THE YEAR JUST CLOSED.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 15, 31 December 1857, Page 1

THE YEAR JUST CLOSED.

With our present number, we arrive at the close of the year 1857. It is an old and a wholesome practice, before commencing the business of a new year, to take a retrosportive review of that which has just passed. Merchants and Bankers balance their books Tradesmen lake slock; and all classes and conditions-seek to know in what mailers they have prospered-.in what thev have fallen behind—in order, if possible, to improve in the first, and to avoid the second position in future. Let us also lake stock—let us see in what, as a co'ony, we have progressed, in what we may have come short. Commencing with the population—Native as well as European—we see many causes for thankfulness, both in iheir social and physical relations to each other. Peace and goodwill between the races not only continue to prevail, but, as year follows jear, each continues to perceive" how largely the. interests of the one are bound up in those of the other; and that, by acting in concert and co-operation, they are yearly augmenting their store of prosperity "which continues to develop itself in the most satisfactory manner.

In 4857 a Census, or enumeration, of ilic European population took place. This, contrasted with the census of 1855, exhibits in a striking manner the progress that has been made in the brief period of two years not only in augmentation of the population but in enhancing the material resources of the northern portion of New Zealand. For example. We have an increase of 3,600 persons in the amount of population in the Province of Auckland. The quantity of land fenced in 1855 was 45,671 acres :—in 1857 it amounted to 83.819 acres. In 1853 ihere were 27.158 acres under cultivation. In 1857 the quantity cultivated was more than doubled, amounting to 63,069 acres. Whilst barren and waste land has thus been converted to productive land, to the great mutual gain of the Native and the European, let us look how largely horses, sheep, ami cattle have increased, and how much more largely and profitably, industry and enterprise must cause them yet further rapidly to increase. In horses, the increase hi the two years from -1855 amounted to 895 head, in cattle to 4,730 head, and in sheep to 14,658 head, In shipping, there have been some serious losses, during the year now closed. The steamer William Denny was unrortunatelv run ashore at the North Cape early in the year and has remained fast there ever since. The steamer Zingari lias ceased to run between the Northern and the Southern settlements ; and the Wonga Wonsa has been removed from the trade between Auckland and the Bay of Islands to that between Wellington and Nelson. - There have been, likewise, several vessels sold, and several wrecked ; but all these arc but passing misfortunes which there is every prospect of seeing speedily and effectually repaired. In the first place, a contract has been made for four steam ships, which mav be shortly expected from England. Two of these are intended to trade between New Zealand and Australia; and the two others between the Northern and the Southern ports of No. w Zealaud. The vessels sold are being sleadilv replaced by other and better vessels—whilst those wrecked keep no pace cither in number or character with those built and being built. [I he coasting fleet continues to increase m the most satisfactory manner, Natives as well as Europeans adding largely to this great source of Colonial wealth. "Ships, Colonies, and Commerce"' was the cry of the great Colbert, and where

these increase and multiply, the people cannot fail to grow great and prosperous. We rejoice with exceeding joy that lite native feud at Taranaki lias been happily quenched. We-heartily hope that that at Ahuriri may speedily be brought to a like happy and peaceful cor.chision. It is distressing to hear of those who were ushered into this life for much better purposes sacrificing each other in a quarrel which wise heads not hot and hasty hands should be brought to de< XJe. Why should men destroy each other in their contentions for land, which in its wild stale is profitable to ho one. Why not assemble iu Committee and convert their tribal into individual possessions? Peace, prosperity, and happiness have invariably resulted wherever.such wise and rational changes have been introduced. And at this very moment, at the opposite end of the earth, we have a conclusive example of the truth of an old established fact. We entreat our native readers to listen and reflect. There is a savage and warlike race of North-American Indians called the Dacoutas. These people held their lands in common. Disputes frequently arose among the subtribes respecting ownership, and relentless and exterminating strife ensued. Lately, however, they listened to the humane and considerate counsel of the Missionaries located among them. Tribal possessions, at their suggestion, were converted to individual ownerships:—Dispute aud difficulty immediately ceased—worthless wastes became profitable cultivations—blooming gardens, well inclosed and. well farmed fields sprang up as if by magic—substantial dwellings look the place of comfortless! Wigwams—man acquired for himself ihe j consideration that had before been awarded j only to the tribe of which he was but a unit, i In short, the Dacoutas from being regarded by their neighbours as a restless, turbulent people with whom it required to be everlastingly on the watch, have now come to be j considered as models of sound sense, energy,! and prosperity—an astonishing example how ! civilization wisely followed can elevate even the most barbarous people, into a position' oJ influence, affluence, and renown. That which the Dacoutas achieved, is easy of accomplishment .with so thoughtful a: people as that of New Zealand. The plough is much the more preferable weapon to the musket in subjugation of the land am* in ! enrichment of iis possessors. We have said \ enough, hi these few- natural remarks to.

prove from the rapidly extending prosperity of the past, what an abundant field of .wealth is opened for the future: The firs", great difficulty in enterprise is its commencement. In New Zealand Enterprise has been successfully commenced, and it requires but steadiness on the native part to develop it to their great and growing gain. Let them speed the plo :gh. Let them exert themselves m rendering land fit to support horses, sheep, and cattle instead of leaving it to grow weeds and fern which nothing can live on, and they cannot fail, year by year, to advance in affluence, influence, and happiness.

. Waikanae, Nov. 61h,1857. O MY FATHER GOVERNOR BROWNE,— I am always thinking of the error of the old nalivc system, which system still prevails over those lands which have not been disposed of to the Government. From my childhood till the present lime, now that I am an elderly man, I have constantly seen disputes, removing of boundaries, covetousness and qnarrellings about land, I /ook to the system pursued by the Europeans with regard to their land, those who are Jiving at Wellington, Auckland, and other parts of these islands, there are no disputes, removing of boundaries, coveiousuess or quarrels about their pieces of land from their first arrival up to the present lime. During the last year of my residence in Auckland, the year i 856, a thought entered my mind that my children should possess some laud unde'r the European system, lest they should be perplexed when they grew up. When I arrived here I expressed my desire to the relatives of my pareuts as they held the land in common, and they consented to what I said. I had not.been here long, when I received your newspaper from Auckland containing an account of the adoption of certain regu? lations by the Great Assembly of New Zealand respecting lands reserved in different parts of New Zealand. I refer to the October newspaper containing the " New Zealand Native Reserves Act, 1850," in connection with that Act of the General Assembly published in that Newspaper. A great many ideas arose in my mind; it is not, however, quite clear to me what lands arc intended to be reserved, whether they are lands that have been sold to the Government, or lauds that have not yet hcvn sold. The newspaper of .March and June 18. v i7.l quite understand. It was through reading those two news-

papers that an earnest desire arose in my i mind to write to you on this subject, the 1 reserving or securing of land, .that it may be j held permanently by our children anil their descendants, that we may be like the Europeans and have no confusion: and to see whether you would kindly consider us Hie aboriginal owners of the soil, and secure a portion to us out of lands which have not been sold to the Govern incut of the Colony, j that they may come under the shelter of the ! power of our Queen, and thai the old system ! should be always maintained over them, j There are some lands at Taranaki which ! belonged to our fathers and ancestors, and j I am anxious to have secured to my children;! there is one piece between Waiongutta and I Waitara (the Bishop of New Zealand has seen lbishthere is aim another piece between Maugoraka and Waiongaua; my relations! desire to have some of these lands "secured to i them under the sea! of the Government of the j Colony, that is, if you approve; but one of these pieces of land, that situated between ! Mangoraka and Waiongana is included' within the boundary of the block which Te Waitere Kakatore and party desire to sell to Mr. Parris, Land Purchase Commissioner Taranaki. This is my word to yon in reference to that part. Do you leave a portion of that land for my children, a small part, say SO acres. Do not, sell it but let it be reserved under the seal of the Governor of the Colony. Below Wuiongaiia and Waiiara are other pieces of land which belonged to our ancestors, but those will nol be spoken about now. . If you and the surveyors carry out my wishes, and name the month iu which it will be surveyed; then'.l and my relatives, an 1 the relatives of my parents will go there and point out the boundaries to the surveyors. I wish it 10 be done by you soon, as I do not know how long I may live. I the old man who is to point out the boundaries of those piices of land to the surveyors. Enough, do you be kind to me. From.your loving friend, lliwai Te Ami.

Treasury, Auckland, October, 12, 1837. . His Excellency the Governoc lias been pleased to appoint Mokena [Cohere, of Han-, gilikei and Te Kawakawa; Pupata Kauri, of Waiapu; Ilamuera TamauuUera, of Tuparoa, to be Kaiive Assessors. E. V r . Staffcrd, - In the absence of Mr.Richmond;

Treasury,. I Auckland, December 2nd,. 1857: His Excellency the Governor has been* pleased to appoint Honi WetereNgainu of Kawhia ;. Wiremu Pukapuka, and Noa- Te Hauhihi, both of Rangitiki, to be NativeAssesors. C \Y.. Hicajio.^D. The following, block of land, has been acquired by Government : Provinge of Aukcladcd. .. | Kalpara District, Okafiu Block.. (Containing about 16,000 acres.) I The boundaries commence inland otj Tokatoka on the survey line commenced bv j Mr. H. Fentonand completed by Mr: McCabe", | which extends to the Manganui river, andbears by compass 50 degrees 0 minutes, »he ' distance being 62(>chains 93 links; it then follows the course of the Manganui river as j far as Mr. Fenion's survey fine, which cuts j the river as directed by Matiiikuha, bearing by compass U° Js', distance 270 chains,; 80 links, to a line bearing3sß° o', distance! 127 chains, 20 links, and along the line bearing 2', distance -193 chains io the point of commencement.