ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. Felton Mathew v. Kororarika. "PARVA parvum DECENT."

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 40, 20 January 1844, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. Felton Mathew v. Kororarika. " PARVA parvum DECENT."

(To the Editor of the Southern Cross.) j s IRj — I beg to direct your attention to a Report published in the last Blue Book, written by Mr. Felton Mathew when Surveyor General (!) and purporting to be a " minute examination of various sites in the Bay of Islands for a Government capital," displaying throughout, such a one-sided statemont, (though refuting itself, in almost every paragraph,) as must be evident to every person acquainted with the localities, thus sub- 1 jectcd to the " minute examination" of Mr. M . I have delayed making remarks on this Report during the late mal-administva-tion of Government, that has hitherto so effectually retarded the advancement of New Zealand as a Colony, as any reproof ,to an official for incapacity or insolence of office would have been a sure passport for promotion. Mr. M. commences his Report by assuring Capt. Ilobson, " that, from the rugged character of the country, the Bay of Islands cannot be regarded as an eligible spot for the principal settlement or Capital of this island," and concludes the sentence, "that no conceivable circumstance can retard its improvement or prevent it from becoming, as a port, a place of primary importance." The deficiencies of Kororarika are next dwelt on as being open to "formidable objections" by this minute reporter, who prophetically adds, " and precludes the possibility of its ever becoming a place of other than secondary importance." — To be brief, Mr. Mathew consumes so large a space of his report in decrying this "small bight," as he terms the noble bay, that we naturally demand the " why and because" Mr. M. should take such exceeding trouble in crying down so worthless a place! Simply because he well knew that Kororarika had ever been regarded without dispute as the most valuable spot for a township, and the best anchorage in the Bay of Islands, from its first occupation by Europeans, and that it would require not a little amount of depreciation on his part, in the way of " formidable objections," previously to recommending the acclivities of Mr. Clendon, since 'ycleped Russell. I will not take up space by commenting on the false statements of "The wateron approaching the beach is very shallow," or Mr. M's ignorance of the compass, or else a misprint, that "it is fully exposed to north and north-westerly winds," or "frequently so much surf as to render it difficult, if not impossible, for a boat to effect a landing," &c. — - The extent of land for building pur-

poses he pronounces " absolutely insignificant, and it is already in the hands of so many privato individuals, " yet somewhat lower down ho adds, "that the Government will be enabled, by negotiation with the native chiefs, to obtain a considerable extent of land comprising the most important part of the frontage of the hay, and in the veky cextiix; of tho town, which still pemains in possession of the natives, and which, when disposed, will afford ample space for the erection of all necessary Government buildings, and at tho same time leave a number of very valuable allotments for sale," and all this, Mr. Editor, out of building land pronounced a few lines previously as "absolutely insignificant, and it is already in the hands of so many private individuals!" prohpudor\ A talented official surveyor of Kororarika has stated, there is ample space at Kororarika, with Matoui, for a population of 20,000 persons, and from the peculiar form of these islands, what city will require as many inhabitants, each district requiring its distinct i township. ' I Mr. Mathew next vents his indignation against any man daring to lay out his own land in allotment.?, feeling an hallucination, that the art of laying out towns could only be exercised with taste, tact, and talent, by j himself — Auckland to wit ! This is meant as a preliminary rub on Mr. Busby, though Mr. Clenclon had done just the very same thing in selling part of the cmbrio Russell, by auction, to Messrs. Clayton and others. Of Mr. Busby's property Mr. Mathew states, " The land itself is more level and suitable for building than any other spot in the Baj of Islands," and closes his consistent examination, "this spot does not present.one solitary advantage as a site for a settlement." Mr. Busby has a famous refutation, which I leave him to make. Thus we find in this anomalously concocted Report, that a "formidable 'objection" to Kororarika arises from its building land being insignificant, whereas, at Mr. Busby's " it is more local and suitable for building than elsewhere in tho Bay," forms not one solitary advantage ; though Mr. M., might have added, that fair horse roads to the Kerikcri, Waimate, Taiamai, Hokianga, and other districts in the interior, north, west and south, lead direct from Mr. Busby's land ; an advantage that Kororarika and Russell are deprived of. That blest spot, the incipient Russell, (what an honor for Lord John !) is next dwelt on. The " confident assertion" that " the water along a large portion of its boundary is so deep as to admit of ships lying almost close in shore," is of equal truth with the " formidable objections" to Kororarika. This statement may possibly have been Mr. Ready Clendon's, to enhance his wares, but assuredly not the result of actual soundings ; the channel of that part of the river, beingnearer to the south-western, or opposite shore, and so narrow between the mud banks (with some rocks) as to rerder the beating out of a ship next to impossible. Equally incorrect the statement of "this part of the harbour being land-locked presents the best and safest anchorage," for only three weehs previously to Mr. Mathew penning this Report, an equinoxial gale occurred, and the " Statesman, 1 ' one of three American whalers lying off Russell, went on shore, the gale blowing from tho south, enabled the other two to trip their anchors, and make for the safer anchorage of Kororarika, where two French, five American whalers, and the "Julia," brig, were riding out the gale in comparative quiet. This galo took place on the 29th February, (leap year) and finished 1st March ; yet, in the face of this actual and personal experience of Mr. Mathew, he could deliberately pen sul.1i a statement. The peculiar advantages of Russell for internal communication, is next touched on ; " either by land or water," its fallacy is proved in a second, by reference to a map. Both Kororarika and Rusgell are situated on the north eastern shore ; though Mr. M's. innocence of the compass, states the latter to be on the southern shore ; loth being situated on the same peninsula, with this advantage, that at Kororarika, ships can anchor land-locked, and out of all tide-way, and can beat in and out at -any timo ; whereas, at Russell, ships are j cooped up in a narrow channel if wind-bound, and subjected to the tides, which at springs, run like sluices with proportionate injury to their copper, and is open to the northerly gales, (and not Kororarika as stated by Mr. M.) by a reach from Motu Roa, of at least 12 miles, during which, to land where the wooden houses at Russell are situated, would be found impossible. In brief, never was a settlement pointed out for a capital, less fitted for commercial operations than Okiato alias Russell, the conveyance alone of certain goods up such precipitous steeps, would in many instances render the articles so conveyed wholly profitless, with freight and commission. Mr. Mathew expresses "a decided opinion that the purchase of this land from Mr,

Clendon on any thing like fair and reasonablo 'terms, would be highly advantageous tp the Government," but in tho Kororarika case, ho advises " that the Government should take possession without respect to persons, of the whole land available for tho purpose." Mr. M. is not satisfied with earnestly hoping the Lieutenant Governor will clench Mr. Clendon 's offers, for Mr. M. states he had conversations with Mr. C. on the subject, but adds, " I have the honor to request that / may be authorised to treat with Mr. Clendon for the purpose of obtaining the object in question." Poor Captain Hobson, what a ense of victimization ! The bay of Tipuna is represented in this talented expose' as preferable " to tho more open roadstead of Kororarika." I shall merely remark, that in the gale adverted to, as occurring three tceeks before this Report was penned, the Harriett whaler parted at her upper timbers, horizontally a-midships, the latter with the masts, were cast on shore, the hull and cargo sank at this exposed anchorage. Tipuna is open to a sea-reacli to Cape Brett, an unprotected extent of many miles, which pours in with irresistible forco with the winds from the N. E., B. and S.K. or S. Having especially attended to the space I might occupy in your columns, I have avoided invidious comparisons with the Bay of Islands and other settlements, and have touched only on a few of the splendid and impartial results of Mr. Mathew's researches, which form a fair sample of advices, which, having been acted upon, have reduced a fine colony to its present prostrate condition. Res Facta. (To the Editor of the Southern Cross.) Sir, — Allow me through the light of tho Cross to reflect a few observations on His Excellency's and your notice. It will be admitted, that the first consideration of every Governor of a Colony, must be that of concentrating and securing the permanent settlement of the Immigrants to such Colony ; as on such settlement the subsistence of its more vital organs,- its affluence or indigence, depend. ISTow Sir, at the present moment, you must well know there are a great number of young men in this place, of superior acquirements, and of previously good standing in Society, without employment, and in fact almost destitute ; but who, it is only hahiral to suppose, cannot form the resolution of having recourse to the only melancholy alternative of keeping "body and soul together," viz. : of precipitating themselves to the condition of common day-labourers. I speak warmly, because only a few years since, I was in the same distressing predicament myself. The new Governor will undoubtedly be troubled with very numerous solicitations of an epistolary nature from young men of tho class of Emigrants beforementioned, and as it will be absolutely impossible for him to comply with the purport of one-twentieth part of such communications ; allow me to suggest a plan, whereby their residence in the Colony would) in the event of its adoption) be perpetuated, and their wants in the mean time supplied ; and in hoping that it may meet with His Excellency's approval, have only to state from my own personal knowledge, that most, if not all, will be ready, and even thankful to accede to it, and to rejoice at its being put into execution. It is this — Let His Excellency purchase, an Estate of about 600 acres, and erect comfortable native houses upon it ; divide it into different portions, provide rations, and in some cases, plain clothes, and set these young men upon it, to cultivate it, offering a moderate premium to those, say, 5 or 10, who shall, at the expiration of one year, have improved their allotment most. Of course, none of them would be compelled to remaia longer than they could better themselves ; and, I hesitate not to say, others would always be ready to fill up the vacant places. Mr. Editor, would this plain and feasible plan, not prove ultimately beneficial to tho Colony, and eminently promote its prosperity ? I think so, and only hope, as a common philanthropist, that it will meet with His Excellency's and your approbation. For the expenses which such a plan would incur (and which would never be great) Hi3 Excellency would have the satisfaction of knowing that he "'lad done good ; and would in all human probability, in a short time, have a pretty country estate to look upon, as a counterbalancing remuneration. I have, &c:, Kkox. Auckland, fen. 3, 1844. The Iluna, brig, arrived from Russell and Sydney yesterday evening, after a three weeks' passage. The Thomas Lord is at the Bay ; the mails of both vessel* are aboard the Columbine. The Hqmlet and General Hewitt had arrived in Sydney from London on the 9th September. There is no important news either from j London or Sydney. The Ariel hid. reached Sydney after a long passage.