AUCKLAND.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 80, 16 September 1843, Page 319

AUCKLAND.

t The Commissioners of Land Claims. — We have often inquired of parties who.have appeared before these gentlemen regarding the nature of their court, but we ■ have received, no definite- information. It is not quite the same •as the Executive Council or ". Star Chamber " of New Zealand, in as much as its doors are not closed ; and yet it is unlike any other court that we have ever heard of. Some of the gentlemen composing it have spent a portion' of their time in Spain and Portugal, and they have, perhaps, taken the Inquisition- as the model after which their court is framed. It is the Inquisition then; the doors are open, but the reports of the court are secret, as well as the sentence and fate of the criminals or victims. . We noticed some time ago the case of a poor man of the name of Graham, who purchased land, from the natives, whiphjie has occupied for the last six years. Htadaim was disallowed by Commissioner' Godfrey, on the evidence of a native named " Ruin '? or Ruinga, the worst character, on the whole river, and the party from whom the land was bought. Several Europeans of respectability were prepared to prove the purchase, hut the Commissioner (we are surprised to hear) stated in open, court that "no European evidence would be taken against the word of a heathen native ! " This is too; too much. We recommend Mr. Graham to petition ,the Officer administering the Government to order this claim to be heard again, and if his Excellency refuse, let Mr. Graham procure the evidence of his European witnesses, and forward the same with a memorial to Lord Stanley. We would advise him also to procure a copy of the Commissioner's report upon his claim. This dare not, be denied to him. We are quite at a loss .to discover by what principles the Commissioners are guided in their decisions, — Southern Cross, July 29. ' ■ New Zealand Shipping. — By the Government Gazette of July 26th, we perceive that the total number of ships which ' have entered our harbours during the last two years, has been no less than 326 ships, 74,566 tons. During the same period, the total amount' of duties nas been £23,730 15s. 2d., and the expenses of collection £6,622 13s. 2d., or \ more than one-fourth the receipts. We certainly thought it was even more than this, but, be it what it may, it would be more the interest of New Zealand that there should be no revenue from this. mo6t objectionable source. The establishment Of CUStnwo Kao Vail a mnet iniuriOUS effect on me marub&e, commercial, and general interests of this colony, and it would be infinitely better for the settlers to pay £1 per head, and do away with customs altogether, than impose such restrictions upon the trade and commerce of the colony. To show the pernicious effect of the Custom-house regulations upon the commercial and maritime interests of New Zealand, we would merely compare the returns for Russell or the Bay of Islands during- the last two years with that of the same place during the half year previous, to the establishment of Government and customs in this colony, and the return is merely that, of the shipping: pf one country, America alone. How many English and French vessels may have visited the Bay of Islands during the «ametime, we cannot ascertain. The report has been kindly given to us by our friend and enterprising colonist, William Mayhew, Esq., late American Consul. We shall compare the two statements, and leave others to judge : — During the last two years, the whole number of vessels at the Bay of Islands, including English, American, French, Colonial, &c., is 103 vessels, 26,206 tons, 2,094 men. During the half year endipg 31st December, 1839, before Government was established, the number of American ships at the same port were 25 ships, 7,603 tons, value of cargo 523,025 dollars, or more from America alone than the whole of the present American, English, French, and colonial shipping together. But to show more clearly the effects of the Customs Regulations, we shall state the return of American shipping during the half year ending 31st December, 1841, and we shall soon discover the effects of our customs restrictions. The returns for that period are 9 ships, 2,619 tons, value of cargo 196,126 dollars — nearly one-third of the number during the former period. — Ibid, August 6.