THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nallius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, 5TH DECEMBER, 1873.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1531, 5 December 1873, Page 38

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nallius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, STH DECEMBER, 1873.

Immigration to this Colony has, beyond a doubt, received a great impetus from the new regulations, whereby free passages are given to all and every suitable person who may desire to come, and whereby, also, present colonists are, in effect, made immigration agents, by being encouraged to nominate as many as possible of their friends and acquaintances at home, as candidates for this privilege.

But there is another condition to tlic success of the immigration policy, without which the immigration scheme, so far from proving a benefit to the Colony, will only add to it's embarrassment, increase the burden of taxation on the settled population, and cause the failure of the gigantic undertakings to which the Colony is engaged. It is quite as essential to retain the immigrant in the Colony, by attaching him to the soil, as it is to bring him to its shores. It cannot be disguised that the scheme itself is exceedingly costly, and that its ultimate success will depend on the refund to the Colonial Treasury, through the ordinary channels of revenue by each individual immigrant,, of the whole proportion of the cost of introduction that falls to his share; for not until that be accomplished will he become anything more or less than a loss to the Colony, and not till after that will be contribute in the least towards easing the pressure of taxation on the existing settler. Ho cannot benefit the revenue until his contributions to it, by the consumption of dutiable articles, have at least equalled the sum it has cost the Colony for his introduction. Under the most favorable circumstances this mnst be the work of seyeral years, and the time will be pro-

' longed in the case of those who remain in the Colony in, the inverse ratio of their number. If one half of those who are introduced are enticed away by better prospects elsewhere, or retire through disgust at the difficulty of acquiring land on which to settle clown, the time, of course, will be doubled in the case of those who remain as settlers before their proportion of the cost of introduction is made good to the Government, and so in other cases. Hence it appears that it is of equal moment to provide facilities for their settlement—to attach them to the soil—as to effect their primary introduction. It is much to be feared that this part of the question has not received that degree of attention at the hands of the Government that it deserves. So far as the laboring population is concerned, this seems to be particularly the case; so long as they, or the best of them, are provided with employment at high rates of wages, they will be willing to stay and work, but the very nature of their occupation will militate against their becoming permanent settlers. They must follow the progress of the lines of railway, or remove from one place to another as one piece of work is completed and another begun ; and just as soon as work begins to fail or become slack, they will emigrate to new fields of labor, unless strong inducement is held out to them to remain. In this respect all that is required is, that the Government should second nature. Nature lias done very much for the Colony; its agricultural and pastoral facilities, afforded both by soil and climate, are second to none in the world, Its seasons being alike free from the extreme of heat and cold, outdoor operations may be conducted throughout the whole year ; the whole trouble of housing cattle for the winter, and stall-feeding them, necessary in other colonies, is dispensed with, while the soil is generally so productive as to afford rich reward for the labor bestowed on it. But all this is of no avail if difficulties arc found in the way of acquiring land, and that those difficulties exist, we think none will bo so rash as to deny. Great blame is clue to the authorities, that in time past they have permitted the heart of the country to pass into the hands of speculators, instead of preparing for the time now at hand. Large blocks, in our own Province, suitable for special agricultural settlement, have from time to time been sold to runholders and others at the nominal price of 5s per acre; and we may say this is still being done, to the manifest detriment of colonization. But this state of things should not be allowed to continue. There arc yet several blocks of land suitable for agricultural settlements in the hands of the Government, quite suitable for settlement, but which at any time may be snatched up by private purchasers at 5s or 10s per acre, and the special settlement of an agricultural population prevented. Such blocks should at once be reserved from sale under the powers possessed by the Superintendent, for we think no one will question the truth that they will all be shortly required for this purpose. Otherwise it may be found, when too late to remedy the matter, that the immigration scheme has broken down, and become a source of embarassment to the Colony from the difficulty found in permanently retaining those whom it introduces at a heavy cost, and this, just because of present and past neglect. The conditions of success may be briefly given as " Land for the immigrants," as well as "Immigrants for the land."

Mrs E. Bimie lias been appointed schoolmistress of tlic Porangab.au school.

Messrs. G. G. Oarlyon, M. Stokes, J. Mathews, J. Holden, and H. M'Lean, have been appointed a District Board for the North Ruataniwha Road District.

There have been no civil cases, and but one solitary police case, at the Resident Magistrate's Court since our last. An elderly man who by indulgence in liquor had come within the reach of the law, was dismissed on Wednesday morning with a caution to be more circumspect in future. We have received Provincial Gazettes Nos. 40 and 41, dated 2nd and 3rd December. The first contains the notices appointing the forthcoming sittings of the Supreme Court in Napier; an appointment of schoolmasters at Porangahau; a proclamation appointing a new District Road Board for the North Ruataniwha District; and accounts of receipts and disbursement! of the Meaneo and Heretaunga Roan Boards. Gazette No. 41 contams notices signed by the District Jy/dge, appointing the dates of sitting of the East Coast District Court; returh-of land sales, &c, during the month of October, 1875 ; and a repetition of the Supreme Court notices, with amended dates,

We Lave to thank Captain Gebbins, of the Bella, for Auckland papers to Saturday last. It is probable that the Napier Oddfellows and Foresters will again combine to. hold a grand annual fete.

A criminal information has been laid by Mr Sealy against the editor, publisher, and the four proprietors of the Daily Telegraph, for an alleged libel contained in a leading article published in that paper on Monday last. The Council Chamber was yesterday swept and garnished by a gang of prisoners, in anticipation of the sitting of the Supreme Court. The Court is to be opened in its civil and criminal jurisdiction on Monday next, at 10 a.m.; a sitting in banco is fixed for Wednesday, at 11 a.m.; and sittings in bankruptcy on Thursday, the 11th instant, at 11.30 a.m.

The immigrants per Hoveling are being vapidly engaged. All the single men and women, and all the lads have found situations ; a number of married couples with families have also been engaged ; some of the married women who understand sewing machine work are already employed in millinery and dressmaking establishments, and the only ones remaining unengaged are some of the married couples with large families.

Considerable progress has been made with the artesian well for the Napier railway station. When the workmen knocked off last evening, the pipe had been driven down a distance of 128 feet, and had penetrated some distance into a stratum of shingle. It is of course impossible to predict the depth at which water is likely to be obtained ; but no serious obstacle has yet been encountered, and Mr Garry is confident of success.

The accounts of the Mcanee Road Board for the year ending 80th June, 1878, show a balance of £lOl 10s 3d at the beginning of the year, to which is added receipts during the twelve months of £lB9, making a total of £290 10s 3d. The expenditure during the year amounted to £194 Cs 9d ; leaving a cash balance of £9O 3s Gd. The accounts of the Heretaunga Road Board for the same period show a balance at the outset of £2lO 5s 3d, receipts during the year of £278 13s Gd, making a total of £4BB 18s 9d. The year's expenditure amounts to £389 16s, leaving a balance in hand of £99 2s 3d. Serious complaints having been made by the immigrants per Hording against the master and doctor of the ship, the Emigration Board, consisting of J.M. Tabuteau, Esq., Dr. Hitchings, H. B. Scaly, Esq., and Mr G. T. Fannin, met at the Barracks on Tuesday, at noon, to investigate the matter. Foremost among the complainants was an immigrant named Griner, who kept a diary during the passage, and had drawn up a formal complaint, which was produced before the Board. This document occupied three pages of foolscap, closely written: it was entirely in the Norse language, and was signed by seventyone immigrants. The signatures included nearly every head of a family on board, besides many of the single men and women. The charges were very minute and specific. According to this document, when the vessel lay off an island sixteen miles from Ohristiania, a day or two after the voyage had commenced, the captain notified to the passengers that any of them who should venture to make any complaints would be placed under arrest. The complaint went on to state that the immigrants were stinted in weight and measure in the issue of their provisions ; that the salt meat issued on week-days was tainted, and unfit for food, and that an attempt was made to issue the same on Sundays. Scrvy broke out, and lime-juice was refused; no distinction was made between the sick and the healthy passengers, or between children and grown-up people. It was further stated that the issue of rations to the sick children was entrusted to an unprincipled young woman, who appropriated the greater portion to her own use. They were told that the fare was good enough for workhouse folks ; and that they were better off than they would be in New Zealand, where the Government would drive them with whips, and intercept any letters of complaint they might write to their friends at home. In this document the mate of the ship was extolled as an able and trustworthy seaman, and it recorded a warm expression of gratitude for his uniform kindness during the voyage. Captain Nordby, on hearing these charges, denied them, and challenged the jmmigrants to their proof, He list of the provisions, which he said were sufficient for four hundred passengers for five months. Medical comforts had been provided in abundance, nicking one hundred gallons of lime-juice, which had all been served to the immigrants. Some of the passengers had been very wasteful of the provisions others had hoarded them—a fact which he said an examination of the luggage would prove. The passengers were called together, and the complaint was read to them. They were asked through an interpreter if the allegations were correct, when they unanimously replied that they were. The Board, upon this, decided that there was a sufficient case for magisterial investigation, and directed Mr Fannin to lay an information against the captain. The matter has been reported to the Minister for Immigration ; and any further proceedings will be under his direction. We are informed that the passengers have subscrib ,d to present a testimonial to the mate, who appears to have been very popular on board.

The anniversary pf the Havelock Presbyterian Church was celebrated on Wednesday evening by a concert in the Mechanics' Institute. The evening was beautifully fine, with bright moonlight, and the attendance was large, the room being crowded. Punctually at eight o'clock 'the performance commenced with the overture to " The Messiah," on the pianoforte, by Mr Milburn, The

anthem "Comfort ye," by a gentleman, followed; next a solo by a lady from Napier—"o, come unto Him." The grand chorus from "St. Paul," ".How lovely are the Messengers," brought the first part of the performance to a close. The second part, consisting of secular music, opened with a pianoforte duett, by two ladies—the overture to " Semiramide." " The Queen's Letter,", by the Napier Rifle Volunteer Band, followed, and was succeeded by a pianoforte fantasia—" Oberon," by a young lady. The next piece was the song " Yesterday," by a lady, who was vociferously encored. Encores of many of the pieces were called for, but none were granted, the length of the programme being in itself a sufficient reason. A duett, lady and gentleman, " My heart beats for thee,'* followed; Bishop's glee, " Stay, pr'ythee, stay, and a song by a gentleman, " Long parted have we been." " The Dying Christian " by the band, was. the next piece; next, a song by a gentleman—- " Wisdom, Beauty, Hope, and Love." "Juauita," by three ladies, followed, and the fair vocalists retired amid a shower of bouquets. A song from " Maritana," by a gentleman, and " Home they brought her Warrior dead," by a lady, followed. The next item was a Scottish ballad, " We'd better bide a wee," sung by a lady with great taste and sweetness. Another shower of blossoms showed how well the song was appreciated. The band followed with the waltz, " Idylls of the King;" and the solo and quartette, "The Vacant Chair," the songs, " What's in a Kiss ? " by a gentleman, and " Wouldn't you like to know ?" by a lady, brought the second part to a close. The floral favors were liberally distributed throughout, gentlemen as well as ladies coming in for a share. At this stage of the proceedings, Miss Chambers came forward, and on behalf of the congregation presented Mrs Shepherd with a large and handsome glass vase, fllled with beautiful flowers, as a token of their appreciation of her labors in the congregation, in the library, and in the Sabbath school. Miss Eobinson followed, and, presenting the Rev. Mr Shepherd on behalf of his congregation with a beautiful silver inkstand, expressed the grateful sense which they entertained of Mr Shepherd's faithful and untiring efforts in their district.—Mr Shepherd, in acknowledging the gifts, said he would prize them not only for their intrinsic value, but still more on account of the feelings by which the donors had been prompted. Since he had been among them he had sought, with the Divine aid, to take for his motto the words which appeared among the decorations .on the wall—"Be not weary in well-doing," and hoping for the fulfilment of the promise attached—" for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not." The band, in the adjoining room, here played " Auld Lang Syne." The Rev. D. Sidey said that at this late hour he would be very brief in his remarks. He had listened with great pleasure to the music, and with even greater pleasure to the expression of their warm feeling towards their pastor and his associate. A wonderful influence for good might be exercised in a community by the teacher of the young and the Christian minister; and he believed that their pastor and his worthy wife were exerting a good and lasting influence in the circle in which they were placed. Ho was gratified at the signs of prosperity around, and not less gratified at the true human and pleasant social feeling exhibited this evening. He hoped their pastor would find his labor not in vain ; but would reap a rich reward for his labors.—Mr Shepherd thanked the ladies and gentlemen who had given their assistance. The band had given a somewhat military air to the meeting. Should they ever be called on to take part in graver scenes he hoped they would return sounding the notes of victory.—The National Anthem closed the proceedings at about 11 p.m., thus terminating a very pleasant evening.