New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 59, 21 February 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1843.

We understand, though we cannot say from anv •very authentic source, that the task of constructing a road along the valley of the Hutt, for the' purpose of opening a connexion with the Wair urapa district is to he immediately commenced

with ;i degree of vigor proportioned to its importance. It has been said, that the workmen to be employed are picked men, and that the wages which they are to receive are upon a sufficiently liberal scale to ensure their stay. If this is the case, and we believe it will turn out to be so, we are ready to allow to Col. Wakefield all due praise for the nature of the work, and the manner in which it is to be executed.

But while giving this praise, we must interpose a word of remonstrance —not to Col. Wakefield, for he, we fancy, has nothing to do with the matter —but to the Company’s. Principal Surveyor, past or present. The road to be constructed under the direction of Mr. Brees, is, we understand, to run along the base of the hills which form the Western boundary of the valley of the Hutt, and strike the beach at the Korra Korra; while the road laid down by Capt. Smith, upon the plan from which choices were made, runs along the centre of the valley, forming in general the boundary line of the Sections. Now, we presume not to decide between these gentlemen —we only venture to submit that they cannot be both right. If Mr. Brees is right in carrying his road along the proposed line, then Capt. Smith was wrong in laying out the road where he did ; or if, on the contrary, Capt. Smith was right, then the departure from his line by Mr. Brees is not only wrong but unjust. It diminishes the value of portions at least of the land selected, and adds unfairly to the value of others. As we arc not Surveyors, we have no means of forming our opinions beyond.that first impression which we have stated—that somebody is wrong. The district into which the proposed road will lead, is universally described as equally adapted for stock, farming, and agriculture. And it should be borne in mind, that although we call it the Wairarapa valley, yet it is not the district which the Natives understand by that term. The Wairarapa, according to the native nomenclature, extends from the sea to the head of the lake, a distance of perhaps thirty miles, but to Europeans the least valuable part of the whole. By the Natives it is prized, partly as a place of refuge, if any circumstances should render their stay here inexpedient, but chiefly on account of its abounding with eels and water fowls. They have, consequently, uniformly refused, and we believe still do refuse, to sell it. Nor is its immediate purchase necessary to the Company or to the Settlement. But with regard to the Rua Mahunga, as the portion of the valley described by Mr. Kettle is named, it may be even doubted whether any native has a claim to any portion of it. What right of sovereignty (supposing such rights to have existed, and been understood among the New Zealanders) might be possessed by llauparaha and his tribe, by virtue of conquest, we do not know. Probably whatever right was thus possessed was transferred to the Company, under the deed signed by the chiefs of this tribe. But whether this be so or not, the reservation out of a district which the present generation has never occupied, by cultivation or residence, which, except for the purpose of occasional predatory incursions, they have never even traversed, of a tenth of the whole land, rendered valuable by the occupation of the remainder by Europeans, is a very ample compensation. We do not, therefore, suppose that any Native claims will be set up to bar the operations of the Company, and we trust at no distant date to see the district covered with stock, and the scene, at the same time, of extensive agricultural labors.

The stores of Mr. T. M.-Maehattie were entered by thieves on Thursday night last, and property to a large amount stolen therefrom. On Friday night the stores of Messrs. Hort, Moeatta, and Co. were alfeo entered, and papers and memorandums taken away, but which were found, the next morning, among the flax. The Wednesday previous the house of Mr. Lloyd, baker, was robbed. The thieves obtained an entrance through the bed-room window and stole about six'-pounds in -mohey- and some wearing apparel.

Two men, of notorious bad character, were taken up on suspicion, and one being discharged the' other turned Queen’s evidence, which led to his being retaken and the capture of severaj

others,, who formed a numerous gang, and to whom the recent robberies are attributable.

Mr. Brees, the Company’s Principal Surveyor, has lately visited Wairarapa, by way of the Hutt, to ascertain if there was a possibility of carrying a road in that direction.

We understand from a gentleman who accompanied Mr. Brees, that they crossed by the same track that Mr. Kettle did some months ago, which appears to be over the lowest part of the range of mountains. Mr. Brees is of opinion that a very good road may be carried over by that line at a very moderate expense. Should this be the case, we may iook forward to the time, which we trust is not far distant, when we shall have the fine plains of the Wairarapa occupied by our cattle.