The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 288, 3 March 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just an<l (car not : Let all the emls tlion ainis't at, be thy Country's, 'lliy Goo's, ami Truth's.

His Excellency the Go vernor-in -Chief, the Colonial and Civil Secielaiies, the Surveyor General, and Captain Vignoles, returned to town on Wednesday afternoon, from a toui of the Waikalo. The paities, both of his Excellency, and Captain fteziderson and Dr. Thomson, spealc in terms of unqualified admiration of the rich and beautiful country through which they passed : which for fertility and convertibility of soil, they pronounce to be of the finest quality.

Scarcely had that accommodating fane, the Court House, been cleared of its forensic occupants, on Thursday morning, ere its portals weie thrown open for dispatch of business of quite as exciting if not of quite so grave a character. If its purlieus were not crowded by money chanc/crs, they were thronged by men, not indeed desirous to buy doves, but to possess themselves of one or more of the many nooks so seductively exposed for them to perch upon. In plain English, the extensive sale of town allotments took place. Ore hundred and nineteen town lots, twenty six suburban, and two rural lots, were offered for public acceptance ; and the unusual assemblage of buyers gave evidence that a more than oidinary competition might be expected. About noon the business of the day commenced, and the disposal of the very first, an indifferent lot of eight and thirty perches, at two pounds beyond the upset price, " gave dreadful note of preparation " to intending purchasers to open out their purse strings. The second lot, containing two roods and thirteen perches, was hotly contested, being eventually knocked down at Ninety one pounds, or thiity two pounds seventeen shillings and sixpence in excess of the upset price. Four other lots of this section, (25) fetched corresponding sums. These, however, were comparatively moderate prices, the great struggle of the day being reserved for the lots of section 32, abutting upon the top of Queen and Wakefield streets. The lots of this section were most minutely subdivided, the minimum extent being eight and the maximum thirteen perches, that is, excepting such portions as aie situated in the gully under the glacis of the barracks, and which a Pierce Egan, would be apt to characterize as " back slums." Of these, but five lots, of nine perches each, weie taken, and all but one, at the upset price. For the others, averaging ten perches, at upset prices varying from fifteen pounds twelve shillings and six pence, to twelve pounds ten shillings per lot, the contest was remarkably keen, two of those

ten perches lpalizing foity pounds each, being al the rate of Six Hundred ami forty pound 1 ? an acre, and many more commanding from thirty, to six and thirty pounds each ! At the moment that the biddings were the most spirited, it began to be whispered that scrip would be received in payment of those lands, for which, by public proclamation of three months standing, " immediate payment in cash " was declared "to be an indispensable condition of sale !" These whisperings created an uneasy and an indignant sensation. Purchasers spoke warmly of a breach of public faith, and of having been unfairly practised upon. Nor were their minds set at rest when Mr. FoitsArni inquired of the Colonial Treasurer if CASH ALONE were an indispensable conditition of sale ? The Treasurer answered that he was so instructed. Mr. Forsutii, then, pointedly inquhed if Scrip would not be received 1 The Treasurer, in reply, said he, of course> must receive it, if so instructed ; and we have the best of reasons for believing, if not of positively knowing, that scMp will be taken in payment. We are far from wishing to deprive scrip holders of any opportunity to convert their, orders. We only contend against the principle of their being admitted where cash is the proclaimed sole medium of purchase. The Government have other and legitimate means of satisfying sciip holders claims. Why not do so with lots for which no offers have been made at former upset prices *? We question if in strict construction of law, such part of the sale, effected in direct contiovention of its own proclamation, would hold good. To speak, therefore, in the very mildest terms of Thursday's transactions, the public have been dealt with in an unseemly and a disingenuous manner. The sale of lands on that day was emphatically, the working ma n's sale. The soil was meted in fragmental portions to tempt the labourer's purse. The Survey Office had decked its wares and arranged its measures so as to fathom the depth of the mechanic's pockets. The hook was craftily baited and greedily swallowed, and, having been so, common honour and honesty alike demand that good faith having been observed in the very stringent stipulations imposed upon puvchasersjit should be a paramount obligation upon Government to exhibit equal good faith in fulfilment of their own " indispensable condition," and to alienate no lots save such as shall receive "immediate payment in cash." The working men of Auckland have long been looking forward to this sale as one at which they might acquire a bit of ground sufficient for the erection of a cottage. They have been hoarding their earnings, — denying themselves many little indulgences, and levelling in delighted imagination of the moment when they should be able to raise a roof over their heads and enjoy the satisfaction of a freehold. In this meritorious-hope we believe many of them have been cruelly disappointed, and all because of the unhealthy competition,' i caused by permitting cash and scrip to come into unfair and unacknowledged contact. We abstain, at present, from further comment ; in the hope that an explanation, of this most unsatisfactory procedure may be vouchsafed, and the puiity of Colonial Justice be relieved from the stigma cast upon it. Of the twenty -six suburban lois only four were sold, two at a trifling advance, two at the I upset price. Against the sale of one of these, lot 22a of section 1 1 , a protest was entered by Messrs. Williamson and Crammer. The'objections stated, were, that the land in question was their property, or if not theirs, the property of ceitain natives. The land, containing six acres and twenty perches, was purchased at the upset price of sixty one pounds five shillings, by Mr. David Graham. The two rural lots were withdrawn : and only thirty | seven of the town lots left unsold. The gross sum realised amounted to two thousand and thirty three pounds, sixteen shillings and ten pence. Yesteiday, we are told, about three hundred pounds more were received for lots taken at the upset price. From the financial results of this sale, the advocates of a high upset price may learn wisdom. They may (that they will is another aff&iv), be taught that a comparatively low upset price will never cause a depreciation of value in marketable land : nay, that on the contrary, it will have a tendency to insure a sale at the highest figure. A purchaser may be induced to give a bid for an article offered at a reasonable rate, but he will button up his pockets, and wend his way, when a fourfold value is demanded, as is at present done, for the unmarketable rural lands of all the Australian colonies— a price which trammels all their energies, but which it is to be hoped will be swept away by the spring tide of emigration now so strongly setting in.

On Thursday morning the Supreme Court assembled for the dispatch of Criminal business. His Honor the Chief Justice having taken his seat on the bench, and the Grand Jury having been impannelled — the Attorney General intimated he had no case for trial, and the Foreman of the Jury no presentment to make. The Chief Justice congratulated the Jury on the absence of crime m this settlement, as indicated by a barren calendar. He thanked, the gentlemen of the Jury present for their

punctual attendance ; and, alluding to otheis tardy in their appearance or altogether absent, said that the possible knowledge of there being no case for trial could not excuse neglect.— The Grand Jury were an essentially component portion of that court ; and, even at the last hour, business might arise to require their presence. His Honor trusted he should not again have occasion to comment on this matter. Maiden sessions have repeatedly before occurred in Auckland -.—and we are happy to find that with a rapidly increasing population, our morality keeps a corresponding pace.

Wk call attention to a notice, on what the subscriber is pleased to term "Emigi cation from this place to California." Our Colonists, we trust, will neither be misled by the trash vomited forth by a few restless spirits, nor unhinged by the moutliings of others who have found Auckland a field of %old indeed. We may have grievances here. The land grievance, ive frankly admit, is an intolerable one, but it cannot much longer be inflicted— and, besides, where is the county where all runs smooth. Distant hills are ever green— but " belter rue sit than rue flit, 1 ' as the adage has it. The Californian delusion is disappearing in Sydney, It has been scouted in Melbourne. Shall it betray the people of Auckland to their ruin ? We have a better opinion of their intelligence. The departure fiom our settlement of a dozen persons for California (and we are not aware that even so many are about to lea\e), should not be made a pretext for factious agitation, nor can it justify the employment of the terms " emigiation from this place," as used in a public notice. It is attaching too much importance entirely to the few tieasure hunters who are on the move. Such volatiles would never give permanence to a colony, and our loss by their sudden flight will not, we trust, be great. But if we are to have public meetings, let them be held for the discussion of questions woithy of public thought. The subject of a reduction in the price of the -country lands of New Zealand is one of great importance, and upon which every settler in the Noith would agree. Let us, then, make one combined effort to endeavour to force upon the Government some reasonable system for disposal of Crown lands, that immigration of a proper character may be encouraged to our shores.

We beg to remind our readers that on Tuesday next, the first great Horticultural and Agricultiual show will take place. Mr. [Robertson has kindly thrown open his rope walk for the occasion. The Band of the sSth Regiment will be present to discourse most eloquent music, and we hope every one who can, will give encouragement and support to a most useful society, and cheer it by their presence at this exhibition.

As we previously intimated, the " Fountain of Friendship" Lodge of Odd Fellows celebrated their fifth anniversary with a dinner, at the 'Royal Exchange Hotel, on Tuesday evening. P. G. Hart in the chair — N. G. Hai.lamorh, vice. Although guest daij with the regiment, 'Col. WvNYARn and the officeis of the 58th most courteously dispensed with their band in favour of the Odd Fellows, to whose banquet they thus afforded piquancy and pleasure. The dinner was an excellent one ; the evening spent with the usual hilarity ; — and, yet, whilst enjoying the ample good cheer before us, we could not but think of the countless thousands probably perishing of want in our native land, and whose mere translation hither would suffice to " get them into flesh" and comfort — probably into affluence. We must be brief in our details. In a cursory glance of the lodge, it was elicited that live years since it was originated by as many individuals. It had increased and multiplied most successfully, numbering upwaids of a hundred members, with a fund of nearly four times as many hundred pounds, and a cheering prospect of yet many more men and means. It was demonstrated, that Odd Fellowship is not only a triumphant institution everywhere, but that it is one that deserves to be so — its precept, " Fuendship, Love, and Truth," being exemplified in practice by its generous care of the widow, the fatherless, and the friendless. We might enlarge ad infinitum, but our space warns us to conclude with an enumeration of the toasts of the evening, which were as follow .—. — Ist.— From the Chair, " The Queen." Drank with the most enthusiastic loyalty. National Anthem by the band, followed by the song of" The Queen, God bless her!" sphitedly given by Mr. Newman. 2nd. — " Prince Albert." Grand March. 3rd. — " His Excellency the Govcrnor-in-Chicf." Drank amidst a tumult of applause, the band playing " See, the Conquering Hero." 4th.—" The Army and Navy." "British Grenadiers." sth. — « The Lieutenant-Governor, Major-Ge-neral Pitt." "Point of War." Cth. — " Odd Fellows, Root and Branch," proposed in a graphic speech from the Chair, ably lesponded to by the Vice, and diank with enthusiasm, with all the honors. Air — " The Fiee and Accepted Mason." 7t] lt — "The Fountain of Fiiendship Lodge," nioposed by biother Hunter, responded to,

in glowing terms, by brother Schull7, nnd diaiik with all the honouis. Air—-" The Flee and accepted Mason." Bth.-— "Past and Piescnt Officers of the Lodge," proposed by brother McLeod, and responded to, with his well known talent, by brother Joplin. Air — by the Band. 9th.-—" Our absent Brethern, " by brother Hodgson, lesponded to by brother Blake. Air — tl Here's a health to them that's awa." 10th.—" The Press," in an appiopiiate speech from the chair, briefly lesponded to by Mr. Burn. Air — " Vive Henri Quarlre." Although uhat Henri Qnatrc had to do with a free press puzzles alike, editor, compositors, and pressmen. 11th.— "The Medical Men of the Older," by the Chair, vciy happily responded to by Dr. Carter. Air—" Life iet us Cherish." 12th. — "Lady Grey and the New Zealand Lasses, " by the Chair humourously lesponded to by brother Thomas Lewis. Air — •' Here's a health to all good Lasses." 131h.— " Lieutenant Colonel Wynyard, C. 8., and the brave old Black Cuffs," drank amidst a toirent of applause. Air—" Fifty Eighth's March."