THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON, MARCH 9, 1844.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 105, 9 March 1844, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON, MARCH 9, 1844.

Le» journaux deviennent plui ne'ceuairec a meaure que lei hommes tont plus egaux, et 1' indiridutliime plui a craindre. Cc serait diminuer leur importance que de croire ?u' ilf se lerveat qu' a garsmtir la Überte* : ill nutintiennent a civiliiation <

Dc Tocatrcvititz. De la Dlmocratie en Amerique, tome 4, p. 220.

Journal! become more necessary as men become more equal, and individualiam more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to secure liberty : they maintain civilization. Ob Tocbokvillx. Of Democracy in America, vol. 4, p. 202.

In the short interval which has elapsed since we were visited by the Governor little has been said or thought about the general policy of his Government. The public mind, indeed, has been otherwise occupied. The matter, however, is of too much importance to be longer neglected, especially as the changes contemplated, so far as they can be judged of from a passage in his Excellency's speech to the Legislative Council, are calculated to effect a great change in the future progress of the colony.

The subject to which we more immediately advert is the intention to make the ports of New Zealand free, by abolishing customs duties and port charges. We have always looked on the customs as a most obnoxious impost, which has restricted the trade of the colony to an extent little conceived, and failed as a means of producing a revenue. The financial statements of the Government clearly show that not only has the expense of collecting these duties exceeded the estimates, but that the revenue derived from them has fallen miserably short of the anticipated amount.

No wise Government would attempt to raise a revenue from a tax the collection of which, if rigidly enforced, would swallow up its entire proceeds. That the customs of New Zealand are collected at a cost of only one-fourth of their nett amount, is solely attributable to the disposition of our late rulers to take what was to be quietly got and be thankful for it. Smuggling they well knew would flourish ; for what check could six customs establishments of half a dozen men each offer, in a country having a line of coast, more or less inhabited, nearly four thousand miles in extent? Mr. Terry, in his able remarks on the financial condition of New Zealand, published in the fourth number of the " New Zealand Portfolio," justly observes " that any tax or duty ought to be rigidly or efficiently enforced, or it is an injustice on those on whom it is levied, as well as evidence of the imbecility or powerless enactments of the Government."

The impossibility of preventing smuggling seems to have reconciled the Government to the evil, for no persons could be better acquainted than its own officers with the extent to which it was carried on. Unlike smuggling in other countries, the practice here is unattended with risk, if but ordinary caution be observed. We should I much like to see a return of all vessels that have cleared out at Sydney and Hobart Town during tbe last two or three years, for Tongataboo, Tahiti, and other islands in the South Pacific, but which have, unfortunately, been blown down to New Zealand on their way ; or, could it be ascertained, the amount of " business " done in the same period by coasters visiting the whaling stations and small settlements, where no prying eye of custom-house officer intrudes itself. This matter is forcibly illustrated by the authority we have already quoted —

" It is absurd to suppose and expect that a man at such places will gq to a principal settlement and

■buy government whiskey, when a small coaster will supply him at one-third of the price. High duties tend to encourage smuggling and adulteration — both equally pernicious to the health and morals of the community. The nature of the country — the shores being covered with high bush, fern, or flax to the water's edge, with numerous small creeks running up into some valley or ravine — will prevent a revenue from customs to any considerable amount.

" At Auckland, the head quarters of the customs, very little duty is paid on spirits, &c, and that only by the publicans occasionally, as every night some contraband trade is carried on. What can revenue boats do on such coasts unless in force and numbers ? The night is dark and blowingsay the change of the moon — high water at midnight — the shore shallow for a certain distance, at which place hogsheads and casks are pitched overboard, and men, up to their waists in water, quietly propel them with the flood tide up some little meandering creek, far from the haunts of men, and quite impervious to the prying search of any officer of customs. It is very clear, therefore, that the customs to be in the least degree effective throughout New Zealand, must be very numerous and proportionately expensive."

When we further consider that, for many years to come, nearly all the settlements will be on the coast, and that, to prevent the increase of smuggling with the increase of population, a coast guard will be indispensable, the cost of which would far exceed the revenue for the protection of which it would be established, it is certain that, sooner or later, the Customs must be given up. There is wisdom, however, in the Government not waiting to be forced into the measure. Although a false step has been made in trying the experiment of, raising a revenue from customs in a country where they never can be collected, it is better in every way that a change should be effected whilst tbe colony is in its infancy. The best and most economical method of raising a revenue we shall reserve for future consideration.

It is seldom worth while to contradict idle reports, whether circulated by fools or knaves ; yet now and then a case occurs which demands something more than the contempt to which, generally speaking, they had better be left. A letter, brought by the last Sydney mail, has been received by our townsman, Mr. Perry, from his father, Dr. Perry, of Glasgow, dated the 4th of October, which is about a month later than those received direct. It is very generally reported that this letter contains the following important information, namely, that the New Zealand Company had declined the formation of the Scotch settlement, and that a party who had repaired to London for the purpose of emigrating to it had brought an action against the Company and recovered damages ; that the New Zealand flax, which cost about £16 a ton when put on board at Wellington, had sold in London for £12 ; and that the price of oil was down to £30 a tun. Absurd as these statements were, they have nevertheless found believers. On application being made to Mr. Perry to ascertain whether there was any foundation for these reports, he kindly read as much of the letter in question as related to this colony, which in substance was this, that the writer, Dr. Perry, after saying that the times were such as were likely to induce Scotch farmers to emigrate, observed that great efforts were being made by Mr. Rennie and his friends to form a settlement in New Zealand, and that, as Mr. Rennie was to be ! in Glasgow that day, he (Dr. Perry) should j endeavour to see him. This is all the letter j contains relating to New Zealand. j

The other reports, about the flax and oil, have been traced to a person who came from Sydney in the cutter Lively. The best refutation we can give to them is, that in a number of the Sydney Herald published some weeks after the Lively left Sydney, we saw the latest quotation of oil in the London market. As the paper is mislaid, we cannot name the sum, but our impression is that it was the full average price.

The Deborah, on her way from Launceston, called at New Plymouth. Up to Monday last, the day on which she sailed, the Government brig had not arrived there, although the latest accounts from Wellington stated she would leave the Monday previous. The prevalence of strong westerly winds may have induced the Governor to abandon bis intention of visiting New Plymouth for the present, unless, indeed, circumstances have detained him at Wellington longer than was expected. The Royal William arrived at New Plymouth on the 28th of February, and | sailed for Kawia two days afterwards.

One hundred sheep were put on board the Deborah at New Plymouth, for G. Duppa, Esq., of Allington, West Waimea, which have been brought down without loss.

A sample of barley grown at New Plymouth, has been received. We have not yet seen it, and therefore cannot speak of the quality.

The Deborah lias imported five thorough-

bred draught mares, two of which are in foal by a pure Cleveland horee. The latest date from Launceston is January 31. As far as we have been able to scan our papers, we have seen nothing of particular interest. A feeling of jealousy is evidently springing up between the colonies of Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales, which, if not altogether caused by the late legislative enactments of the two colonies, has been greatly increased by them. The times, it is hoped, are improving.

In another column we have extracted from our Wellington contemporary a statement of the expense of clearing land, and putting in the first crop, with a calculation of the probable return. We do not vouch for the accuracy of these statements, particularly as we have been assured by a gentleman practically acquainted with the matter, that the expense of clearing is greatly underrated. It has long been our desire to publish such a statement ourselves, but the material has hitherto been scanty. Perhaps we may now shortly do so.