New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 18, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 275, 18 March 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, March 18, 1848.

The settlers at Taranaki, according to the excellent report of our correspondent, appear to have turned the visit of his Excellency the Governor to good account. Instead of wasting the time with unprofitable discussions, they seized the opportunity of

bringing before his Excellency's notice, in a • practical way, such matters affecting the inj. terests of their settlement, as admitted of ! improvement, or required redress, and his Excellency seems to have readily agreed to i such arrangements as were likely to bebeneficialtothem. One of the points of discussion — the great scarcity of labour at Taranaki, • is deserving attention, since it appears to be the common complaint of the different settlements in New Zealand. We learn that, in getting in the late harvest there, seven shillings a dcv and rations were offered and refused/ we know also that the ordinary rate of labour in this settlement is from 3s. 6d. to 4s. 6d v a day, and that it is difficult to obtain good labourers .even at that price. The present state of the labouring population in the mother-country, and the prospects that offer themselves in this colony to the industrious settler, are eminently favourable to the progress of New Zealand, and ought to insure a rapid increase of its population by immigration. In the mothercountry, after all the horrors of a famine have passed, a commercial crisis supervenes affecting the employers of labour, and threatens to renew the distress of the working classes, though in another way. First they suffered from an absolute want of food, now they are likely to suffer from the want of employment which is to furnish them with the means of procuring food. But in this colony there is no fear that any who come will want employment ; the difficulty is to find hands enough to do the work required. The want is — not of employment but of labour. There are now stationed in New Zealand two entire regiments ; in addition to these a regiment of New Zealand fencibles is stationed at Auckland, composed of Pensioners with their wives and families, so that we shall not over-estimate the number when we assert that nearly 4,000 persons have been added to the ordinary population of these islands, non-producers of food, who require food to be raised for their subsistence. Such a state of things presents the most encouraging prospect to the actual settler, and to the intending colonist. A home demand exists more than sufficient to consume the produce that can be raised from the present amount of cultivation, and offering the greatest inducement to its further extension. There can be no doubt that the actual settlers will avail themselves to the utmost of the opportunity offered to them, but their efforts will be cramped by the want of labour, and they have no means of remedying the evil. The emigration from the Mother country of labourers to this colony, at their own cost, is out of the question ; the care of conveying them hither devolves either on the Government or the Company. But here lies the difficulty, By the late arrangement with the Government, the existence of the Company is prolonged for three years. Before they can renew with success their colonising operations, they must first regain the confidence which they have forfeited. If even, contrary to expectation, they resume their operations, intent only on their own gains, they will be too much engrossed in fresh lottery schemes and in projects for the formation of new settlements to pay much attention to those already in existence. While the Company are colonising the South the older settlements will be left to shift for themselves. But while they are thus neglected by the Company, the Government are prevented by the late arrangement from interfering or rendering any assistance, — the former have secured a monopoly of the Southern Province, from "which nothing but inconvenience, vexation, and loss, will result to these settlements. The efforts of the Government, instead of being equally divided between the two Provinces and directed to promoting the general prosperity, will be devoted exclusively to the Northern Province. We cannot be surprised, if moved by such considerations the settlers at Taranaki should feel desirous of detaching themselves from the yoke of the Company, and of being included in the Northern Province. They despair of any further good from the Company, they have

everything to hope from the Government. And the same sentiment must actuate the other settlements, they must despair of the renewal of immigration on any scale commensurate with their wants, until the -whole colony is under the sole management of the Government ; — as long as the existence of the Company is continued they must continue to languish from their neglect.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. J. J. Curtis, Mr. R. Davis, Mr.'W. Dorset, and Mr. Johnston, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, Lambton-quay, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 18th March, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to- one o'clock, on Monday forenoon, 20th March.

Programme of the Performance by the Band of the 65th Regiment at Thorndon' Flat, on Tuesday, the 21st March : 1. Overture — Due D'Olonne Auber 2. Cavatina — Quel Guardo il Cavaliere „ .... -Don Pasquale Donizetti 3. Zampa Quadrille Jullien 4. Duetto — Olaßellalmmantinente — n . ... t, „ Donizetti Betly 5. Gabriellen Waltzes Stratus 6. Introduction and Aria — Cujiis Ani» ■„„. . mam — Stabat Mater 7. Le Postilion de Lonjumeau Adams , 8. Royal Polka : Jullien

Mauritius. — The Tenasserim brings our papers to 17th December. The report of the Committee of Council appointed to examine the question of steam-communication was laid before the Council, an 1 the resolutions voted without discussion. They were *to this effect : — That the communication with Ceylon and Madras was the most capable of satisfying the wants of the colony, as it would establish a quick communication with India, and facilitate immigration. At the same time, the great advantages that would accrue from a line to the Cape and India, via Mauritius, were pointed out. The sura of £6,000 per annum for three years was voted, and placed at the disposal of the home Government. — The Committee refuse to recommend any alteration in the duties or on the sale of spirituous liquors, considering thot it is the best means of raising funds for mmtgration, which from this source - amounted lasj: year to £27,673, and not that it would be detrimental to the health and morals of the public: the duty on stills was necessary to give the Government control over them ; it improved distillation, established a market for syrups, and | encouraged improvement in the manufacture of sugar. To give further encouragement to the exportation of rum, the Commute recommend that the whole of the duty on stills, £300, should be allowed as drawback, instead of two-thirds of this sum as before , . . . The departure of General Stavely, after a residence of twentyfive years in the colony, to take possession of his new appointment of Commander-in-chief of the forces at Hongkong, was the occasion of a general expression of regret from all classes of the community. As he left so suddenly there was not sufficient time to do all that was wishsd, but immediately that his de? parture was known to be fixed, an address was prepared, and in forty-eight hours five hundred signatures were annexed to it. A meeting was al«o called, when it was decided to present the General with a service of plate as a testimony of the esteem and affection he left behind him. Since his departure subscriptions have been made for a considerable sum. On the 22nd the John Brightman left with the General and his iamily. — Lt unccston Examiner, February 2.