Original Correspondence. THE CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 51, 23 May 1846, Page 3

Original Correspondence. THE CAPITAL OF NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor of the New-Zealander. Sm,— Although your remarks on the present agitated question as to the seat of Government, or capital of New Zealand, may convince the minds of many as to the superiority of the Waitemata district, yet there is one most powerful argument against the removal from Auckland, and oue that is quite sufficient to fix; it there. ; In the commencement of your remarks you quoted Captain Hobson's despatch "to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, announcing the selection of the Waitemata to be the seat of Government — in 1840— long before the Town was surveyed or any settlers arnved on the spot intended for it. Certainly, that despatch was proof that Captain Hobson inteuded to place here the capital— and that he so considered it to be the capital of New Zealand after he had taken up his residence in Auckland, can be proved by official documents — and I beg to trespass on your columns 10 place on record in the most public manner, such impoitant evideuce of the Local Executive recognizing, in the most indisputable way, Auckland as the capital of New Zealand. On the 15th March, 1842, at the close of the second Session o* the Legislative Council, and the very last time that Captain .Hobson presided in it, he addiessed the Council as usual and closed the Session. In two distinct portions of that speech, he most clearly recognized Auckland as the capital. Jn allusion to the Ordinances which had been passed during the Session — he said — " For this purpose, the Ordinances for establishing a Supreme Court and County Courts, and indeed all the Ordinances of the Session, have been based upon the principles of localizing the machinery of Government of each separate settlement, and of rendering them us independent as possible of the capital." In the latter part of his address to the Couucil on that occasion, observing on the Bill, ior the adjustment ot the Laud Claims, which he had withdrawn, in consequence of the public feeling being so contrary to it, he remarked— " if that Bill had become law, the land claimants would almost immediately have acquired a valuable, available marketable property. Every absentee claimant would have had an interest in bringing before the public the many recommendations and valuable resources of the colony. A numerous body of settlers would have been chawn round the three principal settlements of the northern part of this island, and the value of property in them rapidly increased. By satisfying all the claimants southward of Auckland, by grants of land in the neighbourhood of this Town, a district combining all the advantages of vicinity to the capital, and to the two harbours ol Waitemata and Manukao on the eastern and western coasts, fertility of soil, and the extraordinary facilities of internal water communication, allorded by the various blanches of the Tamaki, it is not easy to decide whether the claimants themselves, or those who are interested in the prosperity of the capital, or colony at large, would have derived the greatest benefit.'' Since that period the land claimants have acted from the firm conviction that the capital oi the colony was for ever fixed. To consider it still an open question, would be a gross fraud. But, fair, having communicated to you the solemn declaration ol the first Governor of the colony, 1 beg you will allow it space m your valuable journal, and remain, Your's, &c, VERAX. Auckland, 21st May, 184(5.