The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 345, 23 August 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

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" T II URSDAY, AUGU ST 23, 1 81' 9.

Tm; consideration of the Estimates having heen resumed on Tuesday, the first of the remaining voles — that for the Road Department — gave rise to one of the mo&t unpleasant discussions, so far as crimination and recrimination could make it so, which have occuned during the present Session of Council. Messrs. Baistow and Menimau censured in very caustic terms the manner m which the affairs of that depaitment had been conducted, contending in substance, if not in direct terms, that it had heen characterised by gross inefficiency, culpable negligence, wanton disregard of the public convenience and safety, leclclcss expenditure of public money, and (as one. of the hon. members expressed it) " torn-foolery" The Governor replied at some length, and in language which was not the less pointed and severe because it was courteous and guarded. He vindicated his discharge of duties, the responsibility of which rested in this case especially on himself; declared that if he claimed merit for anything he had done to promote the making of roads in the Colony and the useful employment of natives on them, it was because he had resisted the temptation to abandon (as at any lime he might h,we done) efforts m which lie had to encounter so much opposition and obloquy ; but declared, at the same time, his determination to persevere in a course which he knew to be right, undeteired by the " reproach and persecution"direclcd against him. lie skilfully availed himself of the incautiously strong terms in which some of the observations had been made, to more than suggest the inference that the statements of the opposing members weie undeserving of credit •, and, on the whole, made what may be deemed — considering the difficulty of his position — a very able defence of his own administration, and a personal appeal which, however it may be regarded here, is sure to be effective at home. But, notwithstanding all this, facts — those stubborn things — proving palpable mismanagement in some of the detailed woikings of the system, remained unanswered, and apparently unanswerable. The subject is one which should be viewed apait from all private feeling, and with constant reference to the magnitude of the interests practically involved in it. That abuses have existed ; that labourers have been idle ; that overseers have been unprincipled, dissolute, and corrupters rather than instructers of those placed under their care. ; that the superintendence has been sometimes lax and negligent ; and that the total of the work done has not borne a just proportion to the amount of funds expended, must, we conceive, be ad--:Httttfcd~ - XvAi, - let -us- in fairness add, may "be admitted without undeivaluing the excellency of the project in itself, or impugning the zeal and ability, much less the sincerity and integiity of the Government in originating and forwarding it. It is a praiseworthy public service to point out defects and evils with a view to their being remedied ; but this service may be performed more effectively than by sweeping and unqualified charges and imputations. We know of no step so likely to give satisfaction as opening the making of roads to general competition, by inviting tenders for them in the same way as for other public works. The contract system may have its drawbacks, but experience has proved it the best, on the grounds both of economy and efficiency ; and we can see no adequate reason why it should not be adopted here. We would not for a moment forget the interests of the Natives, the employment of whom is one of the preat though perhaps suboidinate benefits icsulting from extensive road making here ; but there cdn be little doubt that contractor would for their own good judge it expedient to avail themselves of the beneiit of their services, and under such inspection as theirs, the Aboiigines themselves would be likely to receive far better industrial training than that they usually obtain under the present plan. Let competent and responsible contractors get the roads into their hands, and be strictly held to their engagements, and complaints will soon be, if not unheard, yet, in. a great measure, unheeded or powerless. A series ot Resolutions on the Exile question, embodying the principles and reasonings advanced in the discussion of which, in a former number, we gave a copious summary, was brought up and unanimously agreed to. The document was understood to be a joint production of the Attorney Geneial and Mr. Merriman, and contained a brief but clear and comprehensive epitome of the grounds of protest against the introduction of convicts into this colony. It will be found in another column, and merits the attentive perusal both of those who aie, and of those who aie not, already well informed on the subject. The vote for Educational Purposes passed without comment. It had been expected from an intimation given by Mr. Kempthorne on a previous day that that hon. gentleman would enter at large into the subject ; but no observation was offered by him or any other memberAccording to notice, Mr. Merriman brought forward a motion for an Address to the Governor praying that his Excellency would introduce a measure for the settlement of the Land Claims, The motion was unaccompanied,

however, by any definite proposal for the adjustment of the and, after a short discussion, was withdrawn. Why it was withdiawn was not very apparent, as the Governor, the Surveyor-General and others seemed not unwilling at least to go into Committee, had the hon. mover pressed his proposition, or been prepared to suggest any feasible plan for the accomplishment of his object. Mr. ,T. S. Polack's claim for compensation for the loss sustained by him at Kororareka, during the insurrection, which had been recommended to the consideration of the Council by a despatch from the Secretary of State, was brought forward in connection with the Miscellaneous Estimates. The Governor proposed that Mr. Polack should receive £2,600, with interest ; but the mind of the Council was manifestly against the proposal. Colonel Hulme. in a biief, but energetic, soldierly speech denied the alleged facts on which the demand was founded, fortifying his statement by one to the same effect from Mr. Beckham, the Resident Magistrate ; and the Colonial Secretary argued that the claim could not be fairly entertained, unless the losses of all the sufferers on the occasion were similarly compensated. Mr. Merriman pleaded that Mr. Polack should be heard at the bar in support of his claim, should he petition for libeity to urge it in that manner ; and, on this point being raised, the case was postponed. Yesterday's business partook largely of that routine character which usually marks the aproaching close of a Legislative session. The proceeding of most general importance was the presentation of the Report of the Sub-Com-mittee (consisting of all the unofficial members) appointed on^the 9th instant, on Col. Hulme's motion for addressing the Governor, " requesting him to extend to the Natives of New Ulster, under such rules and restrictions as to his Excellency may seem meet, the right to lease their waste lands to Europeans, so that large tracts of the country may be opened up." The Report, (which shall appear in extenso in our next), commenced by setting forth the inadequacy of the supply of food, by reason of which numbers of cattle have died of starvation, the inns upon which they were depasturing having been overstocked, in consequence of the difficulties the stock - holdeis " have met in obtaining suitable runs for themselves from the Crown." The remedy which is proposed is stated thus •.—. — " It is their opinion that lclief would be most effectually afforded by relaxing the stringency of the Native Land Pnrchase Ordinance, per- | mitting stock- holders in the Northern Province to lease land directly from the natives, for depasturing purposes." A relaxation of the Ordinance is further recommended in order to legalize " the occupation of whaling and ( other stations, many of which are still noloiiously held in contravention of the provisions of that Ordinance, but which contribute such an important poition of the exports of the colony." The Sub-Committee conclude by referring to the stagnation of business and the re-emigration now taking place, declaring their belief that an immediate encouragement of " the Maori trade" would be the most legitimate means of averting the dangerous falling off in the Colonial Revenue which is to be apprehended. After a conversation, bearing rather on the formal point whether or not the Sub-Committee had exceeded the bounds of their prescribed duty, than on the real merits of the case, — (in the course of which, however, the Governor expressed a decided opinion against the relaxation of the Ordinance) — it was arranged that the discussion of the subject should come on to day. Mr. Polack's claim was again taken up. No application had been made by him to be heard at the bar. The Governor (who, whatever might be his private view, seemed to feel an official necessity laid upon him by Lord Grey's despatch) said he must divide the Council on the matter. The result was that the claim was rejected by the unanimous decision of the members. A vote of £1,000 as the contribution of New Ulster towards the establishment of steam communication between various ports of the Colony, was replaced on the Estimates, from which it had been removed on the supposition that a separate Resolution making the Grant contingent on the amount of the Revenue, would be better. .. . A vote of £200 towards the erection of a market in Auckland was agreed to A resolution was adopted approving of the rebuilding of a government house on the site of the former edifice, and at such cost as the circumstances of the colony may admit. ... A resolution of muchthe same character was passed in relation to the formation of the new wharf here. . . ,The salary of the Chief Clerk in the Colonial Secretary's office was raised to c£"2so per annum, and that of Clerk of Council reduced to £50, (both offices being held by the same gentleman.) A just and humane Bill to bestow pensions on certain volunteers who had been severely wounded at the Bay of Islands during the native insurrection in 1845, was read a second time, and considered in committee. The Governor laid on the table two interesting Returns, shewing that within a circle of 50 miles ef Otawhao, six flour mills, the property of natives, are now in. operation, having been erected at a cost of £1160 ; and that nine other mills, also belonging to na-

tives, are nearly completed, at a cost of £1700. His Excellency traced the ability of the owners to do this chiefly to their employment on the roads ; we have reason to believe, however, that a comparatively large portion of the funds invested in the mills was derived from their industry in other ways, and from their general frugality and enterprise. At all events, the fact itself must be deeply gratifying to the friends of the fine and richly impiovable aboriginal population of Now Zealand.