New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Satuday, February 7, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 70, 7 February 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Satuday, February 7, 1846.

Bt the Mary Catherine we learn that the differences between the Government and the New Zealand Company are at length arranged, and that the Government have pledged themselves to apply to Parliament for a loan of £100,000 to be advanced to the Company. .In the correspondence which has taken place, the Company urge their claim on the Government for pecuniary assistance to enable them to accomplish the following objects : — To satisfy the existing claims of the natives, and to make future purchases. — To re-organize nn efficient surveying staff, that by pressing forward with sufficient vigour they may obviate the evils resulting from the arrival of settlers before the lands were ready for their selection. — To discharge their outstanding claims in the colony, -and in England. — To complete the engagements entered into with the settlers at Nelsoa for expenditure for religious and educational purposes, and steam navigation : > — and generally to .place their establishments on an efficient footing. Lord Stanley in his reply appears to recognize the claim of the Company for assistance from the fact that so many British subjects have emigrated to New Zealand under their auspices, that the discontinuance of the Company's operations would be to them a serious calamity, and, regarding them as useful agents for conducting systematic emigration to New Zealand, on these public grounds he assents to their request, but limits his assistant© to £100,000 which he requires to be strictly appropriated to purposes which may best forward these objects, leaving the Company to discharge their obligations to the settlers at Nelson out of their own resources. The successful result of these negociations, and the re-estab-lishment of friendly relations between the Government and the Company may be mainly attributed to the wise and judicious media* tion of. Mr. John Lefevre, who is fully entitled to the applause and gratitude of the settlers for his exertions as peacemaker in putting an end to their unhappy differences. In another part of our paper will be found the agreement between the Company and the Association for establishing the settlement of New Edinburgh, at Otakou, in which, the scheme is so fully detailed as to render any further observations by way of explanation unnecessary. The Mary Catherine sailed so shortly after this final arrangement had been made, that little positive information could be expected by her beyond the general intentions of the Company. There is little doubt, however, that as soon as the necessary preliminary arrangements are completed they will prosecute their plans with vigour, and, as it may be presumed that they will now act with the sanction and cordial co-operation of the Government, it is to be hoped that their efforts will be attended with success. The first ballot for lands in New Edinburgh will take place as soon as there are 400 purchasers, after which the expedition of the first settlers would sail for the land of their adoption. This, it was supposed, would take place about the middle

•of December.' But by this opportunity we learn (what more materially and intimately affects the interests of this settlement) that the Chinch of England Settlement will be immediately formed at Wairarapa, and that arrangements will be forthwith made botli here and in England for the furtherance of the objects connected with this plan. The first step will be the purchase of the land, after which we have little doubt that the road up the Hutt will be immediately resumed and completed. The slightest consideration of the subject cannot fail^to convince any one of the great advantages which must immediately accrue to Wellington by the formation of this settlement. It will serve as the key stone uniting together the other settlements in Cook's Straits into one compact whole. The formation of the road through the Hutt district, will render the . whole' of this fertile valley accessible, while the engagement of the Government- to put the settlers in possession of all lands of which the purchase from the natives has been completed, will remove one of the most grievous obstructions we have experienced from the natives, and render this district immediately available for the uses of the settler. We do not apprehend that the task of compelling the intruding natives to go away will be one of great difficulty to the Government with the force now at their disposal, particularly as it is known that the great body of natives in the southern distiict have little sympathy with them, and agree with the settlers in regarding them as intruders. The only native of any influence who countenances them is Rangihaeta, at whose instigation and by "whose direction (taking advantage of the weakness of the Government) they have hitherto acted. In the mean time, the original curse of the colony, — the distance of the seat of Government from the great body of the settlers— weighs heavily upon us. Everything remains in abeyance until the Governor can leave the north — week after week passes away and no communication is received from the capital, which might as well be "at Nora Zambia, or the Lord knows where" as at Auckland, so far as any advantage to be derived fro>n it by the southern settlers is concerned.

On the departure of the David Malcolm, we took occasion to shew by various statistical returns the actual progress and present state of this settlement, and we make use of' the approaching departure of the Nelson as a convenient opportunity for offering in a friendly spirit a few words of honest counsel to a body whose interests are' intimately bound up with those ot the settlers, and on whose future course of action our prosperity will be greatly influenced; — we allude to the Absentee owners of land in this settlement. It is not our intention now to discuss whether it were well or wisely done to engraft on the Wakefield system the principle of absenteeism ; still less do we propose to entertain for a moment the consideration of the spoliation scheme first proposed by Capt. Fitzroy, which has found favour in the eyes of a very few ; — for such discussions can tend to no profitable or practical result. Neither are we disposed to underrate the important assistance which the Absentees (in which denomination we of course include the New Zealand Company) have rendered us in the deathlike I struggle we have lately undergone ; — to them we must in a great degree attribute our deliverance from lhs mischievous tyranny of | our late imbecile and capricious despot, who had nearly consummated our ruin. Happily the storm has passe .1 over, and we may now seriously consider how we may best and most : speedily repair its ravages ; by what meas ures the settlement may be soonest extricated from its present difficulties, and be rendered flourishing and prosperous. For this end we need not refer to the past ; — it is useless to lament over what has been imperfectly done, or has not been attempted/ We may consider ourselves to have commenced a new career. We have now ground for hoping that former 'difficulties will be shortly, removed ; we have learned by the recent arrival of the Mury Catherine that the differences between the Government and th£ Company are arranged, and that a portion of the required loan has been advanced: and we may expect that a Crown title to our lands will at last be issued. Let us then steadily fix our regards on the future,—and see how those who are members with us of the same body politic, may become fellow workers with us in- achieving the end we both so greatly desiderate— the

prosperity; namely, of tk«»colony. The first step towards this end will be for the Absentees generally to disabuse their minds of the extravagant notions which are entertained of the value of land in New Zealand, and the rents which they ought to return. It is within our knowledge that an answer from an absentee was received by the Ne/son to an application for country land in" the neighbourhood of Wellington, in which it was stated that the owner had no intention of selling, but that he was ready to execute a lease for fourteen years at the yearly rent of Three Pounds per acre per annum. Now, if any person laboured under the delusion of obtaining in England three hundred per cent, annual return from an investment, particularly an investment in land, wiih all the advantages of roads and markets, which the highest state of civilization can afford, he would at once be considered a cunfirmed monomaniac. Arid is the' probability of such a return increased in New Zealand, ; without .roads, with. limited and uncertain i markets, with the heavy exjienscxifhdear-* ing; and till the other difficulties' and drawbacks which a settler must make jup his | mind to encounter, to say nothing of the present state of uncertainty and depreciation in the value of landed property caused by the present ' differences with ths natives? — Assuredly not. — We therefore most emphatically say to the Absentees — the sooner you clear your heads of this nonsense the better — for us, and for yourselves. Another evil felt by tenants is the absence, of purchasing clauses — and we believe this more than any other cause has operated to prevent "the occupation of' land belonging to absentees" in those districts which have been rendered accessible by^ roads, and where the natives have offered no obstruction to the labours of the settler. But a practical remedy will offer itself to these evils. We suppose that with a Crown title will be given the power of taxing the land for the purpose of making roads and other necessary improvements. We will not express any opinion as to .the propriety of an absentee tax, but would remind absentees that Sir R. Peel in establishing the- income tax, thought it equitable to impose a tax on the Irish absentee landlord, and would beg them to consider and compare the condition of the Irish absentee with their own. For the sake of all parties, however, we do earnestly hope that this power of taxing .the |and for the purjjose-of-mafcing-improvements will ~b& speedily granteai-as'withouf-*tt-Ihe'; land is of very little value, and we have had sufficient experience of the voluntary system, to know that except*what has been effected by the New Zealand Company, the burden of all roads iind improvements has hitherto fallen on the settlers, .and it has been found to be a very serious evil. We may "also expect the New Zealand Company will shortly resume its operations in .selling, land,- and these two causes coipbined will powerfully contribute to keep down the price of land. Another point of great importance in restoring prosperity, and in which the absentees can render material assistance, is the introduction of capital, so that the capital may bear a due proportion to the labour of the colony. During the last fouryears from the hostility of the Government and the inability to ' obtain 1 possession of their lands, the means of the settlers have been gradually dissipated without the opportunity of profitable investment, so that when the Crown grants are issued, and the titles to lands confirmed, to many the boon will come too late, — their necessities have forced them to part with their lands, and those who have retained their lands have no capital wherewith to cultivate them. Now, the establishment of a loan fund would , have the happiest .. effect in«infusing fresh vigour and activity, and in stimulating the efforts of the colonists to renewed exertions. They have gained experience, but for the want of a little capital are unable to turn their experience to profitable account. A little assistance — a loan for a limited period and at a moderate rate of interest, would now be invaluable, in affording* the settlers the means of extricating themselves from embarrassments which have not been occasioned by their own imprudence, but have, resulted from causes over which they have had no control. And if the New Zealand Company find that after, cyery^poncession made in their favour by the Gorerpment with regard totbe land, without a loan these concessions are of no avail.r— Ma/ they come too late, — the poor settler must' be more deeply impressed with this painful con-, viction. In asking the absentees then, to establish a loan fund, we simply ask "them to help us that they may help themselves— "that they may gl\e increased value to their own property by enabling us to renew our operations with the necessary vigour. Without it, immigration is comparatively valueless from the? want of capital to, /employ labour — with it we should immediately have an immigration from the .neighbouring; colo^

aies of mh& 'would gltdly tn*ke New Zealand their home, if peace and prosperity were established.- • Nor could & more favorable moment be found than the present for establishing a loan fund, when capital is so abundant in England, that it is embarked in railway schemes of all kinds both foreign and domestic, and the mania for speculation has reached so great a height as to £11 those who are not drawn within its vortex with well grounded alarm for its probable consequences. We do not think it would be unreasonable in the settlers to urge on the Home Govern- ; inent their claim on them for assistance. In the late differences, however others may dispute which party has been in fault, the settlers assuredly have not been to blame, and yet the effects of these- differences have been most severely felt bythem. If the Com-1 pany have received a loan of £100,000, one calf that amount might with the utmost propriety be advanced by the Government at a moderate interest, to the Cook's Strait settlements for the purpose of effecting local -a**' provpraerits^ Hi« *o- > iietr v tfi&ij iioir"the3ritish Government to assist in promoting^ public improvements by the timely aid of a loan, and- both principal -and- interest might "be secured on the revenue of the colony, , which, under judicious management, would j in a few years discharge the obligation. j

We have been informed by- Winteringhara, the rider of Phormium Tenax, that the statement furnished us respecting the agreement of the riders in the back race last week to diride the. stakes is not quite correct; an agreement- bad been made to divide the stakes, whichwere in consequence adjudged toTemplar; but Winteringham states that he was no party to this agreement.

Yesterday three men t>f the 96th regiment were amusing themselves by a sail in the harbour, when the boat wag upset and one of the men named M'Enernej,. k»s unfortunately drowned. The other **a<menwere for some time in the water, and as ntJlig£tiPt^em could swim, were in great danger ofT^fcjfiog the fate of their comrade, but were rescued Jtom their perilous situation by the timely assistance of two boats, which immediatelyyput off from the shore. There was very little; wind at the time of the accident which', we Tear, must have been caused by some- mismanagement or unskilfulness on the part of those who were in the boat.

CicicKfcT Match.—^On^fittrs&y the expected match between the military and civilians came off. The day beicg flue a considerable number of the inhabitant!, attended to witness the play. The game commenced with the civilians going in, who scored 151. The military then went in, and scored 106.- Gh the second innings the civilians scored 137, leaving 180 runs for the military to win. The dajr being too far advanced, the second innings of the military was necessarily postponed till the following morning, when the parties again met, the military scoring 46, losing the game by 134 runs. It would be invidious, where there was so much good- play, to particularize individuals, at the same time, we cannot help recommending some of the respective parties to excerisc themselves frequently, as many runs were scored from bad fielding. Below we give the particulars of the match :--

After the abore match was played, another game was got np between the military and come of the civilians, of one inningi each, the. military winning by 5 mm.

Spirits and tobacco under bond the Ist diy of February, 1846: — Brandy 1670 gallons Rum '. 671 do. Gin f 145% do. Tobacco 9363]b Cigars 697Jft 5nuff................... 80ft

Five bales of wool 1 ltatfe arrived per scfiooner Sisters,, from Flea Bay,. Banks's Peninsula, Geprge',RUodt«'i lUtiea, being v«

• ***«♦«* exporteJ.ftom. ibis quarter. wles are daily expected from Port Cooper.

The brig Kelson, Ca.pt. Sedgwick^Hl sail to-morrow for Lirerpdol djtec*," with^valuable cargo of oil, bone, wool, &c, the produce of this settlement. The Nelson will take a large mail, as every one is anxious to embrace so excellent an opportunity of communicating direct with England. We beli#ve that on her arrival in England she will fe4 laid on again immediately for this Port. Greft ifitfpafAb has been used in loading the Nelson and in getting her ready for sea.

The Maty Catherine, Capt.* Howlett, arrived on Monday last, from Nelson. We believe -#he will proceed about the middle of next week to Auckland, with 50 tons of powder, and a great quantity of ball for cannon, cases of muskets, and all kinds of ammunition which h**e been shipped by the Home Government' for the supply of the troops engageiMn *rar in the North. The 'Mary Catherine* mail was a very small one, many of the letters for New Zealand having been forwarded by the monthly packets, .which sail from London for Sydney. The mail for Auckland was put on board the Comet at the Heads, as that vessel was leaving the Harbour when the Mary Catherine was entering, making the fifth vessel to Auckland from this port since the departure of the Government brig. No time was lost in forwarding the Auckland letters, while the mails for the southern settlements are kept at thl north, until their contents will become of little value, and for this privilege the settlers will be charged in addition the postage from Sydney to Auckland, and from Auckland to Wellington. This is downright robbery. A large quantity of flax, wool &c, was shipped on board the Miry Catherine at Nelson for England, and she will take in wool and other New Zealand produce at this port, and intends filling up at Auckland. Should she fail in doing so, she will proceed to Sydney, and sail from thence direct to England.

Among the valuable importations by the Mary Catherine are two rams, and four ewes of Lord Western's improved merino breed for C. Clifford, Esq. The animals were landed in excellent condition, and will be sent in a a few days to that gentleman's station at Wairar»p» r *o-4»fcicb »hf mill-ftiim a valuable acquisition. We are glad to see flock' masters beginning to pay so much attention to theim* provement of wool, and we hope their efforts will eventually raise the character of New Zealand wool to a high place in the London markets. Three dogs have also been sent out by Mr. E. J. Wakefield to his uncle Col. Wakefield, one a deer hound, and the other two boar hounds of the King of WurtimburglA breed.

The American whaling ship Julian, Capt. Blackmoor, put into this Port last Monday for the purpose of obtaining stores and provisions. It is probable that she may be followed by other whalers cruising on the New Zealand coast that may be in want of supplies, particularly now that they are prevented by the war at the north from visiting the Bay of Islands.

Navigators' Islands. — We have been favored with the perusal of another letter lately received from a settler who left Wellington in the Rover's Bride, and is at present staying in these islands. The writer appears to consider the position of a European among these natives neither safe nor satisfactory, although they are " Missionaries," and adduces some instances of violence that have recently occurred. One instance, in which a European, while bathing, sportively " duckeJ" a native boy, had nearly ended tragically, for "the boy* father came about two hours afterwards and aimed a deadly blow at Mr. — , and would have killed him, had he not been prevented by an American black, and a native who carried him away; — this very man is Mr. - — the Missionary's right hand supporter."-*-°Tbere is a poor man who not long ago was attacked because he was going away after having lived with them several years, they heard he had money, and wanted it ; they broke his right arm, disabled the other, broke a fowling piece about his bead and body and left him for dead : be has in some degree recovered from this illusage, bat is likely to bo a cripple for life." Mr. Pritchard of Tabitian notoriety, is there, and the writer considefs i 'h l is(MY.*P's.) position and that of the English Missionaries rather precarious, as, in the event of any disagreement between them and the French Priests rending in the island, t French man of war would probably interfere in favor of their countrymen, take the island, and turn away the Missionaries, an event which appears very, likely to happen, as "one of them a short time since' sent a message to the chiefs to collect a meeting in order not to supply the Prititowltn firewood and water, but the chiefs

declined to *ct o* this advice, baring previously informed of the probable consequences of such conduct. "

Ist Innings. 3d Innings. Capt. Eyton b. Clout 33 b. Clout S Lieut. Rush not oat 47 b. C.out 1 Serj. Scrjvens tt. Gator, Esq. 0 b. Clout 0 Corp. Hopwood b. Herbert 10 b. Mr. Catcbpool 1 Bond «f.Brown,ft.Clout 3 b. Clout 13 Hinds ft. Clout 0 b. Clout 5 "Wijjglesworth run oat 13 6. Frown 0 Dawion b. Clout 4 b. Clout 0 Allan 6. Clout . 4 ft- Clout 3 Burnet et. Herbert 0 ft. Clout 0 Mamunr ft. Q«ut 1 not out 0 JBye? 5, wide balls 1 0 ByeslO.wideb.l ll ~W9 ~« Grand total 135

Militak r.

.'Nixon, Esq. a. Scnvens 31 tt. CaptEvton 34 -CatoiyEsq. cl. Dawson 23 & Scnvens 7 Ir. Catcnpool ft. Scrivena 0 not out 1 It. Wallace not oat- . 1 et. Wirglesworth 0 Ir.May ft.Cap^t.Bytop 19 et. ScnVens 8 tenge b. Scnvens 34 ran out 0 Lshmore ft.Scrivena A cf.Bond 8 Irown b. Scriveni 5 «/. Lieut. Rath 4 lerbert run out . .6 feScrivens 33 Vintennghatn b. Capt. Eyton 11 ft. Scnvens 0 3ooC • , et. Scrivena 16 tt. Lieut. Rnata 37 Byes 9, wide o 9 Pyesl6, wid>o 16 - . ~vn 1« Grand total 3M