NEW SOUTH WALES JEALOUSY OF NEW ZEALAND'S GROWING IMPORTANCE.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 102, 15 May 1847, Page 2

NEW SOUTH WALES JEALOUSY OF NEW ZEALAND'S GROWING IMPORTANCE.

"The gross injustire, the posiiive absurdity, of stationing two regiments in New Zealand, and only one in New South Wales, are so glaring, that, unless we do violence to the law which requires a charitable construction of motives, we must pronounce the measure nbsolutelv incomprehensible." Such are the words commencing a leading article in the Sydney Morning Herald, headed "New South Wales sacrificed to New Zealand," in which the editor, trying very hard to make mincemeat of us, has, unfortunately for himself, taken little care of his own fingers. We commenced reading the article with the properly serious countenance which the sacrifice of one country to another would demand from one who has any feelings; but as we proceeded a little, the "green-eyed monster" was glaring so conspicuously in every part, that our visage relaxed as quickly as it is possible to jump from the sublime to the ricJk'u'ous. Jtfear with us a little,reader, whilst we lay before you, and endeavour to correct, some of our contemporary's vagaries ; and if we do not give you something to smile at before we are done, we are murli mistaken. The first, and evidently chief cause of complaint, proclaimed in such valiant words as ' "perverse partiality," "oppressive and insulting i injustice," "reaching a degree of monstrosity," and so on, ad libitum, is, that we are to have our troops increased, whilst a corresponding diminution is to take place in New South "Wales. What! can a change of this nature afford an excuse for some of the most virulent abuse we ever read in a newspaper? The Australi'in too, a paper which, by its own showing, is old enough to know better, is even more select in its Bilingsgale than the Herald. When the news of the military changes reached us, in our innocence we thought, by the withdrawal of troops, a direct compliment was paid the colony ; we imagined that a country was best off which required but few ; where the inhabitants, sufficiently advanced in civilization, were able on all ordinary occasions to furnish the materials of order and justice from within themselves But no; it appears that the approaching diminution of soldiery is to be one of the greatest calamities that has ever befallen our neighbours -—esprcially as the "obscure 1* Colony of New Zealand is to be blessed with their presence We cannot help sympathizing with the writers. For what must be the condition of an European population of 180,000 which requires two regiments to keep it in order ? Sad, sad, indeed ! 13ut tl.cy require protection, perhaps, from the

aborigines? Natives, combined, intellectual, and warlike, ready to dash in and serve the Britons in Australia, as their ancestors were, when the Romans left them to the tender mercies of the Picts ? No, gentlemen ! Tho crime is, thit you are not only about to lose some be f-caters, l>ut that what you please to term " the petty, paltry, disjointed and disorganized sc tilements of NewZ. aland'\is about to have bestowed on them some of the fostering care an infant colony requires, which has been so long and so profusely lavished on you— a thankless hobbydehoy. It is thought necessary that we should at present have an overawing force, to give th«> New Zealander some idea of the power and resources of Great Britain. A course of mis management has rendered this step necessary. It is desirable to produce an effect, and exemplify the maxim, — th.it, to keep peace, we should be prepared for war. Is New Zealand then so '* inconsiderable and obscure" as not to deserve protection ? It is as a British Colony about seven years old. Do our neighbours recollect what New South Wales was when seven ye:>rs old ? What was it at twenty I— Botany Day! The Herald also talks with matronly consideration of the poor troops, who are going where there are "no barracks for their accommodation, and where, in a climate wet and damp they will h.tve to shiver under canvas." Here the writer, whose conect statements and general truthfulness are so very creditable to him, has by some oversight omitted to contrast tlm wretched bousing with the splendid accommodation in the old barracks at Sydney. We would recommend him too, when he again thinks of using his pen in this strain, to learn previously, for the sake of consistency, if the pai ties he so commiserates agree with his sentiments For it is well known that the valiant 58th,who, having been quartered here for some time, must have had some acquaintance with our calumniated accommodations, are delighted at the change which will cause them to leave Sydney for New Zealand. His tender feelings will possibly be somewhat relieved when he is informed that our troops are comfortably housed in wood and stone buildin»s, and although we now have room enough for 1000 men in the Auckland barracks alone, considerable additions are being made. Much is also said about the superior position of Sydney in case of a foreign attack. Now it was the opinion of Captain FitzKoy, who, as a scientific navigator, ranks high, that Auckland was a far better place for a naval and military depot than Sydney. We are certainly closer to the Polynesian Islands, being at least 1 ,100 miles nearer Frenchified Tahiti;—and depend on it, in the eventt>fan European war, which ever power has New Zealand in its possession, will hold the key of this half of the southern hemisphere. lv New South Wales, the natives, either for good or evil, are scarcely thought of in connexion with government; but here, there are not only some 14 or 15,000 English, but more than 100,000 Natives, to be ruled. The next ground of complaint is found in the decision of Ministers to send six companies of pensioners to New Zealand, and none to New South Wales. This is attributed to "the offensive partiality of Ministers." Alas ! those who know anything of our history, or have resided here from the commencement of the Colony, are well aware that little cause for jealousy has been created by any undue partiality shewn us. But, for the experiment to be tried, we state without fear of denial, that no other British Colony could have been so well chosen for the purpose. We are not cursed with 30,000 convicts ; labour is in consequence perhaps high — but morality we trust is higher. Mow beautifully adapted too, is the climate for settlements of the kind contemplated. Here, a village of pensioners can cultivate their gardens without doubting that if they sow they will also reap ; that no hot furnace-blast will scorch up their productions in a day — no winter's cold cUstroy the care of years in a night. They come to a climate eminently healthy and congenial to English constitutions. But the Herald, after having paid such kind attention to the comforts of the poor soldiers, could not afterwards consistently neglect the poor pensioners. "Each pensioner is to have a cottage and an acre of ground, to be held reut free, and to become his own property a'ter seven years oj' his engagement have been completed. Twenty or thirty acres would be nearer the mark." Here again the Editor, as in the barrack case, is evidently drawing on his New South Wales experience. Were the pensioners settled there, they might possibly require 20 or 30 acres ; but in this country, such is our climate and soil, that one is thought sufficient. We cannot finish without a slight notice of what we consider to be not only ungenerous, but ungrateful. Our imports from England are dragged forward to contrast with those of an old established Colony. Now the writer must well know that by far the greater portion of our goods come, uot directly from home, but by way of Sydney. We have been its best customer, have taken its goods, and its trash, and have paid well for them. But then, New Zealand is rapidly rising in importance, and this circumstance, instead of being hailed with sisterly joy, has been pro ductive of bitter jealousy. We have another

application of "two of a trade can never agree." We have had quite enongh of snubbing and misrepresentation. It can now do no harm. Our superior claims as a free colony are at last appreciated at home. And we are in a position not only to laugh away the backbiting of our neighbours (!) but clearly to see that the "petty, paltry, disjointed and disorganized settlements of Kew Zealand" have the elements of, and will iii a iew years become, a great COUNTRY.

New Savings' Bank.— The preliminary arrangements for opening and carrying on a Savings' Bank in Auckland, have at length been matured. We understand that His Excellency Captain Grey has, to the extent of his power, on behalf of the Government, secured the Trustees from personal risk in their benevolent undertaking ; aud ho also has caused a tract in the Maori tongue, with the rules of the Bank appended, to be published and extensively circulated amongst the Natives. The effect of this wise step is soon becoming apparent, for a few days ago four natives came into town and placed the sum of £8 16s. in the hands of Mr. C. Davies, the interpreter, for the purpose of having it deposited by him, on their behalf, as soon as the Bank is opened. The Native Land Purchase Ordinance.— We are happy to have it in our power to state, that the fine imposed last week on Joseph Robinson, for a breach of the Native Land Purchase Ordinance, by cutting and carrying away timber off native land without a license, has been remitted by the Governor. This, no doubt, will give general satisfaction, as the Ordinance, if acted on to the strict letter of the law, in all cases, would, we are persuaded, be a remedy far worse ihan the disease it is intended to cure. We understand, the worthy Resident Magistrate, on passing sentence, recommended Mr. Robinson to make his appeal to the Governor— which course he wisely adopted. Gardening. — If there is any one thing for which the climate of New Zealand is pre-eminently favorable, it is for the delightful pursuit of Gardening. There is not a day in the year in which a man, with a very ordinary knowledge ot his work , cannot cull some fresh vegetable for his table. To those who reside in the couutry, a ganieu is not only one of the purest sources of enjoyment, but is also ot considerable importance to the economy of the household. As there are few, we believe, in thib colony, who do not feel interested in horticultural pursuits, we shall occasionally lay beiore our readeis, whatever facts maybe new, or of sullicient importance, to deserve their attention. There are many plans recommended for sending seeds a long sea voyage without injury to their vegetative propiwties. We uivc.becoinc acquainted with one, so simple and so effectual, that we wish to make it as generally known as we can. Let the seeds of each kind of plant be put into btout brown paper, and when all those smaller packets are folded, let them be made into one large one, by intermixing a sufficient quantity of fresh powUn-td charcoal, as will completely separate one packet irom another, In this manner the seeds of some tender plants which we have seen growing vigorously in a gentleman's garden near this town, were lately received from England by the Louisa Campbell. A Boat Capsised. — On Thursday last, about noon, a boat, containing Mr. Thomas Cleghorn, his son, and a native, capsized in the river, between Smale's Point and the Watchman. She immediately turned keel upwards, when Mr. Cleghorn and the others laid hold of her, and managed to keep themselves afloat. As soon as the capsiied boat was observed from the Noble, store-ship, by Messrs. Duncan Campbell and James Caradus, they promptly rowed oIF towards the sufferers, and with great dilliculty arrived in time to save Mr. Cleghorn, who was nearly exhausted and was sinking below the surface, his companions being unable to aiford him any assistance whatever. They weie all three safely brought ashore, and we are happy to state that Mr. Cleghorn has recovered the shock which this accident occasioned!

Order for. -run Organization or Pensioners for New Zealand. — "War Office, Nov. 29, 1846. Sir, I am directed to inform you, that in consequence of numerous applications from pensioners who arc anxious to settle in the colonies, Her Majesty's Government propose authorising the enrolment of a corps of six companies, each consisting of four sergeants, four corporals, two drummers, and seventy-six | privates, for settlement in New Zealand, on the conditions hereunto annexed. These conditions you will explain to the pensiouers in your district at the next monthly payment in December, and you must also make them known as soon as possible, through your out-station Serjeants at those places where the pensioners, being paid quarterly, are not likely to be visited by you before January next! You will obseive that the leading features of the present arrangement are to extend to the colony of New Zealand the principles of defence, by means of armed pensioners, which has been found to answer so well at home, and by which the old soldier will be enabled, while no danger threatens, to follow the agricultural or other pursuits to which he j has been accustomed in his country, but in the event of war he will be ready to take the field, and join the regular force employed for the defence of the colony, receiving for such occasional service the high rate of pay authorized for enrolled pensioners by the royal warrant of 7th September, 1843. There is this difference, however, as compared with the arrangements uudcv which they serve in this country, and which you will be careful to explain to them, viz , that instead of the pay and enrolment money to the extent of £,% which they have been in the habit of receiving here annually, they will in New Zealand have a cottage and an acre of ground provided for them on their arrival ; the annual value of which is much more than equivalent to the moneypayment received for the same service in this country, and which cottage and laud will become their own property in perpetuity after seven years of their engagement have been completed. By the arrangements which have been made, coupled with the strict superintendence of the officers who will be placed over them, it is anticipated that these men and their families will be relieved from most of the difficulties Which have attended a settlement in a new colony. They will have a cottage to enter on, and a small plot of ground available for cultivation, immediately on their arrival 5 they will have their pensions, as in this country, to aid in supporting them, and there is every probability of their obtaining abundance of labour, at good wages, for themselves and families ; but, to prevent any difficulty on that head, the government will engage to provide labour on the public works at Is. Gd. per day for each person enrolled on the force during his first year of residence in the colony. L. Sullivan. To the Staff Officers of Pensioners."— The remainder of the order, which is long, points out the general healthiness of the climate, limits the number to be selected to One-seventh of the whole force, and intimates that pensioners' who are not enrolled will be received, under certain restrictions, to be mentioned hereafter. A printed code of conditions accompanies the order, which provides a free passage for the pensioners and their families, with rations ; an advance of three months' pension on embarkation ; an advance of money for furniture, and other advantages. A considerable number of pensioners have already offered themselves.