New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 22, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 59, 22 November 1845, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, November 22, 1845.

One of the most important considerations connected with the arrival of our new Governor amongst us is the manner in which

we may best direct his attention to the many grievances from which we are suffering. These grievances have been, for the most part, caused by the incapacity of preceding Governors? and their evil effects have b: en aggravated by time and neglect, or by the mischievous interference of our rulers. As these topics have been repeatedly discussed in these columns, we do not now propose to enter at length into their discussion, but it may be useful to refer to the memorial presented to Capt. Fitzroy on his^first arrival in Wellington to see how little has been .dune by him to promote the g-od of the southern settlements. The principal evils we then complained of, — the non-settlement of the land claims, the policy pursued by the Government towards the natives, the necessity for the enactment of judicious laws adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the colony, the want of roads, and the power to make necessary improvements in the town, the expediency of erecting a light house, and a re» laxation of the duties affecting the shore whale fisheries, — all remain still pressing upon the industrial energies of the settlers, aggravated by the lapse of time and by Capt. Fitzroy's mischievous interference. To take the question of the land claims as an example; wherever Capt. Fitzroy has decided, as at Taranaki, or as in the recent issue of Crown Grants in this district, he has " By decision more embroiled the fray" — and the first step towards an equitable adjus fment of this question nmst be the reversal of all that he has done. His policy towards the natives has been marked by still more unhappy consequences, and has been, if possible, still more fatal to the prosperity of the colony. He was distinctly warned by the settlers, " that the massacre at Wairau was only one example of what may be often repeated and on a greater scale, if the entire policy relating to the aborigines be not changed," — he treated the warning with contempt, — and by adhering to the former policy of the local Government, with an infatuation perfectly unaccountable in any sane person, has caused the destruction of Kororarika, has produced a war which it is impossible to say how long it may last, and introduced general anarchy and confusion, and insecurity foi life and property. The question of roads, and the means of making internal improvements is practically in the same state as when Capt. Fitzroy assumed the Government, aggravated, of course, by the time which has since elapsed, and the mockery of the Road Ordinance passed 'last session, which was quite inapplicable to the southern settlements, as might be expected from the ignorance of those composing the Legislative Council respecting them. Whatever has been done in road making during the last two years in this district has been done by private subscription, or by individual exertion, and the present state of the roads, and the want of legal power to raise rates in the several districts for making them and keeping them in order is an intolerable grievance to the settlers employed in cultivation. During this period the district of the Wairarapa has become of great additional importance to this settlement, from the numerous cattle and sheep stations which have been established there, and a good cart road up the Hutt communicating with this district would perhaps be the most important public work of the kind that could be undertaken, but not the slightest disposition is shewn to promote such a work, not the slightest encouragement is given to any attempt even to obtain information on the subject which may hereafter be available. With regard to the other questions, Capt. Fitzroy has erected a beacon at the entrance of the harbour, but he has removed the pilot, and has imposed an additional duty of 5 per cent, on all goods imported into the colony. If he had established a lighthouse we should not now have to lament the unfortunate wreck of the Tyne. To our former evils he has added a monster grievance for which he will always have an unenviable notoriety in the history of the colony, we allude to the depreciated currency caused by his debentures, a grievance which we hope our new Governor will lose no time in removing.

Such, briefly, is the amount of contideration paid by Capt. Fitzroy to the wants and wishes of the settlers as expressed in the memorial presented to him. The best course to be pursued towards our new Governor, perhaps, would be to welcome him with a short address of congratulation on his arrival, and then to present the memorial (slightly altered) prepared by Mr. Domett, and agreed at a late public meeting to be sent to the Home Government. This most able and carefully considered document contains a full exposition of the evils resulting from the policy pursued by the local Government, and the advantage to be obtained by submitting it to our new Governor as well as to the Home Government, would be to secure immediate attention to its prayer, and as the united petition of the Cook's Straits settlers, it would have more weight than a separate memorial from the settlers of this district. All questions of a local nature might afterwards be brought before his Excellency by a Committee or deputation to be appointed at a Public meeting, which it may be considere&desirable to hold shortly for this purpose.

Ws have received a letter from a Hutt settler, who has furnished us with his name, complaining of annoyances and aggressions from the Maories. He mentions the case of Mr. Severton, from whom they took a gun and hoe, and who has been unable to recover his property, of Mr. Reid from whom they stole an axe, and other petty depredations committed by them on different settlers. He also states that after having obtained permission from the natives to clear cci tain land on his section and having expended £20 in doing so, they threaten, as soon as it is burnt off to appropriate it to their own use and plant potatoes on it.

Britannia Saloon. — The above Theatre was opened for public amusement on Wednesday evening last. The performance commenced with the operatic Drama, entitled the Deserter, to which was added the Scottish Drama of Mary's Dream, in both of which pieces the performers went through their parts very creditably. The house was well filled, and the audience, from the applause they bestowed on the performers, appeared to be perfectly satisfied with their evening's entertainment.

We publish below extracts from the letters of two respectable settlers who have left New Zealand in consequence of the present unsettled state of affairs, and have gone to the adjacent colonies. The first extract conveys a melancholy picture of Van Dieinen's Land, and we should think few persons after this description by a most trustworthy witness would think of leaving New Zealand to better their condition by proceeding to that colony. He says :—: — " I hope matters will soon be settled in New Zealand, and that in a few months my wife's health may be sufficiently recruited to enable us to return. The curse of a penal settlement is evident everywhere, and the pressure of money matters is complained of; the Government is compelled to reduce its expenditure, and is still unable to make up the deficiency of revenue. Crime is greatly on the increase, and since our arrival there have been five criminals executed. This spring has been extremely dry, and scarcely an average breadth of wheat has been sown, consequently Van Diemen's Land is not likely to supply herself this season. No labourer or mechanic need attempt to better himself by coming here, as the wages given will scarcely enable him to support existence. Great numbers are leaving for Sydney, Port Phillip, and Adelaide." » The writer of the second letter, who proceded to Adelaide, after describing the peculiar park like features of the scenery in the neighbourhood of the town, proceeds to obseive: — " In point of climate and soil, however, it is far inferior to New Zealand : the winter is as cold, and much wetter; and though the season is now advancing, the red and calcined appearance of the earth where trodden or turned up, is painfully suggestive of the summer droughts. Agricultural operations are conducted in the most slovenly manner ; the earth is merely scratched and harrowed over ; five or six successive crops are produced without fallowing; as a consequence, the land near the town is completely exhausted, and the people are obliged to move farther back : 15 to 20 bushels are considered a fair crop: from the ruinous system pursued, wheat will in a year or two be a very scarce commodity; and it cannot under any circumstances compete with New Zealand as a grain country : your people should, therefore, steadily lend their attention to agriculture. Timber, staves, and sacking, which I believe you now manufacture, would sell well here : the native woods are hard and extremely bad to work ; the builders are consequently obliged to use Sydney cedar and deal from England, for which they pay enormous prices. A tract of mineral land has been purchased of the Government for £20,000. I doubt, however, that the purchasers will burn their fingers ; they have no funds to work the mines, which must eventually fall into the hands of the English capitalists — work them who will, however, it cannot but be beneficial to the place— this will still farther tend to distract their attention from agriculture,

and should be an additional inducement to th« aettlers of New Zealand to prosecute iheir wheat and flax growing." There can be little doubt, that as soon as order and good government are established under our uew Governor, there will be a very great influx into New Zealand of settlers from the neighbouring colonies.

The David Malcolm has had a very favourable voyage to ibis port. Out of two hundred and thirty head of cattle only three died on the voyage. We believe this is the greatest number of cattle ever shipped from Twofold Bay in one cargo for the last ten years, and we certainly never saw stock landed in finer condition. The result of the voyage reflects the highest credit on Mr. Dunn's judgment and good management, and we hope the returns will be sufficiently great to reward his enterprize, and induce him to continue his importation of stock into the colony. A great portion of the stock left Wellington yesterday for the Wairarapa.

We learn from Manawatu that the natives are very quiet, are all very busily engaged in preparing flax for the Wellington market.

We publish the following official return of the population of this settlement for the year ending 31st August 1845, which shews an. increase of twenty seven over the return of the previous year. The returns are to a certain extent incomplete, as they do not irciude the settlers at Wairarapa, Manawatu, Otaki, stated in our last number at 150; and the whalers, amounting to 673; so that the total amount <:f population in this settlement may be correctly stated as 4,897. Considering the great depression and alarm which has existed during the past year, this must be considered a very gratifying result. We'hope next week to publish a return of the quantity of oil caught during the past season at the different whaling stations. We also defer the publication of the agricultural returns until we can obtain a correct account of the amount of stock in the settlement, and the amount of land in cultivation at Wanganui.

The Bishop of New Zealand has very liberally given the sum of five pounds as a donation to the Wellington Horticultural and Botanical Society.

COURT OF RPaUMTS. • • A case was brought before this Court last Wednesday which has excited considerable interest. A summons was issued to recover the sum of five shillings, the amount of five promissory notes or debentures for one shilling each, issued by the defendant, and payable in goods or Government debentures. The Commissioner having inquired from the plaintiff from whom he received the debentui es, and learning that they were not received from the defendant, explainpd that no promisory note or bill of exchange, payable in any thing but money could be sued upon excepting by the party to whom it was originally delivered, nor then without proving the consideration for which it was given. These debentures were mere agreements to pay, and like any other agreement could not be enforced excepting by the party with whom thay were at first made. At the same time, the defendant, if he refused to admit his liability, would render himself liable tp be indicted for the fraud. He had tried to give, and had succeeded in giving circulation to these debentures which he was bound to know could not circulate validly ; and if he refused to admit his liability upon them, he (the Commissioner) could not but believe that such a refusal would be taken as evidence of his fraudulent intent in issuing them, and would lead to a conviction. We hope the public will take timely warning from this decision.

Baptizes at St. Mary's Catholic Chapel, on the 12th inst. (according to the rite of the Church Catholic), by the Rev. J. J P. O'Reily, Petefj son of Timothy and Mary Gough.

Married, on the 7th October last, at St. Mary's Catholic Cbapel (according to the rue of the Church Catholic), by the Rev. J. J. P. O'Reilly, Mr. William MacClatcbie of the Chatham Islauds, to Elizabeth Scotland of Cornwall.

Married, on the 17th November instant, Mr. Alexander Alison, formerly of Inverness, Shipwright, new of H. M. Colonial Brig '•Victoria," to Jane, third daugl ter of Mr. Ewen Cameron, formerly of Ardgour, Argylesliire.

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