THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, March 26, 1863.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 336, 26 March 1863, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, March 26, 1863.”

It will have been observed, frpm an advertisement, that; our representatives in the Provincial Council invite their constituents to meet them on an early day to talk over the matters to which they should attend at the approaching meeting of the Council. We hope that this opportunity of letting the ini ncl of the community be known respecting the various grievances and wants of the district will not be. lost p aiid especially do ; we hope that 1 he. settlers in the Rangitikei and Turakina districts, who had so little to do with the late election, may be represented at this meeting, and may .supply our members with that particular information,, which, as none of them reside in these districts, they cannot well be expected to possess, regarding what the settlers there may think the Government can do to promote their prosperity. We have already referred to several of the local matters which’the membei's for this place will be expected to attend to. There are some of minor, but still considerable, importance, which it may be well to mention as subjects for conversation at the proposed meeting, more especially as, if such;. subjects, are not previously suggested, they may be forgotten in the discussion of more important matters.

Something should be done by the Government to put down the thistle nuisance. The difficulty of this is no doubt greatly increased by the proximity of the lands of the natives, in which they are allowed to grow and spread unchecked. Though the Government' had the power to interfere with the Maori thistles, it would from his Excellency’s recent remarks on this subject at Taranaki, that there is no legal authority to compel. The Maorics are owners of the country when the right of possession and enjoyment is considered ; but they are not ownei's when the Obligation not to injure their neighbours is. in question. They claim all the privileges, but are obliged to perform none of the duties, of landed proprietors. This is a great drawback to action iii this matter, but something at any rate might be done to check the growing evil. We believe that the office of sheep inspector here will shortly be vacant, and would suggest that in future the duty of thistle informer be added to those at present belonging to the office.

The question of a subsidy being given to the Wanganui steamer, instead of to the Company which now brings up the mail, should be brought before this Council, as the steamer may be expected to be out before another session. The request is so reasonable that we do not think any objection will be made to it. If subsidies for carrying mails are to be given at all, the preference should surely be given to the local carriers. The Provincial Executive has no representative here. To this, perhaps more than anything else, is to be attributed the neglect which lias been apparent for some time back. It is, we hope, less the want of will than the want of consideration that has kept back the progress of public works here. The place not being 'immediately under the- eyes of the Executive, and not sending constant-appeals to their ears, has been forgotten, overlooked, and neglected, Now, what is the easiest remedy? Evidently, a Govern-ment-officer on the spot, with power to act on the votes of the Council—to carry out what they have resolved to he done. Another 100/ added to the present salary of the sub-treasurer would provide such an officer, who would be the connecting link between the Government and this district. It is pretty' evident that, had such an officer been in existence here during the last year, lie would have been so worried by the constant applications made to him, that, to secure peace of mind, lie would have pushed on his work with all his might. In the case of roads, to provide against the difficulty, urged by his Honor the Superintendent, of getting them laid off from „ a want of competent Government officers to do it, let this officer have power to obtain the services of private surveyors, and the work would go on.; ' •; . ‘ , '<'

The. iucon veniepce arising from the

distance- of this place from the seat of Government makes more /pressing the Consideration of the establishment of a telegraphic - line along the west coast. The line between this and Wellington' would liot cost above 7000/, aud its maintenance about'2oo/ k year.' ~ The General Government would, we suppose, guarantee the interest on the cost of its construction/according to a recommendation made by the House of" Representatives last session, that, so soon as the reveiiue would permit, the Government should take steps to establish electric' telegraphic communication between the several Provinces and the seat of Government, “ eitliei' by constructing the sarne at the public cxpence, or by granting a guarantee of reasonable minimum dividend to private parties willing to undertake the work.” Now, unless our members, take active steps to secure our interests, it will be found that the first electric telegraph constructed in this Province will run up the Hutt and through the Wairafapa. ' ' The question of immigration we have already adverted to ; and merely again refer to it in order to draw attention to the letter on this subject from Hr. Gurl, Which will be found in another column Our esteemed correspondent, we think, puts his proposal on hr right footing. His proposal is, that the Government assist employers of labour in introducing it into the Province. By such a mode of immigration, the* distress consequent on large bodies of working men being brought into the Province, without work at sufficient - Svages being provided for them, would be avoided, and the advantages mentioned by our correspondent secured.

Considerable interest seems to be felt ill Wellington, to judge from what was said at the late elections, in a revision of the system of selling land. Deterred payments, stretching over a large number of years, seem to be wished for by some. This system is wanted for the benefit of the working part of the community. The benefit appears to us doubtful. So long as high wages can be obtahied the working, man is doing better in working for others than in. working for himself. The price of land is so low that an able-bodied working man may very soon save enough to buy 100 acres, which.is the. extent.of land spoken of by its promoters as to be sold on this system.; Having bought the land, the purchaser may hire himself until he has obtained enough to work it. .He is .then' independent so far as. his landed possession can make him so. But if lie buy the land on deferred payments, a bad harvest may ruin him, dependent as lie is on the produce of his land for the payment of his yearly instalments. Then an outcry is: raised against the Govern ment if it insist on its dues. There are strong reasons against land beiug sold on this .system p but-vif, certain conditions were to he. laid down in respect to the improvement of. the land year by year, and if it were distinctly understood that in all cases .of departure, from the agreement the land would be re-sold, the ob-jections.-would be in a great measure removed,: although the. first and greatest would remain—the doubt whether the syste m wouhbnot be injurious rather than beneficial to the: class for whose benefit it is intended.. . As-there has been no public opportunity of conversing with our representatives on these and other topics which are of importance to the community, We trust-that the meeting called by them’will be well attended, and be productive of good results.

The report of tlie conversation which took place between the Governor and the deputation of Taranaki settlors that waited on his Excellency on his arrival there, as given by the Taranaki Herald , will be found in another column. The Herald states that the report may not be strictly correct, and we therefore forbear comment until an authentic version appears. At length, his Excellency’s acts have more interest than his words. The bringing of troops to Taranaki woidd indicate his Excellency’s determination to carry out his declared intention of occupying the Tatarairnaka block, by force if necessary. Letters are in town stating that a detachment of the 57th is appointed to this service, We may therefore learn in a few

days 'through the natives if there has been a collision. Several armed parties of Waitotaras and .Ngatiruanuis have gone north to tlie scene of action.