New zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 19, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 431, 19 September 1849, Page 2

New zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 19, 1849.

The letter of Mr. E. G. Wakefield which appeared in our last number is in many respects # remarkable document. After, informing' the settlers of his resignation as a Director and of his formal and entire separation from the New Zealand Company, he announces the approaching dissolution of that body, which, he states he has perceived for some time, "as respects the objects of its incorporation was really defunct," that he is convinced it will not last over May, 1850, and even anticipates that, at the annual meeting of the proprietors in the present year the shareholders, finding their position every day getting worse, and the Company becoming more deeply and hopelessly involved in debt, would express some wish that the Company's affairs should be at once wound up, He proclaims tf the utter incapacity of the Company to serve as an instrument of the State in carrying on the colonization of New Zealand, — a fact of which every colonist must now be persuaded," — that "'nothing, it may be said, has been done for the colonization of New Zealand during the last two years," — and that he is satisfied for the advantage of the cololonists "the speedy % extinction of the Company in form as well as in fact, is a most desirable event," as "at present the Company stands between them and all good." These are home truths, plainly and distinctly enunciated — truths with which the colonists have for some years past been deeply impressed. They have been convinced that the Company has been " a delusion," " a great sham," promising what it was unable to perform, full of professions , it was incapable of realizing, aud they have waited in patience and hope for the- period now fast approaching which was to terminate the existence of that body And to remove this stumbling block in the way of j the colony's advancement. But while the colonists heartily assent to these truths they are somewhat astonished at the quarter from which they proceed,— could no other pen have proclaimed the character of the Company and the annihilation of its hopes — could no other arm be found than that which has been so long exerted on its behalf, and in its defence, to give the last blow to its existence ? But although we fully concur in the truth of the statements made by Mr. Wakefield, and have repeatedly for some years past advocated the same views, we cannot agree with him in thinking that the Company were "in a great measure deluded and taken in by the arrangementin 1847." The loan of £236,000 for three years without interest, which the Company received from the Government was at the time generally thought to have been liberal even to profusion, and if the Company even with so large an amount of pecuniary assistance, has been unable to retrieve its affairs ; any attempt to prolong its existence by means of further help from the Government will only for a time postpone its impending dissolution until at length it is slowly extinguished in disgrace. These last convulsive efforts of expiring vitality will have the further effect of inj wing and retarding the advancement of the colony by embarrassing the Government and preventing it from undertaking any extensive measures of immigration and internal improvement. The profuse Jiberality of Lord Grey's arrangement and the injury the colony has in consequence sustained is plainly shewn by the fact that, although the Company has received so large a grant of public money it has literally done nothing, while if the same amount had been lent to the colony in the shape of an emigration fund, if the Government had employed this sum in sending out settlers to the colony, reckoning the passage of an adult at £29 per head, and that

' one third of the number were children, count- • ing the passage money of two of these at the cost of that of one adult, by this time the European population of . the cojony would have been increased by the addition to its number of 16,000 souls. The pressing want of the colony is the want of labour, — of an increasing population to s occupy the extensive districts which are now ready for occupation, and this addition to our numbers could be readily and conveniently absorbed, if judiciously divided among the different settlements. But while the Company is unable to do anything, the Goverument is prevented by the peculiar position of the Company and the extensive privileges conferred upon it, from engagnig in any plans of extensive colonization or of promoting other objects of public utility. The Company, incapable itself of acting, interferes with and paralyzes the plans of the Government, thus "standing between the settlers and all good." Mr. Wakefield labours under a great mistake in asserting that "the official representation that the settlements of New Zealand are prosperpus and contented is not merely unfounded, but directly the reverse of true," Let any one compare the present state of New Zealand with its condition in 1847 at the time the arrangement was made by the Government with the Company, and he will soon be convinced of the great ameliorations which have taken place in the prospects of the colony. Peace has been established throughout the country, the improved condition of the natives and their increasing desire of extensive colonization, the settlement of the Land Question in the Southern province, the increase of stock, of cultivation, and of the revenue —these are all so raanj substantial aqd unquestionable proofs of prosperity. And with regard to Representative Institutions we believe the colony is more likely to obtain a well considered and liberal system of self-government adapted to its peculiar wants and circumstances, and therefore lively to work well and to endure, by means of the Governor-in-Chief than by means of any Agitation, especially of such, an Agitation as is carried on by the Faction. These men by their clamorous violence and unscrupulous conduct furnish the strongest argument for withholding such Instituti ps, and create a suspicion that those are but ill-fjtted to enjoy such privileges who seek them by such intemperate courses, while they raise a prejudice against the settlement itself in the minds of intending colonists, by 'the bitter-" ness and rancour which they infuse into the discussion of these questions.

Wb have received by the overland mail Auckland papers to August 11th ; they are filled with Reports of the proceedings of the Legislative Council. The Crown Titles and Crown Lands Bills had been read a second time, and had been considered in Committee, and the Governor had submitted to the Council the Bill for the Appropriation of the Revenue for the year 1849-50. In his Financial minute his Excellency expressed his intention at a future period to take the necessary steps for remodelling the Customs, and for replacing the present ad valorem duties by a fixed scale of duties ; and of introducing a plan by which the salaries of Government officers should commence at a stipulated amount and increase at a certain rate for so many j ears service up to a fixed limit. The government schooner Albert was to be employed in running between the norern and southern shores of Manukau harbour for the transport of passengers and goods with the view of increasing the facilities of intercourse between the Waikalo and Waipa districts and Auckland. The sum of £1200 was placed upon the estimates for the purpose of promoting Education among the natives of the Northern Province. The erection of a wharf in Commercial Bay was projected, the estimated cost of which, according to plans and estimates submitted to the Council, was £9000. The total estimated expenditure of the Northern Province for the year 1849-50, is £25,420 4s. 6d., being £1930 4s. 6d. in excess of the estimated revenue. The deficiency was to be supplied from the Government Qrant.

The Constitutional Association has passed a resolution by which it " gratefully accepts" the services of Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield in the agitation for Responsible Government. . The fact is significant and needs no comment. Two years ago, but two short years, their Readers were raking Newgate Calendar for compliments to him. Now they accept him as their champion. Noscitur a sociis reversed ; it is to them his letter is addressed. The motiyes are transparent enough. Self-deceit, personal self — not much , caring for its neighbour, is at the bottom. Each, party has its price. He wants power. They want the waste lands and to gain their object would it seems shake hands with the Devil, and make friends at the foot of the gallows.

The former misunderstanding was all a mistake. He called them names. They retorted. Now in the words of Peachum and Lockit it is " Brother, brother, we were both in the wrong."

On Wednesday night, about half-past eleven o'clock, a 'robbery was committed at Mr. M'Euen\ store, in Mulgrave Street, Thornton. 'The thieves, by slipping out one of the shutters^and breaking a pane of glass, contrived to steal several dozen shirts, a dozen pair of moleskin trowsers, and other property. The Police have apprehended, on suspicion, four persons, who have been examined by the Resident Magistrate, and remanded for further examination on the 20th instant. A robbery was also attempted at Lieutenant Barnard's house the previous night, •when that officer was dining at the mess ; but the thief, being alarmed by some noise, hashed, through a window, and made his (escape. William Bannon, John Price, and John Lano'(the two former soldiers in the 65th regiment) were apprehended by the police and brought before H. St. Hill. Esq., the Resident Magistrate on Monday, on suspicion of having been concerned in the robbery at Captain Smith's. The two latter were discharged but Bannon has been remanded for further examination. He had been offering a gold chain for sale which excited suspicion, and we believe some articles belonging to Capt. Smith were found on his person when he was apprehended,