New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1842.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 42, 23 December 1842, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1842.

The Nelson Examiner, has, we believe —for we have not yet seen the article—commented with some degree of asperity, upon the claim which we put forth,"some time since, in behalf of the original purchasers of land in this Settlement to some share in the large tracts which are to be obtained by the New Zealand Company. We have not now sufficient leisure to go at length into the subject, and we only refer to it, lest our continued silence might be construed into an abandonment of this claim.

It is not, perhaps, to he wondered at, that the Settlers at Nelson should entertain a different feeling upon this subject to ourselves. They, at least, can have no claim to any participation in the profit of these large grants. When they left England, the grand problem had been solved; and all but the ordinary and inevitable difficulties in the way of colonization had been removed by the successful results of our hazardons enterprise. We say, our hazardous enterprise; for though experience has demonstrated the fallacy of many of the apprehensions that were entertained on the subject of settlement in this country, yet there was still enough of risk in the undertaking to justify the epithet we have employed. It was through our instrumentality that the first proof was given of the practicability of forming large settlements in New Zealand without,danger from the Natives ; and we also furnished the first experimental evidence of the fitness of the country for the purpose . of colonization. It is in fact the result of our labors that the establishment Nelson itself is to be attributed, and it is ungracious,., to say the least, on the part of our contemporary to quarrel with us for claiming some recompense for labours to which his own existence is attributable. The ground upon which our claim rests is intelligible and simple. By means of the expenditure of funds which we furnished, and of the success of the settlement which we formed, the New Zealand Company has become entitled to four hundred thousand acres of land, onefourth of which only has-been sold to us. The remainder is pure gain, and we, by whose

means alone it was acquired, are assuredly en titled to some portion in the‘distribution.

. "U '' We feel great pleasure in'learning that the measures to which we referred Some time iince, which had been commenced for the purpose of rendering the labor of the Natives available for the production of the flax, are now in process of being carried out. A large number of Natives are now engaged in the preparation of this article, and from all that we are able to learn, the employment will probably extend widely among them. In addition 'to a school has been opened for the instruction of the children of the Settlers in the Native method of preparing flax, and an intelligent Native has been engaged as teacher. Several persons of different ages have already entered themselves as pupils, and their numbers may be expected to increase. The labors of Mr. Beauchamp itJSsWell in inducing the Natives to devote thenS&lves to this task, and in securing the establishment of the school to which we have referred are deserving of honorable mention. The extent to which this method of securing an article of exportation has been already carried, is due, in a great degree to him ; and it is, we believe, to his exertions and his influence with the Natives, carrying out the suggestion of Mr. Partridge, that we owe the establishment qf the sehool for the Settlers. If these exerticJU meet with the success which at present we are fully warranted in anticipating, the settlement will be under very great obligations to this gentleman. We understand also that Mr. E. J. Wakefield who has recently left this place for Otaki, and whose knowledge of the native language and customs, have given him great influence among them, is engaged in endeavouring to induce the Maories of that district to apply themselves to the same work. If the merchants of this place should be able to pay the price which the natives have been led to expect, their appears no reason to doubt thateby this means alone a very valuable and important article of export will be at once created.

Died, at Akaroa, after a lingering illness of fourteen days, caused by the accidental catching of her clothes by fire, Mrs. Margaret Michelle, daughter of Mr. Charles Henry Suibb, tallowchandler, formerly of London, now of Wellington.

From a letter we have seen addressed to Mr. Murphy, from Mr. Robinson, we perceive that Mrs. Michelle was roasting some coffee in a frying-pan ; that the grease ran into the fire, and blazing up, set light to her clothes, in which state she ran out of the house, and before any assistance came to her relief, they were literally burnt off her body. She was taken on board the French man-of-war, and Commodore Lavaud most kindly gave up his own bed, and slept on shore. She lingered for more than a fortnight, when death put a period to her sufferings. It is but justice to say, that she received every possible attention on board. Her husband, Mr. Michelle, is inconsolable for her loss.