THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, August 31, 1844.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 130, 31 August 1844, Page 102

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, August 31, 1844.

Journal* become more neceiaary as men become more •qual, and indiTidnaliim more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to inppose that they tene only to Mcure liberty t they maintain cirilitation. Da TocauzviLLß. Of Democracy in America, rol • 4, p. 903.

The long-expected crisis in the affairs of the settlement has at length arrived. The Company's funds are for the present exhausted^; its credit for the present gone. Its expenditure on public works is suddenly stopped; and a great number of men, women, and children, are deprived of their old means of support* Now what is to be done?

First, that we may not imagine our future prospects more gloomy than they are, or any way to be despaired of, let us consider the state of things at home. Our information being far from complete on the subject, we can only hazard conjectures, not promulgate facts. But it seems most probable that the Company (pressed by the apparent impossibility of obtaining from Government a tide to the lands it claimed — although, as we know very well out here by the Land Commissioner's decisions, these lands had on the whole been fairly bought four or five years ago, — and reflecting on the failure of all its endeavours to secure for the settlers a just and impartial Government towards them and the natives,, the natural consequence of aiu which has been its utter inability to sell any more land; the chief source of its capital) has adopted the only means ! which remained, however hazardous, of wresting fair treatment from the Government and securing success to its scheme. So long as the Local Government drew a Inge share of its revenue from the money •pent in the colony by the Company, the latter might have gone on remonstrating and wememorialwripg and petitioning for ever without avail, hardly -with attention, while a single shilling remained to be extracted from it or irbm us. So this desperate mea-

«ure has been taken, in order virtually to stop the supplies and throw on Government the entire expense and trouble of managing this colony. The first fruit has been a valuable one, a reference of the whole question to a Committee of the House of Commons. Whatever the verdict given by this committee, the. result cannot fail of being beneficial to the settlement and the colony in general.

If the verdict be in favour of the Company, as we firmly believe it will be, Government must grant such terms to it as will secure all the objects we have all, both at home and here, been fighting for — legal titles to our lands, fair distribution of public expenditure, impartial justice to both white man and Maori, perfect protection for the former, rational government of the latter. The attractiveness of the colony will be once more restored, $ new impulse given to colonization, all the chances of prosperity incalculably increased. And that the verdict will be in favour of the Company we believe, because we are sure it can demonstrate that any failure in its scheme, any imperfect fulfilment of its obligations, has been mainly owing to Government opposition. Other causes there also were ; but these we are confident can be shown to have been unavoidable or impossible to foresee. To prove this would take up far too much space ; but, that it can be done, we are clear. We know besides that the Company courts, begs as a boon, the most searching, the most stringent inquiry ; and that, having a good case, it has also eminent advocates* in the House of Commons, possessing all the ability necessary to make the most of it.

But, if the verdict be against the Company, if it have wantonly deceived the public, rashly mismanaged or abused its powers, spontaneously broken its engagements, and thus irredeemably lost its credit as a public body, Parliament, we little doubt, would not hesitate, if need were, to make the directors and shareholders individually and personally responsible for the performance of their pecuniary engagements, which would be a matter of little difficulty. Precedents for such a course of proceeding are not wanting. And then at least these tedious altercations — these continual contentions between the Company and Government, would be at an end ; and the ever active jealousy and irritability of our rulers with respect to these settlements being removed, they might begin to perform their natural duties, begin to protect, encourage, and assist those entrusted to their care, instead of abetting and exciting their enemies against them — on all occasions neglecting, thwarting, dispiriting, or oppressing them. Peace at least we might have, and freedom to attend to the proper business of settlers without interruption or annoyance.

Our object in these observations is not to maintain that the Company, in the step it has taken, is altogether to be justified, nor that it may not possibly deserve severest censure, but only to prevent useless irritation, by urging our fellow-settlers to suspend their judgment upon the case until all the circumstances and immediate objects of the proceeding be before them ; and to show that whatever reason they may eventually have to complain of the Company, they can have none to despair of the progress and prosperity of the settlement.

The great subject that presses for immediate and serious consideration is the maintenance of the body of labourers thus suddenly thrown out of employ. A meeting of the landholders, merchants, and other inhabitants, has been held to consider this subject; a committee chosen to embody and put into a practicable shape the opinions and suggestions of the meeting ; and a deputation (elected by the committee from their number to confer with a similar deputation appointed by the labourers at the request of the committee, to consider the plans proposed by either party, and mutually explain And make known their views, desires, and means of meeting and overcoming

the evils threatening both parties in the present emergency. Various methods have been proposed for employing and supporting the labourers in question ; but it would be injudicious to anticipate the discussion of them here, premature as yet and crude as they necessarily are. Our business is simply to recommend to both parties the adoption of such a spirit and tone in the conduct of their business as may best tend to secure the important objects they both alike desire to attain.

We are sure, from the sense displayed by those present at the meeting alluded itf, of the hardships of the labourers' case, the desire shown to avert the distress they might possibly be threatened with, and the liberality of some of the offers made for that purpose, that we need not waste any J**ak efforts of ours in impressing upon them tab* disinterested performance of their duty. We need not remind them that, in having taken upon themselves an active part in the always difficult and often hazardous work of founding a colony, they will often have to throw overboard mere narrow consideration**^ personal advantage — even the legitimate* profits of their praiseworthy exertions in their several avocations and pursuits. They are forming a new society, weaving its separate elements together ; their good sense and knowledge of human nature will tell them that this can never be successfujsgi done (and failure in it is ruin and disorganization) without the employment of ties and links at once firmer and finer than views of selfish interest or sordid gain. There must be benevolence, compassion, and public spirit, repaid by gratitude, respect, obedience, and regard, before the various individuals and classes of society can be bound up and knit together into a prosperous, healthy, and harmonious whole. But, as we said before, we believe they are fully alive to all this in the crisis we are ' now about to struggle through.

The labourers have a yet harder task to perform, and advice to them it is therefore more difficult to give. That we and every man deserving the name feel to the heart's core for their situation, we need hardly declare. That all such have an ardent desire to prevent its worst effects, to alleviate their distress, to furnish them witb> the means of procuring a livelihood, it is equally unnecessary to state. We hope and believe they will look at their position with the calmness and courage of thinking and rea-' sonable men. Things are now at their worst. A little fortitude and moderation we are convinced will bring them through the evil days into better and brighter ones.

As they have been warned for some time hack that the employment given by the Company must at any rate cease before long, and might cease very suddenly, we hope many among them will not be found entirely destitute or without means of support when their pay stops. We hope many may have had it in their power to save a little money, and have not wanted the prudence to do so. To those who, either from necessity or imprudence, are totally unprepared to meet the stormj we offer a few remarks for consideration, which w«C doubt not will be taken in the friendly spirit they are given in.

First, we wish them to reflect that difficulties must be encountered and hardships endured in all new countries and colonies. It has always been so and always will. That these hardships need not, for anything that has come yet or is likely to come, be in any way equal to or a hundredth part so severe as those which the labouring population at home is now suffering under, and which from all accounts are daily increasing. It is an actual fact that of the whole people of England, one out of every twelve pines on watergruel in a poor-law prison. And, as the union-houses are hated excessively, it is certain that anything but actual starvation is endured by the people before they betake themselves to such a relief. None but the most skilful mechanics and best labourers can be sure of escaping

distress. shall show this more fully on a future occasion. No one is likely, therefore, to risk as much hardship out here as he would certainly have risked at home. In coming out here, all the industrious, we are sure, will own some day that they have bettered themselves. The Company has employed them as long as it could ; its money is at present run out ; it could do no more. Nay, it has exceeded, we believe, by several thousands the money set aside for this purpose. But, at any rate, having no more money at command, it is needless to ask what it ought to* lo or have done. We must all make the best of the business we can. The farmers, too, we wish the labourers to recollect, have risked their- all in the country, have embarked in the same boat with them, and have exhausted a chief part T>f their means in payment of high wages and cultivating lands which have as yet yielded them little or nothing in return ; and the stoppage of the Company's proceed-, ings and expenditure here will probably, in "■ a great degree, deprive them of the imm§ v diate market for their produce they have* Hbeen all along looking to. The storekeepers also will find great part of their business cut off. So all of us are in the mess together. Meanwhile everything possible will be done to find them food and devisejneans of employment for them. But while all are .effected in their degree by this disaster, we cannot but expect from them on their part all the assistance they can give. And this they will give best by willingly adopting every species of work which will provide sustenance. We do hope they will, like men of sense, throw aside all prejudices for or against this or that mode of employment, simply because it is new. If they cannot live by their old work, they must not object to live by such as can be procured for them. And they must consent to relinquish any sanguine expectations they may have entertained of high wages. True, they may be disappointed ; but which of us is there, that md high expectations, that is not ? Do we Tiot all, of every degree, work for much less than, with good luck, we might have expected in England when we left, or some time before ? We say again, we are all rowing in one boat. Let (hem take any kind of work that offers, a/id the result will be the raising new exports and productions^ which must eventually raise wages again, ** and give them in various ways a share of g the general prosperity. We think it is quite unnecessary to remind every one that any infringement of the law or disturbance of the peace must end in the punishment of the offenders. The Government, as all know, has power enough for that ; and however unwilling it has always shown itself to punish outrages by the natives, we know it is ready enough to punish any committed by Europeans* Major Richmond has declared his determination to assist the executive here with troops at the least intimation of their being required. We just state this, because reasonable men should be in full possession of all the circumstances of a case, and the results of every course of action they may think of adopting, when they are considering which they should choose. But we repeat we are happy to be able to think this caution is unnecessary. Let all these things then be taken into*calm consideration. Let every one do his "* duty to himself and to society. Let us all remember we are engaged in a great work; that our behaviour in such extremities as these is what gives its character in the eyes of the world to our community ; that the higher that character stands the more will our prosperity and advantages in every way be secured^ that our settlement has hitherto maintained a high one ; and that the attention of England, by the painful events of last year, has been strongly aroused, and is still turned towards this colony, and our settlement in particular; that the Company's failure will still more excite that attention, increase that interest; and that therefore we have now an opportunity of^ impressing the people at home favourably towards us, and of making it dear and un-

deniable to all that we are a worthy branch of the great race that seems destined to plant its laws, institutions, and morals, in all the vast untenanted spaces of God's earth. __ .

In our paragraph last week on the subject of the land claims in this district, we were wrong in stating that the £800 offered to the natives had been awarded by Mr. Commissioner Spain.

The fact is that Te Iti, the first native witness examined, prevaricated a great deal, and made a statement on oath totally different to what he had said to Mr. Clarke, the Protector of Aborigines, in the morning before entering the court. Upon this Mr. Clarke suggested to Colonel Wakefield the propriety of his applying to the Commissioner for an adjournment of the court, to enable him to have a meeting with the natives before any more of them were examined ; saying at the same time, that he was convinced Te Iti had not spoken the truth, and that he feared that the other natives who had heard him give his testimony might, if then examined, tell the same tale.

Colonel Wakefield then applied for the adjournment, which was granted by the Commissioner. The Colonel subsequently bad a meeting with Mr. Clarke, whom he authorized to endeavour to settle the matter, by making the natives afurther payment ; — not that he considered that any more was due to them, but that he was induced to take this course in order to leave the settlement in a state of peace and quiet, and with a view of insuring the subsistence of a friendly feeling between the two races. After several meetings with the natives, Mr. Clarke agreed to settle with them for the sum of £800 for all the districts (eg= elusive of the Wairau, which question could not be entered upoßj. owjngto the"absence ofthe tnEe^cTaiminjrihat district, who are _at present on the other island). * This sum Colonel Wakefield immediately handed over to the protector, and, on Saturday last, £500 was paid in open court to the natives ofWaukapuakaand ofMotuaka; the remaining £300 is reserved for the na- \ tives of Massacre Bay, who are expected over in a few days. The Commissioner plainly intimated to the natives in open court, through the interpreter, that he considered they had been previously amply paid for the land claimed in this district, at the rate of a larger sum per acre than for any other land that had been purchased in New Zealand. That it was first purchased at KapitL,frmq Tfonpa■raha and* otners. dv colonel' Wakefiel d: that subsequently, on the arrival of Captain Wakefield with the settlers, that gentleman had gone into the several districts and made the resident natives large presents, amounting to upwards of £900 ; that the district lately purchased at Otago was paid for at a far lower rate than this, while the land was treble in extent ; and that they must receive the sum about to be prjven them by .Mr. Clarke, not as a matterjrf "£fr*j Ht^ ft jm act of grace and good-will towards them on tne"paf£ of the Europeans. Our correspondent " Fiat Justitia " has written another letter on the debenture subject. We think our readers are in possession of sufficient knowledge on the matter to answer the arguments it contains. The Governor having confined their application to the purpose originally authorized by bis instructions, makes it still less necessary to return to the subject. With respect to the vituperative remarks it contains, we may be permitted to say that our correspondent has put it out of our power to retaliate, by a private communication, which, in justice to ourselves, we are bound thus far to allude .to, and which, we may add in justice to him, we cannot but characterize as amiable, manly, and straightforward. __ m _ m^ mmm ______ By the Sisters, which arrived last evening, we have Hobart Town papers to the 3d instant. The Maria Soaraes had brought out English intelligence to the 30th of April. Sir James Graham had introduced a bill for permitting twelve hours' labour in factories, which was so vigorously opposed by Lord Ashley and others, that he was compelled to withdraw it. Mr. Hutt's motion for equalizing duties on Indian and Australian corn, was lost by a majority of seventy. An important measure has been introduced by Lord Campbell, the principle of which is to permit appeals from criminal conviotions in the lower courts to the House of Lords, »and, when proper, to admit to bail in the meantime. A serious misunderstanding has taken place between General Napier, the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, and the inhabitants of that island. The inhabitants

assert that he has exercised a despotic power over them, in violation of their charter.

The Sydney, with troops for the Bay of Islands, sailed from Sydney the same day that the Star of China left for Wellington.

The Skiold, a Danish vessel of 500 tons, has been chartered for the purpose of bringing out a number of German immigrants to this settlement. She was to sail in the latter part of April, and may therefore be daily expected.

We beg to acquaint our friends that with the present number will close a quarter of our paper.