MR. JENNINGS AND THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY. (From the London Emigration Gazette.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 26, 14 October 1843, Page 3

MR. JENNINGS AND THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY. (From the London Emigration Gazette.)

We cannot retreat any part of the opiniong oxpressed in pur former review ot Mr. Jennings 1 ' pamphlet on this subject ; but as in our former extracts we confined our observations to tfyo general subject of New Zealand Colonisation, without referring to the particular plan for accomplishing that object, suggested by }tfr. Jennings, we think it right to give him the full beniit of its publicity, and have accordingly presented our readers with his scheme, in all its various details. The idea of the plan is evidently founded upon that .of the New Zealand Company, with this difference, that while tho Company purchased their blocks of land as ' a mere trading community at home, the Company or " Association" proposed by Mr. Jennings purchase, theirs partly for their own .occupation, and partly as a trading community in the Colony. We only trust, that, as far as "objections" go, this Association will not come before the public after an existence of some years, with the astounding announcement that "as honest men, they can no longer sell an acre of land." Land titles are important matters in all such operations, and the only land titles worth a jot are those which are derired directly fr.om the Government without favour, and by no means relying on vague notions of the gratitude and honesty of political partisans. As Mr. Jennings has drawn our attention tnus far, we may perhaps suggest to Mr. Somes the propriety of his giving us a short or elaborateessay on " Russell's Ingratitude to the New Zealand Land Company." This work would doubtless sell as well as some of those blue books in which Mr. Somes' name figures with more constancy than effect.' But to return to Mr. Jennings plan. Not dreading the vengeance of the Company, w,e wish his project every success. He commences it as follows : —

ASSOCIATION OP ACTUAL COLONISTS. " Havino- now pointed attention to the defects and° evils existing iv the New Zealand Company's system, and also to the errors which have been committed by the local Government ; it remains for us, agreeably to our purpose, to suggest such a mode of conducting the Colonisation of the islands, as will meet tho difficulties, and remedy the evils complained of. "We premise, that we consider the work of founding a Colony or settlement, can be best undertaken by an association of actual Colonists ; the distribution of the land to be made under fixed regulations, agroed upon between the Government and the Association. And further, that in framing the constitution of such an Association, and arranging its course of procedure, the objects that should be proposed, and kept steadily in view, should be, first, to preserve to the •Colonists and their settlement, all the directly accruing advantages of the great work which they undertake. Secondly, to provide sufficient funds for public works, and other objects of public utility, necessary for the first establishment and future advancement of the settlement. And thirdly, that efficient measures should be taken for securing such attractions to the Colony as would ensure a succession of capitalist Colonists, during the first few years, the period of weakness. " We would suggest then that future settlements in New Zealand should be formed by Associations of Colonists. PURCHASE OF LAND. "Assuming that a plan for founding a new settlement could be proposed, which should receive the approbation of a sufficient number of respectable intending Colonists, say fifty at the least, which fifty persons should collectively be capable and willing to appropriate £25,000 for the purchase of land, each one making a purchase of more or less extent, and this would be much less, both as to the numbers of capitalists collected, and the amount by them invested, than has been done within one season in the formation of the Company's Colonies ; we say, assuming such a body of persons should agree to form an Association ; that it may be reasonably inferred, from the tenor and conditions of the act for tho disposal of Colonial waste lands, from the existing regulations of the Emigration Commissioners, and from the arrangements that have been made with the New Zealand Company, that her Majesty's Government would be disposed to treat with such an Association on such terms as the following :— To allow the purchase by the Association of a block of land, containing 20,000 acres, at the lowest upset price of £20,000 ; the said land to be allotted and re-sold under fixed regulations, assented to by her Majesty's Government, and alterable only with its consent; the locality to be selected by officers of the Association, and the exclusiyo right of pre-emption of the adjacent territory to be guaranteed, under certain limitations, to the Association. That her Majesty's Government shall receive in .payment /or such land £5000 in money, and "a, like proportion in money of all future purchases ; such purchase money to be applied to the general purpose of local government ; and that with regard to the remaining £15,000, the Association shall be allowed credit for £5000, to be expended upon surveys, and in public works in the settlement, and a further credit £IQ,OOO to be also expended by the Association in conveying to the Colony " Emigrants not possessing the ■means of defraying their own "Emigration thither," subject to the regulations Of the ■Board of Emigration Commissioners. •"It is further not deemed improbable that .the Government might, in such a case, be disposed to anticipate the liberal ordinance of the Colonial Governor, and grant the "Colonists a charter of incorporation previous to their embarkation for the settlement ; this would, doubtless, greatly facilitate their proceedings, and' several precedents in the early American Colonies might be found for •the measure. " The experience of the five bands of Colonists who, within these few years, have been the earliest of their associates, to go forth from the shores of Britain, and successfully establish settlements upon waste lands will, if examined, furnish the proof, that 'the expenditure for the purposes contemplated during the first year of a Colony of medium numbers, need not to exceed the amount stated ; it is a matter of easy calculation as regards the cost of freight and victualling, and of certain outfits and supplies. " Having settled the arrangement with the Government here at home, the next step would be to send out a " preliminary expedition," consisting of agents deputed by the Colonists (and probably chosen from their own number), to treat with the Colonial authorities for the selection of a site for the j settlement, and also of a party of surveyors to make the necessary preparations. The preliminary expedition should be at least six jmontlis in advance of the main body of the

first year's Colonists ; but volunteer pioneers might be allowed to accompany it. MODE OP 'RE-SELLING LAND. 1 "We would propose that the mode of disc | tributing and re-selling the land should bas follows, viz. — ' ' That of the 20,000 acres, above provided, 2000 with the most eligible site should constitute the town district ; 5000 should be laid out in suburban sections, of 20 acres each ; and 12,000 in rural sections of 40 acres each ; the remaining 1000 acres being allowed for roads and waste land. : " That out of the 2000 acres, constituting the town district, 4000 sections should be laid out, of one quarter acre each, and the remaining 1000 acres should be appropriated for streets, squares, a belt round the town, and other public purposes." ( To be continued.)