New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, December 30, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 148, 30 December 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, December 30, 1846.

Yesterday morning at an early hour his Excellency left Wellington in H.M. Steamer Driver for Auckland. It is generally reported that his Excellency's sudden departure has been caused by intelligence relating to the contemplated alterations to be made in the Government of this colony, and he has returned to Auckland to wait the arrival of his Despatches, and for the present has been compelled to suspend the execution of his. plans. It is also reported that a Proprietary Government will be established in the ' Southern District under the New Zealand Company, on the plan proposed last year by Mr. Buller to the Ministry. The bare apprehension of such a change has caused universal dissatisfaction in this settlement. There can be little doubt that the different questions which agitated this settlement and retarded its prosperity, were on the eve of satisfactoryadjustment under hisExfcellency'svigorous administration. Aftersoraany years of bitterness and contention the settlers

were rejoicing in the expectation that these differences were about to cease, and reposed in full confidence in the wisdom and energy of their present Governor. But if the changes to which we have alluded are to be made, all these expectations are destined to be disappointed. It is impossible to describe the unanimity with which the settlers would oppose any attempt on the part of the New -Zealand- Company to, establish * Proprietary Government in this colony. Neither the times nor the country are at all suited to the experiment, and the efforts to realize the crude and visionary scheme* which they have lately put forth can only end in the certain ruin of the Company and the settlers. On the part of the settlers, we earnestly deprecate such an attempt, and .trust that the alarm which exists may prove to be groundless.

In our correspondent's unmeasured condemnation of the Customs Ordinance, his con* venient assumption of its universal unpopularity scarcely agrees with his subsequent admission of the present indifference of the great bulk of the people to its results. Without becoming its champion, we believe the passing and qualified approval we bestowed upon this measure in our review of the proceedings of the Legislative Council, more nearly represents the general opinion than the hostility in which our correspondent indulges. Before considering the objections advanced by our correspondent, in order to arrive at a fair conclusion on tho subject, it will be necessary briefly to refer to the circumstances under which this increased taxation was imposed, and the objects which it will enable the Governor to accomplish. It will be readily admitted that his Excellency assumed the Government of this colony under every possible difficulty. Throughout the island the natives were in open opposition to the Government, whose authority was at its lowest ebb, while the financial blunders of his predecessor had entailed on the colony a debt of £75,000. Commercial operations were altogether par- *' alized. In order, then, to save the colony from irretrievable ruin, a large expenditure became absolutely necessary. It was necessary to carry on a vigorous system of warlike operations in both districts of the island to recover the lost authority of the Government, and by forming roads and establishing the. means of communication, between the different districts to open the country for settlement, and afford the natives the opportunity of trading with the settlers. This has in part been done, and the consequences of an increased expenditure are already visible in the improved state of the colony. But as the greatest portion of this increased expenditure has hitherto been defrayed by the British Government, in order to justify the continued demand* required to effect these objects, it was necessary for his Excellency to show that with timely aid the colonists were willing and able to assist themselves, and that a rapidly increasing revenue might be obtained by indirect taxation, which in a few years would render New Zealand independent of further assistance from the British Government. Under these circumstances his Excellency required of the settlers such admeasure of their confidence as would enable him to overcome the difficulties of his situation, and we think it will hardly be disputed that the settlers are in a better conditionto bear the increased taxation imposed by the Customs Ordinance recently enacted, than they were in Captain Fitzroy's time to pay the 1 - amount formerly imposed. In drawing a comparison between the taxation of .Great Britain and this colony, our correspondent only takes so much of each as suits his owtf purpose. And' where the conditions ! are so dissimilar no fair comparison can be reason* ably instituted. If we compare the positive amount of taxation in this colony with that of the mother country or the neighbouring colonies, we believe the difference will be found in our favour. In this colony the taxes affecting the great majority of the .settlers are those imposed by the Customs Ordinance. And it may be fairly asserted, that the labouring man is better able in this - colony to obtain a greater- amount of all those articles which enter largely into the consumption of the people, and consequently is better nble to contribute to the revenue

with, wages at 21s. per week and the ready means of obtaining constant employment which now exist than he would be in England with wages at 9s. per week. If we take the other classes of the community, while the amount of indirect taxation is greater in England* (the duties on spirits, wines, and many other articles of luxury being higher than in this colony) to this must be added the excise duties, the as•essed taxes, poor rates, and other local assessments,, irom which s the New Zealand colonist is exempt. If we compare our condition with the neighbouring colonies, we have equal reason to be satisfied. In New South Wales and. Van Diemen's Land, while the duty on spirits is much higher, a duty of at leafct 10 per cent, is levied on all imported goods, in addition to which there are municipal and local rates which form an important item in the amount, but which at present we have not to pay. The same observatioWjngy £pplg* ■..geweialfef "«* Ureffr--ttfce' fc A *s3mh Australia; /for though, a scale of fixed duties has been recently enacted in that colony, yet a comparison of these with the average amount of duties paid here would be in favour of' New Zealand. Our correspondent's arguments with reference to the natives* have still less weight. The cause which most affects the market price of the necessaries they require, is not so much the amount of duties as the imperfect means of communication and the absence of facilities for trading. And this affects not only the price of those articles they wish to purchase, but also the price of those commodities they have to dispose of. For example the native at Wellington obtains his blanket or tobacco at a much cheaper rate them the native at Manawatu or the East Coast. Again the native at Waikanae in disposing of his produce will obtain the Wellington market price in money, while the native o;i the East Coast must be contented to receive a much lower price for the same article in trade. His Excellency >as adopted the best method of reducing the price to the natives of the necessaries they require, by improving the means of communication ; and when the road from Wellington to Wainui is completed, it may be safely asserted that all the articles in consumption among them, will be positively cheaper to the natives along the coast in the neighbouring districts, and the amount of native produce brought by them to Wellington, will be greater than it was- before the alteration of the duties. It does not enter into our present line of argument to enquire whether the means adopted for obtaining an increased revenue are the best that could be devised, nor yet to discuss the comparative merits of a fixed scale of duties and an Ad Valorem duty ; neither will our space allow us at present to enter into a further examination of our correspondent's objections, or we might show that the reference to the English Corn Law is equally specious with the comparison between the taxation of Great Britain and this colony. On this part of the subject however, we may remark, that a tax of 10 per cent, would be levied in the neighbouring colonies on flour or any other produce exported from New Zealand, and that in another year the probability is more in favour ! of the settlers exporting corn and provisions than of their reaching the starving point. We sincerely regret that this attempt j 'To hint a fault and hesitate dislike' ! ' has been made. To impose fresh taxes how- j ever necessary, must always to a certain degree be an unpopular .task for any Governor. But we may be content to give a qualified approval to the present increased scale of duties, when we see the large expenditure now nu».king in roads and other improvements, and the former conduct of his Excellency in South Australia, justifies the confidence that the scale of duties will be reduced as soon as the circumstances of the colony will permit, and the necessity for the present r*te of expenditure has passed away.

Through 3 the kindness of Captain Thompson of the I don't know we have received Hobart Town papers to Dec. 15, but they do not appear to contain any news of particular interest. The latest English dates received there were to Aug. 7. The mainmast of H.M.S. Castor was refitted, and it was reported she would sail for New Zealand a few dys after the departure of the I ion'l know. The Adelaide had left Hobart Town for'Alberton, Gipp's Land, for a cargo of cattle for Wellington, and may be expected Here very shortly.

The Neto Zealand Journal of July 18, is the latest received per Hope. In is we observe an .extract of a letter from a mercantile house id this place dated Feb. 26, (which waspubfishedln, the city article of the Times July 14) stating the land question as regards the Hutt district- was settled through, the firmness of his Excellency, kid the intruding natives bad retired from the district. This, appears & h* the latest hews -received in wmdon

from this settlement at the time of the Hope's sailing.

It is reported that H.M.S. Racehorse will sail to-morrow forWanganui./Taranaki, and Nelson, and after having visited those settlements will return to Wellington.

We are informed that our Nelson contemporary is in error in the statement (repuh,Hshed in our last number from that Journal) that "the brig Nelson, from Liverpool- to Wellington, sailed two days before the Hope" Private letters received here, state that she was not to sail before the middle of August;

Last week as Mr. Scott and Mr. Sellafs were proceeding, along the coast to Wanganui, when near Rangitiki they were met by some of the rebels acting under Rangihaeata, who after a good deal of bullying and threats of violence robbed them of their blankets and other property. Messrs. Scott & Sellars returned to' WjelUngtanMn& immediately gave Information to' tire proper (authorities.

Official Appointments.— 7 The following appointments are published in the Government Gazette of the 16th inst. : — Major Henry Matson, 58th regt., to be a Commissioner for examining and reporting upon all claims to compensation under the New, Land Claims Ordinance ; T. R. Atkyns, Esq., J.P. to be an Inspector of Police ; Major Patience, Major A. Wyatt, 65th regt., and Major H. Matson, 58th regt., to be Magistrates ; the Hon. H. W. Petre, to be Treasurer for the Southern Division of the colony ; Mr. T. H. Fitzgerald, Surveyor, at Wellington ; D. M'Lean, Esq., Inspector of Police at New Plymouth ; and Mr. John Tinline, Clerk to the Magistrates at Nelson, to lay complaints and informations under the " Native Land Purchase Ordinance" ; Mr. A. W. Shand, to be Clerk in the Custom's Department a.% Wellington, vice Rennie; Mr. D. Rough, to be Boarding Officer of the Customs at Auckland ; and Mr. J. A. Wilson, to be Pilot at Auckland.

Theatre. — The theatre was reopened on Saturday evening and was very fully attended. Several judicious alterations and improvements have been made in the scenery and decorations. The next performances will take place on the Ist January.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. T. Northwood, Mr. J. P. O'Reilly, Mr. C. Perry, arid Mr. C. Sharp, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 2d January, 1 847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 4th January. We are also requested to give notice that the monthly meeting of the Superintending Committee' will take place at Barrett's Hotel, on Monday evening, the 4th January, at eight o'clock.