New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 29, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 425, 29 August 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 29, 1849.

From an advertisement in the Times by the Emigration Commissioners, it would appear that the British Government are about to promote emigration to this colony. As no fund at present exists for this purpose, we presume that the money by which emigration is to be defrayed will be advanced by the Government in anticipation of the sales of land to be effected in the colony. The supposition that the Government intend to take advantage of the present emigration movement by assisting to divert a portion of the stream to these islands receives confirmation from the present attempt by the Go-vernor-in-Chief to settle the Land Question at the North by establishing the validity of the Crown Grants issued by Captain Fitzroy. "When we contemplate the number of grants issued by that eccentric functionary, no less than 1760, some of which convey several thousand acres of land, it appears evident that the only way by which the expense of emigration to the Northern Province can be defrayed is by means of a loan in anticipation of future sales. The ordinance which has just been introduced into the Legislative Council will have the effect of giving a market value to claims which previously were comparatively worthless. Thousands of acres of land can now be brought into 'the market by those who have benefit* ed by Captain Fitzroy's prodigality, with the unexceptionable title of a Crown Grant. The fortunate speculators who have bought at a penny an acre, and whose purchases like Peter Pindar's razors were only " nude

to sell/ can very well compete with and undersell the Government while the upset price of land is maintained at twenty shillings an acre, and thus benefit by those purchasere introduced at the expense of the Government, while the prospect of realizing an immediate fund for emigration by means of public sales of land is very uncertain. We would not have it inferred that we desire a reduction in the present upset price of land fixed by the Government, inasmuch as we believe that if an emigration fund is to be established, this price ought to be obtained, but we regret to think that the general good is prejudiced to the advantage of a few fortunate speculators, many of whom have little interest in the colony beyond realizing the fruits of their speculation " in the good old days" of Captain Fitzroy, for the colony must suffer in proportion as the means to be provided in the colony for immigration are diminished.

We have received by the Scotia files of the Otago News to the 18th inst., but they do not contain any particulars of local interest. The weather had been very cold, the lowest range of the thermomeier at 9 a.m. during the month of July was twenty- nine degrees ; a considerable quantity of snow and hail had fallen, remaining on the ground to the depth of four, and in parts six inches.

During the last few days the weather has been cold and wintry, the wind being from the southeast, accompauied by heavy showt rs of hail and rain, particularly during the night time, checking the promise of early sprinsr, indications of which had begun to present themselves in the different gardens. The blossoms on the peach trees, which are expanded, will suffer from the southeaster, unless in very sheltered situations. Erom letters received from the East Coast, we learn that the winter there has been unusually severe, ice having been formed in many places of sufficient thickness to bear the weight of a man.

Amateur Theatricals. — To-morrow evening a performance (the proceeds of which will be devoted to the benefit of the widow and orphans of the late Barrack Sergeant Lovell) will take place at the Britannia Saloon, when the characters wilt be sustained by some amateur performers of the 65th Regiment. The performance will be under the patronage of the Officers of the Regiment, and the Band, by the permission of Colonel Geld, will be in attendance, and contribute to the amusements nf the evening. We hope the exertions of the amateurs will be rewarded by au overflowing house.