New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1842.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 November 1842, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1842.

The arrival of the Bolina from Auckland puts us in possession of the fact that between five and six hundred Government emigrants have been landed at that place. It also confirms our anticipations that the capital of the residents of Auckland is not sufficient to provide adequate employment for these emigrants, and that, consequently, they are engaged by the local Government, at the expense of the colony, in the construction of roads and other public works near the seat of Government.

In this, we imagine, that there is great, but we believe unintentional injustice to the inhabitants of this part of'the island. Admitting that these emigrants sent out by.the Home Government ought to have been directed to the Government settlement, it is nevertheless unjust that they should be retained there at the expense, not of the Government, but of the colony, to construct works of local rather than general importance. The Government differs in this particular from a Company. The latter expending its own funds, has a right to apply them in any manner which may advance its owii interests or secure the attainment of its objects, whatever they may be. A Government, on the contrary, which has no money but public money to spend, is bound to direct the mode of expenditure a<3 to accomplish objects really of public interest. Local funds it has a right to 1 employ for local purposes; but the Colonial revenue ought to be distributed so that every portion of the colony may, as far as possible, be benefitted in proportion to the amount which it contributes. It is true, that when the seat of Government happens to be fixed in a position, which whatever its advantages, is not also the chief seat of population or of commerce, this rule cannot be rigidly observed, because the general Government expenditure in salaries to the heads of departments and other similar matters, benefits almost exclusively that place, from which but a small portion of its revenue is derived. But allowing for this, it is the duty of every Government to expend revenue as far as possible where it is raised, or at least for purposes by which those who have paid it may be benefitted.. The construction of roads and quays at Auckland, however, is not an expenditure by which any other part of the colony will be benefitted. That these works will be useful in a very high degree we do not doubt; possibly they may even eventually become a source of profit. Their utility and their profit, however, are alike confined to the place where they are made. If, therefore, there is no other mode of providing employment for those emigrants than upon works of this nature, either the cost of the works ought to be borne by the community for whose benefit they are labouring, or they ought to be spread over the colony, and employed in the ijiost necessary public works in the different settlements. Assuming that they are to remain at Auckland, then there should be some local taxation for their maintenance. Or should this be found impracticable, then a portion, and that the largest, of their members should be sent down to Port Nicholson, to be employed upon the public works of which we stand at least as much in need as any part of the colony. Justice requires that one of these alternatives should be embraced. We cannot say that we are indifferent on the subject, for we should greatly prefer the latter. But we should have no reason to complain, whatever might be the course adopted by the Government of the colony. There are, however, very cogent reasons,

altogether unconnected with the possible difficulty of raising funds by local contributions at Auckland, which lead us to think that the latter would be the prudent course. In the first place, the effect of this - sudden influx of labourers to a place where there are no adequate means of employment, appears to have been a reduction of the rate of wages below that which a labouring emigrant would be entitled to anticipate as an inducement to leave his home. It is consequently to be feared, that many may be attracted to the neighbouring colonies, and that the emigration fund of New Zealand may to that extent be injured. And, in the second place, from all that we have yet learned of the condition of Auckland, it would seem that the necessity for these works is far less pressing there than at this place. There, but little country land has been sold, and little or no capital exists to be employed in the cultivation even of that portion. Here, on the contrary, large tracts are owned by persons who have both means and inclination to settle upon, and improve their purchases, if only roads were made by which the surrounding districts could be made accessible. Add to this, there is no lack of employment here, and the addition of frpm fifty to one hundred labouring families would produce none, or only a momentary depreciation of wages. In fact, should a temporary depreciation occur, which is barely probable, the increased opportunities of employment consequent upon the opening of the country, would more than compensate for it, and would speedily raise wages up to a sum above their present level. As we have every confidence in the good intentions of the Government, we submit these considerations to their serious regard. We cannot but believe that they are entitled to considerable weight, and we are not without hope that they may produce some practical results.

Among the most pressing wants which are felt by this settlement, the want of capital is, undoubtedly, the chief. That such a want should be felt is but natural; but we cannot but imagine that the founders of this colony have rather overlooked or disregarded the probability, we might almost say, the certainty of its existence. It is a very common occurrence that any new plan, especially if partially or temporarily successful, should be strained beyond its due limits. This happens in almost every department of human affairs. The natural, and indeed inevitable result of this will be, to throw discredit upon the plan itself, when the only discredit ought to attach to those who have misunderstood its nature, or miscalculated its results. We are somewhat inclined to suspect that the Wakefield theory incurs a risk of falling into some discredit, because those who have been engaged in carrying it out have sought to attain from it effects which it is not calculated, and was not expected, to produce. As we regard this theory as the most valuable contribution to the science of political economy, which has been made of late years, and as one which is eminently susceptible of immediate practical results, we should deeply regret any circumstance which might tend to lesson public confidence in its operation. And as we are fully convinced that it is quite capable of accomplishing all its inventor claimed for it, we consider it of the first importance that its true character should be always borne in mind, as the only safe rule in attempting to carry" it into effect. The Wakefield theory is, in fact, nothingmore than a plan for preserving a due proportion in a new countiy between the three elements of production, land, capital, and labour. The means by which this result is to be effected is the sale of land at a sufficient price, and the employment of the price of the land in defraying the cost of emigration of labourers by whom it is to be cultivated. This, supposing that the price of land is sufficient, provides directly foi the existence of a due proportion between land and labour—and, after the establishment of the colony, indirectly, but surely, for the existence of a due proportion of capital. During the process of foundation, however, before a colony produces sufficient for its own consumption, there is a period when some other means are requisite in order to provide a sufficiency of capital. This has always been recognised by

Mr. Wakefield, and no inconsiderable portion of his writings has been directed to this very point, in order to show at once the necessity, so far as the Colony is concerned, of a contribution of capital, and the adequacy of the security for its replacement with a profit. If he, therefore, had the control of the settlements which have been founded upon his theory, we may be assured, that ample provision would have been made for the supply of a due proportion of capital. We-have not, at the present moment, space or opportunity to inquire into the means by which this admitted deficiency may be supplied. In our next number, we trust to be able to do so in connection with another subject, to which we have adverted, the claims of the settlers upon the Company in respect of the large allotment of land made in consequence of our expenditure. But we should be s.orry to see any discredit attached to a system so useful, and capable of almost boundless results, because it does not accomplish objects which are not within its proposed scope. We may, however, advert to one circumstance in the foundation of this settlement, which peculiarly calls for the supply of additional capital we mean the very large proportion of land owned by absentee proprietors. These persons have contributed their due share to the emigration fund; but they have not contributed, and do not contribute in any. noticeable degree, to the fund for employing labor. They expect to reap, and we doubt not that many of them will reap, large profits from their investment. To this profit they are fairly entitled, but not without being called upon to some contribution towards the colony. In the town, their land will, we presume, be assessed equally with the land of residents; and so soon as we have any adequate machinery for the purpose, we presume, also, that their land in the rural districts will be made liable to similar contributions. It is, however, worth consideration, whether they might not be fairly expected to aid in supplying capital to the place. This, we imagine, might easily be done, in a manner by which they would benefit equally with all the owners of land, and we trust soon to see the commencement of measures adopted with‘a view to the accomplishment of this purpose.

We have been favored by a subscriber with the perusal of Hobart Town papers of date the 23d ultimo. The intelligence contained in them is not of any very considerable importance. The principal topics of conversation in Hobart Town are, the usury question; the new insolvent act; the court of requests extension; and the case of the licensed victuallers, the renewal of whose licenses had been refused. A report was afloat that Sir John Franklin had been recalled, but the rumour was unauthenticated. An abundant crop was anticipated, and the accounts from all parts of the Colony were highly favorable, as respected the appearance of the country. Great complaints were made from every district about the state of the roads, and the idleness and misapplication of labor amongst the probation parties. Captain Cheyne had been dismissed from his situation by the Lieut.-Governor in Council, for alleged neglect of duty* throwing obstacles in the way of the public service, and general misconduct in the arrangement of his department. Mr. Hay, a nephew of Sir John Franklin, was to succeed Captain Cheyne as Director General of Roads, and Sir John appears to have been pretty openly accused of favoritism in the appointment.

We are happy to see that some measures are about to be taken by the Corporation for the purpose of forming a passable line of street for drays and foot passengers, from Nairn Street to Thorndon Quay, by which sufficient frontage will be afforded to remedy the inconvenience of the narrow pathway hitherto in use. In a paragraph, in one of our former numbers, we called the attention of the proper authorities to the circumstance that, at high tide, on some portions of the beach, where new buildings were in the course of erection, persons might obtain an unnecessary drenching ; and, indeed, that something approaching to danger might, on dark nights, be incurred. We certainly cannot boast of any great uniformity in the general character of the buildings fronting the beach, attributable, probably, to the means of the erectors —but we think that an enactment should be passed with as little delay as possible, to oblige persons, in building, to conform wich some little regularity to the line of street laid down. o We have been informed, and we believe on the best authority, that it is the intention of Mr. Shortland, the Officer Administering the Government, to visit Wellington, on the return

of 11. M. Brig Victoria , for the purpose of personally deciding upon the most judicious measures to he pursued in placing the Colonists in possession of the land to which their right will have been decided by Mr. Commissioner Spain, and for the prevention of any further disputes between the native population and the European claimants. We cannot forbear observing, that since tho reins of Government have been placed in the hands of Mr. Sho.tland, he has acted judiciously and energetically in pursuing the most straightforward course to ensure claimants the possession of their lands to the northward, whose rights have been decided upon by the Commissioner ; and, we trust, that his visit to this settlement may prove that he is disposed to act with the same promptitude and vigour in the determination of our equally important claims.

At Messrs. Bethune & Hunter’s sale of stock on Friday last, the following were the average prices obtained: —160 wethers at 20s. 6d.; 20 do. at 195.; 20 do. at 11s.; 8 cows and heifers, average £9. 11s.; 1 entire horse, £75.; 1 saddle do. £55.; 2 three-years old, £25. to £26.; 2 mares in foal, £45 each.

We understand that the barque Eagle, which brought stock here from Newcastle, has gone to Bay of Plenty for a return cargo of sulphur and ores, as dead weight for London, as well as spars ; she fills up with wool in New South Wales.