THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Issue 29, 29 January 1858, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, FRIDAY, JANUARY M, 1858,

" As truth is truth. ..■ . And, told by halves, may, from a simple thing By misconstruction to a monster'grow, I'll tell the>hole truth." Sheridan Knowles.

With sincere Jej^St we have to record the refusal for 'the present of .ittie -Kelson Council to adopt a moderate measure" for disposing of small farms on credit. The friends of "the industrial classes only mustered some five votes against an overwhelming majority of sheep-owners and their aids. But we are greatly mistaken if there be not before long such an expression of public determination to see justice done, as will give the brief triumph over labour the surer fate of a speedy and prolonged defeat. Never yet have an earnest people been vanquished. And it will soon be seen that a pitiful set of squatters will not be suffered long to squat on popular rights.

We would now say a few words to the working class about land.

They have had too much faith in Representatives who have been too remiss in the work of opening the land to all.

Why, then, not endeavour to limit the sheepruns as to number and extent ? This is a grave question; but just now only provocative of select mirth. The settlement began with runs too early and exclusively, corrupted in this corner of a country, by great Australia.

Farming should be enforced with every run: it would greatly benefit the pastoral parties, multiply their and our resources.

America, we understand, in this offers a worthy example. The Prairies are now being turned to farms and runs jointly. So it will have to be in Spain, Saxony, Australia, and elsewhere.

At present our run-holders settle down on the best of the land, and thus generally shut out the residue from other purchasers. '

They have surveyed the land by mere eye-mea-surement with every advantage in doing so. Some we are assured have nearly twice the thousands of acres nominally leased. In tills way a country is monopolised by parties reckoning absurdly, at commencement, with twenty acres for a sheep.

„ In this way, as in Australia, the soil is to be shared by a few nibbling cud-chewers,. and a few .ruminating mortals whose sweet and bitter memories would excite a'voracious appetite for the entire province. Victoria, one of the finest parts of Australia, is divided by under four hundred people dividing from twenty to twenty-five millions'of acres at the rate of from fifty to sixty thousands of acres each; and in glancing at late printed documents now in this province we findsomehalf-scoreofpersonshold-ing a proportion of land in this small island not far behind this. Go on a little longer, and this fine country, the hope of tens of myriads of poor men, will be undone to all but a mere clique of pastoral lords. We may be told this mil hall right: their will be plenty of gold, copper, iron, lead, coal and many other good things left to redeem the country as a great mercantile emporium, and as a centre of maritime and naval power. This is fine enough, and allurements of this kind may be held out to make people crowd hither to get rich; but in reality to enrich a few of our present ore speculators and land speculators by making labour cheap and land dear, two inevitable results of such a line of policy.

Our prosperous men had better- support a nobler policy. Wo speak in no hostile spirit; on the contrary, we suggest in all respect for them and ihtir interests, that in proportion as they now and henceforth encourage the peasantry and yeomanry amongst us they secure their own wealth and position. Already are most of the leading men rich, 'or1 in the way of being so. By taking their working brethren by the hand they will secure their co-operation in every wise undertaking. They will multiply emigration; And the noblest results may be expected. At all events, they will extract a rankling thorn of discontent, and promote union and peape. One result from facilitating the possession of the soil by the labouring class would be found in a considerable home hiarket for sheep on farms for stock arid agriculture unitedly. "-Another.wpuW be found in the impetus given. to? farm assistants both foreign and domestic, drawn to this country and its interior by the distribution of farms over the territory. . ,

England sighs for our clime, Ireland rejoices to visit it, and Scotland will be sure to prosper anywhere and everywhere in this new land of the sea domed all over by new and propitious'heavens.

Had the rejected credit measure been passed, we should have ceased to be cursed by divided classes. Had this act of justice been done, not at the bidding of demagogues or empty paftizans, but by free and generous mindsj the Council would have erected memorials of grateful approbation in the hearts of thousands now, and of a happy and multiplied posterity*

By Credit regulations population would be distributed over regions now existing in useless wilds; and thus the revenue from sales and increased population would s6on have increased beyond all estimate; By a right credit measure you will not only correct certain evils peculiar to pastoral life in all countries—the exclusion of agriculture and numerous collateral arts^-but you will add to your power by multiplying the anglo-race a considers tion as statesman-like as it is benevolent .and patriotic. Thus you would consolidate Anglican power. But far more than this, you would distribute and conserve public morals; for it may be .regarded as axiomatic in political economy, in proportion to the amount of upright and well-requited labour, is the moral happiness of the people.

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Thursday, January 21. Minutes of preceding evening read and agreed to. . "■. -■'■■ " -. '.■.'.-

'.■ Dr. Monro, brought up the report of the committee on the Dun Mountain Railway Bill. Report read and ordered to be laid on the table. Dr. Monro'gave notice that he would move on Friday, the adoption of the report of the "Select Committee on the Dun Mountain Railway Bill. Mr. Baigbnt moved " That his Honor the Superintendent be requested to furnish this Council with the amount of money spent on public works in each district of this province, from the Ist January to the 31st December!, 1857.'* r Mr. Tinline seconded the motion. Agreed to. Mr. M'Rae withdrew the motion standing in his name, in order to bring it before committee :— " For leave to introduce the following clause into the Waste Lands Bill:—Provided always, that where it. shall be shown to the satisfaction of the Waste Lands Board, that an applicant to purchase land desires boiiafide to settle upon such land immediately^it shall be lawful for the Board to.sell to such purchaser any quantity of rural land not advertised to be sold by auction, and not exceeding one hundred acres, upon his paying in full at the time of purchase a price to be fixed as aforesaid, without such land being advertised or put up to sale by auction. The regulations hereinbefore' provided with respect to the survey of lands not about to be surveyed by Government, shall be held to apply to lands purchased under the present clause.*'

Dr. Moniio gave notice to move on Friday the -suspension of standing order, No. 76, as regards the Dun Mountain- Railway. Bill, so that the seleet^co'nmiittee, may be enabled to consider that portion of the preamble which refers to the amount of public notice to be given as proved, and to proceed to the investigation of the merits of the bill. Mr. Saundkrs withdrew his motion, "That the committees appointed by this Council during the present session shall have leave to sit, notwithstanding the contemplated adjournment." Mr. Sharp moved-—" That, as there do riot appear to be any funds available for the purposes of immigration, it is desirable that some clauses should be introduced into the Waste Lands Bill offering to persons paying their passage to the province a certain amount of land in proportion to the amount paid by such persons, providing the same do not exceed thirty acres."

Mr. Mackay seconded the motion. Motion put and lost—for it, 2 ; against it, 19.

Mr. Elliott moved—" The recommittal of the Public Reserves Bill, for the purpose of including in the lands permitted to be leased a portion of the reserve in the Motueka Valley-." ; Mr. Wemyss seconded the motion. Carried. lj( The House then went into committee on tlie" Public Reserves Bill.

Bill read a third time and passed. House resumed.

Mr. Eban rose to submit his motion.for the sale of waste lands under regulations favourable to the working portions of the community, as they would authorise payment in instalments during a course of years. He offered his present proposal—" That it is desirable to introduce some clauses into the Waste Lands Bill to authorize the Waste Lands Board to reserve some suitable portion of the waste lands to be sold only to persons undertaking to reside upon the same; not more than eighty acres of such land to be sold to any one person, but either that, or any less quantity, may be sold without being submitted to auction, and may be paid for by instalments ranging over any number of years not exceeding twenty,"— because the larger and in his view far better measure which he had intended to propose,—a provision for payments partly cash and partly by equal triennial instalments, —was very unlikely, in the opinion of hon. members, to obtain the sanction of the House. He regretted this; for the latter would have been, as he believed, better for large families of our present residents. It was for such blocks of land, each not exceeding a square mile, as would have allowed both of division for family purposes and of the culture of grain With the depasturing: of sheep 'and cattle, a benefit igreatly rieeded-for the improvement of our agriculture by our present small farmers. And it would have done this in safety from jobbing and other abuses, by requiring a bonafide occupancy* However, his intentions had been overruled, and he was obliged to content himself by introducing a much more confined project, for the sake of unanimity and success. Many of our present fasmers were mere common labourers, indeed, nearly all of them were such. They had battled with and vanquished the destitution formerly experienced ■in this settlement. They had won for themselves generally respectable standing, comfort and independent industry. But their places, after having duly paid for them, were mostly top small either for proper farming, or for their increased means of culture, or for their pressing domestic and relative wants. He did not here speak with allusion to any but old and well-tried settlers who required larger farms, better means of farming well, in connection with stock, and under protection of a wise system of credit. It was not of a number of fresh adventurers he had to speak, but of thoughtful, steady, experienced, improving neighbours and settlers, —such men, in fact, as had secured for this province a; character for industry and its accompanying virtues. No worthless and impoverished speculators, no strangers likely by inexperience to entangle themselves by engagements for which they were unfitted, did he wish the Council to take by the hand. The men whom he hoped they would cherish in a liberal spirit, were credit-worthy men; for they had duly honoured their former compacts and fulfilled their respective covenants, as to purchases, under arrangements of private deferred payments, in a truly honourable and creditable manner. It was for such men he pleaded, and pleaded in the hearing of many hon. members who themselves had been men of this order. And he was convinced that these, and similar parties, taking example of them, would not fail to act uprightly by a firm, a vigilant, and ajjprudent Government. Persons of this description were most likely to successfully penetrate to the interior and develope the resources of the land. Fostered by Government in facilitating their possession of the soil, without any injury to stock-owners as only such, they would become contented,, numerous, and prosperous. Nor is it reasonable to suppose that new-comers will be uninfluenced by the spirit of integrity so characteristic of labouring arid practical occupiers of. the soil generally, old settlers being a sort of; guarantee to the fairness and propriety of relatives and others freshly coming hither. The value of men of this order to the province, men who are emphatically " their country's pride," is beyond all estimate. We cannot cheer them forward too much. The hon. members opposite cannot easily perform a more graceful or righteous act than that: of aiding them. The settlement is under great! obligations to the industrial classes. Their order and quiet conduct have often won the applause of the more educated and others in a superior social position. Besides, /whoever may become non-fesi-dentsj these are the classes, whose fixture-condition airiongst us will give permanance and strength to the State. In fact when these, the bulk of our population, flourish, the State will prosper also. So long as hon. gentlemen who are sheep owners, —and the majority of this House* are of this order, —obey the more just and generous promptings of their own breasts we need not fear. And, with all respect for their feelings and prejudicesjf we , may at least count upon their furtherance of the measure in contemplation, when they recollect hovv beneficial it was to them to have cheap runs until they could more largely buy cheap land. They in fact had credit, whatever the form under which it was obtained. Indeed the whole of the present contemplated system of leasing is only another form of credit for seven or fourteen years, enabling parties to buy. Disguise it as you may, that will be the grand result. 'But would the hon. monibers alluded to wish the world to believe, that theyf the chosen of the people, hold their places iri this Council to prevent the largest masses of the community getting proper possession of the land, the chief parties for whom it is held in trust and their multiplying families,?, No. whatever men may say, of representatives,- surely they will not have that to say. It is to be confidently truetedj that a more dignified spirit

animates this House and those who are accounted its grace and the pride of their country. They will never allow then theij sons and daughters to have to1 feel that their sires' were so wanting in patriotic merit.- i Hence, has arisen a great demand for sufficient farms by means of defined payment for the same. He (Mr. Eban) would consider the subject as disinterestedly as possible; indeed he was so circumstanced as to be more of a mere observer than a spectator with any stake in the question before the House. He would view the contemplated object in its intrinsic importance, in its collateral relations, and in its prospective benefits With regard to the first of these particulars, he would say the importance of the matter was based on what true statesmen ever fir^t pondered, the weal of the largest and most valued portion of a nation, —the well-doing and benefit of the men who toil. Their order, freedom, and improvement are amongst the highest aims of legislation. To secure, promote, and establish these has ever been the chief endeavour of a sage and profound policy, because these things are of paramount consideration. Nothing better subserves this high purpose than distributing an industrial peasantry and yeomanry over the soil of a young country, where they.1 dan'become thriving occupiers. That they may answer this end, every help should be afforded "them by the State, the especial guardian of their interests. This is just in itself, inasmuch these are its prime supports and ornament. From men of this class a great Government derives its strength, prosperity, and defence. It is equitable and proper, therefore, for legislation to shield and encourage the industry which is its vitality, the sinews of its power, and its chief glory. To promote the industry of the practical occupier of land, is to prevent crime and •to conserve every virtuous agency. Not; only;/so, to credit what is good and upright in, a people is in truth, to show the correct feeling "of those who govern towards their charge. On the other hand, to distrust an industrious community is to dishonor ourselves, —is to declare ail un worth mess, on the part of the ruling power. Now by giving the labourers the confidence and credit they deserve, with regard to the easy occupancy of the land, you heal injured feelings, inspire confidence, conciliate 'estranged interests, and impart peace and unity to society. You end faction and establish concord. When you do this you consolidate the country while.you, distribute its activities. Stimulate agricultural enterprise and you will open new resources to remedy fresh necessities and supply Governmental Avants. Few things will better quicken a dormant people than the inspiration of hope by congenial prospects of advantage. Once show the people that the land, worthless without them, shall be theirs on easy terms .of self-rewarding exertion, and they will push forward with an energy as surprising as it will be prosperous. They, will no more plod on heavily, but advance with rapid bounds and resistless might, as in America and other favourable places. Besides, activity will inspire rivalry, and thus a race of emulation will hasten the body of the people to a destiny proud and happy. These will be sonie of the intrinsic kinds of food inseparable from a measure by which the struggling, toiling portions of our fellow settlers, and it might be added, future settlers too, will repay the credit extended to them by a judicious legislation. Amongst the collateral benefits of the measure proposed, he could riot but think that all the wilderness now obscured from our view and spreading in uncertainty, as a terra incognita, would be entered speedily by eager parties, our rising youth leading the way. The daring steps of enterprise would track and thread the mazy ranges of tliis province, and explore new regions* From side to side of the island every variety of surface and, diversity of mineral would be discovered; Instead of having, as at present, a little nook here and a small corner there, we should have the broad varieties of the country expanded to the public gaze. Every form of wealth wouid be identified arid made known. . Present localities where either pastoral or rural homes were being formed, would be cheered by agricultural neighbourhoods. Mar'kets for sheep;, small perhaps, but multiplying, would be opened by the contiguous farms, where little flocks would be, needed. .Grain now required in pastoral districfs:woul3"'b*e produced in convenient situations. Roads, now so vague, fearful, incomplete and perplexing, would be everywhere traced and established; Settlements in hostility, or widely apart, in envious and narrow restrictions, would be soon joined in pWasant fellowship. Ignorance of each other,,as now, would quickly be changed into knowledge of mutual efforts and progress. In reality colonial union, arising from frequent intercommunication, would by dispatchful advances, rapidly occur. Very soon would this province and its sisters present a front of majesty, and a unity of numbers and resources that would awe any future enemies. Hon. gentlemen might smile, but these were considerations worthy of the statesman, and. any one else; whose eye ranged beyond the limited horizon of present depressed circumstances* One of the earliest results of measures promotive of these advantages, would be the rich and abundant growth of present legislative providence in:multiform benefits. It would root itself in a happy futurity, arid spread the shading forms of its blessings over the reverence of posterity. In reality the measure contemplated is ' to bless remotest generations no less' than emigants pressing to our shores. It would advance this settlement to the extent of art age in a moment. As the sublimest purpose of Government and law-making is to multiply and facilitate a people, that would be gained, and gained in one of the finest isles and climes of the world. Objections to these views have been raised under all the incitements of exclusiveness and narrow interests. One party may deem the scheme. injuriousto vunholders. Now, if it prevented the increase of their present number still it would not injure them. Their positions are but too secure, and if they take their usual cafe they will be safe enough. • Already have the objections of credit been- greatly answered. He (Mr. Eban) would only add, on that point, that tlfe way iri which credit had been fairly tested and honourably displayed under all kinds of former depression here should satisfy any candid man. It proved the strongest possible argument in favour otthe views entertained -by the friends of the present motion. As to the public creditor about whom so much parade of words without meaning had been arrayed against the plan in view, he would only say, that a virtuous and industrious, a cafeful,an occupying multitude of practical farmers were the best bonds, securities, and guarantees, that v the Barings, Rothschilds, or any other moneylenders .wanted.. Without these the wilderness, as it formerly was, became worthless, but with these our hills, woods, minerals, flocks, and above all flourishing families would be enough to satisfy any who might be applied to for loans. There was no room for sober tear in these circumstances. It is not the land after all, so much as the character of the people upon it that a public creditor regarded. Still the measure intended would ensure sufficient cash for old demands and plenty of funds to meet all prudent engagements in future. It was worse than childish to say the contrary. Gold, other ores, and land enough also, still remained; arid remained under the watchful eye of a free and just people. Away then with objections, as to the public creditor! , With him, he would break no faith; but on the contrary strengthen confidence to tlie utmost. The revenue too, about which some looked so anxiously,—for reasons of state of course, —would be only augmented by the credit system. Indeed he must have a strange intellect who could doubt it. Multiplied industry is multiplied wealth. The State can have no better treasury.. But aboove all, he founded the claim of the* industrial classes for the distribution of themselves over the soil, in its'legitimate modes of occupation, on the inalienable right to the soil of a new country which is inseparable from them. It is just no less than expedient to enable them to inherit the land. .'All land is, coniparativ'ely worthless without occupancy; and agriculture combined with the raising of stock is the best mode of occupation,—the farmer is'the' best iftheritor of the soil; and hundreds of our farming settlers are requiring and will soon more generally require the same. Adopt the measure submitted to the House, and discord will end, all will be reconciled; but';refuse it, and the settlement so tranquil in appearance, will be roused frorii end to end, demanding this measure as an act of justice.

Mr. Simmonds1 seconded the iriotiori. In doing so he said there was' a corisinerable quantity of land in this province a very inferior kind, with occasional slopes of available land, that he thought Would not be occupied unless a system of credit was adopted. He said that if the system of credit Was adopted he, thought it Would not materially interfere with the pastoral interest, as the description of land that he thought would be sought, would be of- that character, that flock-masters would never desire to acquire, such as fern hills with occasional slopes of available fern land. He thought that it was desirable that this description of country should be occupied as early as possible; and it was his opinion that nothing could bring it into more useful occupation than some proper system of credit. He concurred with most of the remarks that had falleafrom the lion, gentleman upon the principle of) credit, therefore he should not occupy the time of the Council with any repetition.

Mr. Elliott, in remarking on the credit system as advocated by the lion, member for Waimea West, read an extract from Dr. Featherston's recent address on that subject, condemnatory of deferred payments for land. He also-adverted to Lord Durham's views of the mode in which credit for land operated in Canada. Everywhere, he saidj the system had failed, and had proved to be a delusion. '

Mr. Eban, in reply 'to the" hon. Provincial Solicitor, said there were new principles admitted into the bill before the House which differed from the illimitable cheap credit of the bill of the last session. That bill gave credit for 18 years without; interest, and gave it every Where'.* This bill gave credit at two and sixpence per acre,-for pastoral lands only, and required cash—a measure only favourable to sheep-oWners.y With respect .to the remarks of the.lion, m^noib^rfov-the Wairau, 4 ■as to the opinions of Dr. F«Stfcemtcm, he, Mr. 4 Eban, regarded them as urideservm'g of serious notice. So would he say-of the views of Lord Durham. He (Mr. Eban) knew as much perhaps of America as either of these great men, arid was bold enough to declare that many of the old families of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the Canadas, and the United States owed everything to that system. And through the 37 states and territories of the great American Union, after the first offer of the land at auction, at the minimum 6f a dollar and a quarter per acre, the whole of vast regions, purchased by private firms, and by companies, were re-sold by them most extensively on credit, at lower prices than those of the British colonies generally. In fact the nature of the American usage, in this respect, Was grossly misapprehended by many otherwise serisitive persons: instead of the credit methods of disposing of land having" failed they were throughout America in full play. What, he asked, made some of the failures of the old systems of credit ? Not the faultiness of the systems themselves, but the remoteness of the lands or sections sold, the dangers and irregularities of squatting in back settlements, where the law was weak and authority successfully defied. But, where the law was paramount, it was different altogether. What, said be, made the private credit sales here so safe f Why it was the calm, well-known sovereignty of the law. Men felt it, and, therefore never swerved from their engagements in paying for land. Nay, the very land, given up by hon. gentlemen in that House, had been re-sold to poor penniless men at exhorbitant prices, and still they paid for ih It was therefore truly ridiculous to talk so flippantly about the failure of the principle of deferred payments. In fact nearly all the wealth acquired by the gentleman around him (Mr. Eban) was the result of no great ability, but of the accidental credit arising from runs for sheep being accorded to them, in the cheapest style, until they had been enabled to buy their 3000 or 5000 acres of land at ss. per acre, —land like that now.to be offered them, in the same unjuststy]e,at2s.6d.peracre. Under the authority of these incontrovertible facts,-—facts it was impossible for any selfish ingenuity to gainsay —he contended that hon. gentlemen were bound to aid the progress of the measure before them. From the favourable impression which several of their votes had produced he had some faint hope that fairness would be upheld; that the motion he advocated would not be Rejected. "Should itj however, be so, the people would then awake. Memorials had not been, made to cover the table as yet, because little time for them had been allowed. The people were in the midst of a busy season ; they had trusted to the Superintendent; they liad trusted in his advisers; they had trusted for a stronger force on their side than appears at the present; they had also trusted in the integrity and wisdom of their representatives generally. But should the decision of this day undeceive or rather1 painfully deceive them, be sure they will rise lip and eventually overturn their betrayers. This very evening he ( Mr. Eban) had to meet his constituterits on this very ;subject, and he would not marvel, if the credit measure Were repudiated, to see the whole of the working population demanding fair play, insisting on their rights. Lost by a majority.of 5 against 17. , The House then went -into committee on the Waste Lands Bill, Mf. Macfeay in the chair. After the various clauses had been gone through with, the committee asked leave to report pror gress arid to sit again; Council adjourned.

Friday, January 22. The minutes of the' preceding evening were partly read and agreed to. , , , . . , Mr. Wemyss moved—"That his Honor the Su-perintendent-be requested to place1 on the Estimates the sum, of .£3OO for an overland.'post, to and from the Wairau, as is at present established." ■Dn. Renwicr seconded the motion^ Put and passed. ,' . ', ,-.■...'. Mr. Tinli^g riioved—" That iri the opinion of this Cduncil, it is expedient that the .Government should take some immediate steps for the establish'merit of a Savings Bank iri Nelson." Mr. Kelling seconded, the mdtion. Agreed toV Dr. Monro moved—"The adoption of the report of the select cefmiriittee dn the Dun Mouritaift Rail Way. Bill." . . , ; , ,

Mr, Wells seconded the iriotiori. Agreed td. ~ Dr Monro moved—" The suspension of standing order, No. 76, as regards the Dun Mountain Railway Bill, so that the select committee niay be' enabled to consider that portion [of the" preamble which refers to the amount of public notice to be' given as proved, and to proceed td thei irive'stiga^ tion of the merits of the bill." j

Mr. Wells seconded the motion. Agreed toV ; , Mr. Sharp moved~"J£hatj in the appropriation* of the sum of £5000 set: dowtt for surveys in the Debenture Bill, the amounts expended on surveys--out of that sum should be repaid out, of the sales of land accruing from or connected with such survey into the chesXas,a deposit only available' for surveys, and not absorbed with the proceeds o( land sales in the ordinary revenue of tlie province. Dr. Renwick seconded the' niotidnr; Agreed to1.. Dr. Renwick moved—'* That this Council is of opinion, that, in, order.to afford every fecillt;y to the immediate occupation of. land, the auction sales iri each district should always be1 considerably in advance of the demarid, so that bonafide settlers, on arriving iri the province, may be,enabled to go upon land with the least possible delay." Mr. M'Kay seconded the motion. '? ' r

The^; Provincial Solicitor" moved that the Council go into committee to consider the vote pfJ supply for the riext months amounting to the sum of£looo. .... ; r

Mr. Domett seconded the motion. Mr. Wells in the chair*

The PRoviNOiAii Secretary moved the third reading of the Waste Lands Bill. Mr. Wells seconded the motion.' Passed.

Mr. AriAMts moved that the1 Superintendent lie authorised to pay the salaries, &c, for January and February, 1858, not exceeding i>2ooo. Agreed to. Council adjourned io 24th February.

Rumours have been current, and have some confirmation, that a gold deposit of great richness has been discovered in Transylvania, and that further explorations fire diligently pursued.— Home News, November 16.

On the 2nd November, the Sussex Music Hall, •Brighton, was entirely destroyed by fire. The origin of the catastrophe is involved in mystery. — Home tfewsj November 16.-