New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 50, 20 January 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 1843.

A Meeting was held yesterday morning l , at the Exchange, (a report of which will be found in another column), on the subject of the Land Claims, at which a deputation was appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Acting Governor. The proceedings of the meeting were orderly and temperate, and there appears to have been none of that extravagance of sentiment and violence of language by which many of our public meetings have been characterized. The importance of this subject to the community is so great, that we are glad of any proceedings which may, in their result, tend to remove that uneasiness which the unsettled state of the question has generated. In the uneasiness which has prevailed, we have never shared to any extent, because we were assured that the claims of the landholders of this place were so just and so weighty, that nothing could prevent their eventual recognition to the fullest extent. The Government has already given* the most unequivocal proof of the view which it entertains of these claims, hy the highly favorable terms conceded to the New Zealand Company, —terms which assuredly would never have been granted, had not the landowners in this district supplied, at their own cost, the means of establishing, upon a secure basis, the Settlement which they themselves founded. Nor have we the slightest apprehension that any subsequent occurrence can have weakened the favorable regard to this place originally manifested. Sooner or later; and in any event with no greater delay than is rendered inevitable by the circumstances of the case, we are convinced that every landowner will procure a full title, and peaceable possession of his-kinds. - Or, if it should occur that, in respect'"of particular localities which have been imprudently, and without necessity, included in-the surveys, it should be found impossible to give immediate or speedy possession,—that then, arrangements will be made, under which the Company,, out of their extensive territories, will provide an adequate compensation for the loss thus arising.

The real source of ffie difficulty which exists is to be found in the circumstances that many places, the sale of which is disputed by the Natives, have been included in the surveys, and that, until the last selection, none of the Native places or cultivations have been reserved out of the lands open for choice. It has thus happened that there now exist conflicting, and perhaps, incompatible interests, which it will require much prudence and caution to adjust, and which in some few instances cannot be at once adjusted. The number of these will, however, be small, and it is even possible that when once the matter is entered into with earnestness more may be found to occur. It happens, in the majority of cases, that difficulties which, when viewed from a distance, appear almost insurmountable, vanish on a nearer approach—and the result of previous negociations with the Natives gives us strong grounds of hope that such will be the case now. At any rate, further delay will only increase whatever difficulties exist, and can serve us no purpose of benefit, either to the Colonists or to the Company.

There is one point upon which we believe that we may speak positively as to the intentions of the local Government; and that is, that when once a settlement has been effected, the natives will not be allowed, upon any pretence, to secede from their bargain, or to infringe the terms of the convention. As the Government will have lent its aid to the adjustment of the disputes, and will have taken all needful precautions to be assured that the natives are informed of the nature, and satisfied with the terms of the agreement they may make, it will protect in the amplest manner whatever rights may have accrued to the settlers. In making the bargain, all claims on the part of the natives will be investigated, and if proved to be just will be respected. But when the terms of purchase have once been decided, the title of the settlers will be held inviolate, will he recognised and enforced by Courts of Law, and if needful, supported by the whole power of the Colony.

In a number of the Auckland Times, which has* just reached us, we are accused of discourtesy by the Editor, for transferring to our paper “ whole columns of his paper, and insultingly ascribing them to his printer.” We confess our incapacity to answer this charge in any way, because we are not able to refer to the numbers of our paper in which, if at all, we have committed the offence imputed to us. We can, however, assure the Editor that the insult was most unintentional on our part, and we presume that when no offence could have been designed, he will be too sensible to seek cause of quarrel with us.

In the same article are some not unreasonable remarks upon the attacks upon Auckland, which have so often appeared in the Gazette. We have always felt that these attacks were needless, and not very prudent. Their frequency and violence would undoubtedly lead many persons to believe they proceeded from an uneasy consciousness, that, in truth, every settlement was inferior to the Government capital. We have, on the contrary, always felt that the unquestionable advantages of this place were sufficient to make us, to withstand any rivalry, and to put us in a position to do full justice to every other part of the Colony. That Auckland is in many respects well chosen for settlement —that if the Middle and Southern Islands had not been colonized, it might be the best spot for the seat of Government—and that it is likely under all circumstances to prove the seat <of a thriving community we have always been prepared to admit; and all that we have learned on the subject confirms us in the admission. But for a central position—commanding an easy access to every part where colonization is, under present circumstances, likely to be extensively carried on —and enabling the Government to , exercise a direct and immediate authority over Her Majesty’s subjects—there is, we firmly believe, no place to compare with Port Nicholson. And we have never concealed our opinion that the selection of Auckland as the seat of Government, after the establishment of a settlement at Port Nicholson, was an error

of a grave nature on the part of Captain Hobson, and one which will for along time occasion great inconveniences to the Colony. We have been disposed to fancy that our contemporary, who we suspect has imbibed many Yankee principles, is too much tainted with the prevailing weakness of the American character : —an undue sensitiveness to anything in the shape of censure, or even of modified praise. There is no greater confession of weakness than this, and we should he sorry at any time to lead the English public to suppose that we are so doubtful of the intrinsic advantages of our position, as to shrink from the most searching investigation, or to dread the attacks of the ignorant or the prejudiced.

We understand that it is the intention of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, to devote the sum of 1,500/. for the purpose of' erecting a gaol for the district of Wellington. The site of the proposed gaol is, we believe, to be Mount Cook. We learn also that His Excellency will give the sum of 100/. toward the erection of a beacon upon Pencarrow Head.

On Wednesday the schooner Maori, belonging to Richard Davis, the Native Missionary, landed about a ton of flax that had been prepared by the natives of Petoni, at the Stores of Messrs. Waitt and Tyser.

We regret to hear that the private dwelling, and a great deal of machinery and tools belonging to those enterprising individuals, the Messrs. Kebble, at Manewatu, were destroyed by fire.

We understand that a grand contest will take place, on Tuesday next, between the Wellington and Albion Cricket Clubs, and from the spirited play of the members of each club, we anticipate a fine day’s sport.