THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 18, 1846.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 228, 18 July 1846, Page 78

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 18, 1846.

Journal* become more necauary as men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to ■ecore liberty: they maintain emulation. Dk TocauKTiLLE. Of Democracy in America, vol. iv., p. SoO.

We have been greatly concerned at the intelligence received, vid Wellington, of the failure of Governor Grey's endeavours to settle the Wanganui land question. Our readers will remember that when Mr. Spain visited that district with the Company's Principal Agent, in 1844, he awarded to the resident natives a further jpayment or gratuity of a thousand pounds; and that on their refusal to receive that amount as a final payment, it was returned to Colonel Wakefield, he undertaking to pay it whenever the natives should agree to the award. Nothing -seems to have been done in the matter between that time and last April, when Captain Grey despatched Mr. Symonds to Wanganui for the purpose, if possible, of finally settling with the chiefs for the district : and now we learn, by a letter from Mr. P. Wilson, published in the Wellington Independent of Ist July, that, after a protracted negotiation, Mr. Symonds found it impossible to bring the natives to reason, and left the settlement (taking back the money intended for them) without coming to any agreement with them. The principal settlers, despairing at last of ever receiving a title to their land," have addressed a letter to the Governor, praying his Excellency to remove them altogether from Wanganui, and to locate them in the Middle Island. The letter we here subjoin : —

To his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor. Petre, District of Wanganui, June 4, 1846.

Sir — It is with infinite regret we acquaint your Excellency, that, after all the pains and patience with which J. J. Symonds, Esq., has endeavoured to fulfil the mission your Excellency entrusted to him, the cupidity of the natives has proved so very great, and their ultimate intentions appear so very doubtful, as justly to deter him from bringing the affair of the land purchase to a conclusion. Under these painful, yet, we admit, unavoidable circumstances, we perceive that our longcherished hopes of locating in this vicinity are for ever marred; and that now we have no alternative but to throw ourselves on the benevolence of your Excellency. We solicit, therefore, that your Excellency will take our forlorn case into early consideration, that you may be enabled, with as little delay as possible, to devise means for our removal to such other site as may appear to your Excellency adapted to our necessities. But we would venture to suggest to your Excellency that we would greatly prefer being located on the Middle Island, and particularly where there is a likelihood of British concentration, and where the chance of native interference is diminished, having already suffered severely from this cause. We have the honour to be, &c, (Signed) Samuel King. P. Wilson. M. Campbell. J. Nixon. W. G. Bell. W. G. Bell, jun.

The Nelson settlers cannot be indifferent to this state of things in a sister settlement, and will, on the contrary, we feel confident, regard with great anxiety the steps that may be taken in consequence. For our parts, while we have not only abstained from adding by any language of ours to the discouragement that has long existed in Cook's Straits from the non- settlement of the land claims, but have ever exhorted the settlers to " bate no jot of heart or hope," but look with faith to justice being eventually done them — for our parts, this deliberate application of the Wanganui people for removal seems to us to offer an occasion which the Governor will not let slip, of carrying out the favourite principle of concentration. Far be it from us, indeed, to take the heavy responsibility of encouraging the settlers there to leave the district : any proposal of that sort on our part would be the same kind of mockery and insult which Captain Fitzßoy offered to ourselves when he projected to " transfer " us to Wellington. But if the Wanganui settlers are determined to cease a struggle which they see no end to, and to ask of the Governor some location in the Middle Island, should not

the Nelson settlers make some expression x>f welcome to those who may think of coming here? In the distress which the present failure of the Government has brought upon them, the sympathy of their fellow-colonists here could not be otherwise than pleasing to them : while the certainty of a kind reception in this place might dispose them to look with less gloom upon their misfortunes, if the perilous circumstances of Wellington really prevent the Governor from practically relieving them by affording them protection in the occupation of their land.

This brings us to say, that while we throw out this suggestion to our own community, we would place on record our opinion that it is the bounden duty of the Government to protect the settlers at Wanganui from any aggressions of the natives. Twice has the awarded price (and we believe even more than the amount) been offered to these savages, who have, however, been taught by other examples to make exorbitant demands, and whose rapaciousness has prompted them to refuse the money: and surely, if the Government cannot make them accept it, it must amply compensate the unfortunate settlers, and (we suppose also) indemnify the Company, which has complied with its directions in all the negotiations with the chiefs.

By the Fanny Morris, from Sydney, we have English news to the 26th February, being a few days later than that previously received. Captain Rous, who vacated his seat for Westminster on receiving the appointment of a Lord of the Admiralty, has been defeated in the election which ensued by Colonel Evans. The extracts we have made from the Australian of the 25 th June will show the progress of the debate on the Corn Laws in the House of Commons.

Wheat. — The Fanny Morris, we understand, has been despatched from Sydney to obtain wheat for that market. She will visit Taranaki, where it is not improbable she may find a cargo. The limited quantity in this settlement beyond what is required for our own consumption renders it improbable that any will be obtained here, especcially as it is believed that there will be a demand at Wellington for all the flour we can spare, at a better price than is likely to be got for wheat for the Sydney market. Holders of wheat are now asking for good samples from 6s. to 7s. a bushel.

The West Coast. — Another letter from Mr. Heaphy, who is exploring the west coast with Mr. Brunner, has been received in Nelson by Mr. Bishop, which that gentleman has kindly placed ia our hands for publication. The date is obliterated by the seal, but the letter must have been written early in May, perhaps a week or ten days later than the one previously received. We are glad to be able to state that the Company's Agent has sent off provisions to meet them on their return. " Totara, 10 miles south of Cape Foulweatber,

"Dear Bishop — Having an opportunity of communicating with Nelson, in consequence of meeting with the bearer of this on his way thither, I avail myself of it to let you know our whereabout. We arrived at Kawa-tiri, the mouth of the Buller river, on the Ist instant, thus accomplishing the object of our trip, atid are now on our way to Araura, a native settlement about fifty miles farther to the southward, in order to ascertain the nature of the land there, which is reported as excellent, and also to obtain supplies of potatoes, which we are in much need of. At the entrance of the Buller is a fine district of level land, all wooded, however, but of first-rate quality, and of sufficient extent for a settlement, with a very large river (the entrance of which is seven miles north of the ' Three Steeples ')• with a sheltered anchorage under the rocks off Cape Foulwind, in smooth water.

"At Karamea, due west of Nelson, behind the Motueka snowy mountain, is also a fine district of wood land, with a large river, which we rafted across, and a fine valley northward of that, the Wakapoi, communicating with the Hauriri of Massacre Bay. We have bad 25 days of hard rain, and have subsisted chiefly on birds, caught by our dog, and rock shellfish. The absence of vegetable food for a few days, reduced us to rather a weakly state, but we are now again in ' working ' condition. The road is the worst it is possible to conceive; steep, rocky coast, flooded rivers, and kia-kia jungles. At Rocky Point the ropes were rotten, and the descents very difficult. We shall be at Araura in perhaps a week, stay ten days there, and probably be in Nelson in the end of July. It was our intention to cross over to Fort Cooper, which is only a week's journey from Araura, but we learn that the rivers will be impassable in the winter. " I remain, very truly yours, "Charles Heaphy."