The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1847.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 94, 20 March 1847, Page 2

The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1847.

lie just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Tiuth's.

THE CAUSES OF THE PREMATURfc TENDENCY TO EXPORT MINERALS &c, IN NEW ZEALAND. A country possessing a rich sbil, though destitute of mineral wealth, may enjoy peace arid plenty at home, and renown ahroad. Such a country, however, rarely hecomes distinguished in commerce. The arts of extracting the metals

f"om the ore, and of fashioning them to th pleasu'-e of the workman, vi 11, at any give period, be "i a much more advanced state h at least, some of the countries which produc the ore, than in any of those wh'ch do no produce it. The latter countries will, in som measire, bo com polled to purchase from th former, their cutlery, most of their househoh utensils, the implements of husbandry and o the arts and trades, the weapons and engine of war, and the machinery requisite for c< .;y ing on those manufactures which necessity o national policy render indispensable. And though most of the materials of manufacture! are the results of agricultural aud pastoral pur suits, yet, the countiy which has no muiera resources, whatever may be I he fertility of it! soil, will, for the reasons just mentioned, bt prudcntially compelled to export the raw material rather thau the manufactured article England, for instance, has, for mony years been, to a certain extent, the workshop of the woild, both for soft and hard goods. Fi'on eveiy other country she rnpoils imvv materials and then distributes them over the globe in i manufactured state. Now, though it woulc be eminently ridiculous to assert, that th's extraordinaiy position of England is entirely the result of her nrnera l . resources, yet, it is per fectly certain, that, without these resources she could not have attained that position. If at the moment at which we write, the immense coal beds of Great Britain were changed intc beds of sandstone, she would lose more by tbi; apparently simple transformation— by the loss of so vast a supply of combustible mateual, and so vast a source of motive power, lhar she has lost by all the wars in which she has been engaged during the two list centuries. The loss of this single mineral would, in fact; revolutionise her own fortunes and destinies, and exercise no inconsiderable influence on those of the human family. These considerations, and others of a similar nature, abundantly prove, that the mineral wealth of New Zealand constitutes a most important item in the catalogue of her truly extraordinary resources—a most inviting part oi the bill of fare, which we are able to present to intending emigrants in the mother countiy. WheD, however, we reflect, that ages and even centuries passed away before the mineral resources of England were developed to any perceptible extent, we must honestly admit, that all expectations of an immediate developeinent of the mineral resources of New Zealand are completely visionary. It is, indeed, true, that emigrants from a highly civilized country take strides in social and political progress, which are altogether gigantic when compared with those of a community emerging from a state of barbarism. This, however, only proves, that the mineral resources of New Zealand will be developed, comparatively, at a very ! much earlier peiiod than those of any European kingdom. Few propositions can be established by better evidence, than that prudent and successful speculation by the inhabitants of a country in the exportation of their minerals, presupposes a dense population, great previous progress in agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and a large surplus capital over and above what is required for other more necessary and pressing enterprizes. It is equally true, that the employment by foreign capitalists of the poor settlers of a young colony in mining operations, is favourable to the colony, only so (ar as it enables vsome of the settlers to acquire small capitals for farming pursuits. Foreign capital is, certainly, thus introduced into the colony, and, in some instances, ulti* mately "applied to agricultural and pastoral pursuits. But, this advantage is, perhaps, fully balanced by the temporal y withdrawal of a portion of the labour of the colony from its proper destination, and by the hardship consequently experienced by the actual occupants of land. As for that portion of the poor settlers, which is unable to emerge from the woeful drudgery of the mines, the wildest life in the bush would be infinitely better for themselves, and more advantageous to the colony. It would seem, therefore, that, though we may justly boast of our mineral resources as a most important element in the character of the colo>ny in which we have cast our lots, and as a high recommendation in the eyes of intending emigrants, we must, nevertheless, regard them, not so much a source of present as of future wealth and prosperity, not so much a present possession^ a goodly heritage to our descendants, not so much treasures placed before us for immediate enjoyment, as rewards to be earned by a long course of active industry and severe discipline. But, if ihe idea of a colony is so firmly associated in the mind with those of agriculture, flocks, and herds ; if agricultural and pastoral puisuits have hitherto been the sole or principal pursuits of the first settlers in colonies, and, if the fruits and results of these pursuits have almost invariably been the first articles of export, how has it come to pass, that so large a portion of the attention of the settlers of New Zealand has, from time to time, been given to the exportation of its spontaneous products ? It can not be contended, that the settlers were ignorant of the proper objects ol pursuit, or deficient in the energy and perseverance necessary for the attainment of these objects. We have often taken occasion to expiess our high opinion of the southern settlers from the reports of others concerning them.

But, we can affirm with confidence, from on own actual observation anil experience, that i would be no easy matter to point out in air part of Her Majesty's colonial empire a mor intelligent or hardy race of settlers than tin mon of tli's district. Drihig the first five yenr of (he colony's existence, they endured witl heroic fortitude every species of hardship, trla and disappointment, and finally emerged f -on them, not only unscathed, but prosperous. No a gleam of hope has prtsentcd itself from anj qunrter dv ing the whole period of the colony 1 ! existence, which has not been instantly discerned, and turned to account with judgment promptness, and energy. From such men, acting upon a c!ea' # stage, and with definite ob* jects in view, auyth'iig may be expected. 'liv difficulty with them lies, not in get.ing their to discern their proper objects, or to pursue them when discerned with suitable vigour, bul in acqui.ing the objects, cleaning the way te them, and rendering them really accessible. The solution of the difficulty just stated is therefore, not to be sought in the settlers. I| is to be found, however, in the peculiar circumstances under which this colony was founded, and some of the impeilal enactments iel.iting to it. The Htens<j love of independence always manifested by the New Zealanders, their martial habits, and the great progioss, which, by the joint and long-continued influence of religion and trade, they made in civilization, naturally rendered the colonization oJ this country an object of teiror to the imperial government. The solicitat : ons and importunities of companies and individuals were al'kc disregarded by Lord Normanby, on account ol the obvious dangers to both races that seemed to be involved in the very idea of such an enterprise. The New Zealand Company, however, undertook the colonization of the country on thei" own account, in open defiance ol a well-established piinciplc of colonization, and of the opinion of the impciial government so solemnly announced. Her Majesty's government was thus morally compelled to enter, without any preparation whatever, upon an enterprise, which, for its quiet and successful execution, would have required the uso of many precautions, the exercise of much previous deliberation, and the application of a host of well- concerted means and appliances Many of the expected consequences are now matters of fact. We are, however, at present, no farther concerned with them, than simply to observe, that, for some years after the foundation of the colony, life and property were so very imperfectly secured, that agricultural and pastoral pursuits, at any distance from the towns, could not be carried on without risk and danger. When peace and order were reestablished, and efficient steps taken for securing life and property, new difficulties presented themselves. Distant country land in this district could be obtained from the Crown only at the very unreasonable rate of £l per acre, far the greater portion of exchanged lands was reserved for jobbing and speculation, and the titles of the new land claimants were not considered, even by themselves, sufficiently secure to justify them in investing their capital in the improvement and cultivation of the lands claimed. Similar results were produced in ths southern district by the inability of the Company to fullfil its contracts with the settlers, by absenteeism, and some other causes. By the operation of all these causes, agricultural and pastoral pursuits have hitherto been rendered dangerous or imprudent, or both, and the owners of capital have been compelled to divert it from its proper, and ultimately most productive destination, to the exportation of gum, flax, copper, manganese, oil, bone, and spars. On account of the abundant supply of native labour, it may, we think, be reasonably anticipated, that a portion of the capital of the settlers of New Zealand will always be invested in the exportation of these and other spontaneous products of the country. But the principal part of the capital of the settlers can never be so invested without great detriment to the colony. At this moment the country is being opened by roads, order and repose reign through the whole islands, and life and property are secured as perfectly as they are in England. Under these circumstances, the future fortunes of this colony will depend, almost entirely, upon the regulations under which the waste lands of the Crown, or lands the properly of the natives, will hereafter be sold, demised, or let for occupation under license. In our entire ignorance of these regulations, we can only give expression to our opinion, that, if they are drawn up in conformity with the views, and Under the advice, of Captain Grey, they will give satisfaction to the settlers.

Deserters. — On Monday night, or Tuesday morn ing last, four soldiers made their escape from the Garrison, taking along with (hem their muskets, and several rounds of ammunition. A lnrge boat was missing on the following morning from the landing-place in Official Bay, and it is supposed that the deserters have taken it to carry them away to some place on the coast The Albert was despatched in search of them, and letters, offering large rewards for their capture, Iwve been sent to various native chiefs. Two of the runaways had attempted to escape on a former occasion, but weie apprehended and punished. We understand that they are men of very had character in the regiment ; we, therefore, hope to hear soon of their re-captnre, for although such men would not be any loss to the service, yet their influence amongst the natives, where they might succeed for a time in concealing themselves, would be very detrimental indeed.

Gakiuson Spouts. — We r lderstind that Colonel Gold and the Officers of the (uilh ltcgt., have niado j arrangements to give their men a day's amusement on the 'ground at Albert Ban-acks, on Monday next. The sports are to ooivnence at one o'clock, and to consist of foot-racing, and other manly and healthful recreations; mid the public me to be admitted to the grounds as spectators. Fmi'niJM'.NT DnAi.itfo. — Our nllrnlion 1m l.ttHy ngiin been called to a most disicputable practice ih.it still prevails amongst several of the persons who are in (he habit of purchasing produce "om the Natives. Tricks of a very disgraceful and thievish character arc resorted to, while paying money into the hands of the Natives, in order to deceive them, and keep back part of the cash— -inri the unsuspecting Native seldom discovers his loss till he is about to pay away his money for articles purchased in some of our stoic 1 ?. Ifthoie ever was an evil that called for police vigilance it is this. What has a more dangerous tendency thpu the proceedings of these rogues ? We recommend the Audio*, ritios to post around the market place Notices in the Maori language, apprizing the Natives of this villainous practice,