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Colonist, Issue 19, 25 December 1857, Page 3

' ■ iwhirients in Qlasgow for fifteen /ears at; least. Writing to a friend,' some yeare ago, on the siibje6t, he said, " With regavd to the quality of cotton ' ' 'grown here, I may state that the worst I have ■seen is much superior to the best East India. The greater part of what is planted is of the *' American upland sort; but I have seen a,good many plants from superior Orleans seed which are Very productive, and the cotton of excellent quality —superior even to Orleans. lam quite satisfied the New Orleans quality will be found the most profitable and useful quality which can be grown •in-this colony*" ' " ' - The second and third classes of farms now thrown open to the public, being of greater intrinsic value than the first, are granted at a higher price and in smaller quantities, viz., from 300 to 600 acre farms, ■at an annual quit-renT of from l^d. to 2|d. per • acre for ever. At the same time, special encouragement is 'held outTfeyjthe Government to companies soliciting mor^* extensive grants of land for the cultivation of cotton \\ sugar, and other articles of commercial importance. j The lands immediately on the sea coast are now proved to be well adapted for sugar, coffee, arrowroot, indigo, aud various other tropical products. Some of the above articles are now cultivated to a considerable extent, and Tarn enabled to state, on the authority of one of bur most successful merchants, lately arrived in this colony on a visit from Natal, that from 300 &r350 tonspf good sugar were actually produced there during the past year, and that the cultivation of the fsiigar-cane, coffee, and arrowroot, etc., wte goitig on very favourably when he left the colony' in 'the1 nibntlii of June last^ -It may be asked by some, if Natal possesses a climate and soil-capablef of yielding such a variety of ..commodities of commercial value, how has it been so little thought of-%3 a field fpt emigration inthe home market-?^ To whichT would simply reply by way; of'explanation—-It isnot much more ihan.twelve.ye'ars since this territory was annexed to our other possessions in South Atrica, and, unfortunately, the first emigration scheme intended to cpibhise it with settlere from the parent country wjb so impracticable, in its planning, and so ineffipfent in- its execution, as; to discourage and disappoint many on their firstarrival in that new coun-try,-and'this as a newssary consequence brought the colony into disrepute as a field for emigration. In this state of things the discovery of such extensive gold fields in Australia, together witn'the outbreak of a war in Kaffrariai, though wholly unconnected with Natal, had the effect of diverting the tide of emigration for a time almost entirely beyond our shores. And 5 besides, our unoccupied Crown lands, by a mistaken policy on the part of the Home Government,,were locked up at the upset price of 4s. per acre;- The state of the labour market and the want of sufficient capital have also greatlyretardedour progress as acountry heretofore. Yet, notwithstanding these discouragements, I myself have witnessed a'grekt improvement since 1850; and it is an interesting fact that, in addition to our exportable commodities, we have been able to supply the Commissariat for the last two. or three years with colonial wheat produced in the upland parts of the country, and prepared by milla of bur own. -■■■■ ■^■-- - ■ -•• SOME OLDrFASHIONED MISTAKES ABOUT '. THE QUALIFICATIONS OF LEGISLATOKS CORRECTED. " • (From the Sydney Empire.) -■< The people of New, South Wales have now had tolerable experience of the various qualifications necessary to constitute a legislator under responsiblegovernment. Public opinion ought by this time to be well-instructed on the subject by personal obsefvation-^-erroneous impressions corrected —•prejudices removed^—and,a fair stock of knowledge laid up in store for future guidance. .The electors have at all events a better chance of knowing in future a member at. first sight, and are less likely to be again misled by specious appearances or to form fallacious estimates. Many qualities and attributes once considered essential to public mett have come to be regarded as of only minor importance, and the Reverse. Particular constitu•encesj differ from the general mas 3in the value theyset.upon certain public gifts. And thei'e appeareyen to be talent o£a;peeuliar! order,--which though they adornthe.loeal, are;yet found to disfigure the national representative* It was once., considered essential that a legislator should possess at least a decent education— should not only be up to a certain mark in grammar and spelling, but should also know something of history, geography, and the general literature of the day. This notion is now found out to be absurd. It has been practically demonstrated to the satisfaction of all, but .particularly of the parties most'eoncemed, that a man may make a very excellent legislator, and above all may sustain the character of a staunch conservative, without being able to spell correctly} and without the slightest' knowledge of, grammar.; But avoiding all public correspondence the necessity of spelling is of course obviated, and grammar is not to be expected from one who seldom or never speaks. And as for history,_gepgraphy,. and general literature, it is plain enough that the most extensive acquaintance with these can exercise no influence whatever upon a member's vote. It was DkeSvise once thought of importance that public men should be tolerably well informed upon law and politics, so as to enable them in some degree to form a correct judgment upon the questions submitted to their consideration. This, idea turns out to be the merest moonshine. It has been shown clearly enough that persons ignorant of both these subjects canny their votes assist in the makmg of laws, and; exercise an influence on politics. Those who.resolutely stick to one side, and follow the beck and call of other men, npver need be in the least''perplexity about giving reasons or endeavouring to possess opinions. Shepherds'dogs are not expected to answer, for the direction'in which they driy^ their master's flocks, nor are the mastiffs commonly, held accountable for the rights of claims" of their employers over any property committed'to' the animal's'charge. The most effective and reliable partizans are obviously such as trust implicitly to the judgment of others, and wfcb are not .accustomed, to give or to exact reasons for any line of conduct they may fee induced to pursue. A vote in fact loses much of its political value when only given in accordance with certain professed principles, or, upon the '• grounds of real or apparent reasons. ; It is known^that a prejudice formerly existed in favour of moral character as a qualification for a legislator. Thi& antiquated- notion may be now thorougfily; exploded.:.-i^Respectability in publicV'is nb\v seen to ( -be fah altogether different matter from respectability in private life;. Any notorious violation of public; decencyr—a daring and profligate"defiance.'of "public opinion—a wellfounded reputation for gambling or other immoral practices-rappear in no way to affect or damage a man's public character. Nay these very qualities, Btrange though it seem, havf been proved by experience, rather to give a zest ai}d to impart'as it were an unctuous flavour to political abilities, and to enhance the possession,, and assist the exercise of political influence. Disreputable private character is found, perhaj?^ by force of contrast, to have immense weight and moral force upon that decorous side in politi<?s r/ the partisans of which are in the; constant habit of identifying themselves ■with the cause of order and good government, or, in other words, upon what is termed the conservative interest. Gentleipen..of unblemished character themselves, wheh.cpmmitted to conservative Views in politics, 6eem,pjtfocularly : proud of associating with, and, semkrjeligious newspapers ap^ pear never to tire of eulogTzing,; individuals of the doubtful species above describea. After what has been said, it is almost'superfluous to state, that no' value whatever is ngyv, r attached:.by . politicians to bo antiquated andobsDleteJayirtueas consistency < Since party combinations Jiaye continually to be forifted put of materials^parontiy the most incongrooTisf and dissimilar,?apd Governments; we learn, c"annbt be built up Without,' mutual compromise and agreement/ it, is manifest that a public man becomes AVbrse than useless-may, to borrow the language 'of a late cbrfespoftdent, he be«»mes * obstructive * unless he + be,prepared. on all otf-asionstf) change, p.r-:ignpre,-.or at least -put in abeyance.for ,an^indeßnjt^ period, his former opinions^ 'JrJfyi^or^cpnwncing. proof, of thorough-^: |>»«*<i:lib«!falify can jjur^|y:.be:given than a.willingmes te embrace the most violent and contradictory

extremes, nor can anyone bond of tinion tie more sincere, or any attachment more lasting, than is founded on a sacrifice of our most cherished and absolute convictions.