New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 14, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 213, 14 August 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 14, 1847.

In a former number (July 24) we published the proposal of the New Zealand Company for remodelling the Nelson land question : in this day's Spectator will be found the resolutions of the Committee of the Nelson land purchasers and agents on which their report is founded. The two arrangements agree in proposing that the unsold numbers, with their orders of choice attached, should be all cancelled, and the lands thrown open for selection, with a re- selection according to the original order of choice. But in addition to this, by way of compensation to the land owners, the Committee propose that a town should be laid out as a shipping port to the Wairau in quarter acre sections, which should be selected according to the original order of choice, and a limited quantity of land in the neighbourhood reserved as suburban sections ; the quantity of land in sections of inferior quality to be increased, with other modifications of a similar nature ; they also consider that the future management of the Trust Fund should be vested in a board of seTen trustees residing in the settlement, two to be appointed by the Company, two by the private absentee proprietors, and three by the resident proprietors. As the New Zealand Company in their circular state their interests to be identical with the settlers and landowners, and profess their anxiety for a readjustment of the question on this or any other basis which may be adopted in the colony, it may be hoped that the result of Colonel Wakefield's visit to Nelson will be to satisfy the settlers, and restore contentment to the settlement. The suggestions thrown out by the settlers are important additions to the Company's proposals. Their claim to have some control over the Trust Funds appears perfectly reasonable, and there can be little doubt their administration of them would be more beneficial to the interests of that settlement. In the hands of the settlers some efforts would be made at least by means of the Trust Funds, to extend education and confer the benefits of steam communication on the settlement, but under the management of the Directors nothing has been done to promote either. In their Report the Nelson landowners declare their opinion of the lottery system in the following terms :—: — "We believe the sale of land by lottery to be most mischievous and ruinous, equally to those who buy under the system and to those who sell, the only difference being in point of time when the loss comes to be felt. And looking especially to its lamentable effects in our own cases, we feel not only justified but bound to call upon the Company at once to relinquish it as regards Nelson, and to put into operation the plan they themselves laid down in a despatch to their Principal Agent, dated 26th April 1841, by selling the land that will remain to them after the proposed reselection, by auction on the spot." However satisfied the Company may have previously expressed themselves of the perfectness of their arrangements, they have by

this time received unequivocal proof of the injury inflicted on the actual settlers by the operation of this method of effecting the distribution of land. In every settlement the same testimony is borne to the effects of this pernicious system ; in every settlement it is denounced as most mischievous and ruinous, and yet the Company still cling to this system in the proposed settlement of Otakou with unaccountable infatuation, as if all previous experience were of no avail. Let any one look at the present condition of this settlement, and consider what it might have been, if the lottery system had not been adopted, at least in the distribution of the country lands. If the valley of the Hutt for example had been set apart for actual settlers, who had been allowed to select their lands in the order of their arrival, by this time it would have been settled by a numerous and thriving population concentrated in the neighbourhood of the town ; the greatest part of tte district would have been brought into profitable cultivation, and maDy of those who are now lost to the settlement would never have thought of leaving it, from the facilities which would then have been afforded them of obtaining land at a moderate rate, on which they could have supported their families. The dispersion of the settlers, and the monopoly of the available land in the hands of the Absentees are the fruits of this lottery system, and whether the Company dissolve or continue their operations, if they have any regard for the interests of the settlers, they are bound to do all in their power to remedy the evils they have caused. At present the Company are a complete stumbling block in the way of the settlement. They do nothing themselves, and they prevent the Government from acting. If they would onh learn to meet their fate with becoming dignity, instead of hopelessly lingering on endeavouring to postpone the inevitable hour, it would be better both for the settlers and for themselves.

A DiNNEp. was given at the Freemasons' Tavern on Wednesday evening by the noncommissianed officers of the 58th and 65th regiments to their comrades the non-com-missioned officers of the 99th regiment on the occasion of their leaving this settlement. The entertainment passed off very much to the satisfaction of all present, and toasts and songs added to the enjoyments of the evening.

On Wednesday evening about twenty minutes to seven two severe shocks of an earthquake were felt in Wellington. The first shuck was the most severe and was of some seconds' duration > the shocks occurred within the interval of a minute of each other. The wind was from the north-west, with frequent showers of rain, and towards nine o'clock it rained very heavily.

Embarcation of Troops. — On Thursday the different companies of the 99th Regt., which were stationed in this settlement, amounting lo 230 men, under the command of Major Last, embarked on board the Thomas Lowry for Sydney. Lieut. Elliotts company marched into Wellington from the Hutt on Thursday afternoon in very military style, and proceeded to the place of embarcation, the band of the 65th regt. playing " Auld Lang Syne." This gallant corps have been so long stationed in this settlement, that both officers and men have made many acquaintances and friends who will view their departure with regret ; the urbanity of manner and kindliness of disposiposition of their commander Major Last, in particular, rendered him a general favourite in the society of this settlement, and we are sure we express the unanimous sentiment, when we say that they bear with them the best wishes of the settlers for their health and prosperity.

The Inflexible proceeds to Auckland to morrow afternoon.

Last Saturday the new stone barracks at Porirua were delivered over by Mr. Wilson the contractor to the Ordnance Department. The building is substantially constructed, and will be an important post for keeping open the communication along the coast, and securing the peace of the district. By degrees a collection of houses will soon be formed in the neighbourhood, and the commencement made of a flourishing village.

It is reported that the party of natives employed on the Porirua road under Captain Russell will be considerably increased in strength.