STOP THIEF!

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 1, 12 October 1844, Page 2

STOP THIEF!

A correspondent has called our attention to a transaction, which we hardly dare characterise from fear of shocking fastidious readers. In England we should call it spoliation; but being at the antipodes of England we must, we suppose, call it an appropriation made for the promotion of religion and piety. Amongst other reserves made previously to the selection of the town acres in this place by the purchasers of land, three portions were set apart by the New Zealand Company ; two being for the purposes of a government domain, and the third having no specific object. These reserves were subsequently approved of by Governor Hobson, iv the Government Gazette of the 26th October, 1841, and we find them thus recorded on the " Plan of the City of Wellington," published by order of the House of Commons in August, 1842, and signed by Mr. Felton Mathew, then the SurveyorGeneral of the Colony. E.E. public offices ; H. Government domain, containing — 5 acres, 1r.37 p. L.L. Cemeteries, containing 18 acres. M. Episcopal Church, containing 1 acre, 0 r. 4 p. When the Bishop of New Zealand first visited this settlement, the reserve M. was looked at by him ; and, being considered an inconvenient site for a Church, it was appropriated to the residence of the Protestant clergyman, and a site for the Episcopal Church was selected in the Cemetery, and approved of by the Bishop. On the Bishop's second visit to this place, altho' the preparations for building were considerably advanced, he objected to this site, and the trustees of the Wellington Archdeaconry fund were instructed to apply for a portion of the Government domain for one. As, however, Governor Fitzroy, after inspecting the site chosen in the s Cemetery had fully approved of it, the subscribers respectfully remonstrated against its being changed. They considered the % Government domain ineligible for a Church, and they especially objected to changing the object for which it had been reserved, because [purchasers had selected land in the neighbourhood upon the faith of that arrangement. Notwithstanding this remonstrance, however, and although no one has any more right to break through this arrangement than he has to seize on the private property of any settler in the place, the Government Sur- i veyor has lately marked off three quarters of an acre of the domain for the site of the Episcopal Church and a parsonage, and a portion of it is fenced in for the immediate reception of a temporary building. It is also generally believed, that further encroachments on the Government domain for an Episcopal School are in contemplation. This plain statement of the transaction must speak for itself. Our readers are aware that, as yet, not a single settler has got a grant of land considered valid by the Government ; and yet the Government seizes on a reserve made for a distinct, specific, and public object, and devotes it to a different and a private one. The breach of faith towards purchasers of land in the neighbourhood of the domain, thus appropriated, is disgraceful ; but will be lost sight of in the contemplation of the rapacious injustice, and daring violation of the rights of property, committed by whomsoever has to answer for this transaction.

We understand, from a recent overland communication, that the natives of Taranaki to the number of nearly 300 are waiting for the arrival of the Governor there, when they intend to demand some exhorbitant payment in the shape of compensation for their land. But the chiefs of Waikato, are equally on the alert, and are prepared to call upon his Excellency for similar satisfaction of their claims to Taranaki. It is well known that the present native residents at Taranaki consist principally of the remnant of the Tribes who were formerly nearly exterminated there, and of numerous bodies of slaves who have been for the last year or two permitted by their Waikato masters to return to their old country, in consequence of the introduction of missionary teaching. It is these two classes of natives whom, as our readers are aware, Mr. Spain's decision at Taranaki (which the Governor has reversed) has declared are not entitled to any compensation from the Company. The one class because they had sold the land to that body ; the other, because by absence and slavery they had forfeited, according to all established and recognised native custom, all their right to and interest in' the soil. The natives of Waikato, we understand, are therefore determined to seize upon any payment which may be made to their old slaves at Taranaki ; as the former conceive they have never relinquished their property in the country they had conquered. We hear rumours of the natives of the various branches of the Ngatiawa Tribe, leaving the districts they now occupy from across the Straits, from this very settlement, and even from the Chathams, to come in for their share of the money to be paid for Taranaki. Meanwhile we are credibly informed, that the natives at New Plymouth are acting towards the settlers there in a very lawless and outrageous manner, seizing in many instances upon the cleared sections, to which they had never before made any claim, and in others digging up the crops of the settlers. So much for the policy pursued by our local Government. This is, we suppose, what Captain Fitzroy calls adjusting the Land Question.

In our supplement, of to-day, will be found an address, the preparation of which was noticed in the late New Zealand Gazette, and which has already received numerous signatures, including many of the most influential residents in the colony. In another part of of our paper of this day, will be found a letter on this subject, of which' it is sufficient to say, that its fitting replj^fs f found in the fact that churchmen as well as dissenters of every shade of opinion have signed the address, showing that although " A Churchman " is such a sectarian himself, that he attributes every tihng that does not accord with his views to sectarian feelings in others, yet that the public as well as the members of the Council, have learned that public money is a public matters, and not a thing to be dealt with according to the views of a limited section of the community. We only add that it still lies for signiture at the stores of Messrs. Lyon, Harding, and at the house of Mr. Woodward.

" Bella Marina." — The Bella Marina, Captain Ashbridge, about to sail direct for London, carries a cargo which has been valued at from 15,000 to £20,000 consisting of black oil, whalebone, New Zealand flax, tanning bark, staves, furniture and dye woods, &c. A good deal of interest is felt as to these experimental shipments of staves and furniture woods. If they should be well received in England, a very important addition will be made to our future exports. The cargo of the ship Bella Marina is as follows : — 675 casks of black oil, containing about 385 tuns, value £11,555, 19 tons of whalebone, valued at £3800, 2 casks of seal skins, value £200. 2 casks of tallow, 8 tons of flax, value £200, 18 tons of bark, value £150, 2000 treenails, 200 staves, 10,000 feet of furniture and fancy timber. Similar cargoes will be sent home in the Raymond and Nelson within the next threer < months.

Manufacture from New Zealand Flax. — We are glad to learn that the manufacture of canvass and bagging from New .Zealand Flax has been commenced in this place. The quantity of this material required, for wheat and flour bags, wool packs, &c, is now considerable ; and it is believed that the cheapness of raw material, will enable us to compete in price with the article imported from England. If such should prove to be the case, we may also hope to find a market in the neighbouring colonies, which now import these description of goods to a very large amount from England. Occupation will thus be afforded to many persons of both sexes, as weavers and spinners.

Staves. — We have met with the following instructions for splitting staves, in a recent number of the Sydney Herald. As the black birch has been proved to be well adapted for the purpose, we hope some one will make the experiment " As it is of importance to the colony, I send you Messrs. Taylor and Wilmot's patent process of making staves. The patent does not extend to the colonies, therefore may be employed. " A block of wood is submitted to steam, as ship-builders do, for three-quarters of an hour •or an hour, the block resting on a support of slips or beams of wood an inch from the bottom. This process extracts every impregnation, destroying also fungi, animalcula, their seeds and eggs. The wood may then be chopped in a perpendicular direction, as easy as slicing butter, and with perfect accuracy, leaving neither chips nor waste of any kind." — Nelson Examiner.