willbe granted—is not the Custom-house establishment necessary for the registration of arrivals and departures, and for the reception and issue oi|*J;hose passports, by meane "of which, upon the great thoroughfare of mankind, an honest man is known from a highwayman ? We must have a Custom-house for these purposes. New Zealand cannot mean to encourage the mquesiioned arrival and departure of every stranger. \ In the second point a port is "free'" where a wise hospitality is practised : where due caution and assistance,;in the shape of pilot and beacon, are offered to the stranger, and Where all the facilities of harbourage are provided for, at the cost of the landsman, for the benefit of the mariner—whether he be a customer, or a chapman desirous to sell—-a sentinel of the sea on a foreign service, or a wayfarer seeking rest or refuge. In this sense, it becomes especially the dignity of Great Britain to make every port " free" where her flag is unfurled; and, as concerns the interests of her trade in the Pacific, it is more than ever advisable—it is a matter of unquestionable policy,—for if it were subject to any doubt, that doubt must vanish when it becomes a point of emulation: and the French threaten to set, or have already set, the useful example. A system of adjustment of the . expense necessary to maintain this hospitality will be required of the local legislature, if it be adopted. The inhabitants of the port towns will receive a larger and more immediate advantage from the intercourse invited, and should consequently contribute more fieely to the fund for its payment. A third, and the most popular view of the subject, at the present moment, backed by the wisdom of the Southern Cross, is—that this should be a " Free Port,"" in the sense, that Customs, whether of import or export, shall be altogether discontinued ; and the argument is this—that foreign vessels are prevented coming here by the existence of customs' dues. We are quite willing to go so far as to recommend the removal of all duties which affect the interest of the foreigner, and by making the ports of New Zealand •'free" (in the sense we have des cribed, as the second division of the subject), this will be quite sufficiently done. No foreigner, no non-resident, is in the slightest degree a.Tected by a duty which is imposed only upon 'home consumption. And here is an end

of the argument: It is a question of local taxation —not of foreign trade. Now arises the enquiry whether those articles which are subject to our cus toms' dues are legitimately and wisely selected for such impost. We contend that they are.-for this simple reason, that they are luxuries-and that every* man who assists in their consumption is a volunteer. Retain the duties upon | wines, spirits, hsss, and tobacco ~/br~ we have as yet no export, and we cannot afford to buy them ; if we must needs use them, it "is proper that w e should produce them. Besides, the expenses of the country, which are thrown with such a heartless feeling upon its earliest colonists, must be somehow provided for; and Captain Fitzroy cannot, at present, replace the produce of these duties if he unwisely gives them away for a crotchet. I 3 it lively that any more whalin"vessels will come here because we have altered these taxes from, the shane of customs to that of house rent, in either of which they cannot possibly feel a personal interest-but if, for the sake of argument it were admitted that such a system would bring down to the shores of New Zealand an additional cargo or so of notions, like wine, cvder„ rum, cigars and tobacco, or chairs* chests of drawers, cabbage tree Hats.and with which we are quite able to supply ourselves, what good would it do to us? Our friendly cotemporary of the Southern Cross thinks that Ramsay and Young, or Campbell and'Co., would payfreight, and send their cargoes of tea from Sydney down here to be warehoused if it were a free port What for? Is not Sydney a free port » and cannot the Sydney Merchants find warehouseroom quite as cheap as we can ? Think of paying freight and insurance backwards and forwards, and putting \ oui; goods out of your own po twelve hr off, for sure of having them taken care i the " Cross's " beau ideal, " a free m It will require a strong application of pestle and mortar before our cotemporary will confound the brains of any of his cannie countrymen into such an absurdity as this. * - CtnBmMBaOBMHMWnMM

St. Paul's Church.—ld our front page will be found the balance-sheet of the" Trustees of St. Paul's Church. This document has been frequently requested by the public, and we must say ie somewhat, unable to account tor ardy pub < lasmueh as it des the £SOO borrowed - Irqin the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, iio less a sura than £247 is still due to the tradesmen. For all of this of course the Trustees are liable ; and we do not know, out of two cases of hardship, which would be.the worse—that the tradesmen should not be paid, or the Trustees be required to satisfy them. The rate of charge for pew-rent is considered heavy—but it has been only very partially levied ; and now that this document is before the public, it is likely that several new-comers will be incline)! to follow the handsome example set by Mr. Barstow when he arrived per the Bangalore ; and many who occupy lbeni»e! vt• s or tjiis hint to apply for vac >n for the remaind Asa matter somewhatanalagous to the above, we notice a letter which we have received upon the subject of subscription money, to a vety considerable amount, said to have been paid long since, towards a fund for building a Presbyterian Church in Auckland. The writer significantly 44 begs to know what has become of the motiey." The lithographed views of Auckland recently received from Eng land, and which are copied from a painting exhibited,at the Bank about eighteen months ago, give a picture of the Scotch Church, as like reality as paper churches may be—but of course we' need not tell our readers of its whereabouts. If such a fund as our correspondent alludes to be in existence, some portion of it very probably belongs to parties who have deceased or left the Colony ; in such case, may not something be done in favor of the Rev. Mr, Comrie, whose maintenance is very precariously provided for. We will enquire about the letter, and if We feel satisfied of the propriety of doing so, Will publish it next week—but we are pretty well assured that, upon enquiiy at the Bank, our correspondent will find himself misinformed upon the matter.