New Zealand Colonist FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 78, 28 April 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1843.

We have recently seen a letter in the Colonial Gazette on the subject of Mr. Rennie’s proposal to form a new Settlement on the coast of New Zealand, which has almost surprised us. We had looked upon the editor of that paper as one of the most intelligent and staunchest supporters of the Wakefield theory, and consequently, into whatever errors he might fall on other points, we imagined that we should find him true to the main principles upon which that theory is based. On the contrary, however, the editor publishes a letter in recommendation of Mr. Rennie’s scheme, from “ a high authority in political economy,” who “ has taken up the question on scientific principles,” and who satisfactorily demonstrates that the fundamental principle of the Wakefield theory is a delusion, and that dispersion is the grand element of wealth in colonies. Strange as this may appear to those of our readers who have been familiar with the doctrines previously inculcated by the Gazette, following in this respect the Spectator, it is nothing more than the simple fact. We confess, however, that the very terms used by the editor in recommending the letter in question, prepared us in some manner for what we were to expect. Whenever we ,are told that a question of direct practical importance has been taken up on scientific principles —that moment we are prepared for some preeminent absurdity. Highly as we esteem the science (so styled) of Political Economy, we have the greatest horror of its scientific followers. We have no faith in a man who deals in abstractions—who reasons upon men as though they were machines ; and who deals in his arguments with all the infinite variety of events and circumstances, as though they could be adequately represented by algebraical figures. It is in truth most amusing to see the air of profound and almost superhuman sagacity with which one of these " scientific” gentlemen will propound some doctrine, ludicrous from its evident absurdity, or disgusting, from its palpable contradiction to the best impulses of our nature; and to witness the self-complacency with whiph he disposes of every objection, assuring you that his discoveries are deduced from the most scientific principles, and that if there are any particulars in which they clash with the observed order of events, or shock the feelings of humanity, it is man and nature that are wrong —the doctrines are infallible. Many such men

have we seen; and even in our short experience we have witnessed the bursting of some of their most noted bubbles.

But let us hear what our particular “ scientific” gentleman has to say. He tells us, “ the fertile wastes upon the Middle Island must be appropriated before there can be any very intense demand for the best lands in the settlements of Wellington and Nelson, and before there can be any demand at all for land of inferior quality.” This may he science in England. In New Zealand it is palpable nonsense. We cannot say, of course, what the writer means by a very intense demand, but we have the proof before us that for land of inferior quality there is some demand. The main ground, however, upon which we have noticed this letter is, because of its singular contradiction of the Wakefield theory, which the editor of the Colonial Gazette was accustomed to support, and which has the merit, certainly, of being based upon a wider induction of facts than any modern theory which we remember to have seen. The chief object of that theory was to show, in opposition to the dogmas of the modern economists, that fertility was only one, and that by no means the most important, of the elements of value —that position in relation to population, roads, and markets, was the chief of these elements, and that, consequently, a main object in colonisation was, so to concentrate the population as that, while there should be no scarcity of land, there should, at the same time, be no more land successively appropriated than the wants of the community required. And here we have a gentleman, whose notions of the sciences of Political economy go no further than the doctrines of Mill and of Ricardo, writing as though fertility was the only matter which a Colonist regarded, and, arguing that the New Zealand Company is forced to settle the fertile wastes of these Islands, in order to prevent the settlers at Port Nicholson and Nelson from rushing forth in a stream to fill them up ! No doubt these fertile wastes will gradually be occupied. Stock farmers will go there, and will prepare the way for the agricultural settlers ; who, in proportion as they find it more profitable to acquire land there than in other parts, will gradually fill up the country. But this process, if left to itself, would occupy generations, and would never have any appreciable effect upon the value of land here. In order, however, to demonstrate in the most striking manner, the absurdity of our “ scientific” friend, we will assume that his arguments are well founded. In that case, the fertile wastes of the Middle Island are not the only parts that must be filled up. There are fertile wastes at Auckland—at the East Cape, —at Kaipara—at Kawia —at Waimata —at Wangaroa—there is the Waipali district—the valley of the Thames—all of these must be occupied before we, unfortunate that we are, can have any demand for land of inferior quality within the Settlement. And as at least half a century must elapse before the whole of these places can be occupied, we may at once abandon our holdings of land inferior in quality to what may be found in the districts enumerated. A comfortable scientific doctrine this!

There is, however, one consolation connected with the subject. Out of evil cometh good. We have ignorantly been blaming Captain Hobson for his attempt to establish a settlement at Russell, and for haying established one at Auckland. In our ignorance, we imagined that to scatter the elements of wealth, was to dissipate them, and that they were augmented by concentration. Captain .Hobson, however, it would seem, acted upon purely scientific principles, and he took the very wisest course to keep up the value of our best lands, and to confer value upon those of inferior quality. Such at least js the new Science of colonization, and we, as in duty bound, acquiesce .fully in its truth.

We have heard with much pleasure that the Committee of the Mechanic’s Institute have determined to celebrate its first anniversary by a public soiree and meeting on Monday, the Bth May, (and not the Ist, as previously arranged.) We believe no exertions will be spared to give

dclat to the occasion, and we sincerely trust that the inhabitants of Wellington will do all in their power to sanction this proceeding by their personal efforts and attendance. We look'forward with some,degree of interest to the programme, as we believe music will enter into its composition, and the meeting will be rendered attractive by the speeches of the gentlemen who have promised to attend. In reviewing the proceedings of the Committee for the past twelve months, we are led to think that society here is too young to support energetically Societies like the present, unless those who have the management of them are all zeal and activity. The town is too straggling, and the roads too bad, to expect that any continued evening entertainments can meet with complete success. In the course of a few years, when society is more compact, and our thoroughfares rendered comfortably passable, we have the most sanguine hope of seeing many institutions of a useful character established and supported. ... We make these remarks not with the view of discouraging the Committee of the Mechanics' Institute; on the contrary, we would stimulate them to fresh exertions, by reminding them, that considerable help from the mother country may now be looked for, as the news of the Society’s establishment and requirements must have long since readied home. From the interest evinced in England, as tothe prosperity of the Horticultural Society, no reasonable doubt can be entertained that the present Society’s necessities will meet with steady, hearty, and practical aid.

In another part of the paper we give an account of an excursion from Nelson in search of the Wairoo Plains extracted from the Nelson Examiner. It may be interesting to our Nelson friends to learn that we have seen an extract of a letter from William Deans, Esq., late of Okiwi, a gentleman who left this place about three months ago, to settle at Cook’s Mistake, Port Cooper, where he states that large fires were seen in the interior by some whalers at the Lookers-on, and that the natives who live in the interior near to Port Cooper, about the same time also observed great fires in the direction of Nelson, and said that they believed them to be caused by the Pakehas. Mr. Deans states that the natives have walked from Cook’s Mistake to the West coast, and report most ex r tensive plains to exist in that route., ... .