NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 100, 1 May 1847, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor of the Times (Concluded from bur last.)

After residing three weeks here after his return from the Bay of Islands, he proceeded to the southern settlements, accompanied by all the available forces—naval and military—at his disposal. Very different, however, was the result of his operations at Port Nicholson to what he had so happily accomplished at theßay of Islands. But equally different was the state of feeling existing between the races of these two places. It has already been shown that at the north, the enmity of the natives was confined to the .Government alone, and arose from imaginary evils supposed attendant on the supremacy of the Queen; but at the south the enmity of the natives has always been, and still is, towards the settlers. From the first locating of the New Zealand Company’s settlers in Cook’s Straits, there arose a misunderstanding with the natives as to what lands were purchased and entitled to be occupied ; and the consequence has been that many of the settlers have never obtained possession of their lands, and few have enjoyed undisputed or peaceable possession of them. If would be foreign, to the object of these remarks to enter into the inquiry as to whether the company’s purchases were fairly made or not. Suffice it to say, that the datives have always disputed them, and the unfortunate settlers have bad transferred to them those disputes, along with the hostility of the native owners : and thus an unfriendly feeling sprang up between the races, and has continued ever since—the natives regarding the settlers as the invaders of their territories,

and the settlers again looking upon the natives as the sole.impediment to their advancement and prosperity. With regard to these disputed lands, certain investigations were made before a commissioner,. certain awards made in favour of the natives, further payments made in consequence to them, but, nevertheless, they still continue to possess the' lands. Such was the position of affairs which Captain Grey found awaiting him at Wellington. The details of the militaty operations which were found necessary there are already before the public, but may be briefly summed up in the following facts :~The natives not only keeping possession of the Hutt and Waiwatu districts, but having robbed some of the settlers, the military were moved forward to the scene of the disturbances, and a time was given by which the natives were ordered to yield possession of the disputed lands they refused, demanding payment, for their crops. Jt was intimated that tf quit they must,” or they would be attacked. “ The natives made a pretence of departing, and marched into the bush,” It was now thought that matters had thus been settled, but the natives returned, threatening the lives and properties of the settlers, and they carried this so far into execution, by ** pillaging the unfortunate settlers upon a most extensive scale.’’ An interchange of shots now took place between the military and the natives, compelling the latter to retire. Martial law? was proclaimed—military possession of the disputed lauds kept; but the first settlers a father and sou who returned to their lands were murdered in cold blood. Captain Grey found that from the impracticable nature ol the country, any offensive operations against the natives, with the force at his disposal, ftould only result in failure ; but he made certain permanent military dispositions so as to secure the safety of the settlers, and left all the military lie. could spare for that purpose. He further sanctioned the. enrolment of 50 armed police, and appointed an inspector and sub-inspector, and also sanctioned the formation of military roads to the various depots. Such, then, is the resultof Captain Grey’s attempt to put the New Zealand Company in possession of their lands; but how different from the expectations expressed in one of the Wellington papers which said, “ At length we may congratulate our fellow colonists on the disputes about land in the Hutt district being fairly settled; the intruding natives who so lomr annoyed the settlers there, have given up the land without any opposition, and either have lett or are preparing ;to leave; so that in a few days, we may hope that their settlement will be entirely broken up.” t Scarcely had a few days passed before 200 persons residing in the Hutt and Waiwatu districts, were pillaged •of all they possessed, and compelled to take refuge in Wellington. And in a few days after the two first settlers who attempted to occupy their lands (uuder military protection), were massacred. Captain Grey was compelled.to leave the settlers in a much worse state than he found them; but no blame can be attached to him, as he did everything that could be done under the circumstances, He next visited the settlements of Nelson and Wanganui, and favorable impressed all the colonists towards him. Hev arried again at the seat of government in the end of April, after an absence of nearly three months. Since his return, nothing of aiiy moment has been done ; and what his future proceedings are to be has not transpired. He has begun however to organize a mounted police force, and an inspector and sub-inspector are already gazetted. The corps is to consist of 60 men, 12 of whom are to be natives, and the pay of both races no less a sum than £65 per annum, which the colonists consider decidedly too much ; and the more especially, as there is at present a want of labourers here, and'such high rates being of-1 fered will of course substract a body of labourers al-' ready getting high wages from the colonists, who can ill afford to lose them Whether the news ot such high ’ pay being given will cause a sudden influx of labourers from Cook’s Straits, where large numbers remain mi - i employed—especially at Nelson—or from the neighbouring colonies, we have yet to sec. lf.it should, the present evil may result in ultimate good. ; As it is not known what the precise duties of this new corps are to be, no sound opinion can be formed as to its necessity. So far as public opinion has already expressed itself, it is thoguht that the amount of expenditure thus incurred would be much more advantageously spent on an enlightened body of men dispersed as resident agents among the natives; £6,000 a year which it will cost to keep up a corps ol 60 mounted police, even after the first cost of horses, &c., would salary so individuals at £3OO per annum—a sum sudicieht to call into existence a class of persons equal to the task that would devolve upon them, and who would do more to | civilize the natives and keep them in a state of peace. and contentment than many such corps of police. If such a corps is found necessary,the emnloyment of natives in it is worthy of a trial, it they can be weaned from that state of complete obedience which they render their chiefs, and transfer it to Government—a great point will certainly be gained.' At the present moment it would ceriainly excite no little surprise to hear of the native mounted police aiding and executing a warrant • against any chief, not to mention the chance of that chief being their own. Before such an event takes place, a considerable period must have elapsed, during which the feelings of the natives must have undergone a complete change. Considerable jealousy will at first prevail among the natives generally, seeing their fcl- 1 low countrymen enlisted in a military capacity under the Government; but in the course of time, when it is seen that Government makes use of them only for the protection of all parties, such feelings of disapproval wilTsoon dissppear. We are quite in the dark as to what measures are to be adopted in regulating the future sale of lands, and on what conditions, or if on any, the natives will he allowed to sell to the public. Rumour says that the Government alone arc to be the purchasers 5 in which

event they will certainly have enough to do, ami require besides a very long purse. , But, to suppose that the natives will submit to the right of purchase being exclusively.held by the Government, is to labour under a great mistake. It is impossible for .Government to purchase all the lands that would be offered, or to suppose that they could give the same price,as private individuals. The land, of all other questions,, is that on, which the minds of the natives are now continually fixed, and the utmost jealously of the intention .of Government would follow any attempt that might now he made to interfere with the free sale of their lands. Indeed it would not fail to create an union of feeling and. interest among the various tribes, and against the Government, which would be fatal,to the peace and prosperity of the settlement, 1 sincerely hope, therefore? that our fears as to the intentions of Government on this subject may prove to be unfounded. The Governor having just published an official return of the Imports and Exports for the past year, I cannot afford a better summary of the commercial state of the different settlements, as well as of the whole colony, than by quoting the particulars Imports for 1845.

Exports for 1845,

The above return speaks somewhat in favour of Auckland, notwithstanding all the attempts made- to run it down. By the last accounts from the south, there were no vessels laid on the berth for home. Here we have two the Strathesla and Mary Catherine. For the colonies considerable shipments have been made in Kauri spars, timber, flax, and copper ore, from this immediate neighbourhood. The Kauwau copper mine, ‘.within a few miles of the harbour, is raising ten tons of ore daily ; and experienced miners, having arrived from Cornwall the mine is now being worked in a systematic manner. There is now a population of 200 souls in that small island. ’ The mine on the Great Barrier is also being worked, ;bul not vigorously at present. The title deeds of the property were taken to England about a year ago to endeavour to sell to, or raise, a company for working the mine, but we have not yet heard the result. Other mines which have been opened have been stopped for the want of the necessary capital to work them. Captain Grey has sailed in the war steamer for the Bay of Islands and northern harbours, and will return over land. It is supposed he lias political objects in view with the natives.

Immediately on his return he proceeds to visit our immense available districts reached by the Thames, Waikato, and Waipa rivers—the entrance to the two former being within a day’s journey of this place and navigable for 100 miles. After such a minute examination of the capabilities of this part of the island, the colonists here will have their fears set at rest as to any chance of the capital being removed; at least so far as the opinion and power of tive-Governor can go ; as the superiority of the local advantages of this part of the islands speaks for itself; but even if these are to weigh nothing, we have still the statistical returns in our favour, one of which J have al ready given. That return, shows the imports of Auckland to be more than those of all the settlements in the south together, by £.916 is. id. it also 1 proves the exports from Auckland to be no less than £13,910 1 is. fid. more than those from all the settlements in the south together; and lastly, it shows that a greater number of vessels, by 10, and a larger amount of shipping by 2,410 tons, visit ed the harbour of Auckland, than all the harbours of the Company’s settlements on Cook’s Stiaits. Thus, by the only means by which the commercial superiority of one district over another can be ascertained the award must be in favor of the North. And equally favorable to it arc the following returns showing the contributions of revenue for 1845 from the various settlements, viz.;—

i? 52,132 5 6

The only revenue returns, as yet published, for the present year, are those,of Auckland and Wellington, for the first quarter of which 1 copy the Customs’ receipts. ,

Statement of all Moneys received by the Collector of Her Majesty's Customs in New Zealand, from the 6th January to the sth of April, 1846.

Witli ih-*so remarks 1 bring the present, already 190 ' lengthy communication to a close, andjn my,next.shall • tarnish you, with an account of the'Governor’s journey',," to the north, as also of his tour through the valley 1 of . the Thames, Waikato, and Waipa, which I hope will furnish matter of much interest and impdrtarice to the settlement. .1 ■ ' ' . •

I remain, :&c'., : > AESCULAPIUS.

Auckland, New Zealand, May 28.

Name of Port. Estimated Value in Sterling. Ships Inwards. Tonnage. Men. Auckland . . . £ s. d. 58,863 14 0 G2 9,685 G61 Wellington . . 5(1,330 18 7 40 5,537 430 Nelson . . . , 0,297 0 0 9 1,001 78 New Plymouth . , 1,319 14 4 3 737 37 Total . , . £116.811 6 11 114 1G.9G0 1,206

Name of Port. JistimaicU Value in Sterling. bmps Outwards Tonnage. Men. Auckland . . . £ a. d. 45,411 0 0 29,609 8 6 65 8,810 607 Wellington . . 47 5,866 566 Nelson . . . . 1,891 0 0 13 1,147 96 New Plymouth . Nil, 1 44 5 Total . . . £76,911 8 6 126 . 15,8371,274

£. s. d. The Northern Division .. .. 6,331 l 1 Southern Division ,, .. 19 10 Miscellaneous 761 15 0 Crown Lands 10 5 Receipts in aid of Revenue .. 38,745 0 0

Heads of Receipts. Auckland. Wellington Spirits £ s. d. s. d. 1,212 9 8 309 10 3 Cigars and Snuffs . . . , . 33 3 11 10 0 0 Tobacco, manufactured . . . 422 10 0 33 n 0 Ad valorem duty ...... 1,054 7 9 231 3 5 Total 2,722 11 4 <544 4 8