THE OUT-DISTRICTS. THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, September 7, 1858.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XV, Issue 1168, 7 September 1858, Page 2

THE OUT-DISTRICTS.

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, September 7, 1858.

LUCEO NON URO. "If I have been extinguished, yet there rise A. thousand beacons from the spark I borer."

It is time for the country settlers, more especially for those who live at a distance from the capital, to think about exerting themselves in their own behalf, and to exact a fair share of the Provincial revenue, for the improvement, and above all, the opening up of the country. We do not ask for them any more than a fair share, nor have they shewn a disposition to claim any more; but that by far the greater portion of the revenue has been expended, either where votes can be most thickly gathered, or where certain private properties can be increased in value by dexterous management of the pablic works, is notorious. Prior to the last Session of the Assembly, it was little better than waste of time to agitate the question; there were interests at stake which overbore all consideratious of fair apportionment; the country settlers had no resource but complaint, which was scarcely urged, because urged without hope. Some shew of a struggle there was, in the Provincial Council ; but the country party, as usual, got the worst of it, when their interests came into conflict with the supposed interests of the towns. For let it be always borne in mind, that unless a country party be in a very overwhelming majority, a town party, numerically inferior, will end in carrying their own objects. How they do it, is not always clear j it is simply a matter of experience, that they do so. During the last Session, the country had a narrow escape from being placed, under the electoral bills as first introduced, even more at the mercy of the towns than before, — a danger that was fended off, not without difficulty, by the efforts of a few who were vigilant enough, and far sighted enough to perceive the result of the innovations which had been proposed. On the other hand, however, the country remained very much the gainer by the New Provinces Bill The more populous, at all events, of the out-dis-tricts, have now a weapon put into their hands to strike withal, and can enforce attention to complaint. True, the bill is unduly weakened by the provision that it shall be inoperative within sixty miles of the capital of any province, — a distance which, in our opinion, is at least one third too great ; the weapon is like one of those swords which are used in single rencounter by the German burschen, bound round with tough cordage to within about two inches of the point, so that although the combatants may nick each other with ugly gashes, they can scarcely inflict a mortal wound. But still, it is a weapon after all, causing its possessor to be respected. Nor will the country districts be doing any real injury to the towns by exacting their fair share of the Provincial revenue. It cannot be too often repeated that in this province, the prosperity of the city of Auckland depends upon that of the country districts. To impoverish or check the improvement of the country, to forestall a real and substantial gain for the sake of the ready penny to be spent about the streets, is merely a killing of the goose that lays the golden eggs Menenius Agrippa's fable, The belly and the members, may be here conversely applied. He told the people at the Aventine Hill that the members depended upon the belly for life ; we say here that it is the belly which depends upon the members — Auckland upon the out-districts, rather than the out-districts upon Auckland Take away the Commissariat expenditure, and it will be taken away at no great distance of time, unless we consent to pay the troops, and Auckland will learn to her cost upon what her main dependence should from the . first have been placed. A change"of system has to be brought about in favour of the country settlers ; but it is not to be effected merely by preachment from us. We shall do what we can ; but the movement must take its rise amongst themselves. It is for them to inform themselves upon the subject ; to consider what is wanting in their several localities — what ought to be done, and what is wrongly done ; and then when, they know what they want, to urge their claims incessantly. We shall do what we can ; we will find publicity, and endeavour to combine the action of the various districts. So far, our aid will be of worth ; but we repeat, that so long as the districts are inactive, we are powerless. If they chuse to take the lead, we pledge ourselves to do good service in support.

The proceedings of the Supreme Court, in another part of our columns, continued and completed from our last, will be read with interest. The trial in the case of arson elicited the most curious and complicated mass of circumstantial evidence that was ever yet brought before a jury in this colony. Now that all is over, we may state our opinion that upon that evidence, the jury could have come to no other conclusiqn. It

was a case of very strong sudj-ucion, tyli^'n'ot strong enough to warrant a ,«sLxfcfiori. The Ch ef Justice, in his elaborat^summing up, which occupied more than fou* hours, wort golden opinions from all who were present. He took each point, for or against, in turn, submitting them to the jury with perfect clearneaajbut still so that the bias of his own mind could not be discovered. And in such a caae as this,- where a little might have turned the scale, the Course adopted was clearly the right one ; altfrottg&rair a general rule, in cleaier cases, we think that the ends of justice are best furthered by the judge directing the jury,— i.c giving the fullest asssistance he may be able towards a true finding of the verdict. For, on occount of the acumen generated by professional habits, he is the most likely to come to a right conclusion. The Chief Justice, in his charge to the Grand Jury, analysed the criminal ftatistics of the Colony, as given in the blue book, from 1853 to 1856 inclusive. Upon the whole, he took a favourable view of the moral state of the community. But he observed, with some surprise, that while the total number of convictions in tb« Auckland province shewed a diminution in crime, yet that in one district, Russell, there were only 31 convictions in 1854, while in 1855, they had increased to 63. And while unable, for want of accurate local knowledge, to account for the fact he recommended it to the attention of those rrhowere more immediately connected with the district. The fact is, however, that no conclusions wfcatever can be drawn from the number of conviction! at Russell. The calendar there is swelled bj offences — not in general of a very grave character, committed by the crGws of the whalers whicb resort to that port. It is affected, not so muel* by the number of the ships, as by the character of the crews, which is a matter of chance. A single ship, with a crew in a state of bad disci, pline, might do more to swell the list, than all the rest of the fleet together. We also believe that the activity of the police, during the years 1855 and 1856, was very much increased, whick of course implies, upon statistical tables, a correspondingly increased demonstration of crime. The very possession of a lock-up, which was wanting until 1856, would have a similar effect; for in the case of trivial offences, such for instance ' as drunkeness, a man is much more readily apprehended by the police where there is a place to* stow him in, than where they have to watch hint* to the detriment of their other duties, all the night through.

The following letter, concerning immigration from Canada, has been kindly placed by Dr. Stratford at our disposal. It calls for but little observation from us; though of rather a sanguine character — perhaps a little wild, in regard to the magnitude of the plans set forth, it leaves no doubt, when taken in connexion with other communications of a similar nature, that a valuable body of immigrants is to 1 be obtained, if the Provincial Government be { really inclined to give proper encouragement. We fully agree with the writer as to the preferableness of seasoned emigrants — such as have already learned their business and braved the earlier hardships of a settler's life, to those who f arrive without experience — without any know-^ ledge of what good or evil is in store for them, fresh from the mother-country. Having already faced the difficulties inseparable from the task of subduing the wilderness, they will be less liable to despondency, or discontent. There is also an esprit de corps, a capability for association, a disposition to work together in haTmony — to afford each other mutual assistance and support, always to be found among people who come out under circumstances similar to those described, which is wanting in the sparse and irregular emigration direct from home ; a most valuable element, which ought to be maintained in the fullest force, by tbe simple expedient of locating them together. f Let us take, for example, our own Nova Scotian settlements. At the Waipu, there are, we believe, about thirty five families. From one person alone, in the town of Auckland, they have received £800 this year for wheat, (how much from others we have no present means of ascertaining,) and that wheat described by the buyer as the best in the country The quality is attributable to the unity of feeling which prevails among the Nova Scotians, enabling them, through neighbourly assistance, to cut their corn as soon as ripe, and to stow it away at once ; whereas in the same season, the crops of too many of those who had to fall back upon merely hired labour, always uncertain in a thinly populated country, had to stand out in the wet and spoil. The writer is somewhat unfair to Canada — one of the finest and most prosperous colonies under the British Crown. But that is no business of " ours. Let such of her colonists as are dissatisfied * come here, and we shall try to put them into better humour. The climate, which appears to be the main cause of complaint in Canada, is a t all events more genial here j although our farmers would be the better for a little of that honest wintry frost which the others seem so desirous of leaving behind them. But of shipping ports — the possession of one of which appears to be a primary object with them, we have enough and to spare. From Wangarei to Monganui, the coast line may be described as a continuous chain of . harbours, large and small. The writer' suggests that the New Zealand j Government should send a free ship — such' a** would carry 300 or 400 emigrants, to Portland.. He appears to be not aware of the difficulties, even in so simple a matter as this, caused by the complicated relations of our General and Provincial Governments. The General Government could not ; and it may be assumed that our Provincial Government would not. But the in tendingemigrants might easily, we apprehend, arrange with merchants in New York to lay on a vessel for New Zealand — say one of the China going vessels, one of the clipper 3 which are sent for tea, to which outward bound employment might be acceptable upon very reasonable terms Or again, ' the Canadian emigrants, if they could find the " necessary capital, or obtain the requisite assistance, would find it a profitable speculation to send out one of their own country vessels, for sale in any one of the Australian colonies. The prices fetched by the Bredalbane, the Gertrude, which brought out the Nova Scotians, and the Brig Union, Captain Mucklejohn, sold at Sydney, sufficiently shew how little hazardous such a risk would be. Under the present development of steam navigation, a vessel that would serve the purpose of a collier would probably command the readiest sale. The main difficulty, however, in the way of the Canadian emigrants is tbe uncertainty underwhich they labour, in regard to the land. What reasonable security is there that land will be ready for them on arrival? For the present,, this uncertainty absolutely precludes Dr. Strata ford from recommending them to come out. It is for the Provincial Government, if they be really desirous of< securing this valuable accession of strength for the Auckland Province, to make an immediate demonstration, — to say positively* what they are willing to do, what they are ablo to do, and what they will engage to do. But we are unable to see that any really ao(ive measures

I are W?fl||^^B^ -towards furtherance of the ' scheme. i|BKless activity the only sure test | of good iftll, frroisplayed, the benefit anticipated for Auckland will be transferred to Otago.

> • Toronto, M»y 3rd, 1858. Most HtthOUrWl Sir,— l thought you had almost tor. gotten us Canadians ; but lam now-pleased to observe in the ' New-Zealander of January 16, your petition and the Report of the Committee of Emigration. I see also y&kt proposal to appoint an agent in Toronto. I should be most happy to render you any assistance in my powei to Alrlher the object. We hare formed a society, of which Dr. Wright is President, Mr. Faulkner, Secretary, and myself Treasurer. The object was to send out an agent, to ascertain what the New Zealand Government would do towards encouraging emigration, and establishing steam communication from Auckland, or New Zealand, to Pa. Dama, in connection with the Californian steam ships, to Aspinwall, from New York. But to make the thing complete, the English and Canada steam ships should continue on from Portland to Cuba and Aspinwall, and your Pacific ones from Panama to Wellington and Mel. lourne. The subject only requires to be mentioned to be appreciated, and you are the person to do it. You must observe at once that it would be the best paying line in the world, at each steamer would bring all the mails for British North America, United States, West Indies, China, California,-New Zealand, and Australia, at one and the tame time ; and then consider the route for passenger trade— it connot he equalled in the world— and would be the making of New Zealand. But to return to our little society. We are progressing well, and Ape soon to send a special »gent out; as there are thousands wishing to leave this frozen region for a more congenial climate — and of all classes. Times are very hard here. Our sub. •cription is only $1, and I have hundreds of subscribers. Therefore we only want to know what the New Zealand Government will do, and the general prospects for each sort of Emigrant. It is th* genieral wish of the society that I should come out myself and report personally on my return the full particulars of all, so that you may possibly see me before long. At all event we greatly depend on" your assistance. You may remember me. I hare been • travelling agent for the Toronto ' Colonist' and ' Globe' for many years, and am well acquainted with the people of Canada, and the general" resources of the country, from Quebec to Sandwich, and all the townships, having ridden <on horseback through them all ; but lam now tired of the ■climate, and wish to make New Zealand my future home, feeing perfectly satisfied that Canada was never intended for the habitation of" man ; and if the Panama route was established you would not want emigrants very long. Please to do all you can for us : and if that route cannot be established, get the New Zealand Government to send a free ship to Portland that will carry 3 or 400, and I will select such that will not disgrace the country, and that you will not regret having as citizens. If you can conveniently answer this immediately please to do so, and .give us ail the information you can, and what kind of machinery is best to bring. You will please excuse this hurried scribble, as it is now half-past twelve, and the mail closes at one. Your obedient servant, Richd. Roach. P.S. — I have a few minutes grace from the Post Office, and beg to state there are many patent machines and in. ▼entions, too numerous to mention, such as brick, washing, reapers, &c, and patent cement roofing, fire and water proof— and a new light, superseding gas in every way ; have you gas in Auckland ? State what will be most useful to bring, and if each emigrant would get his title direct from the Crown, or would, he be subject to land jobbers and other disgusting monopolies, such as many have had to contend with in Canada 1 if so, Vancouver's Island will be their destination, and not New Zealand. I mention this, as I observe you speak of purchasing 150,000 acres on your own account: but I strongly advise you against it— so far as settling it with Canadians is concerned. You are held in high estimation with us now, as our advocate in New Zealand, but depend upon it, the moment you undertake land speculating, down goes your glory. Get all you can for yourself, but keep clear between the emigrant and the Government grants, whatever they may be, as you never could give satisfaction. I have heard enough to 'satisfy me on that point I advise the Society to charter some emigrant ship at Quebec, or Montreal, in the Fallsay October — to sail for Aspinwall ; and would you send one of the same description to meet us at Panama, say Nov. Ist. I think this the most economical and best plan — as both ships would be fitted up with berths, and English ships too. I take it for granted, there will be no difficulty m getting such vessels either at Quebec or Auckland, and'shall recommend the advertisement for one here at once, to be ready at that time. I also advise all emigrants that cannot pay their passage at first, to enter into bonds, and monthly notes, with your Government, payable the first of each month until his whole passage is paid, then, if no default in payment, grant him 100 acres of land, and his deed for it, on last payment. This is the inducement held out at Vancouver's Island,— and New • Zealand must do the same, and at once to insure the best -emigrants: — and I really think the proposition is very' simple -and easy ; .we «nly ask yon to send us an emigrant ship to Panama— say to accommodate 300, by November Ist— and for which we will pay either direct, or as soon as 'possible, as stated above. I can insure you 6000 emigrants on those conditions, if accepted at once, but if other placet offer more inducements, of course they will be taken. You remember we make our own arrangements to Panama ; or, if you prefer, allow us to charter a ship direct from Quebec, and we will pay you as above ; but you know it is a long journey and requires some inducement for any one to break up his home to emigrate to such an unknown place as New Zealand, and many have not the means if their wills were ever so good ; and the very class you mostly want are the most deficient in means— as every thing has been perfectly stagnated in Canada, this year, and no employment or money to he had for any one. If you rmlly want emigrants, your Government could not do better than appoint an agent here, to select emigrants and charter emigrant ships as they arrive — say one every three months — and such emigrants as have been seasoned to Canada, not new ones from Europe. Those that have met with bitter disappointments in Canada will be contented and happy in New Zealand where the English emigrant would be dissatisfied. There is nothing equal to a few years or months in Canada to make a good emigrant —one of them is worth ten new English emigrants in New Zealand; and if you can get them located together, the New Zealand gentlemen will have the pleasure of seeing what Canadians can do. Get them located at a good deep shipping port, and the first that pays his passage have the first choice of his hundred acres, and so on, until the last grant is made. Let there be no less grant than 100 acres, and no monopoly or humbug, but the date of the receipt of passage money to insure his claim ol choice, whether paid in Canada or New Zealand. I have not time to say more. Excuse all deficiencies, and answer immediately. R R — Stratford, Esq., M.D.

The brigs ''Moa" and "Sarah", the barque "City of Melbourne," and the schooner "Emtly Allison," haTe been chartered to convey the Head Quarter* of the 65th Regiment from Wellington to Auckland. The "Sarah," the "City of Melbourne," and the "Emily Allison" hare sailed, and the "Moa" will probably follow to-morrow. After their return we may expect that the stay of our old friends of the 58th will not be much prolonged. On Sunday evening a man of the name of Kirkland, living in Freeman's Bay, while under the influence of liquor, attacked his wife in a most savage manner, with * scythe blade, cutting one of her ears off, breaking one of her arms, and severely fracturing her skull. Mrs. Kirkland was conveyed to the hospital, where she now lies in a precarious state, although her life is not dispaired of. Kirkland will be brought up this morning, at the Resident Magistrates' Court, for examination. Phtsiology.— Dr. Fischer's lecture, on the "Circulation of the Blood," — as will be seen by the advertisement—will be postponed until Tuesday evening next, the 14th instant. Alarm of Fik«.— On Sunday last, about noon, the I fire bell was rung, disturbing most of the congregations of the different places of worship, one or two of which places were nearly emptied, because, at a house in the Crescent, either from carelessness or indifference to consequences, a chimney had been allowed to becsme so foal as to fire. "We had hoped the recent calamity that befell this town would hate taught the necessity of greater caution.