New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 68, 24 March 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 1843.

We perceive by an advertisement in t\\Q Gazette that the New Zealand Company is advertising land for sale at Nelson by public auction. This is no more than an attempt to fill up the original plan of that Settlement, as regarded sales in the Colony ; and it is the more expedient, since that plan does not appear to have been completed by sales in England. The offer of such lands, consequently, is only so far doing that which the Settlers at Nelson were entitled and induced to anticipate.

But while we admit that the offer of lands for sale in that Settlement is due to the Settlers, and a natural and legitimate proceeding on the part of the Company, we are entitled to enquire, why it is that in this, the older Settlement, where assuredly there is no lack of fertile unoccupied land, no means are adopted to turn them to account by throwing them open to purchasers ? It is right that the implied pro-: mise of the Company to the Nelson Settlers, should be fulfilled, and as we are interested in the prosperity of that Settlement, we shall be glad to hear that the sections offered for sale have found purchasers, and that by this means the Emigration Fund is replenished, -and the number of capitalists settlers augmented.. Still we enquire, as we have a right to do, why it is that nothing is attempted to attract settlers to this district, by the offer of land at an upset price ? Unless this is done, our future progress will be limited, or nearly so, by the increase of our population by natural means; and this, although abundantly rapid when contemplated in relation to centuries, is slow when a single generation only is taken as the point of view.' If our numbers are to be increased in such a ratio, and within Such a period as to justify the reasonable expectations which we were entitled to form, it can only be by offering land for acquisition upon easy terms. We cannot, in fact, expect any large or permanent. accession to our members either from England or from the neighbouring colonies, unless there is a prospect of obtaining laud at, ora very little above, the upset .price.. It is; not to be expected that persons will be induced to select as their residence a place vvhere no land can be obtained, excepting on on the terms of paying to tlie.qH'eyious purchasers, >who,have l done nothing to confer additional - value upon their property,just such a price as thipk fit to demand. When an emigrant has’arrived,! he may, and possibly will, find it: more -to his; advantage to give a higher price to‘a previous! purchaser for land in the neighbourhood of a| market, or abutting upon! a road, than for! unsold land without these advantages. But 1 few or none will emigrate with'such an. object, and the knowledge that no land- can be obtained from the Company at their price, will deter many who might otherwise have proved valuable additions to our population. We consider this as-hne of : the most impor-; tant matters coriiiectfed' with fhe : future pro-; ceedings of the Wej' Jtlrust.;tn^ti Colonel Wakefield. willy do something- >,toi\ carry 1 ; into effect some plan r having i for $ Object the adoption of a' sjfeteih bf ; Sale v withift limits;j He has now, we ’ believe"; gone' ?o ’Taranaki. 5 \

I n=hi s- : j our n <jy he : w-ill pass many places ..admirably adapted for >ettleinent, and ;we hope that he will then' select blocks of-land which may be immediately, or witliin *a 'very short time, offered for sale upon the terms fixed by the Company.. .