THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, January 15, 1850.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, 12 January 1850, Page 180

THE NELSON EXAM IN ER. Nelson, January 15, 1850.

Journals become mure ucceunary a» men become mine equal and individualiira more to be feared. It would be t< underrate their importance to luprpie that they «erve only to »ecure liberty : they maintain civilization. Ds Tocatnevii-LB, Of Democracy in America, vol. iv., p. 200.

" The chief cause which made the fusion of the different elements of society so imperfect, was the extreme difficulty which our ancestors found in passing from place to place. Of all inventions, the alphabet and the printing press alone excepted, those inventions which abridge distance have done most for the civilization of our species. Every improvement of the means of locomotion benefits mankind, morally and intellectually, as we'll as materially, and not only facilitates the interchange of the various productions of nature and art, but tends to remove national and provincial antipathies, and to bind together all the branches of the great human family." Such are the remarks of one of the most brilliant writers of the present day. According then to Mr. Macauley, the semi-barbarism of our ancestors was prolonged by the difficulty they found in moving from place to place ; and, contrasting the means o( locomotion in Great Britain in our own day, even before the introduction of railroads, with what it was only two centuries ago (so well described by the historian, in the extract we printed a few weeks since) — recollecting also what has been effected in the same respect in other countries, we have the strongest evidence that as facilities are given for the " interchange of the various productions of nature and art," so does civilization advance. But the benefits which result from improved means of locomotion are not limited to moral and intellectual improvement — it is one of the chief promoters of the rapid increase of wealth wherever it has been tried ; so that howeveg pardonable the indifference of our ancestors may have been to this important matter, we, who possess the experience which they had never gained, can have no excuse for any similar supineness. Whether therefore to .the philosopher, or the mere man of business, there is no subject which more demands consideration than the means of bringing different communities into frequent intercourse — thus " removing national and provincial antipathies," and through the means of commerce, that great agent of civilization, " bringing together all the branches of the great human family." Such being the necessity for a facile .intercourse in old countries, it will at once be admitted that in a new one such as this, the necessity for easy communication between its different parts is equally great. Yet from the expense of constructing roads, caused partly by the character of the country, and the absence of navigable rivers, internal communication of any extent within the boundaries of the settlements formed, is scarcely practicable for many years, while any intercourse between different settlements is barely possible. It is about ten years since this country was begun to be colonised, and it has now four settlements in the Northern, and two in the Middle Island, besides some of lesser note, and yet between no two can a carriage of any kind pass; and it is only between Wellington and Taranaki that it is possible for a horseman to ride, and there not without incurring danger, while the coasting voyages are often long and tedious. Who, after this, can feel surprised that the colony, though said to have a European population of 20,000 souls, and a Native one of 100,000, makes little or no progress, politically or socially ? True, relying chiefly on Government support, Auckland and Wellington hare attained a sickly growth, bnt their prosperity has nor-real stability, and, like the house built upon the sand, it will always be in danger of an overthrow until it rests upon a more solid foundation. No wonder that' antipathies and jealousies exist between placet, politi-

cally so near related, but socially so remote and disconnected. With a Beat of Government commercially severed from us, which even we do not hear of above six times in the year at most, and often only at intervals of three and four months, how is it possible to feel any strong regard for a place we know so little about, or for people of whom we know nothing ? It would be a curious inquiry to learn the number of persons settled in Nelson who have ever seen Auckland. Setting aside officials, who are moved about at the will of the Government^we question whether more than twenty persons* in this settlement have ever been, for any purpose whatever, drawn to Auckland. Eight years has Nelson been colonised, and such has been our intercourse, that out of our population of 3,000 souls, business or pleasure has called something less than three of us in the year to visit our metropolis and seat of Government. Between Nelson and Wellington a much more frequent intercourse has existed ; but standing as these settlements do in closer relationship than perh, ps any others in New Zealand, there has not been a tithe of what there would and should have been, had greater facilities for it existed* These remarks are not out of place, as a prelude to the consideration of the opinions entertained respecting the employment of the Nelson Steam Fund ; for the time has at length arrived when it has become the business of a body of seven gentlemen, who are to form our Trust Board, to deal with this question in a practical way. Speaking abstractedly, every person admits that Steam communication in New Zealand would be very desirable — all will allow the force of Mr. Macauley's remarks, when he describes the evils which want of communication between different parts of the same country entails upon society, and their direct application to the state of things in this colony — but by many the success of an experiment to consolidate, by means of steam, our straggling communities into a more compact body of people, is doubted. Our readers need not be told the opinion we entertain on this subject. It is now more than two years ago that we took considerable pains to frame an estimate of the probable expenses and receipts of a 300 tons steamer, to run upon our coast; and though, in a matter so purely conjectural, we very probably committed some mistakes, no one has ever undertaken to show that in the main our calculations were far wrong. If, then, the data we afforded is at all of a reliable nature, and it never having been shown to be otherwise we are are justified in assuming that it is so, we want something more explicit than doubts and fears, before we can admit the wisdom of the over-caution which some of our friends are disposed to exercise. The letter of Mr. Stephens, which appeared in our paper a fortnight ago, may be taken as a fair exposition of the views of the gentlemen we have referred to, and it will be as well therefore to bestow a few words upon it. As regards the importance I of Steam, and the prudence and care which should be exercised in bringing it into operation in this colony, so that our Fund may not be sacrificed to a visionary expectation of immediate benefits, there is really no difference between Mr. Stephens and ourselves. The real difference lies in our opinions of what is visionary, and what is practicable — what is timidity, and what is prudence. We are justified, we suppose, in assuming from his letter, that Mr. Stephens sees no hope of a steam vessel purchased by our funds at present, " being worked so as to pay her annual expenditure." We think otherwise, and as the •abject is of vast importance, onr readers will forgive us if we briefly reiterate oar reasons for such belief, and we do so in the hope that it will promote discussion, becauie we only desire to elicit the truth ; and if any gentleman who differs from us in

opinion will furnish us withjiis objections, we shall be truly glad. The expenses of a steamer of 300 tonf* with two 50 horse-power engines, we estimated at £5,796 a-year^ for making two voyages a month, of 700 miles each (about the distance of going the circle of the settlements of Nelson, Taranaki, Mana* kau (Auckland), Wellington, and back to Nelson). This, so far from underestimating the expenses, we believe to be in considerable excess, for as our calculations were made for vessels worked upon the old plans, it may reasonably be inferred that the improvements of the last ten years have some of them tended to economy. Assuming it to be correct as it stands, we invite those who dispute its accuracy to convict us of our error. We do not believe that the accuracy of this portion of our calculations will be impugned, but it is the amount of returns which will be questioned. Those who think we are over- sanguine of success will, we hope, give a candid consideration to our statements. Look at the map of New Zealand ; see how the different European settlements are placed ; consider the character of each — that some are productive, and others only Consuming, and that one is the natural market of the other ; be mindful of the Native population which line the coast, producers also of food, and in return Jarge consumers of British goods; recollect the cessation of political troubles, that the differences with the Company are also settled, and the stimulus which this is giving, and will give to extended operations on the soil ; reflect on the renewed emigration which has taken place, and the promise it holds out to us of augmented numbers and strength — and then say, whether the internal trade and passenger traffio of such a body of people is over-estimated at £5,700 a-year, when the Government offers to pay £2,800 of it for the mere conveyance of the mails. What, supposing this to be done, will not a population of 20,000 Europeans, and the like number of Natives living on the same part of the coast, give a traffic of £3,000 a-year to a steamer? Not all the produce which Nelson and Taranaki, and the Natives on the coast, would send by her to Auckland, to Wellington, to Otago, to Canterbury, to Wanganui — not the fat cattle and sheep, and the wool from the Wairau, and Port Cooper — not all the merchandise passing to .and from the settlements, and to the coast not the passenger traffic of European and Natives, all become active, and stimulated by increased markets, and the means of reaching them — all this not " sufficient data to found the probability of working a steam vessel, so as in some measure to pay her annual expenditure," when the annual expenditure which has to be met is only something about £3,000 ? Then what data is required, and will be considered sufficient? We have heard of a countryman who reached the banks of a stream, and because there was a slight current running, sat down to await its subsiding, without ever attempting to try whether it was fordable. But instead of falling, the waters rose higher, and he who might have gone over in safety at first, was thus prevented crossing the river at all. We cannot but think that to wait until some other persons have proved that steam communication in New Zealand will yield a good return for the capital invested, is following too closely the example of the countrymen; but to stand idle until the "resources of science, and the inventive faculties of genius," shall make such further discoveries and improvements in mechanic! as shall "tender this remarkable age" still more remarkable, would be really exhibiting a cat-like antipathy to the water—waiting until the stream should dry up altogether— and very much hazard our ever getting over it at all. We are not, as we said, for & reckless expenditure of the fund ; we wonld guard most carefully against the " risk of immediate and total loss," bnt, on the other hand, we desire not " to be deceived by too long shadows," for, "by waiting to* long, it is odds we may fall a»leep."

In «n undertaking of such moment, we shall fully appreciate the utmost prudence being exerei&ed by the Trust Board, before they hazard the expenditure of any portion ■of the funds we hope soon to see placed in their charge. To ~ take for granted any statements which they cannot satisfy themselves are soundly based, would be highly censurable. But admitting the importance of steam to the colony, and our own settlement in particular, we think it will be one of the first duties of the members of the Board to collect such information as will -enable them to form a tolerably accurate opinion of the chances which a steamer will have of paying her expenses. As regards the coit of working such a vessel, no difficulty will be experienced in getting the necessary information from Sydney-; and the statistics of the colony for the past year will exhibit the amount of inter-colonial trade carried on by the present class of coasting vessels. Something, we suppose, may be allowed fot increase of traffic, when increased facilities for it are given, and thus a data sufficiently accurate for the purpose •■ be arrived at. Now in respect of the necessary The Steam Fund at present is admitted by the Company to amount to £10,981, without interest, which should make it between £15,000 and £16,000. Call it however £11,000, and suppose that to be the sum at present available. By the following extract from a letter we have received, dated London, July 27, 1849, it will be seen for what sum a good steamer may be obtained : — ' " I have been in correspondence with the Admiralty, and find they have two fine iron boats for sale, 350 tons, .four years old only, with beautiful engines of 150 horse power for each, and everything complete ; they will sell at about £8,000 each if an offer Were made. I have,been down to the navy-yards to examine them, and think them admirably adapted for your coast. »I was at a sale of some of the "Government coast packets last week, and a sea boat of 230 tona, with '100 horse power engines, only fetched £1,000. I -Baw the vessels, but they were too old for New Zealand ; nevertheless, the engines were worth double the sum the vessels cold for. Your Steam Fund will be sufficient to secure you a good vessel, for there ■are many just now for sale, the new boats being all fitted with the screw. I have seen some very fine ones, mostly iron, which seems to bo preferred in the merchant service, though Government does "not approve of them, because of their not standing shot."; If the Trustees can satisfy themselves that there is data for believing in **' the probability thaFa steamer may be worked so as in some measure to pay her annual expenditure," there can te nothing reckless in incurring the outlay necessay for the undertaking. But if it is considered thaft an inevitable risk must after all be run, and that it is neither wise nor prudent for us to encounter it alone, no necessity exists for our so doing. There are parties in England, we are credibly informed, who are quite willing to join in the experiment, and if half of the outlay was advanced from the Fund, the other half could be instantly raised at home. We have heard indifference expressed to profits which should legitimately arise from a judicious use of the Steam Fund. True, unlike private capital, it might be employed, and without yielding a farthing of interest, be yet very satisfactorily invested from the benefits which flowed from it in other ways. Whatever interest the Fund may yield, it will be paltry in consideration «f the direct advantages a steamer would afford us in widening our markets, and stimulating production. This is a description of interest which we know would be certain and immediate ; but though so many per cents, on the capital Fund might have to be sacrificed for a year or two, the other would no less certainly come in a little time. With the interest which such a Fund may reasonably be expected to yield, what benefits of another kind, but all tending to promote the general prosperity, might we not secure for ourselves. Our harbour improved, and a dry-dock erected, would be very fitting and appropriate modes of expending such interest. It is known that our harbour, from a rise and fall of tide of from fourteen to sixteen feet, and other favourable causes, offers a singular facility for the construction of such a dock. Looking to the amount of shipping already thronging to these seas, the increase which increasing exports and a satisfactory adjustment of the relationship between the colonies and the mother country will bring —the situation of New Zealand in the great highway for the rapidly increasing traffic between Australia and the western coast o\ America — the establishment in our neighbourhood of a great whaling company, who

seek to rival the Americans in this their, most lucrative trade— the suitableness of our woods for repairs and for spars, our flax for cordage — and will it be denied that a dry-dock in any port in New Zealand would share with Sydney (where one is erecting or about to be erected) in ihe trade and profit which result from suclr undertakings. The colonies of Great Britain are acquiring an importance now at home, which in the next few years may produce results difficult to foresee; and with the start we have got in Nelson, and the funds belonging to us judiciously administered by our Trust Board, much may be done to make our settlement what we anticipated it might become, when we identified ourselves with its fortunes.

Launch.— A fine little schooner of 25 tons, named the Rapid, was launched this morning from Freeman's yard. She is built with a spacious floor, almost like a barge, to allow of the stownge of wool, and it is calculated that she will carry between sixty and seventy bales, and yet only draw three feet of water. She is therefore admirably adapted for going into the Wairau, or any similar river. Accident. — A little child about two years of age, named Hogan, living at the Motueka, got away from the house of its parents, and fell into a neighbouring well, on Monday, the 31st ult. There was only eight inches of water in ihe well at the time, but as the child fell down head foremost, it I*3 supposed that it was stunned, and the water was therefore sufficient to cau«e suffocation. As the Coroner did not arrive to hold an inquest on the body before Wednesday evening, the child had been buried, but the jury refused to be sworn unless the body was disinterred, which was accordingly done. A verdict of accidental death was given. _