New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, September 18, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 223, 18 September 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, September 18, 1847.

On his Excellency's recent visit to Wairarapa and the other country districts we took occasion to throw out a few hints connected with the town, and purposed taking an early opportunity of making a few observations on the state of the country districts. This pledge we now hasten to redeem. We are not aware, from any official information that has recently been afforded, what may be the present state of the land question, or what impediment, if any, exists to the issuing of Crown grants for this district. We know ' that in March last his Excellency the Governor acquired by purchase the disputed lands at Porirua, and all that remained to be done was to effect by exchange or other equitable arrangements the removal of the natives from certain portions of land which they occupied on country sections in the vicinity of the town belonging to the settlers. This we believe has been accomplished, and if we except the lands in the town claimed by Messrs. Scott andYeung, and the Union Bank as representing Mr. Tod. and for which Crown grants were issued by Captain Fitzroy, we are not aware that any question exists as to the land in this district which can delay the issue of a Crown grant. Nor ought the cases to which we have referred be allowed to offer any impediments to the issue of a Crown grant, as these might be left open questions to be determined by competent tribunals. It is very possible that the next arrival from Auckland may bring these long expected and anxiously desired documents; if not, the settlers at least should be informed whether the delay rests with the Government in not issuing, or with the Company's Agent in not accepting, these grants. We hppe the latter will not incur the serious responsibility, because the Company may not have obtained every advantage they could desire, of interposing any further difficulty or delay in the issue of these grants. They will give increased confidence to the settler, extend the occupation of country lands, and operate most bene- | ficially, both in the colony and out of it, in promoting its prosperity. The next step, which is of equal importance with the first, is the necessity of extinguishing the native title (making at the same time a sufficient reservation for the wants of the natives) to the tracts of country in the immediate vicinity of this settlement. Not only ought the settlers to be confirmed in the possession of their lands by the authority of a Crown grant, but a wide district should be interposed between their cultivations and the land in the occupation of the natives, to afford ample provision for many years to come for systematic colonization. Look to Wairarapa for example. The stockholders in that district are tenants of the Maories ; this is declared to be illegal, but the Government, until they acquire the district, are unable to remove the illegality, or place the holders of runs in a better position. They cannot confirm the leases granted by the Maories, because it would be an illegal, act, and establish a bad precedent. Under these circumstances, exposed to the increasing demands of the natives, and to the intrigues of persons who, not over- scrupulous, may endeavour to disturb existing arrangements, the stockholders are prevented from improving their runs, and increasing their capabilities for keeping stock ; the profitable investment of capital is checked, and improvement is arrested. But if the Government are unable at present to improve the position of the stockholders in their relations with the natives,' they can at least interfere, under the ordinance passed last Session, to

prevent existing arrangements being disturbed by any unfair competition, until the question can be arranged on a satisfactory basis. We are not the advocates of any monopoly or exclusive privileges to the owners of these stations, but we think they are fairly entitled to every security the Government can bestow, and to every advantage that can be granted consistent with the public good. These stations were established at considerable risk both of person and property, they have been maintained with no common energy and perseverance, and on them this settlement mainly relies for its supplies of fresh meat. From these stations the first exports of wool of any amount were made, and they established the fact of the profitable return to be derived from keeping stock in New Zealand, and have set a successful example to be imitated in other parts of these islands. It may be objected that, the New Zealand Company having the right of pre-emp-tion in these districts, the Government would be unable to interfere in extinguishing the native title, and that even if the Wairarapa were secured by the Government, it would be immediately claimed by the Company, and the stockholders in that district would perhaps be in a worse position than they are at present. We admit the force of the objection, and would urge that the Company should be obliged either to use the privilege granted them, or if unable to avail themselves of it, that they should at once surrender what is only a barren advantage in their hands, but which proves a serious obstacle to the prosperity of the settlers. But independent of the considerations we have advanced, the speedy extinguishment of the native title will be found to be the wisest policy towards the natives themselves. The land, as long as any remains for sale, becomes a fertile source of irritation and dispute not only between the settlers and natives, but between the natives themselves. Of this there are so many instances that it would be superfluous to dwell upon a fact so notorious. While the natives expect to receive large sums of money without exertion, they are indisposed to labour, and their trading in land operates as a bar to improvement. But these questions finally disposed of, they would be encouraged to persevere in the path of improvement, each success would stimulate them to further exertion, and would gradually weaken and destroy the force of their former habits, they would better appreciate the value of money, whem obtained by their own labour, and their settled habits of industry would effectually contribute to maintain the peace of the country.

Yesterday Major Richmond left Wellington, which has for some years been the seat of his official duties as Superintendent, in the Government brig for Auckland. To his private virtues we have always borne willing testimony, and now that his occupation's gone as a Public officer in this settlement, we have no desire at parting to renew the bitterness of former controversy.

The Calliope sails on Monday for Nelson with his Honor Mr. Justice Chapman, who proceeds thither to hold the sittings of the Supreme Court. The Calliope will afterwards proceed to Wanganui.

The usual performance of music by the band of the 65th Regt. was postponed, owing to the unfavourable weather, to yesterday. The selection of music was excellent, and the day being exceedingly fine a great number of persons were on the ground. These promenades appear to be weekly increasing in attraction.

We understand that by the kind permission of Col. Gold the band of the 65th Regt. will play at the Theatre on the evenings of performance. Such an unusual attraction and the promise of such excellent music, cannot fail to draw crowded houses.

Accident. — On Tuesday evening last as Mrs. Branks, the wife of Mr. J. Branks, a settler on the Porirua Road, was standing near her husband who was cutting down a tree, a large branch fell and struck her down, fracturing both legs above the ankles. The following morning her husband came into town for medical aid, when Dr. Fitzgerald immediately went to her assistance, and found that both legs were broken, the bone of the right leg protruding through the skin

about an inch and a half ; with some difficulty he succeeded in reducing it and set both legs, and had her conveyed to the netr Hospital where she remains at present under his care, and is doing as well as can be ex- - pected. A good deal of sympathy has been excited by this distressing accident, as Mr. and Mrs. Branks are very deserving per-, sons and are among the earliest settlers ; they have three young children, the youngest an infant at the mother's breast.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. A. Hort, sen., Rev. S. Ironside, Mr. H. S. Knowles, and Mr. J. H. Wallace, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 18th September 1847; and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock, on Monday forenoon, the 20th September. -