THE NELSON EXAMINER.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 440, 10 August 1850, Page 94

THE NELSON EXAMINER.

Nelson, August 10, 1850.

Journals become more neceuary •• men become more equal and indiridualiitn more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that theyserre only to tecure liberty: they maintain cirilisation. „,,, D " ToCQVMVIItM, Of Democracy in America, vol. It., ft. 200.

More than twelvemonths ago we made inquiry after a certain £&,00f0, which* we stated, on good authority, had been remitted from Auckland to Wellington for the purpose of being expended towards forming a road to connect the Wariau with its ship-ping-pbrt at Waitohi : a work . which the Governor-in- Chief had given his word should be executed at the expense of Government. To no one conversant with the financial matters of this colony, and the way in which its Revenue has been expended, particularly by our present model Governor, Sir George Grey, will it be a matter of surprise that the opening of this, or some other road to the Wairau district, which in .importance ranks behind no public work in the colony, should thus from year to year be deferred, in order that crumbs may be furnished to his " army of locusts." The Governor might remit the money from Auckland, but how could it be expected to escape the insatiable maw of the officials through whose hands it had to pass ? It would be as reasonable as to expect that the wolf should purvey for the kennel.

Yet when we think of the immense sums of money which have been spent in the other island on making roads, and in . other ways calculated to advance the welfare of the settlements of Auckland and Wellington —the forties of thousands of yearly Revenue, and the . thirties of thousands of annual Parliamentary Grants — saying nothing of naval and military expenditure, which has amounted to more than as much again — some forbearance might have been shojwn, some sense of justice evinced, and a paltry sum of £2,000 been held inviolable, which was set aside for a most necessary public work in a sister settlement, which had received little or none of the fostering aid so largely enjoyed by the seats of Government. But instead of this, these servants of Government have not hesitated to incur the bitter reproach of the old parable, and, being rich, have spared their own flocks and herds, but have taken the poor man's lamb.

Though the promise of the Governor has thus been violated, and the money intended for the Waitohi road absorbed by the official sponge, the Government at Wellington certainly made a show of an intention to carry the work into execution. Ten months ago the Government surveyor was despatched acrdss the Straits to examine and report on' the line; but looking at the character of that Report, end how the whole affair has been suffered to sleep ever since, there is some colour for the belief, which is so generally entertained here, that Mr. Fitzgerald's unfavourable report of the Waitohi line of communication has found more favour in the eyes of the Government of New Munßter than if he had reported ever so favourably. In the present in* stance, the Government finds a pretext for doing nothing) in the other, it would have had no excuse for breaking its promise and neglecting its duty. However, we shall not join in the clamour which we hear on all sides, and go the length of saying that Mr. Fitzgerald acted throughout under instructions—or bad any such significant hint given him as that conveyed by Ensign O'Donnaghue to his men—" there's the pump, boys; now, mind,.? you don't give Uncle Teddy' a iluckinjr.;"irben, such is the per*' reraity of human mature, that Uncle Teddy was ducked to within an ace of his life.

It would be presumptuous for us to offer an opinion in opposition to that given by Mr. Fitzgerald, on the relative difficultiesof the two lines ofroad to ©pen the Wairau pointed, but by him, but we' may observe,

that the original estimates of Messrs. Ward nations of two. of its late members' Were and Goulter for muting ■ the Waitohi road on their Way to tne* Lieutenant-Governor, have since been borne out" by a gentleman That of tit. Monro Tvitf^be found in our titho, from his position, may fairly be pre- J?»ft c*e * to-day^jintft w4 hqy« refef qttto^believe sumed to possess some professional skill — that Mr. Greenwood s resignation accomCaptain Impey, of the Bengal Engineers, panied Dr. Monro's, though he has not, who, last autumn, went over the line, took all Tike the latter gentleman, made that resigthe levels, and made a very careful survey nation public. The only remaining, member of the whole I*ass> through which the road now in Nelton islMr.;Cautle^, arid whether was proposed to be made. Bat the in- he iWUI br^oik Ihi insult, Which ODfr. Monro sincerity of the Government is shown by and Mr. Greenwood have spurned, we shall its doing nothing. It neither attempts to see when he arrives from the Wairau, where make the Waitohi road; nor the Kakuna he is at present staying.' >' road ; nor even the bridle-road to Nelson by So far as' Nelson is cotfWrhed, we believe

the Pelorus and Kaituna, which Mr. Fitzgerald reported could be executed for a very trifling sum, and thus save along, circuitous, and often dangerous journey of seventy miles. More even than this— it refuses to publish Mr. Fitzgerald's Beport, or to suffer it to be published (for we applied for this privilege months ago) ; it neglects, also, to give publicity to Mr. Brunner's Report (who was employed by the Government to explore the intervening country) on the practicability of direct communication between Nelson and the Wairau; and it has never sought for information from Captain Impey on the Waitohi line, although that gentleman, we believe, is willing to afford every information, if asked for it, as to the result of his labours, undertaken, as they were, gratuitously. Whether designedly or accidentally, the Government has accomplished its end — it has found what it considers a decent pretext for — doing nothing and saving its money, or putting the whole of it into the pockets of the locust genus. It is difficult, when we reflect on the conduct of this Government, to command our temper, and observe the courtesies and amenities of language. The welfare of a whole settlement is sacrificed, seemingly without compunction, by the want of roads and -the means of communication, and yet month by month, and almost week by week, are new offices formed, new dependants created, and not only every farthing of the revenue of the country forestalled before received, but we are even .verging into an abyss of debt, from which we shall find it difficult hereafter to extricate ourselves. The revenue may increase, as it at times has done, but Sir George Grey has called into existence a body of officials who swallow it all up, and who, like the demon in Frankenstein, he will find it difficult to get rid of. When Sir George departs from the colony — which it is reported will be at no destant day — we hope some of these worthies will stick close to his 'skirts and be off with him, for surely they will see, in the new' order of things which is beginning to dawn, that their salary-receiving days in this colony are numbered. When the " locust-birds " get wing, the devouring insects who have so long preyed ■ upon us will not be

spared.

Though satisfied that the "good time" is fast " coming," when the chief care of the Government will be the welfare of the people, instead ? of, as now, how to draw money from' us, and devise, means of expending it uselessly, there must yet be a little delay before this improved state of things ear/ be brought about. To expect any change for the better, until a fundamental change has taken place in the constitution of our Government, will be idle. No Waitobi road, we majr be sure, no road of any kind in this settlement, will be made by the present Government; were it otherwise; ft wpuld be worth while to discuss the relative merits of the two or three plans which have been mooted to afford the Wairau settlers an outlet .for their produce, to improve t the between them and ourselves,' and to consolidate, in some degree, tlie Nelson settlement. But it will be best to wait for the time . when suggestions, . honestly given, are likely to receive serious and honest consideration* '.'•„'

When we . stated last week that Sir George Grey had passed irrevocable sentence upon the Provincial Council of this Province, we were not aware that the rejig-

it impossible for his Excellency, should he hereafter desire to carry on th& Government of the colony by a Council of Nominees, to get a single member towards filling up the present vacancies. What the Wellington members may do, we cannot say ; but we surmise the majority will not be behind their Nelson brethren in spirit ; and if so, our. Provincial Council will be at an end. ' „. \

Alas, for the pattern Legislature, that was to act so important a part, and initiate the colony into the . mysteries of self-go-vernment t How sorry a figure it has cut from first to last — how worthy of its forced birth will be its suicidal death. But all parties will have been taught a salutary lesson— our rulers will have learnt bow difficult it is to go against the popular will, though wielding almost despotic power ; and the gentlemen who suffered themselves to be wheedled into accepting Nominee seats, that; 'it is impossible to touch pitch and not be- defiled.

We confess to a curiosity to see the end of the matter, particularly the way in which the Governor will gloze over his part in the transaction. By the nonchalance tone of Sir George's letter to the Lieutenant-Gover-nor, directing the Council not to assemble, it is clear that his Excellency viewed the Nominees as so many ciphers, and from having (unfortunately for themselves) become his tools once that they would remain his tools for ever, and might therefore be treated with as little consideration as a body of serfs. His Excellency will be surprised to find his mistake; Though Nominees of the Governor, the members of the Council did not forget that they were English gentlemen, and therefore expected the treatment which English gentlemen are entitled to receive. If they committed the great mistake of placing themselves in a position to be once insulted .and contemned by the Governor, we think that not one of. the body will be so deficient in self-respect as to leave it in his Excellency's power to treat them in a aim.il.ar way again. But the most curious part of the transaction will be the explanation the Governor will afford to the Colonial Minister. It will require all Sir George's skill in despatch-writing to make[ out a case to exonerate bis own

conduct. '

By the arrival of the Cornet last evening, we bar* Sydney- papers to the 22d of July, for which we are indebted to the kindness of Captain. Cork. We have also, been favoured with files of Port Phillip paper? to a late date, and a few California papers. Next week we shall give a summary of their contents. There appeared to be no later news from England than what we already .possess. - The event of greatest political, interest which we see noticed, is the following resolution, passed unanimously by the Legislative Council of New South Wales :—: — r

v That this House do resolve— l . That the Council^ having had under itt consideration the subject of. Colonial Patrptasge, is of opinion that' the"' reserving to' tUs Secretary of Sjate, 'for the Colonies the jgift of appointments to bublic offices in New south Wa|ev is inexpedient, ana that from the advanced state of society .in this colony this patronage tshoold be absolutely vested.^ in the Local Executive: 3. That in thf opinipn of this Council the adopt* tion of each a principle would be productive of the best results, by .creating a proper responsibility, with greater efficiency and economy throughout the public service ; by. doing away with a fertile-source of dissatisfaction and complaint; by opening a field for honorable ambition ; and by strengthening those feelings of loyalty which 'attach the colony to the parent

state. 3. That the foregoing resolutions be embodied in an Address to Her Majesty, to be transmitted by his Excellency the Governor.'^ j It appears that the subject of this resolution had given rise to considerable debate, and that it had been brought forward in two or three shapes before it passed in its present unexceptionable form. The Herald property remarks, " that if there be any sincerity and good faith in the professions of Ministers, there can be no doubt that a principle so cordially affirmed by the representatives of the colonists, and so strongly recommended moreover by its own intrinsic reasonableness, will be conceded by her Majesty's Government without hesitation, and will henceforth constitute the rule of colonial patronage." A better touchstone of the sincerity of Ministers could not have been devised. -The Comet has had a long and boisterous passage, and has lost a great number of horses.

The Ocean Queen, last night from Wellington, brought the mail of the Constantinople, which had arrived from England, via Auckland. We have no news of a late date, as the Constantinople sailed from England in December. We received by the same channel Auckland papers to the 12th of July, but have not found time to make ourselves acquainted with their contents.

\ Business First, than Pleasure.— A man who is very rich now, was very poor when he was a boy. When asked bow he got his riches, he replied, " My father taught me never to play till all my work for the day was finished, and never spend my money till I had earned it. If I had but half an hour's work to do in a day, I must do that the first thing, and in half an hour. After this was done I was allowed to play; and could then play with much more pleasure than if I had the thought of an unfinished task before my mind. I early formed the habit of doing everything in its time, and it soon became perfectly easy to do so. It is to this habit that I now owe my present prosperity." Let every boy who reads this go and do likewise, and he will meet with a similar reward, — Wrights Casket.

Roasting Joints Wholesale. — Lately, one of the luggage trains on the North Western Railway, laden principally with meat for Newgate market, caught fire just previously to its arrival at the Brighton station. A great portion of the meat being in a half roasted state, was rendered unfit for market, the fire not having been got under until the whole was more or less roasted.

A Tory Pike. — An enormous pike was lately' caught near Kirrercuir, Scotland, and in its stomach were found tattered pieces of the Morning Pott and Blackwood's Magazine.

Many a trub Word svoken vst Jest. — Mr. Punch — The law in regard to breach of promise of marriage has long been in an unsatisfactory state. Allow me, through your columns, to give the Legislature a hint on the subject. Let no> promissory note or other writing, engaging the subscriber to marry the party therein addressed or specified," be considered valid or binding unless*, stamped. The amount of the stamp should' be proportionate to that of the income tax paid by the writer, to prevent the abuse of cheap stamp* by the unprincipled rich. Let ■my proposal be adopted, and the consequences will be — 1. The most unsuspecting female will put no trust in a billet doux which is not stamped. 2., The expense attending false promises of marriage will discourage those base attempts at deception. 3. Marriages will become generally more rational, because men will think twice before signing an engagement which will, at any rate, cost them a stamp. 4. The stamp duty On marriage promises will be a source of revenue to .Government, and of income to your humble servant, A Solicitor. And Distributor or Staups.— PuneA.

A Numerous Anckstry. — Fowler, the Phrenologist, in his work entitled "Hereditary Descent," says that every human being on the face of the globe, is compelled from a demand of nature, to have two parents, four grand parents, sixteen ancestors of the fourth generation, back, thirty-two of the fifth, two hundred and fifty- siijof the eighth, thirty-two thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight of the fifteenth, almost one million and fifty thousand of the twentieth, and nearly one thousand and seventy-three million of the thirtieth generation. The whole number of every «-, one's ancestors for fifty generations, amounts to two thousand three hundred and sixty-two billions, seven hundred and forty-nine, thousand nine hundred and fourteen millions,, two hundred and fourteen thousand and fart7 ? suc (2,362,749,914,214,046)— a multitude, *enlf^ which no man can number, no mind conceive! The blood of this vast, host is running io the veins, of every living mortal, and that reckomng.ba«k only fifty generations. - . *■ J i A Hors* PaiaHTBMBv -to Dbath.-— Lately i waggon, laden with coals, and drawn bythrefc horses, was waiting for passage at the-Bobbera ; Mill Gate whilst the great up<tom;of coal wag- ? gons to Mansfield paised by, the middle animal Of , the team became so alarmed, though, without '■< displaying any extraordinary violence of manner* ■ that before the whole train, which consisted of upwards of 30 carriages, had passed by. he dropped down and instantly expired. — Nott*