New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1842.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 38, 9 December 1842, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1842.

We understand that the opinion of Hie Attorney General upon the construction of that clause of the Municipal Corporation Ordinance which refers to the period of election of Town Councillors, has been received, and that it is opposed to the construction put upon that clause by the Council here. As it is probable that the clause in question was framed by the Attorney-General, the opinion which he has thus given, must be taken to express the intention of the legislature, which is always regarded in the interpretation of doubtful points of construction. The inconveniences which we apprehended from the vote of the Council, postponing the period of election, has consequently arisen, and we confess ourselves unable to suggest an adequate remedy. Certainly, however, of all the plans which might be devised for averting the inconvenience to which this suspension of the functions of the Corporation might give rise, that proposed by the Gazette is the most unconstitutional ; and if we could be surprised at any thing in the opinions or projects'of our contemporary, we should have been surprised bv so unqualified a renunciation of the principles professed by his patty, and, formerly at least, by himself. It is only that the Government of the Colony should by proclamation

make new laws, or dispense with the observance of those already existing! And this proposal is gravely made by a person who was supposed not only to-have some acquaintance

with the principles of constitutional freedom, but to have signalized his attachment to those principles with even more of zeal than of discretion, and at some personal risk. Are we to suppose that this apparent attachment to liberty was the result of dislike or disgust towards the possessors of power, who might have spoken disrespectfully of the friends, or interfered with the profits, of our contemporary ? Or is it, that greater experience has made him ashamed of his previous vehemence, and that he now seeks to atone for former excesses in support of free principles, by abandoning the principles themselves ? In this case, we can only venture to conjecture the motives ■by which our contemporary is actuated. Happily, however, there is no such power in the Colony as that which the Gazette invokes. We have already too little of the substance of a free constitution within these islands. The power of the Colonists over the Colonial Government is limited and Imperfect; and the most important functions of Government are exercised by the English Colonial Minister, over whom we have no control of whatever description. Our only security against the extreme of misgovernment, except that which results from the personal character of the Governor, is in the necessity for the observance of certain forms; and if once this barrier isbrolcen down ; if the power of making our laws, or of dispensing with the observance of those already in existence; is given to the Government—if, in short, a proclamation is to be of equal validity with an ordinance, we may at once dispose with what would be merely idleo forms, and vest the whole legislative power of the Colony in the hands of the Governor, subject only to the checks which we might excercise through the medium of appeals to the Home Government. As yet, however, the Colony has not arrived at this point, and we certainly should resist to the utmost the establishment of any precedent which might involve such a result...

Up to the present time, those persons who have interested themselves in considering the various means of turning the flax plant to account, appear to have turned their attention exclusively to the discovery of methods which might supersede the process at present in use among the Natives. We have sanguine hopes that some such method may speedily be discovered and applied ; but, in the mean time, it is well worth a trial, whether the Natives may not be induced to prepare flax according to their process, upon a scale of sufficient magnitude to render it an important item in our list of exports. From enquiries which have been made by an intelligent merchant of this place, it appears that the utmost price which has hitherto been given to the Natives for flax is rather less than £lO per ton, paid in goods ; and that for a very long period the price did not average higher than about £4 per ton. At these prices, the Natives speedily discovered that the same labor which produced a certain amount of remuneration when employed in the preparation of flax, would command a much higher rate of profit if employed in the cultivation of potatoes, or the breeding of pigs. The natural result of this has been, that the preparation of flax, excepting for the manufacture of mats, has been almost abandoned. Now, however, that the increase of cultivation among the Settlers, and the competition of remoter districts, promise to lower the price of potatoes, and destroy, or greatly diminish this source of profit to the Natives, it is probable that, if proper means are adopted, large quantities of flax might be obtained, and a constantly augmenting trade in this article be created. It is stated by some Natives, that the ordinary produce of a day’s labor by a Maori woman is a basket of twelve pounds’ weight; and, we are told, that this would be fairly worth to the dealer two shillings a basket, or £lB. 13s. 4d. per ton. This would afford to tiie producers a remuneration nearly the double of any that they have previously received, and fully as much, or even more, than they can obtain by any of the labors in which they are or-

dinarily engaged ; and if they can be induced, by such a price, to devote themselves habitually to this employment, the natiye population between Port Nicholson and Wanganui might readily

produce from J,500 to 2,000 tons of prepared flax in every year. We do not expect that such a result would take place at once, or even in a very short period; but we have mentioned it in order that the merchants of the place may be aware of the magnitude of which this branch of trade is susceptible, and thus be induced to take some steps for the purpose of turning to account this source of colonial wealth.

Within the last few days, a contract has been taken and executed by a Native, for the delivery of 15 tons of Hinau bark, at £3 per ton. This circumstance affords a proof of the willingness of the Natives to engage in any employment from which they can derive a fair profit, and shews also, that they are becoming accustomed to our methods of transacting business. We see no reason to doubt but that contracts might be made in the same manner for the delivery of flax, and we believe that one is now being negociated for that purpose with the same native. This method of preparing flax also affords a means of employment for the children of settlers from ten to fourteen years of age, which they could pursue within doors, under the eye of their parentr, and by which the earnings of a laborers’ family might be very considerably augmented. The method of stripping the flax is easily acquired, and every such child might readily earn by this method, from one to two shillings a day. o On Tuesday, 10 minutes before 7, p. m., and 20 past, two severe shocks of an earthquake were felt all over the town and neighbourhood, the violence of which shook the houses, and created some alarm amongst the inhabitants. We understand that the Clydeside was got off the slip yesterday, and that the repairs are nearly completed. A malicious attempt was made last evening by some miscreant, or miscreants, to do mischief to one of our worthy Aldermen at Te Aro, by throwing a stone through the window of his dwelling. Should the dastardly conduct be repeated, proceedings will be instituted against the party, On Tuesday night, between 10 and 11, some person endeavoured to enter the house of Mr. W. B. Burgess, which is the second attempt within a short period.