NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, July 3, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 722, 3 July 1852, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, July 3, 1852.

The correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Canterbury Association, in reference to the founding of the Settlement, shows beyond a doubt that Earl Grey was induced to give his support to the scheme, solely on account of that rery prominent part of the design which had • reference to the establishment and maintenance of ecclesiastical and educational institutions. It was this attrastive feature also that induced the hierarchy of England to countenance the colonizing scheme. Having won over such powerful support, the working members of the Association' commenced canvassing for land purchasers, who were entrapped by the promises made with regard to the establishment of the above institutions. We have frequently pointed out the fact that these promises have never been, nor are they ever likely to be performed, and yet it is incomprehensible to us how the Canterbury settlers can so quietly jsubmit to the gross, undeniable fraud inflicted on them by the working members of the Association. Not only have the land purchasers been grievously injured, but those prelates and clergy of our church, who have given their support to the scheme for the reasons we have already stated, have been intentionally deceived; the confidence they reposed in the working members, that. these pledges would be redeemed, has been openly betrayed. . ' In the charter granted by her Majesty incorporating the Association, -we find the name of the Archbishop of Dublin dragged forward, apparently with the design of giving solidity to the scheme ) whereas the liames of thooe who have inflicted the injury are mentioned as " others of our loving subjects." The charter also seems to have ,been granted on the express understanding that, among other things, the Association were to appropriate two-sixths of their funds to ecclesiastical and educationalpurposes; — J-hey have not done this, — we believe they never intend to do it, and from the nonfulfillment of this part of the agreement we assert that the charter has become a dead letter. On a previous occasion we shewed in plain terms that there were neither schools ■ noi churches in the Canterbury settle-

ment, that the promised stipends were not paid to the clergymen; and we may further state that several of the clergy have either left the • settlement, or are compelled to draw an. existence from the soil, and are thereby prevented from giving that earnest, undivided attention to the "cure of souls" which they most sincerely desire to give. There was also much talk about treating the Canterbury district into a bishop's see — this was a mere bubble which jjpr a time seemed to expand, and assisted towards filling the Association's coffers, by deluding with th,e blight but evanescent colours it reflected; but it soon burst. Certainly every effort has been made to keep the scheme going — even an attempt to raise the wind by borrowing money under the sanction of Parliament,— but this was vigorously resisted by Her Majesty's Government, who detected the hollowness and instability 'of the scheme of, the Association; In making the application to have a money clause inserted in the bill proposed by them to Parliament, the Association got a reply from Earl Grey which completely destroyed their hopes of being able much longer to continue their delusion. His Lordship stated that "no intimation was given to him that it was the contemplation of the projectors of this enterprise to adopt the very questionable expedient, which is now declared to be essential to its success, of relying largely on borrowed money for the means of conducting it. Indeed, raising a loan formed no part, as far as he could trace, of the original scheme of the Association, except to this extent only, that £25,000 was to be advanced by the New Zealand Company for first expenses." In trying to obtain Earl Grey's sanction to a loan, the Association went on, the same tack they did- when first asking for the support of Government. Religion and education were their chief concern. So much of the borrowed money was to be devoted to religious and educational purposes, — but the Colonial Minister had been caught onee — and, profiting by experience, was too wary to be entrapped a ..second time. * Their only object, in fact, in going to ParJiiainent was to obtain -its--sanetion, to negotiate a loan — but this sanction was most properly refused. — The Duke of Newcastle was not all-powerful, and the bill passed — " shorn of its money clauses " — and from that day the hopes of the Association vanished.. Since then they have been rapidly but quietly preparing for a final break up, — 1 they have been employed in el setting their house in order" previous to their dissolution, — and Mr. Godley, as the Resident Agent, performs his part in preparing for the retreat. The unfortunate land purchasers who have been so fearfully duped, are to be put into a state of " coma" by the sensitive high minded, Agent, they are to be rendered forgetful of the gross injuries inflicted on them — they are not to murmur against the misdeeds of Mr. Godley and his coadjutors in England ; they are quietly to submit to the misappropriation of their funds paid in trust to the Association — funds misappropriated by a body of men organized for the ostensible purpose of planting a Church, of England settlement in New Zealand, where every moral precept was to be practised. Verily an excellent example has been set by this body of exemplary men, we mean the working-jinen of the Association. No step can be taken by the local Government, but Mr. Godley endeavours to. withdraw the attention of the Canterbury land purchasers from their own grievances against the Association, by attempting in his own unscrupulous way to shew that it presses hardly on the settlers ; that it is an encroachment on their privileges as" Englishmen, and tends towards an "absolute form of Government. In carrying on a factious agitation against the Government, he hopes to "kill two birds with one stone/—t hat his misdeeds will* be overlooked by theJjand purchasers, while at the same time he may possibly ingratiate himself with the people. " It is difficult to . ascertain what is the true state of feeling among the settlers generally with reference to the subjects alluded to, as the Canterbury press is completely under Mr. Godley*s control; his journals are eniployed in. misrepresenting the acts of the' local Government, and in trying to create the "greatest possible

amount of discontent - against Sir George •Grey; any timid remonstrance that may be macle against ttfe Association by a settler^mpre bold than the rest, is sure to be ridiculed. One gentleman of some influence, Mr. Brittan, would be heard. No dbuDt what he said proved unpalatable to the Agent ; it certainly fully confirms what we have always advanced in reference to Mr. Godley's factious opposition to the Government. " Notwithstanding much laboured effort to get up an artificial excitement, the great body of the community cared little if anything about the movement ; they were very well satisfied to allow matters to go on as they were ; they considered the general interests of the settlement were sufficiently well looted, after, and they were not disposed fo join any society for the mere purpose of political agitation, when they were suffering from no very great present hardships, or present political grievances." This, is plain speaking, and shews how much- more would be said were the Canterbury press not controlled by the Association's AgentWatching, as we have done, the whole of Mr. Gpdley's proceedings, from the day on which he first landed at Wellington up ; to the present time, we are driven to the ! conclusion that nothing can be more unfair, more ungenerous, — we 'may even go •further and add — more dishonest than his entire public conduct. And we say this, whether we look to the part he has taken with, regard to the injuries inflicted on the . Canterbury settlers by the non-fulfilment of the engagements entered into by -the Association, or the hostility he has uniformly shewn to Sir George Grey's Government. To do the Association justice, we believe they have disapproved in the strongest manner of Mr. Godley's conduct towards Sir George Grey's Government, as exhibited on his first arrival in the colony ; and we further know, from good authority, that their confidence in him as a practical man of business and ability was altogether destroyed, and that had there been even the slightest probability of their operations being continued for any time, his resignation would have been most willingly accepted. Within a very short period he -will ' Have to resign his functions ,as._Ag:ei]it;.ji,retrospectiye^glance at his colonial career willbe to hima cheerless one ; — ambitious hopes blighted, — around him men defrauded of that which they have, paid for — men seduced from England by promises never intended to be fulfilled, promises made under the colour and cloak of religion. No wonder that Mr. Godley. makes every effort to divert the attention of these men from the injuries they have sustained — that he uses every effort to do away with the idea that £3 per acre is too high a price to pay for land. They were assured most solemnly that they would derive a benefit, beyond the mere land, in proportion to the amount they paid. What Circean charm, we • would ask, can Mr. Godley have thrown around the Canterbury land purchasers to keep them, spellbound — silent — in subjection, whilst suffering under such grievous injuries ?

The last number of the Lyttelton Times, (June 26) received by the Twins, contains a violentattack on Colonel Campbell, the Commissioner of Crown Lands of the Middle District, Middle Island, because he sees fit to discontinue the insertion pi his notices as Commissioner in that paper, and to -publish them for the future in the New Zealand Spectator. Mr. ! Godley's organ/on the prospect of the withdrawal of the Commissioner's advertisementsand the loss of this help to its limited circulation, becomes quite wrathful and inveighs in '•unmeasured terms against the Commissioner and the- Spectator. -Ever since the gallant Colonel's appointment to his office he has been subject to the abuse of Mr. Godley's organ, partly we suppose because 'he was at the outset shabbily treated- by -the Canterbury Association, and therefore, as it is thepartof common minds to hate those whom they have injured, he was to be abused by its organ ; and partly no doubt, because it is a sore disappointment to ■ Mr. Godley that he has not been able to grasp this piece of patronage' and confer it on some faithful dependent who would in return prove a pliant instrument in his ha^ids. The gallant Colonel, in the impartial discharge of his duty, can well afford to laugh at these harmless ebullitions of petty spite, while we dare say those interested in the notices will have no reason to complain in, the' matter; and Mr. Godley's^organ, .having an eye to- business, and being , desirous ' of " improving its circulation, about which it appears so nervously sensitive, may find it to its interest to copy from the Spectator the Commissioner's notices.

On Monday last a service of plate, subscribed for by the Kesident Land Purchasers under the-New Zealand Company, was presented, to -Dr. Featherstqn. A meeting of the subscribers was held at Barrett's' Hotel, when Major Baker was called to the chair, and in .their name presented the testimonial to Dr.

Featherstoiy who acknowledged the 'compliment in suitable terms. -* > x .

m — The following is a summary of last Tuesday's Government Gazette: — A notice proclaiming the footpath recently made from Willis-street along Ghuznee and -Boulcott-streets, over Wellington Terrace to -Kumutoto, to be within the provisions of the Footpath Ordinance; a notice that fifty-five Crown Grants in Wellington have been executed by the Governor, and. are now ready for issue at the office of the Commissioner of Crown, Lands — notices of the appointment of two native Chiefs at Rangitiki io be assessors in that locality under the Resident , Magistrates' Ordinance, and "of a Customs' Sale of Spirits and "Cigars on the" 3rd instant. The following^ Mr. Wreys report on the copper mines recently discovered in the neighbourhood of Nelson : — Nelsop, May 25, 1852. v Sir, — I hare now the honor to report the re-, '* suit of a visit I have made' within these'few days past, to the district supposed to contain copper in this vicinity. • - The position of the lode is in the*, immediate proxi.mity of the " Dun Mountain," vrhicb I find to be rendered arid by the presence of mineral poisons, and partly to its being covered with large and loose masses of gneiss and other primitive rocks7" subversive of vegetation. Tfie lode is visible in the daylight far up a mountain higher than the "Dun Mountain," it is of great width, but being only the outcrop, it is impossible, until trials are made, to say what its true thickness may be. A casual observer would imagine there were several lodes, the fact will, I expect, be' found that at a little depth only they will all run into tme. strong lode. The entire region of this deposit is of a true mineralogical character, very much resembling the mining ground around Dartmoor, on each side in Cornwall and Devon, and [ have' no doubt but that other' lodes exist, and will be brought" to light hereafter i» the im-_ mediate proximity of the one I am now speaking of; I have taken specimens from the lode, which I this day forward to Sir H. De La Bech-, awl aiSO to Mr. Percival Johnson, who id one. of the oldest and best assayists in -Engl&nd. I have very great pleasure in being able to inform you that I believe the lode to contain very rich metal in very great abundance, and I can add I never saw any lode, anywhere, present such decided appearance of metal at its out crop as at this spot. . The country around its locality is very lofty, precipitous, and rugged, which, although it entails considerable expense and skill in laying out the line of transport to a shipping place, is in other resperts advantageous, inasmuch as very extensive mining operations may be carried on for a long course of years without any neccessity for pumps or steam eugines. 1 beg also to bring under your Honor's notice the fact of having ascertained the existence of pure limestone in amazing abundance- on the route between Nelson and the mine. I beg to conclude this necessarily incomplete .report, with the expression^ of my- decided and firmjbelief tbatjthere are reasonable "and sufficient grounds tfo -expect'" we bavels. 'Vatuablelafticre-of export at our command. I have the honor to be, • ' Your Honor's obedient servant, W. L. Wrey. To his Honor the Superintendent. The following is the amount of Notes of the Colonial Bankof Issue in circulation on the 29th - June, being the close of the preceding four weeks — • - £5 and upwards £2,0Z5 0 0 UnderiTs 8,8C4 0 0 £10,989 0 0 The sum of Six Thousand Pounds has # been invested by the Bank in the British ' Funds under the warrant of the Governor-in-Chief. <> At a meeting of the cabin passengers on board the ship Stag in the harbour of Port Lyttelton, . on Monaay, the 17th May, 1852, it v^as moved by Mr. Bowler, and seconded by Dr. Evans — - "That the following address be presented to Captain-jClarke;" the resolution was unanimously adopted :—: — Sir,— At the termination of our voyage we are desirous desirous of uniting in a sincere and cordial testimony to your personal character, as well as to the uncommon skill, energy, and per"severance, with which you have performed the ■duties of your office as Captain of tire ship Stag, .during a" voyage that' has been unusually protracted, and under circumstances of a trying -nature,. - ,We gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity to v declare the sense we entertain of your irreproachable moral conduct, and of the uniform kindness ' and courtesy with which you have treated us. as cabiu rassengersr The voyage has been prolonged beyond the - usual period by unfavourable winds ; but this has enabled us the better to judge of" those admirable qualities which you possess as a navigator ; _t/_*nd we -have reason .iajthAak^oa j^r Jtbe jun_w_ea-_ -^rretrpatpnrciq— 1 nertrn failing vigilance, ana The in- " detatigable zeal with which' you - have performed * your duties as Commander of the vessel in which *'we have sailed from England to New Zealand. In particular we have to record our opinion of the praiseworthy manner in which you have acted since we sighted the coast of these Islands ; in ( tempestuous weather you have always been on - deck, always at the post of duty ; and you have '. inspired us. with the highest degree of confidence . io sailing in a vessel under your command. We beg of- you to accept of this imperfect ac- ~ knowledgement of your merits, and we' assure you that we shall witness with the greatest satiss faction your future success in that profession in whichyou are qualified, and deserve to hold so - high and so. honorable a place. We have the honor to be, Sir;' Your obedient servants, C. H. Nicholls (Chaplain). Wjn, Bowler, Geo. Sam. Evans, J. H. Martin (Surgeon-Super-intendent,) Geo. L. Lee, Chas. John Percival,- - l Crosbie Ward; Charles F. Knyvett, Edward Phillips, , Mary Jane Bowler, Matilda Bowler, Emma Matthews, Eleanor Matthews, Mary " * Louisa 'Martin, Sarah Ann Nichollß, Mary

. Ann Nicholls, Edward Eaton, Emily Eaton, R. M'Donalo*,' Arthur •Dewliurst, Henry Warwick Bateman, William W* Berirand, George L. Baftrum, L. L. Bartrmn.