New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 1, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 504, 1 June 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 1, 1850.

W« published a short time since an article from the Times on the Canterbury settlement occasioned by a letter from the Bishop \ of New Zealand on the same subject which is reprinted in our present number. As the proposed settlement cannot fail to have a most important influence on the future fortunes of the colony, these discussions must naturally excite considerable interest, we shall therefore always take the opportunity of bringing them before our readers, since they will not be confined to the interests of the particular settlement, but embrace those general principles which must govern any successful attempt at colonization. The remarks in his Lordship's letter which refer to the supply of labour to the new settlement are of a highly practical character, and cannot fail to have a beneficial effect, since these points have hitherto been too [ much neglected. There can be no doubt ! that in assisted emigration, where a portion of the expense of the emigrant's passage is borne either by himself or by his friends, the best class of settlers will be secured at the least cost to the community, while a security is obtained, by the tie of previous connection or acquaintance, of the emigrant's remaining in his new home instead of wandering from one settlement or colony to another. In assisted emigration also the demand and supply of labour will be regulated by a simpler and more natural adjustment, and be carried on at a cheaper rate of expense than under the former system. The Nelson Examiner, in a recent number, justly enumerates among the advantages in favour of the new settlement the removal of those vexations and drawbacks which have retarded the progress of the older settlements. It is hardly possible to calculate the amount of ' evil which has been inflicted on the colony by the disputes between the Government and the Company, the disturbances among the natives arising out of the land question, the absence of titles to land, and the time that has been wasted in waiting until the land has been surveyed and offered for selection to the original purchasers. Happily these evils are not likely to occur again to interrupt the progress of the colony, and if emigration to New Zealand is once more commenced on an extended scale, whatever future check may occur, we do not think it likely again to suffer from any of the causes which have hitherto interfered to prevent its resumption. Our contemporary expresses his fears that the constitution of Canterbury as a class settlement and the high price intended to be charged for the land will operate to its disadvantage. In support of his first objection he refers to Otago as an instance of failure in the attempt to establish a settlement of an exclusive character. But the failure at Otago is easily accounted for, since the members of the Free Church of Scotland, who have the control of the funds set apart for education and religious purposes in the plan of that settlement, form the minority of purchasers of land, which would naturally occasion jealousy and bad feeling, since it is an indication that those to whose management the interests of the settlement are con^ fided are either indifferent to its welfare, or have not sufficient influence to promote its success. But if the operations of the Canterbury Association are at all commensurate with their plans, the great majority of the colonists will belong to the Church of England. And on this point it may be observed that the intention of the Association is not, any more than it is that of the Free Church of Scotland at Otago, to exclude persons of a different profession or religious denomination from themselves, but to provide from the money arising from the sale of lands adequate funds for education and the means of religious worship for those of their own faith. The high price of land, £3 per acre, we fear is likely to prove an obstacle to the success of the plans of the Association, since the purchase of a farm of j moderate extent involves a serious outlay when the means of the settler are most needed to secure his success at starting. But if local steam communication be provided, its natural effect will be so to enhance the value of land as to offer greater advantages to the

new comers than were enjoyed by the plder settlers ; even though their land was purchased at a lower rate.

By the cutter Alpha we learn that three sperm whales, yielding about ten tons of Oil, have recently been caught at' Messrs. Rhodes' station at Tkolaki.