[From the Australian and New Zealand Gazette November 16.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 593, 9 April 1851, Page 3

[From the Australian and New Zealand Gazette November 16.]

“In home matters there is little of moment passing with reference to colonization. We print elsewhere the copy of a memorial to the Directors of the New Zealand Company from the Nelson Absentee landowners. We give this copy as we have received it from the chairman of the meeting held at the New Zealand House, on the 30th of October last. As far as we comprehend the memorial, it takes exception to a body of local arbitrators, by whom appointed we are not aware, but these gentlemen, some of them being landowners, appear to have divided the lands of the settlement in a manner which must have been extremely satisfactory to themselves, and more so to their friends’, one of whom— Mr. Duppa, we believe—appears to have had many thousand acres allotted to his share, though belonging to a different settlement (Wellington.) With this specimen of the honour and justice of the arbitrators towards an alien of the Nelson settlement, we need not go into the awards in their own favour. B«t what must have been the conduct of the New Zealand Company's Agents in this matter? Some time ago one of our articles in the New .Zealand Journal was suppressed by an officer Sof the New Zealand Company, when we pointed out the precise trick of which the Abaentee landowners are now.complaining ; and With justice. Surely SirQeprge Grey will not gllow such proceedings to be ratified. If he gave done so, we perfectly confident that the pome Government will not ratify them. InStead of idly memorialising the late Court of Directors, why not the complainants go direct o the Government itself, losing no time in he matter? Earl Grey is not an ogre, though hey may have been taught to believe him uch—but a nobleman, who, whatever conlicting opinions may be entertained of his poicy, has done more for the colonies than any ther who has preceded him since the existence of the Colonial-office. Above all, his trict sense of justice his worst enemy has not entured to impugn. Whence, then, this oily of appealing to a now powerless body to ectify injuries which he alone can control ? . The deputation then states that the injuies of the land purchasers are well known to be Directors, which is true enough ; but if hey expect that the Directors of the New jealand Company can rectify them, they neer were more mistaken. The Directors have anctioned the very acts of which they comlain, and a rectification of these would be a ibel on their own acts and those of their gents, by which they are bound. The Nelin absentees, if they are wise, will appeal to >e G.vernment itself; they have right on ieir side, and we are certain Earl Grey will ’no wrong. If the matter be fairly laid bete him, there is little danger but that be will imply with the prayer of the requisitionists, •so iar as not to permit wrong to be done to eir prejudice. We well know that strenuous tempts would be taken to prevent this step, d we know equally well the reasons of such evention, but if tbe Nelson absentees wish ' the recognition of their claims, we are perked this is tbe only right step. The reMinder of the document speaks for itself. Bon the grounds stated in our last number •• will, heart and sou), aid their cause ; it •Ml be much better for them to make common Mise with the real sufferers of the colony Mg 1110 obtrude their own individual grievances •od that at a time when all must prefer their ■nplaints, or lose the opportunity of comMining. The Nelson complainants may be as we have no doubt they are told— Mt it will be a great thing to annoy the GoW nnien t; their own common sense should •S them that a respectful representation to Wg Government would be of no avail. What •■I Government to gain by a refusal to listen Khem ?”

?y of a Memorial Presented to the Directors of the New Zealand Com‘any, November 4th, 1850. Phis deputation, appointed by a meeting I on Wednesday, the 30th October, coning of Mr. Burnand, the Hon. Frederick jlemache, M.P.,.Mr. Frederick Young, |Mr. White (Mr. Lance being prevented P attending by indisposition,) waited upon tCourt of Directors of the New Zealand ppany, to represent to them the claims of |hon-resident holders of Land Orders for Settlement of Nelson, and addressed them fellows;— . ’ ■ |By information received from New Zeait appears that subsequently to the rep'ons of Town and Accommodation Lands |the selection of rural lands, made under Pfrangements adopted in the settlement in I* a urt^er P r °ceeding has been |ted, whereby, under the decisions of local Ifators, two of whom, as landowners, can B e y be deemed impartial, the resident fwners (and in one instance the owner of IL ln anot h e f settlement) have received I s for additional compensation to a conRjiVaa 6 ) 11 (’ n . one case no l ess a sum IF 5 i > lor which the party was allowed

to select many thousand acres); and have been allowed, in satisfaction of such awards, to select land valued at rates much below either the sum paid-,to the Company for the original land order, or that charged by the Company in its most recent terms of purchases. In fact, in some very important instances, and in that of the stranger above alluded to, among the number, is land valued so low as five shillings an acre. “ The deputation do not consider it necessary to enter upon the injury and loss caused by tbe delay which has occurred in giving possession of land in the Nelson settlement, or other grounds upon which the claims of the landowners are founded. “ These are already well-known to the Directors, having heen brought under their notice on various occasions and in various forms. Neither do they think it requisite to offer any opinion as io the policy which has dictated an arrangement by submission of these awards ; or as to the course which, had the awards not been given, they themselves would have deemed it right and expedient to pursue. “ Without discussion cf these points, the nonresidents consider—inasmuch as they have paid the same price as the residents for their original land orders, and as the settlement has received the benefit of the Emigration fund, and other special funds, created by the price so paid by them, that they are entitled to participate in the advantages to be derived from any measure that may have been, or that may be adopted, for the benefit of the residents. “ But not only does it appear that no nonresident has yet participated in the advantages of the proceeding above mentioned, but even if their claim thereto be now admitted, it is evident that a large portion of the prime of the land which remained for selection, having been taken in satisfaction of the awards so already pronounced, it is now impossible for the non-residents, if such awards shall be allowed by the Government, to make their selections upon equal terms, or in the order of choice conferred upon them by their original land-orders.

“ And they beg to represent, that it is desirable, both as regards the interests of the settlement and the rights of the absentees, that the awards thus made to the resident landowners be wholly set aside as unjust and inequitable ; and as having been made without authority. Or, if that course cannot be pursued, or if it be thought inconvenient, that such compensation be made to the non-resi-dents as will put them on a par with the residents.

They trust, therefore, that upon a review of these circumstances, the Directors will see the justice of complying with this request, or if that be no longer in their power, of recommending this application to the most favouraable consideration of her Majesty’s Government.

“They further repiesent that the settlement suffers great injury from the non-appli-cation of the monies subscribed for special purposes, and now in the hands of tbe Company. And they earnestly desire that these funds may be immediately laid out, either by the Company or the Governmont, on such objects as experience has shewn may be calculated to render the settlement attractive, and to promote its prosperity—keeping in view, as far as may be expedient, the objects originally contemplated. ° W. H. Burnand, Chairman.