THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1859.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 220, 29 November 1859, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1859.

An article was published by our contemporary in the issue, of the 19th last, announcing the appointment, by our Provincial Government, of Mr. Haast to the charge of an exploring party to proceed to the West Coast. At the time, we did not believe it to be correct; but regret to find that such is the case. The .Chamber of Commerce had been induced to agitate in the matter, and now are, as we are informed, regretting the hasty manner iv which the whole affair has been managed, and would if they could with any grace'>recall their memorial. The expedition, as proposed, will cost the Province upwards of a £1000, and one half of that sum may be looked upon as utter waste, being spent1-in acquiring iuformation, valuable 'certainly,- but not of any great necessity'at present. ,A mere geological description is not wanted; and in half the time calculated as necessary for this scheme, an active surveyor would" do all the work immediately, pressing. What we require is1, such a description of the surface of the country as may enable intending settlers to estimate the value to' them of our newly discovered, territory. To give this, three things are wanting : experience in New Zealand, knowledge'of the language and customs of the aboriginal natives, and physical strength and energy.

Mr. Haast is remarkable for hiTdeficiency in these points : he has not been long enough with us to become inured to the bush travelling, and when accompanying Dr. Hochstetter over the Massacre Bay country, he was the first of the party who, had to give in to fatigue. We are told that he speaks of three miles as a, fair average day's journey. The task will be endless, so slowly carried out. •

Why our Governmeut should hafe picked out the. greatest stranger amongst us to take a most responsible post, we can-hot conceive. Mr. Haast may be a very clever geologist, and he. may not, be. We have heard of nothing in the way of credentials, nor has he acquired yet a European, reputation as an explorer. The case awas far different with Dr. Hochstetter: heleame to us the accredited head of a scientific investigation, pursued by order of the Emperor of a most scientific country; his reputation is European, his physical exertions were Immense, and he has left behind him a valuable account collected aript written 4n some- two months', time; ' Thfr Accidental meeting of Mr. Haast, by the Doctor, at Auckland, might readily produce an acquaintance, but does not necessarily endow Mr. H. with the mantle of the departed. But even supposing that gentleman to be more talented than the Doctor, the services which he could render us here are r^ot what werequire. We have two gentlemen now under engagement in and about the West Coast:. Mr. Rochfort is ; there, and Mr. Mackay is about starting with the view of; finding an overland route to this ".'land of promise,". The report of the first^named gentleman is expected in, at most, a^month's time; and Mr. Maekay will send back one of his party so soon as he has intelligence to communicate.. It seems, therefore,; to us a useless waste of the public, money to start another party. Each of these geptlemeri now. under. engagement is remarkable for untiring perseverance, and has .been for months at a time engaged'in similar .expeditions. One line of argument has been adopted in favor of Mr. Haast, which, though specious, falls to pieces at .once on examination. It is prettj generally understood here that Mr. Haast's mission to New Zealand is as .the agent of a firm of shipbrokers, whose, trade lies principally in emigrant vessels; and if a position could jbe found in New Zealand sufiMently proI raising they would attempt to get up a Ger- ■ man Settlement. If, therefore, Mr. H. reports favorably of the West Coast, it is expected that we should have a large influx of population .to our ErovinflS in the way of German emigrants. Jhis msy be all very well; but those who argue t.hus^ forget that by accepting a salary from Nelson, Mri H. virtually resigns his present calling. With terms more, liberal than we; should have deemed necessary,-we shotilt| cer|amly expect Kirn to devote his labors top;ur uses. It was said of old, "No man'caniserye two masters;" and in a case like this, tlie/proyerb is peculiarly applicable. We gfeneraily agree with the policy and "appointments of our present Government; bnt in this case we consider- them much to blame.'--Whose precious work this is we do not say; but a greater mistake was never committed. /Kepori says, that the; head of It^e #oyernment was.opposed to the;appoin.tr •mgnt.;rlC^y^ frhopld have preventedit, hadit^ie'ri coal ' bm i.h.e accumulated wit and activity of his iExecutiye, JS^s position is from • the peopley and bi^ special ,*msj; is id'prevent these .arrangements W^h $9^' raily originate in some drawing-roonl. •- V® t'eehthai.kß^s failed in his duty tdwarcls' those he should ,^ave protected. Three fourths of-the inhabitants of Nelson are against such a' costly expedition, .'^tid. the feeling of the great mass of the people would have jbeehCwjtji Mm. No man is;without feiF&jlings, arid in this instance^ w^ ; grieve ; to have to K@Aor(^-PP6- ll ■■■is.-jaotto.o-late- r- ■ yet to stop the p'r.Qce^i.n^ \yith ihonor, it wpuldtbe far better to dp ' % so 1: for at ,t|$ ;pekt.general,eledtion'people wjU^ 7 the^eii^!^,;gL;nc(; think that their money' has1 \besn '.sauandeVed when ,theY *Veme^ber its mb ' ... '.' ... . m& ? : . t . ■.•■■■■ " '

By the. Lord Ashley we are in receipt of files from Auckland arid T&fanaki as well as English news to the 26tlj September, thfprincipal items of which will,be found in these columns. We hear from Captaitt Kennedy that at the- date of his leaving Manuk'au. the Niger, mati-of-war s.s., bad not arrived*: she was then a week out from Auckland and was proceeding hither under canvas. It is not at al! probable that his Excellency the Governor will arrive before Thnrsday next at the earliest: