THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1858. THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 113, 19 November 1858, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1858. THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Whatever importance may be attached: to JD'Urville's Island as a prominent member of this Superintendency—abandoned by us with little reflection, less wisdom, and, if possible, still less forethought—it rises over our safe, noble, and generally tranquil bay, establishing in the contemplation of every intelligent and unbiassed mind the fact that it is the natural guardian thereof; and not only so, but that it is a grand out-work evidently destined by nature to be the key of the Straits. Regarded in its proper maritime connexion with Nelson Bay, Admiralty Bay, Port Gore, and the Sound, it may be seen to finely command them all ; in truth, they are but amplifications.of a continuous system of harbors, of which it discloses a capital portion. Indeed, could art have divided this unique country amidst the Pacific, stretching its remarkable character.through so many sanative latitudes and auspicious climes, it would scarcely have been able, to have accomplished anything so admirably "suited1 to the main purposes of political economy. .The only matter that perplexes us, we might say, the prodigy that confounds and staggers our amazement, is—i-tliat Great Britain did not long ago, with the acuteness of its selfish and grasping ambition, make Port Hardy the seat and focus of its might and glory in these seas. Easily could this have been done by purchase many years ago, or by the mere trident of naval authority ;—for it is more than doubtful whether the temporary residence of natives there ever established anything like a reasonable title to'"the isle, which was chiefly neutral ground, or a place^.-of gathering', or of refuge to hostile tribes, as the various states of circumstances or events required. The law of the stronger, was ever the native supreme right; and it may be gravely doubted, after all the fine things that have been beuevolently volunteered about equity to aborigines, unused to equitable bargains, whether purchase itself be regarded as anything more than a temporary expedient, to be set.aside when occasion calls. Be this, however, as it may, had the British Government; or even the leaders of the New Zealand Company's expeditions, been equal to the requirements of a new dominion,—-they would not have neglected the most important position in the Southern hemisphere. Let us hope, their lamentable omission, in this respect, will ere long be rectified, and a great want supplied, by the sagacity of our Superintendent and his advisers. An opportunity of no mean value now presents itself; and we flatter ourselves, the cool judgment and address of our provincial administration will at least be able to convince all parties that, so far as any preliminary measures are of importance to make either Nelson Bay or any of its contiguous ports available as a seat of Government for the whole of New Zealand, they are not wanting in either willingness or skill to arrange, and, if practicable, effect, the necessary preparations. Let past delays suffice, unless we desire to afford the French,—who have long coveted settlements not only in Tahiti, the Friendly Isles, our East Coast, and other parts of Oceanica, which their rapidly increasing missions are so extensively ■adapting to their domination,—an easy opening to a situation, graced with one of the names of their own gallantry, and one too not unlikely to be the spell-word of their first right of possession. During peace D'Urville's may remaia unclaimed ; but we may be assured "the first rupture with the Napoleonic Empire will tempt our old foes to occupy, if we persist in not doing so, this most interesting hold. In drawing the attention of onr readers to Port Hardy—a place soon viaitecL by even parties of pleasure from either Nelson or Wellington, especially the former—-we are not unmindful of the fact that Blind Bay itself is a safe and magnificent harbor, and that Nelson Haven, as a part of it, can with no very excessive out- ; lay be made one of the finest of ports. With Port Hardy as an outpost, and a governmental centre, our little city would soou rise to distinction. We have only to glance nt the stately sea-wall that fronts and defends it, and the thousands of acre 3 "within it, to witness capabilities of no limited order. We only want a willing people and resolute management to convert such things into greatness. If we have taken the liberty to attempt the enlistment of our provincial officers in this service, a service of the utmost importance to this settlement, we are urged to do so by the information lately received, It is understood, on authority generally credited, that all the steamers now engaged for New Zealand are henceforward to make Nelson their head quarters.

This .change has;, teen, it appear'a,-; occasioned by the discovery of the abundance aud excellonco of our coal. ! -v ■■:..; \.u-' It has' been said j that, Nelson' has been too modest in its pretensions, j It has not done justice to its. relations to the sea, to its advantage,ous position, to its mineral treasures, to its improvoivble soils, and to its transcendent climate. Neither has it sufficiently asserted the facilities with which all kinds of shipping may here be sheltered, defended^ or accommodated; but' these matters.will be more and more realised as time advances, and our population augments. Nor will our relations to Australia, China, India, Africa, and Western America, be long so lost to public opinion as they seem to have been. No other large and yet compact country, in cliaies so beneficialto energy, holds to the Southern Hemisphere such promise of usefulnesss and' political affinity as does New Zealand from, its centre to its extremities.

The Gold-Fields.—A fine nugget may be seen in Mr. Coates' window, weighing 8 ozs. 14 dwts., and is the one before alluded to, coming from the Rocky River- The steamer returned from Collingwood on Wednesday evening, with about 200 ozs., besides the 127 ozs. by the Supply this week. The accounts from the above district appear to grow more encouraging every dayy and if we remember ho\v astonished we were twelve months ago at seeing pieces of gold the size of a pea, it is a tolerable argument that ouv diggings only require aii augmented population to arrive at a,just estimate of their real importance. Familiarity' with the steadily increasing j'ield of gold has imperceptibly deadened our wonder, and we pass by the augmenting arrivals as a matter of course, or worse —as a matter of little consequence, and 'but slightly affecting our commercial depression. We have now good evidence before our eyes, and know that lately even digger's hopes and confidence have been so much raised, that'they implicitly believe a very short time will produce nuggets of a still larger size and weight. We hope it maybe so; and as roads are in rapid formation, and greater facilities are afforded for this enterprising class of. men, we think our gold-fields will yet prove themselves worthy of our most sanguine anticipations.' The Nelson Institute.-—Although the subscription to the old Institution has at times been the cause of considerable debate among its members, and opinions of various kinds have even extended to the one in formation, wo still are happy to find the old members, without exception, combining with new neophytes to carry out the opinions of the majority with respect to the 10s. subscription, and agreeing to sink questions of minor importance in the one great object of forming a nucleus of information and improvement that shall gather all the dispersed atoms of thought together, and form one great body for mutual advancement and intellectual cultivation. We feel that the unanimity expressed is creditable to its members, and wish them all the success in the working of the same that so good a cause deserves. The Theatre. —:On Wednesday, a well filled house witnessed' the play of Don Cssar de Bazan, which went off very successfully, Mr. Cox playing the Don in excellent style. . Mrs. Cox, as Maritana, succeeded also, pourtraying the Gitana, the woman, and the countess very effectively. The scheming Don Jose had an excellent-repre-sentation in Mr. Bertram. Mr. Devize, as Grand Master of the Royal Poodles^ came out in 'his usual laughter-provoking way; and Mrs. Clinton, as his C'jmitess, played exceedingly well. The King (Mr. Clintonj added considerably to the effectiveness of the piece, and. the incidental songs were well given by the Captain of the Guard and Lazarillo. The play was very creditably sus--1 tamed in music, dresses, and management, and the curtain fell at about half-past ten to a delighted audience. The second piece was a decided hit; and Miss Seymour, as Captain Daring, never played better, and bdng well supported by Mrs. Cox, was very successful. Mr. Clinton and-Mr. Cox added much to its effect,and the hearty roars of laughter proved its piquancy. This evening a new melo-drama and two new farces will be presented for the appreciation of the public. The titles appear in our advertising columns, and we hope to see crowded benches reward the exertions of this company. • - . Round-arm Bowling.—Considerable difficulty (says the Melbourne Argus) appears to have resulted in the application of the new law regarding bowling since the cricketing season commenced. Several interpretations have been given in reference to "the action immediately preceding the delivery." This has been considered by many to be the last.swing of the arm prior to the delivery, and, therefore, when the hand is behind the body, if higher than the shoulder, it is to be a " no ball." In the report of the opening match of the Melbourne Club we stated oiir belief that " the action immediately preceding the delivery does not mean when the arm id behind the body, but that the hand must not be higher than the shoulder when the arm is passing prior to the delivery." By the last mail from Europe we have intimation that the following resolution was offered by, the Hon. S. Ponsonby to the Marylebone Cricket Club:—"That the hand as it passes the body in the last action previous to the delivery of the ball shall not be above the level of the shoulder.". As tliere is every probability that this suggestion has been carried out, the matter will be set at rest, and our colonial players will find no difficulty in interpreting this very important regulation.