AUCKLAND AND ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 68, 19 September 1846, Page 2

AUCKLAND AND ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS.

Etsvy and detraction may cast a temporary shadow over the advantages, and obscure for a time the capabilities of a newly formed Settlement ; but when Nature has invested it with peculiar excellence, and marked it as her favorite by the lavish profusion of her gifts, it is impossible to prevent its ultimate emersion from the shade, or debar its progress towards a position of unrivalled superiority. The morning mists way hide for a season the beauties of the landscape, but they will roll away and disappear before the brightening orb of rising day. If calumny and misrepresentation on the part of the agents of the New Zealand Company on the one hand, and negligence and misrule on the part of the Local Government in the early stages of its existence on the other, could have prevailed to arrest the course of Nature ; Auckland would have been confined within the narrow limits of a protracted infancy, and instead of exhibiting, as at present, the certain signs of a vigorous maturity, it would still have been struggling for existence with the puuy efforts of a feeble babe. But like some sturdy, chubby-faced, well formed urchin, whose constitution is proof against ill-treatment and neglect, and who merges into manwood in spite of the apathy of itfr parents, — the awkwardness of its nurse, and the kicks and cuffs of its malicious, ill-favored, elder brother — Auckland has survit|t|every species of contumely, and has bect>m§Hhe r admiration of all its acquaintances. When the toil worn traveller has surmounted the difficulties, and dangers of his march, through wild untrodden regions, and has reahed the gapl, where ease and plenty, invite him to refreshment and repose, how sweet the remembrance of his early struggles, and his former pains. He recalls to mind the perils he has encountered, the privations he has endured, and the injuries he has sustained, with the pleasing consciousness of having braved, outlived, and triumphed over them all, by the exercise of steady perseverance, and the efforts of indomitable energy : and the stimulating reminiscence inspires him with fresh ardour, and prepares him for more strenuous exertions; Thus maji the citizens of Auckland, look back upon iheir past experience, and — while they contemplate the toils and struggles which attended their progress towards the stability and prosperity of the present day— gather from the retrospect, new incitements to enterprize, and additional encouragement to steady application in consolidating and increasing the elements of their happiness. ' ~

In the history of the Capital we have a striking illustration of the power which Time exerts, in vindication of the choice of Nature, hy unfolding the attractions, and capabilities of the settlement she had invested with her own peculiar marks of meetness for superior eminence : while in that of the other settlements, we have an equally forcible example of the impotence of patronage when attempting to usurp for the objects of its solicitude, a precedence which Nature had denied. We are not arguing hypothetically, when we assert that Auckland, in point of natural excellence, as well as acquired advantages, has an undoubted claim to the first place among the settlements of New Zealand. The fact has been established by irrefragable proof. The Company's Settlements have been fostered with the most assiduous endeavours of their interested founders. Every means that could be devised, and brought to bear upon the favorite scheme of forcing the Cook's Straits Settlements into notoriety and favor, have been employed with unceasing diligence. The power of wealth' — the pen of exaggerated praise — the salaried artifices of venal advocates, and the full force of Parliamentary influence, have all been enlisted for the purpose of fabricating a famous name for the Company's settlements. The streams of emigration, and the influx of capital, were never suffered to stagnate, so long as the ill-gotten funds of the Company were equal to the expensive system ; and yet, notwithstanding all these efforts, and all this outlay, their settlements exhibited only the feverish symptoms of a sickly prosperity, even during the operation of the powerful stimulants that were applied to their existence, and as soon as the machinery stopped, that was employed in patching up their crazy constitutions, these artificial colonies began to retrograde, and sink to the secondary position for which they had been fitted by, Nature. Auckland, on the other hand, the neglected offspring of avaricious parents — the object of envy, and the butt of ridicule — destitute of every aid but what she derived from her own inherent energy — without emigration— a stranger to the periodical influx of British capital, and deprived of £25,000 or £30,000 of her own, which the Government that gave her birth borrowed from her necessities — has advanced with slow, but certain, steps towards a vigorous maturity ; and is now exhibiting the cheering tokens of permanent prosperity. Instead of borrowing of the Government the enormous sum of £150,000, as the founders of the ill-fated but petted settlements have been compelled to do, she has assisted her Rulers by the loan of £25,000 or £30,000, in the shape of debentures, and has notwithstanding, developed her resources, and established her position with the remaining portion of her reduced means. If, with a capital, diminished by so large a loan— enforced upon terms, that have no comparison in point of remuneration, to the interest that would have accrued if the funded amount had been available for the general purposes of trade— so much has been accomplished, how much more might have been done had the entire capital of the settlement been applied to the purposes of commercial and agricultural enterprize. The official returns of the revenue derived from the different settlements, which His Excellency the Governor has wisely ordered to be published for general information, and which will be found in our fourth page, bear witness to the fact, that the revenue of the Capital has been steadily improving, while that of the Southern settlements has been as steadily decreasing ; and that during the past year, the revenue of the Capital, under the head of Customs alone, exceeds that which has been derived during the same period, from all the other settlements put together, by upwards of £400 ! And this degree of prosperity has been attained in the face of the most formidable drawbacks. At one time, the entire population of a sister settlement were driven from their homes by the acts of violence and destruction which the native insurgents, intoxicated with success, so wantonly committed. Homeless, and for the most part penniless, upwards of 500 individuals sought shelter and protection in the peaceful abodes of the citizens of the Capital ;' and were*, in a measure, and for a time, dependent upon the benevolence of ' their sympathizing friends. But the refugees have outridden the storm, and recovering from the terrible blow, are now cooperating with us in strengthening the bonds of our commo nwelfare. Every branch of industry is now prosecuted with energy, and commercial enterprize is characterized by increasing ardor. Since the commencement of the year, five large ships have been freighted with valuable spars fit for the Navy of England.procuredupon the banks of one of the great tributary rivers of the district, and a sixth is now proudly breasting the waters of Waitemata, deeply laden with the- various produce of our shores. Mining operations are proceeding with great spirit, and the quantities and quality of the ores obtained, are fully equal to the most sanguine expectations. The neighbouring country is rife with animation. The desolate wastes have been, (and still will be, unless some impolitic restrictions on

the landed Interests should prevent) gradually converted into fruitful fields, and the steps of the husbandman have imprinted on the landscape the cheerful traces of civilized life. And above all, the opening prospects of our future prosperity, are unbeclouded. with, the shadows of contention and strife. The Native and the Colonist, mingle with each other without distrust, and dwell in close and constant contact without fear or apprehension. No rights have been infringed— no prejudices outraged—no titles have been acquired at the expence of human blood— no possession has been enforced at the point of the bayonet— all has been*accomplished by open, just, intelligible negociation, and not one instance has occurred, within the limits of our district, of determined opposition on the part of the natives to the settlers' peaceful occupation of their purchased lands. With such happy indications of unanimity and good' feelirig,\ and with the absolute possession of every natural 1 - advantage that can ensure the steady progress of our advancement, we may confidently expect, with the blessing of Heaven, a continuation of prosperity—assured that Auckland must increase and grow in all the elements of greatness and wealth, unless her rising fortunes should be crushed and broken, by some monstrous act of unprincipled injustice on the part of our Rulers.