COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 116, 25 May 1844, Page 48

COLONIAL EXTRACTS.

'" Robberies. — The neighbourhood of Pentridge has been the scene of several robberies within the last fortnight. Dunns? qne of the stormy nights of the past week, the " Golden Fleece," Pentridge, was attempted to be entered at about twelve o'clqck at night by two men, who first tried the back door, but, finding themselves observed by the inmates, and seeing lights in the house, they ran round to the front door. In the meantime the lights inside were •extinguished, on observing which the fellows endeavoured to extinguish the street lamp, the glass of which they demolished with the butt -ends of their guns. While thus engaged, the landlord, Mr. Robinson, raised one of the windows, and, having a full view of the persons of •the burglars, discharged the contents of a double or rather £re6/e-harrelied pistol loaded with buck shot at the aggressors, who immediately made of. The next morning Mr. Robinson inspected the spot, in the full conviction that he had marked the fellows, /but could not perceive any trace of blood or other indications to warrant his anticipation. The light was not sufficiently vivid to permit him to distinguish his opponents for the purposes of identification. The same men are suspected to be the parties who attempted to stop a chaise cart in this neighbourhood, two or three nights previous to the above affair. One of the feUowa anat&i&d at the reins, when the mare (a very spirited animal) rose on her hind legs and knocked -Ma doWft with her fore feet, by which tbjeyihWer escaped from the intended ouuage.—PJo,%kilUp Gazette, April 24. ',«•=**" Banks and Banking. — For a iength of time the merchants and settlers have complained loudly of the high rates of exchange. At one time the banks charged 5 per cent, for bills on London, which rate ate into the profits of exporters of every class, for few, unfortunately, ship produce who can afford to wait for the returns. The banks, however, have gradually been reducing the rate — at first, it was reduced to four, then to three, and now another reduction has been made. The banks in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart Town, Launceston, and Nelson, have issued notices to the effect that they .will purchase bills upon England at 1$ per cent., and that they will draw upon England at 2 per cent, premium. We may remark that the banks continue to discount local bills very sparingly. We think the system the bank directors act upon now is not «alc!.tdated either to benefit the colony or themselw^or their constituents ultimately. Confining discounts to a few extensive firms might answer in England, but it never will, and never can, answer in the colonies. The directors, instead of falling into this too common error, ought to spread their accommodation among the^reputable trading class. Of course, we do not advocate that any man, of whatever class, should be accommodated unless he deserve it, and is able to retire his bills when they arrive at maturity. We should be foolish to advance opinions so utterly absurd; and, if we should do so, no bank would follow our advice. We hold that the colonial class of traders who prosper, are the cautious dealers who confine their operations within a limited sphere, and seldom over trade. The Scotch bankers are allowed to possess an intimate knowledge of the principles of their trade, and they encourage the cautious small dealer in opposition to the hap-hazard extensive merchant. In Britain, however, safe speculations may occasionally demand large discounts from bankers, but, in the colonies, no house can Bafely speculate to a very great extent upon bankers' capital. The banks are foolish to support a few firms, the end is ever disastrous to both parties; the trader is ruined, and the banker is done out of a considerable sum. — Ibid.

Cape of Good Hope. — A mercantile correspondent at Cape Town, under date December 9th, 1843, writes per Ellen, arrived here: — "The Cape is in a dreadful state — bankruptcies numerous — credit generally shaken, and confidence, indeed, at an end; discounts at the banks not to be had. This is attributed to various causes ; but, I believe it to arise from a scarcity of money, as the best bills are refused. However, from whatever cause it may arise, the panic is appalling." — Launceston Examiner.

Taxes on Squatters. — At a meeting of the squatters of the county of Bourke, Mr. Cunninghame spoke as follows : — " It is rumoured, and I fear with only too good a foundation, that Sir George Gipps contemplates still further taxing the unhappy settlers, to make up the deficiencies of the exhausted land fund. Now, I ask you, is there a settler present who can afford, nay, who can endure to pay further taxes ? [Cries of " No, not one."] Is there a settler in the district who can afford to pay further taxes ? \ [No, no.] Let this, your unanimous afed, indignant answer this day ring on Sir George'« ears the death knell to this new taxation scheme. But lam not yet done with the subject of illegal taxation. You all know pretty well how long you have been paying an assessment on your stock; but, perhaps, you don't know the origin of that tax. That tax was originally raised for the benefit of the squatters; the preamble to the bill which created it, seta out that it was necessary to raise a fund for the protection of the settlers beyond the boundaries of location, To no other purpose can it be legally applied, and beyond the amount requisite for that purpose no sum can legally be raised. There may be an interesting subject of inquiry as to the objects to which this tax has been applied; but, in the meantime, I would rather ask who is there who has received that protection for which we have so long paid? The settler, it is true, sees twice a-year a mounted policeman arrive at his station, but 1m knows well that he has been then to expect

— not protection, no, but — an assessment paper. Government protection indeed ! The settler shudders at the name, for be knows it only as the watch-word of a system under which it has been sought to rest from his hand the weapons snatched in self-defence to protect his life and property from ferocious and wily savages, and to expose him unresisting to their ruthless attacks. At present, the Government and the colonists seem equally involved in difficulties.; — Government cannot get money to pay for her immigrants, purchasers for her lands, nor salaries for her officers; and the colonists are equally embarrassed with the Government, suffering, besides, from the consciousness of the infliction of injustice." — Geelong Advertiser*

The Bushrangers. — Since our last week's report of the capture of one of the four Port Arthur bushrangers, the remaining three have been heard of in the neighbourhood of MarlborOugh. On Monday, the 15th instant, they entered a hut belonging to Mr. Bryson, in the daytime, representing themselves, at first, as constables. One of the three had a pair of handcuffs. Two of them were armed with blunderbusses, independently of guns and pistols. Their behaviour, upon this occasion, is described as having been " civil ;" but we are bound to add that they condescended to take away with them a damper, nalf-a-pound of tea, and two or three pounds of sugar. One of these ruffians was dressed in a blue jacket, drab trousers, and a hat, which has obtained the somewhat slang term of a " Jim Crow." The other two were enveloped in long brown top coats, which, it appears, they stated were stolen by them from Mr. G. C. Clarke, of EUenthorpe Hall. They inquired of Mr. Bryson the best route to cross the Big Pine River, and finally left his hut at about six o'clock in the evening. The intelligence of the robbery at Mr. Bryson's hut did not reach Marlborough, although the distance is stated to be only sixteen miles, until Thursday, the 18th; but the delay is accounted for by the circumstance of Mr. Bryson's want of horses, and the rivers in the neighbourhood being very much out, vast quantities of snow and rain having fallen during the three previous days.— On Sunday, the 21st, the three bushrangers were again fallen in with by a party of four constables at Collas, near some plains distinguished by the unenviable title of " Skull-bone Plains." This recontre happened at about eleven o'clock in the day, and eight or nine shots were exchanged. One of the bushrangers is supposed to be wounded in the leg. The constables obtained possession of nine rounds of ball cartridge, a pair of handcuffs, one quart pot, and a belt. The bushrangers appear to have seen the constables first, and so far had the advantage of preparation ; they, however, retfcfated, and made for the Pine River, in the direction of the tier. There can be no doubt, from their having got so far to the westward on the verge of the habitable districts, that they have been hard pressed by the pursuing parties. Now, they must either return to the settled districts, or risk starvation by pushing further into the New Country. Judging from their choice of difficulties, we have every hope of being able to report their capture in our ensuing publication. — Hobart Town Courier, April 26.