SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 244, 30 September 1848, Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 18 48.

We have been favoured with a sight of the Despatches of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief to Earl Giiky, presented to both Houses of Parliament on the 3rd of February last. — They are ten in number, and extend from the 27th July to the Ist October, 1817. Should we light upon matter of sufficient local importance we shall make commensurate extracts in our next. In another column we have copied the five years Suspension Act. Ere that period^elapses we have no doubt the Constitution will be strangled beyond recovery.

W e may be late, but we are not, therefore, the less sinceie, in Welcoming the enterprising settlers of Taranaki into fellowship of their northern brethren, of whose province their flourishing settlement now forms a component part. Our intercourse has been, for some time, on the increase, and we have reason to believe that, ere long, it will be very consideiably extended. Shippers, erewhile in the habit of transacting business with Wellington, express a frank opinion of the greater facilities and commercial superiority of this market. Vessels, therefore, that were formerly wont to make the passage to Cook's Straits are likely to make sail towaids the north ; and should the Acheron be instructed, as we trust she may, to undertake a prompt and accurate survey of the noble harbour of Manakau, the communication with Taranaki will become rapid and continuous. A cargo of potatoes was recently shipped from Taranaki to Sydney, but at a loss to the shipper. Had they been sent to Manukau, a profit would have been realised, as the article always finds its value in the Auckland market. The land recently purchased by Governor Grey is nearly fully occupied, and the greater portion under cultivation. In shott industry and prosperity are said to march hand in hand. Mr. Hursthouse left this the other day by the Star of China for Sydney, en route for London, where he purposes publishing a work illustrative of the rise, progress, and capabilities of Taranaki — an undertaking for which his colonial experience renders him eminently qualitied. Success to the Book, and Prosperity to Taranaki !

" The formation of good roads gives the greatest facility to commerce, and contributes in an eminent degree to the progress of civilization ; for it is well known that wherever the means of internal communication are deficient in a country, the people are less polished, and generally ill supplied with many of the necessaries, as well as the luxuries of life." Paramount as the importance of good roads must be in all countnes, their practical construction becomes a question bearing upon the actual existence of colonies. In old countries, where population is in excess, where labour is a drug, where money is abundant, and man and man's inventions ever on the alert to devise expedients in promotion of commercial and agricultural prosperity, the care and construction of improved roads have occupied an anxious consideration, and have entailed a lavish outlay by all nations. Without a facility of transit to and from the extremes, and throughout every part, of a country, cities must languish, agriculture pine,

and arts and manufactures labour under the most serious disadvantages ; but smooth the way for their easy and economical passage, and the spot best adapted for their peculiar productions will spring, it may be, from a reeky fen to a field of wealth far surpassing that of the vaunted cloth of gold, The extiaordinary industrial strides of England have taken place within the last centuiy ; and (the tangible developement of her maivellous commercial prosperity is largely attributable to the wisdom that intersected her every county with roads, bridges, and canals, unequalled in any other land. The facility of conveyance created a demand for produce — the demand for produce cieated a demand for bread, and as the formation of main and byeroads contracted, rather than enlarged, the field of the husbandman's operations, art and science were pressed into the service of the tiller of the soil. A better system, a more judicious mode of culture, changed the aspect, as well as the fertile qualites of the earth ; and a smaller field was encouraged to return a larger and more generous yield than a larger but less ably nursed enclosure. Agriculture in the vicinity of large towns, is always in a moie advanced and moie pioductive stale than agiiculluie in remote, however more fertile, localities ; and, simply, because the saving of the cost of comeyance of the pioduce to maiket, of marls, manures, and composts for dressing of the soil, together with those of supplies, and the facility of repairs of the instruments of ru - ral industry, enable the farmer, and that frequently at a greatly enhanced rental, to derive a much more than corresponding return from the fruits of the field so situated. With defective means of internal communication, a people, must of necessity, spread themselves over the surface of a country, and with dispersion, as an inevitable consequence, must follow isolation of power, purpose and prosperity. The landholder may be rich in " corn, oil, and wine" — his board may teem with fatness — his barns burst with plenteous - ness — his beeves may be many and sleek — his flocks as numerous as pure — and yet, he may be poor, even to penury, in payment (in money) of his labouier's, tradesmen's, and other's imperative demands. We have ourselves, known numberless colonial examples of men, with credit good for thousands, who because of the utter impracticability of a means of conveying their produce to market, have been greatly distressed to raise an insignificant sum in cash, and then only through Banks or Usurers, and at an interest (a. sleepless Demon) which gnawed intojjthe very marrow of the most advantageous transactions — and all this sacrifice of time, temper, and stability, because of the absence of roads, by which a few loads of wheat, some tons of forage, or a clip of wool might be sped to market. " Next to the introduction of money, and weights and measuies, the formation of good roads and bridges gives the greatest facility to commerce, and contributes more powerfully, perhaps, than anything else to the progress of improvement. They have been denominated national veins and arteries ; and the latter are not more indispensable to the existence of individuals, than improved communications are to a healthy state of the public economy. — Every improvement effected in the means of conveyance has obviously the same effect upon the cost of commodities that have to be conveyed, as an improvement in the methods by which they are raised or manufactured." So argues our great modern political economist, and if truly, in reference to an old country, how much more than truly with respect to a new one. Amongst the many sources of profligate patronage in the overridden colonies, none have been more fertile of ruinous and reckless expenditure than roads. In New South Wales, and in Van Diemen's Land, where ample labour was at command, where materials were superabundant, and where the utmost difficulty of traffic existed, scarcely a tolerable road is to be found ; and that, notwithstanding the numerous gangs constantly employed and the lavish outlay for their tools, sustenance and supervision. The secret of this disregard of public convenience is to be found in the entire absence of any interest reciprocal to the Governor and the governed. Roads therefore, colonially speaking, have been regarded less as a medium of benefit to the settlers than as vehicles of personal patronage to the Viceroy pro tern. We have witnessed numerous instances of this malevergation of office — not only in the employment of large gangs in unimportant spots, but in the appointment of Military Officers, upon full pay ; some of them doing regimental duty at head quarters with their corps, and merely indulging in an occasional constitutional ride, in order that a colour might be given to their claim of Colonial allowance for the supervising of works whose elementary principles weie as Sanscrit to their understandings. In no Colony was this patronage so outrageously abused as in Van Diemen's Land, under Sir George Arthur. By some strange coined dence wherever that Ruler held property, (and he was an extensive landholder) there a strong road party was sure to he found with an Infantry Officer its established supervisor. We may, perhaps, be pardoned if we point to Bridgewater, half way between Hobart Town and New Norfolk, as a striking example of

reckless and ruinous abuse of the public purse. The river Denvent is there of great breadth, with a narrow, deep water, channel passing between two wide and extensive mud banks. — Across this a causeway was determined to be thrown. Convict and Soldier's Barracks, for a large gang of the former, and a guaid of some forty of the latter, were erected, with an excellent bill el for a Captain, doing duty with Ins, regiment, whose appointment as Engineer! put money in his purse, whatever capacity theie miijht be found in his head. Into this berth, were inducted, from time to time, Captains Gibbons, Dextei, and Croly of the G3rd Regiment — as good fellows as ever breathed, but as fit for Bishops as for Engineeis. However ; they said to do tins 1 , and it was done. They commanded the removal of mountains, and they disappeared. The mud flats gaped, and swallowed all that was thrown into their capacious maws. No fascines, however, had been sunk to form a bed for the heaps of earth and stones — the slime, therefoie, but bulged, and curved upwards, and engulphed the mighty and accumulating mass, so that ten or twelve years were wasted over a woik which the hand of science, if equally stienglhencd, would have rendered more perfect m two or thiee ! Twenty one years have been expended in formation of the road betwixt Hobart Town and Launceston — with numerous and strong parties in numberless parts of it. The distance is but one hundred and twenty miles, and still much, very much, remains to be completed. The cost incurred, we were assured, a few years since, and upon semi-ofiicial authority, amounted to Six Thousand pounds per mile ! We might cite many equally memorable examples of the genius of Colonial Engineering, but that it were an idle waste of words. Need we point to the beautiful Barney cut near Grose's Farm, on the Paramatta Road, or to that elegant extract now in course of exhibition in Queen Street, Auckland 1 How many thousand tons of metal will that glorious quagmire swallow up? It should be an imperative instruction from the Imperial to every Local Government that all roads be undei taken by public contract. The colonies would then have some assurance that the money appropiiated for such purposes was judiciously applied, and that the works would be carried on with energy and ability. The road making system in New Zealand is generally decried, and as far as our own means of observation enable us to decide, most deservedly so. Men ate not born engineers, however greatly they may be born poets. Engineering is an art that requires study, application, and practical expenence,^and to those alone, thus qualified, matters of such vital import to colonial piospenty should be confided. Nor do we think the operation of stone splitting is one best calculated for the civilization of the Maones ; whilst by drawing them from the cultivation of thenown crops, or depriving the farmer of the labour they might othei wise be willing to render in production of his, the colony is unavoidably compelled to trust tathe foreigner for supply of her necessary food. The system is as faulty as almost every other colonial system, but the voice of the colonies is not the voice 1 of A People, nor is Reform a word yet admitted into their feudal dictionary.

Melancholy Accident. — On Tuesday evening, about ten o'clock, as the Emily, cutter, was off Wangapaua, on her passage fromWangarei to Auckland, a fine young man, named John Ogilvie, then at the helm, was struck on the head by the main boom, whilst the sail was jibing, and knocked overboard. The vessel was instantly put about, but the search was in vain; the unfoitunate youth never afterwards having been seen. There were but three others besides the deceased on board. Mr. Whytlavv came up in the Emily, and has brought with him a superior sample of lime-stone.

An Act to Suspend for Fivk Years the Operation ok Certain Parts of an Act of the Tenth Year of Her present Majesty, FOR MAKING FURTHER PROVISION FOR the Government of the Nmv Zealand Islands ; and to make other Provision , in lieu thereof. [7th March, 1848.] Whkreas by an Act pasted m the tenth year ol the Reiicn ot Her Majesty, intitled an Act to mahe firiher Provision for the Government of (ho Nlw Zealand Islands, certain powers were vented in Her Majesty, (u be executed by letter* patent to be from tune lo time iaiued under the g< cut teal of the United Kingdom, or by inductions under her Majesty* signet and sign inanuul, approved in her prvy council, and accompanying or referred to in such letteni patent : And nhereua in pursuance of the said act her Maje»ty did, by letters patent bean'ng date at Westminster the twenty-third day of December in the year afoiesaid, ■ and by certain instructions made and approved as required by the laid act, and bearing even da U with and ' accompanying the said 1-tteri paient, execute certain ot the power* by the said act vested in her Majesty for tiie better Government of the said liland, reserving ' by the said letters patent fu'l power and authority to herself, her heirs and successors, from time to lime to amend, and for that purpose to add to or if neceisary ' to repeal, the said letters pitent and mstructioni : And whereat it ii expedient that certain of lite provisions of the said act, letters patent, and instructions, bhould not for the pre-ont be carried into effect, but doubt* have been eniei tamed whether the said actii nufficient to enable her Majesty to suspend the operation of the same, and of the laid letten patent and instructions, i or any of them : Be it therefore enacted by the Queen' ».

most Excellent Majesty, bv nnd with the content of the Lords Spiritual mil Temporal, and Commons in this present Pailiament assembled, and hy the Aatho* rity of the sume, Tlint so muchol the mill net, letters patent, and instructions as relates to the constitution and pstablnhment of two or more separate Aiscmblie* within the 'aid Islands, and to the constitution nnd establishment of a General Assembly in and for the s>iid I-laiuls, anJ to the powers, rights , und privileges of such Assemblies reoprctively, iiml to this qualifications of the uicmbi'ri nl kucli assemblies, and to the manner of their election nnd appointment, and to tho forms, the tunami^sinn, and 'he disallowance of luwi and oiditiitnces to be enacted by the f-aid assemblies respectively, and to the appropriation of the revnflU'g .1 l-ing fioin laws of the general assembly, blind be»us. pended lor the period of live yeai'ti Irom the d.iy of the passing of tin* act, unless her Majesty, by anil with the advice of her privy council, fc-hall direct tha imicl act, letters patent, 01 instructions shall before tba expiration of that period he. cunkd into, effect, II And where is by the haul firH-mentioned act another act passed in the fourth year of her MitjeMv.'s reiftn, und certain letters pMcnt bearing elite ih« sixteenth duy of November in the mine year, mid nil charters, letters patent, and instructions; and onl rs iv council inudo and ihnued in pursuance of the last-men-lioued act, were repealed, abrogated, and annulled as therein mentioned: And wheicnd by the suid K'ttirs patent beating date the six icntli day of November in the lourth year of her M jefc'y's nign, H»d by certain, instructions beat ing date the tilth day of December in the Mime year, in r Majc-ty did amount other thing! authorize the Governor for the time being of the Slid Islands, and certain other prisons, to be a K'#islutivtt council for the said l>lnn<ls, and did require and enjoin that the said 1 giilutive council hhould, in pur»u. ance ol the la^t-mc\itii>»L'il him, make and orduin all such laws and ordinances as inis;ht be requiied fur iho peace, outer, and good government of tliemiid Islands: And wherein it is expedient to revive the ope. i til ion of the last mcutiotnd at, le te.« patent, and instruction*, in so fur at the tame nl.iie to the lcgi;lative council ebtahluiied or to be estahluhed un« d r und by vir.uo of the lust-mentioned act, letters patent, ami iu-tiuotii ns lor the nine during which tho ■ lid (iiBt-.ncmiut.etl act, letters p Kent, nnd iiutiuctionc Ciiitiaue to be (•u-.pended as a'oreauid by viitue of tins act : Be it therefore enaetid, That the said act, lettei » paii-iit, and instructions o( the fourth year o her Majeaiy s reign, in go far us the sumo telute to the legislative council lnst aforesaid, und to the constitution, ri_,htq, powers, ju isdiction, and uuthorijy of the same) (-hall b> revived and be in lull force anil operation for the time dm in? which the first«unentioned act lettei k patent, and in tructions coimnue to be suspended us aton-siud by vinui; of tint net ; and that dunng such time the said legislative council sh-ill have and exercise all the rights, poweis, jun«dict on, and authority which it bad or wu invested with, or was to live or bfl invested wiih, under and by vntnc of the last-mentioned act, letter* patent, and instructions, or any ot thim, or any other letter* patent or inductions grunted or is»urd, or to be granted or issued, under the lant- mentioned act; and that nl laws, oidinaiicee, acts, and ill ngß lawfully dme by the mid legislative council during luch suspension as aforemid nil ill he and remain in full force uiul effect ufur and notwMisiuiiiling (lie termmatioa of such suipensioii, until and uulets 111.7 be hereafter repealed by competent authority in (hit beltalf. 111. And be i. enacted, That k for the time during whicli I In; said nrs'-mentioned act, letters patent, und ins ructions couti .un to be ausp-nded as uture.-aid by vi lue of tluS act it rhall be lawful for the Governor inChief of the naiil Island*, f.om time to time as ho tnuy tut ik pioper, but subject to the disallowance of liei Mtijcsty a* }icrcir»iit.r mentioned, to add to the membeis ot the said legislative council, and tor that l>urpjse Irom time to time to summon und uppouit buch pcrbon or p. rsons as he may think proper to be peiaonally or by virtus of bis or their ofliee inemlur or metnbers ot budi legi»l<ttive council; and the said legiNuit-ve council, with huch additional member or mtmber-, and eveiymembsr theri'oi, shall have and exercise the ttume ri^ht.s, power*, jumdiction, and authority a» the hind legislative conucil or any mcmbur tlieteuf had or exercised belore any addition to the sdinr' was made. IV. And be it enacted, That for the timeMuring which the li st-menhoned act, lelltrs patent, and instiuetions continue to he iu 3 pi'iided as aforesaid by viitue ot this act, it hlull be lawful for the laid Go. vemor-iu- Chief, by and with the advice and consent ot the said legislative council, by ordinance, il'he iball tli ink pioper, to constitute within and for any of tho Piovinceti into which the Islands of New Z aland aio now or may be hereafter divided a provincial legitla* tivd Council, to be appointed or elected or appointed and elected in uuch manner and by such person or perioi>3 as by such ordinance shall be provided in that i.ehult ; and the piovincial legislative councilor councils io constituted nhall have all such riglvsi power*, junsd.ction. und authority as shad be grant-d iv that behilf to the taid provincial legislative council or council*, or either ot them, by such ordinance and none other. Y. And wlum'chi by the vaid hr«t mentioned in* strucliona the said Governor-in-Chief w^s directed todivide certain pnits of the said islands into municipal dist icts, utid to constitute within «uch dbtrtcts iuutiicipal corporations, con->i»ling of a in.iyor, court of aldermen, und common council, and of Ijurgesati poi> siting the qualification prescribed by the waid first* memioned instiuctions in that behalf : And whereas it is expedient that the uuid rpirflifkauon «hou:d be subject to regulation a* lierci nutter mentioned : Be it tbeiefore enacted, Tint u shall and may be lawful for the sud Governor-in-Cliicf, from tune to time, by und with the advice and consent of the tuid ltgultlive council, by ordinance, to depart from the said tim* mentioned injunctions in so far as the same relate to the nature and extent ot the said qualification, and id nuike und ordutn such other or further rules and regulations with respect to the nature and extent ot the qualification for burgesse* in the said municipal districts or any of then), or in any particular ca«e, a) the said Governor-iu.Cnief, by und with the like advice and consent, oauy think pioper, any thing in tho Siiid lint-mentioned act, letters putout, or in»iructioni to the contrary notwithstanding 1 . VI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That it thall be lawful for h-r M»jeity. if ihe shall think proper, from time to time to disallow any order for addit'on to the number of the said legislative council, or any ordinance for the constitution of or relating to any provincial legii-htive council, or with resprct to tha qualification of bur^etses in uny municipal d strict; and in cue ot such disallowance, upon the same being signified to the said Qovernor-in-Chief within tho said Islands, the order or o.dinance so disallowed blull be annulled to all intents nnd purposes whatsoever, except in so far as relates to any law, ordinance, net, muttei, or thing lawfully done under or by reason ol the oider or ordinance duallowed between the date of such, order or ordinance and the signification of diiullowauce as ufuresatd. VII. And be it enacted, That this act, and the flritmentioni'd act ns altered by this aot>ahiH be read anil coiutrued together m °a« net. ;

VIII- And be it enacted, That this act shall take wfbct within the laid islands nt the expiration of ten days from the day of the proclamation (hereof within the *arne | IX And be it enacted, That this act may be amended or repealed by any act to be patted in this Session of Parliament.