The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 31 May 1851, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

SATURDAY, May 31, 1851. We copied last week from the Wellington Spectator, & clever quiz upon a sentence which slipped from our pen a few weeks ago. We quoted " the Dream of a Shagroon," because it bears upon this pasturage question which now occupies our attention, and because it gives us the opportunity of deprecating in the strongest terms anything like a spirit of rivalry or jealousy between the land purchasers and squatters in our settlement. -If any opinion of ours "ccmld be interpreted to excite such a feeling, we should thank " the Shagroon " for giving us the opportunity of recalling it. But this is not the case. We were comparing the difference betweenthe systematic colonization which has been attempted in New Zealand, ;arid the desultory occupation of a country by stragglers : and it is to the squatter himself we would appeal in confirmation of our opinions. With the man who is content to be merely a squatter and nothing else, of course we cannot argue. If a man be indifferent to all that the Avorld has consented to hold as desirable, all which is summed up in the word civilization, if he have brought himself to prefer the savage to the civilized condition of existence, to such a man there is, of course, nothing to be said. But we have known many a squatter of high intelligence and gentle manners, in whom the wild life of the bush or the prairie, has only served to engraft on the refinement of civilization, the warm -r feelings of a primitive hospitality and kindliness. Such men" have taken to pastoral life in the colonies, that they might grow rich, and return to live in settled communities,'in a manner congenial to their tastes. By such men, the introduction of the forms and institutions of civilization into the neighbourhood of their solitary homes must be regarded as an unmingled blessing., They cannot forget that although: they live, they were not educated in the bush, and they cannot but long' for schools for their children. In" the loneliness of the sheep station they do not forget the intellectual enjoyments with which social life is surrounded, and they hail the accident which again brings those pleasures within their reach. The pioneers in the war which our race is waging upon the desolate places of the earth, they will not be satisfied that victory is to be without its consummation, in the establishment of the religion, the laws, the arts and the sciences of their native land. The squatter is essential to the success of any settlement. In the present state of things no colony could advance without an army of squatters in the van ; and no community should hail them with such honour as that of Canterbury, for to no community are they so indispensable. But the builders of towns, and the cultivators of fields are as useful to the squatter, as the squatter is to them. The interests of the two are identical ,:.;any. thing like jealousy is suicidal. " The^Shagroon"1 .prophesies that the present body of Canterbury settlers will be swept away to make room for the squatters -fro^z neighbouring settlements. If " they be a vain and indolent people," as they are said to be, the prophecy will assuredly be fulfilled. Themselves only can prevent its accomplishment. Be it that the individuals are unsuited to the rude life in which they have engaged; that they sink under trouble?, as many a forlorn hope of settlers have sank before them— Ibe it that their beautiful and pleasant land is j to be resigned to the new comers from other settlements ;—still, of this we are certain, they will leave behind them that which cannot be destroyed ; for the country in which the Church and the schaoLaxe__at^ work, is already within the paleipf the most;

enduring civilization. But we think better things of our friends on the plains : we think that in the farm houses which are springing up in all directions, many a squatter from the neighbouring colonies will find a heartywelcome, and that while bringing to our settlement their experience in colonial sheep farming, they will receive in their turn some of the advantages and many of the enjoyments which a settled and civilized country affords. One word more. Our readers no doubt recognized in the " brothers of a northern aspect," in the " Dream of a Shagroon," our friends at Riccarton. That the newly arrived settlers here regard Mr. Dean 3 " with an evil and jealous eye," is a very false and mischievous insinuation. Mr. Deans is, we believe, universally respected by all, but we suppose even a wit, writing iii the Spectator, suffers from' the taint of its columns. ■•'■■•

We took occasion some time ago to make some observations upon the appointment of Mr..Howard from Nelson to the place of postmaster to this settlement. It appears that the Council of Colonists had already made a representation to his Excellency upon the subject. Our readers will find this memorial in another column, together with the reply of the Colonial Secretary. The memorial from the Council seems to us to state the case fairly and clearly on the part of the colonists ; and the reply of his Excellency is courteous and liberal.

"Whilst, however, we readily make this acknowledgement, we may be allowed to observe|that'the Government seems to us to treat the question too much as one merely of patronage; as though the only object of tile Colonists were to possess themselves of all the places under the Government. What the Canterbury colonists want is that they may be permitted to try their own experiment. Their settlement is founded upon a principle peculiar to itself. The Home Government have promised that their experiment shall have a fair trial; but it cannot have a fair trial unless it be worked by persons who are interested in its success. It is not therefore a fair share of the patronage in the hands of the New Zealand Government which we want. We want none of the patronage whatever in any other settlement, but we want all— every single appointment, in our own settlement. And we desire to see all places of power and profit become prizes, for the ambition, and honourable rewards for the services, of the intelligent and industrious of our fellow citizens; because we believe that the only mode in which the public offices can be supplied by efficient and independent public servants, is by leaving them in a certain measure open to public competition, and submitting them in some measure to public control. This we believe to be the secret of all success in the practical working of the system of Government in England.