New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 8, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 185, 8 May 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 8, 1847.

In the course of a few weeks the contemplated changes in the constitution of this colony will probably be effected by the separation of the island into two governments. It is possible that these arrangements will be forthwith carried out, so that the Legislation for local purposes for the current year will be enacted in this district instead of, as heretofore, at Auckland. It would be useless, in the absence of necessary information as to detail, to speculate on the nature of the aiTangements to be made on the separation of the two provinces, or of the general character of the measures which may ocoupy the attention of the first council

to be assembled in the Southern province of New Zealand : but in making provision for local expences, in any scheme of local taxation the question of how far the Absentees are to bear their fair share of the local burthens, or whether they are still to continue exempt from contributing their proportion to the local expenditure cannot fail to engage the attention of the Council. Many causes have prevented the frequent discussion of this question, chiefly owing pe)haps to the unsettled state of the Land Claims, but these are now for the most part disposed of, or are so far in progress of arrangement that we may expect the settlers will be in possession of a Crown title to their lands before the sitting of the Council of this Province. Until the Land Claims were settled, it appeared unjust to tax the land, and even after Crown titles are issued it may be urged with some show of reason that until tranquillity is established in the country, until the outsettler can occupy his land free from all apprehension of molestation or injury from the natives, any attempt to impose a land tax would be premature. On the other hand we must bear in mind the great additional expence which the introduction of Absenteeism has caused the Government, by separating the settlers, and scattering them over an extent of country, instead of allowing them to be concentrated in the neighbourhood of the Town, the whole burthen of taxation being thrown on the actual settlers. Leaving, however, the question of how far the Absentees should contribute towards the general expenditure of the Local Government to be discussed at a future opportunity, let us consider the question of taxation for local purposes, for making streets and roads and for keeping them in repair. Here the Absentees have hitherto reaped the benefit of improvements to which they have not contributed. Whatever has been done in the town in forming the streets or keeping them in repair has been chiefly at the expense of the resident settlers, with occasional assistance | from the Government or the New Zealand Company. A few of the principal thoroughfares have been formed, but the expence has been generally as the inveise value of the sections, the sections selected for higher numbers from their situation requiring a greater outlay to make them accessible. But if all the town sections were taxed according to their value for making the streets and keeping them in good repair, from the contributions of the absentees who own the greatest portion of the land, a sufficient amount would be obtained for local improvements and the burden would be more equally distributed. In the country districts this becomes still more important. Through the judicious and liberal policy of his Excellency, roads are now in progress of formation through the principal districts in the neighbourhood of the town. But after these roads are made, the expence of keeping them in repair will devolve on the settlers, and it will become a matter of serious consequence whether the whole burden is to be thrown upon them, or whether the Absentee owners of land in the respective districts are to bear their fair proportion. And the question is of additional importance from the fact, that hitherto being subject to no tax, the Absentees in many instances have allowed their lands to lie idle, either giving no authority to their agents, or such limited instructions as were in effect useless. But by compelling the Absentees to contribute their fair proportion to improvements which enhance the value of their land, the settler will be relieved of a portion of his burdens, and the Absentees will be obliged to grant such terms as will allow the land to be occupied with advantage, instead of remaining as at present, in too many instances, an interruption to the progress of the settlement and an hindrance to the settler.

The Inflexible returned on Thursday from the Heads, having succeeded in recovering one of the anchors and a hundred and twenty-five fathoms of chain belonging to the Calliope, another effort will be made before she returns to Auckland to recover the remaining anchor. It is reported that she will leave for Auckland on Monday.

By the Catherine which arrived from Nelson on Thursday, we have received Examiners to the Ist* May. They contain some observations on the late settlement of the Land Claims to which we have elsewhere alluded. The New Zealand Company's Agent had advertised for Tenders for the survey of the Wairau plain and valley which were to be sent in by the Bth May. The Catherine has brought a cargo of Nelson ale and porter.

We believe arrangements are about to be mad 6 on the part of the Government, for obtaining from Col. Wakefield, the Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company, on suitable compensation, his present residence, which would be converted into a Government House for the newly appointed Lieu-tenant-Governor of the Southern district. Mr. Eyre was to leave England the beginning of January in the first vessel sailing for Sydney, so that it is very possible he may by this time have arrived there. We suppose he would first visit Auckland to communicate with the Governor, and that afterwards his Excellency with Mr. Eyre, the Lieutenant-Governor, will proceed to this district. It is reported that another vessel was to leave England for New Zealand, very shortly after the Louisa Cumpbell.

Maori Sympathizers. — Pomare, with a few of his followers, arrived here last week in the Lowestoft from the Chatham Island. These natives, who formerly resided in this district, but who about ten years ago emigrated to the Chatham Island, have a strong sympathy with Rangihaeata, of which they have just given ample proof by bringing with them in the Lowestoft, as a present to that chief, a ton of dried eels, and seventeen casks of birds. The eels are prepared afte r the usual Maori manner ; the birds are young albatross, and ducks which abound in the Chatham Island ; these are partly boiled, and then put into casks and preserved in their own fat ; however savoury to a Maori palate, this preparation would not be very attractive to an English epicure. They are packed chiefly in American casks. As these supplies are intended for a rebel now in arms against the Government, we suppose there can be no difficulty in their being seized by the local authorities — as next to ammunition these are the kind of supplies that would be most useful to him. We are informed that the natives at the Chatham Island have a great store of ammunition and fire-arms which they would most gladly send to Rangihaeata, and would also readily join him if a convenient opportunity offered; — we hope therefore that the authorities will exercise a proper vigilance in preventing his obtaining any assistance from this quarter.

The following notice respecting stray cattle has been issued by his Honor Major Richmond. We believe it chiefly refers to the Hutt district : — "Notice. — Complaints having been made, that Cattle and pigs are suffered to stray on the Roads now forming in this district, causing great damage to the sides and slopes thereof. " Notice is hereby given, that instructions have been issued to the Police and others 'to seize any Cattle or Pigs found straying on the Roads, and that legal proceedings will be adopted against the owners of such Cattle or Pigs for recovering the amount of the damage caused thereby. " By trder of his Honor the Superintendent, " S. E. Grimstone, •' Acting Secretary." Wellington, sth May, 1845.

Wellington Savings Bank — Mr. J. M. Taylor, Mr. D. Wakefield, Mr. J. Wallace, and Mr. Fitzherbert, the Managers in rotation will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, from seven to eight o'clock on SatLrday evening, the Bth May, 1 847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 10th May.