SELECTION OF SUBURBAN LANDS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, 3 September 1842, Page 102

SELECTION OF SUBURBAN LANDS.

To the Editor of the Nelson Examiner. Sir — It will no doubt be interesting to our friends at home, and to them a proofthat we are going a-head, to learn that we have already got an instalment, of our lands. The selection of that portion of the accommodation land ready for distribution began at jten, a.m., on Monday, pursuant to advertisement, at the Surveyor's Office; at which hour there was a crowd of eager expectants consulting the plans of the various districts. Some very choice sections in thfi Maitai and Brook Street Valleys soon wept off, as did those in the jglher districts ; indeed, those having early numoers seemed to have made up their minds before coming ; but, after a while, the progress of selection was not quite so rapid, and some individuals deemed it advisable to postpone the choices they had to make for themselves orj their cliente till the remainder of the land sballj be offered for selection, especially as only a portion of what is considered the crack district, vte., the Motuaka, is as vet surveyed. At four, p.m., when the business of the day closed, 400 choices had been called over, of which about 130 had deferred choosing : on Tuesday the order of choice reached 846, 400 having deferred: and the business closed at twelve on Wednesday, the whole 1,100 having, .been called over. There only remained, fifteen or eighteen sections unchosen, and they were in the hilly portion of the Western Waimea; though, from a personal inspection of them, I should not consider them as hopeless for agricultural purposes, as their rejection by 1,100 choices would seem to indicate ; but the early numbers would not have them, because pretty sure of very good ones next time, and the late ones trust to the chapter of accidents. In the course of Wednesday, when as many choices had been called as there were sections offered, a question was raised as to whether the selection should stop there ; but as it seemed to have been understood by all that the business should last as long as there were any sec-; tions unchosen, the selection proceeded. Some individuals possessing more than one section, have, I am glad to say, been fortunate enough to secure aU, or the greater part, of their secsions contiguous to one another, and in some cases in one compact block, thus increasing the value of their .property very much, without any loss to their neighbours. Each individual seemed pleased with the portion' which fell to! his share. And it now remainsfor all those who came out to farm to leave the town for their own and its good, and pay their personal respects to their respective estates, not omitting an attentive examination of what Mr. Kerr and the Messrs. Tytlers are about, and then go and do likewise. Great complaints are made about the high rate of wages, and some seem to make this a cloak to hide their unwillingness to exchange a town life for the healthy but laborious occupations of the country. I hope that our landlords, whether agents or principals, will not farther frighten these /aint-hearted mortals by attempting to exact high rents. I gladly take*this of opportunity acknowledging the obligations under which all concerned in selecting are to our Chief Surveyor for his advice and assistance throughout the business. Excuse these hurried remarks. Yours truly, Nelson, August 26. JTo thb Editoh or jth« Nuson Examiner. Sir — In your article of last week you were pleased to comment on the address delivered by the Lord Bishop, on the presentation of the congratulatory address on his lordship's arrival at this place, and to state " that there exists a general feeling of regret that'his lordship should have thought it necessary to express so atrongljj as he did the impossibility that he should concede." Now, sir, as a churchman, and knowing the feelings entertained by the members of the establishment in this colony, I beg most distinctly to state that such was not by any means the general impression produced by what fell from his lordship on that occasion; and that, instead of its being a matter of regret, the announcement was hailed with the deepest satisfaction, as a confirmation of the opinion generally entertained that, in the head of our church in this country, we possessed a man worthy of his* high calling, and one prepared to defend and uphold the sacred edifice on principle, and with an earnestness and zeal truly gratifying to . ttait body over whom, through Divine Provikfaihce, he is ordained to preside. Again, I cannot conceive why any surprise should exist in the mind of any one that his lordship should ,dsem it necessary to make the statement above aUVided to ; for I conceive it to be but an answer to pat part of the congratulatory address which states " that we cannot but feel assured that your residence in these islands will be attended witnUhe most beneficial results, not only to the members of that church which has found in you so able and devoted a servant, but to the many others* who, though differing from you in mtfsj ters of doctrinal opinion, have the moßt perfect confidence in the purity of your motives, and the higihert respect for your chancier and your t«lenta *'— -a declaration that, as the head o| the church in this country, be was determined! unflinchingly to maintain and uphold in all its dignity! and purity, through the grace of God, that chjurch over which he was ordained to preside. As to those who were dissatisfied with what h\ia lordship considered his duty to state

(the dissenters, I presume), I would ask what they did expect his lordship would have said on OjJ£ occasion ? Surely they did not suppose 'Wit in his lordship they would find an advocate of that creed which they profess. Surely they did not imagine that the Bishop was a lukewarm or careless upholder of that church which he represents in this country; or rather a man whose mind was not already firmly and irrevocably fixed, and fully aware of the vast importance of this sacred mission, and of the necessity of upholding to the uttermost the doctrines of the church as the most sure means of retaining and keeping together the members of the same. If so, sir, then I ask you where the feeling of which you speak exists, and who are the dissaNpfied? Yours, A Churchman.