New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, January 16, 1850.
Anoiheb. article, it seems, has been published in the Hobatt Town Courier on New Zealand politics, which, from the internal evidence it affords, may be safely referred to the same source whence the former orisginated, and of which this professes to be a continuation. The subject is the same, a rtchaufft of the fallacies and opinions so repeatedly put forth by the party in this settlement which arrogates to itself to represent public opinion, and which, actuated by a bitter spirit of hostility to Sir George Grey's government, is led, in the expression of it, into all sorts of contradictions. Thus the steady increase of the revenue since the termination of Captain Fitzroy's disastrous career, the pacification of the natives and their rapid advancement in civilization, are facts that cannot be disputed, but, we are told, Sir George deserves not a particle of credit for either of these " fortunate results of his temporary measures." In like manner we were also told, on a former occasion, that the adjustment of the land claims in this settlement and at Wairau was only a temporary
measure and would prove a failure, that the price paid was excessive and would confer no permanent benefit on the natives who would repudiate the bargain, while the extraordinary price would only have the effect, by increasing their cupidity, of preventing future purchases of land from them by the Government. Three years have nearly elapsed since these predictions, the first hollow croakings of the Faction, were made, and how have they been realized ? The natives have stedfastly adhered to their agreement, the Wairau is now peacefully occupied by Nelson settlers whose rapidly increasing stock is fast spreading over and filling the district, the money paid to the natives has been judiciously expended by them in the purchase of stock and in various other ways", the effect of which has been permanently, to improve^ their social condition* .while the subsequent purchases of land by the Government in the Southern Province made in the same^ liberal spirit with those to which we have referred, and embracing nearly all the remaining portion of the Middle Island not previously acquired, and extensive districts in the Northern Island, show that the arrangement denounced by the Faction as pregnant with disastrous consequences has been the means of greatly facilitating instead of preventing similar purchases. " The condition of the Natives," then, Sir George Grey may safely refer to in his " able despatches" as the effect of his policy, and few except the Faction will venture to deny that their social advancement, that thejj difference between their present state and their condition and disposition towards the government in Captain Fitzroy's time, is permanent. In the same way the difference between the present amount of revenue in this province and that collected in the time of Sir George Grey's predecessor, can be shown to arise not "solely in consequence of the enormous expenditure of British gold in the colony," but that various other causes, such as the pacification of the colony, the opening of the countt y by means of roads, and other permanent measures for the improve-, ment of the colony contribute to produce this increase, and that if this expenditure " ceased tomorrow" these causes would still operate in their effect on the revenue, and show that daring the last three years a permanent and beneficial change has taken place. Again all the nonsense is repeated of the "intelligence and respectability"' of those who refused seats in the council, while those who became Members of it are the subjects of abuse, with the usual embellishments about the petition, &c. Sir George Grey's detractors first invent their facts and then hope, by continually repeating the same story, that it may eventually pass current for, truth, but their dull cuckoo note only wearies by its iteration, while the frequent assertion of their own intelligence and respectability is not likely to add to either in the opinion of impartial observers.
The Lady Clarke arrived on Monday from Otago, which she left on the previous Friday. The Mouttan, from Greenock the 12th September, had arrived at Otago, with one hundred and fifty emigrants, after a passage of one hundred and five days. The mail for this settlement (which is a small one), it is said, has been forwarded by the Schooner Otago, which sailed before the Lady Clarke. Below will be found a short summary of the latest .English intelligence, extracted from the Omgo News. The Mouttan was to leave Otago for this Port a week after the Lady Clarke.
Orders have been received to expedite the patent ci eating the Prince of Wales Earl of Dublin. — Observer. London Money Market, Sept 6th. — Consols left off at 92f for money and account ; 3 per cent reduced, were done at 92f , f ; new three-and a quarter per cents, at 99|, f ; long annuities atBf, 11-16 ; exchequer bills, 395. to 425. prern.; India bonds, 755. prem. The, dealings in foreign stocks were chiefly limited to Mexicans, Peruvians, and Portuguese, all of which advanced in price. The heaviness of the railway market increases. Prices experienced a further fall to day, owing to a great many parcels of stock being brought forward for sal*.
An attempt was made last week to seize the William and James, a small coaster trading between Wellington and Taranaki. On her anchoring in Queen Charlotte's Sound, the two hands on board and a passenger seized the vessel, intending, it is said, to go to California, and broached a cask of spirits. "When the men were in a stnteof intoxication the master, with a maori boy, contrived to get away at night in the boat and reached Mr. Thorns' station in the Sound, with whose assistance he recaptured the vessel, and has come over to Wellington to obtain the assistance of the Resident Magistrate.
Cricket. — A match will be played this day on Thorndon Flat between eleven of the 65th Regiment against eleven of Wellington. The wickets will be pitched at eleven o'clock.
Programme of the performance of the Band of the 65 th Regt., at Thorndon Flat, on Wednesday, January 16th :—: — 1. Overture — Fra Diavolo Anber %. Aria — Stanca di pui Combatarai \ Be m ni — Lucrecia Borgia J 3. First set Quadrilles— Lucia Lam- "I Mo^ r mermoor J 4. First selection — Maid of Honour . . Balfe 5. The Queen's Waltz Labitzky 6. French Polonaise Brepiant 7. Hungarian Galop Strautt 8. Jenny Lind Polka Glover.
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 465, 16 January 1850, Page 2
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1,085New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, January 16, 1850. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 465, 16 January 1850, Page 2
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