COLONIZATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 87, 30 May 1843, Page 4

COLONIZATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

(To the Editor of the Weekly Chronicle.) Sin —I am anxious (through the medium of your widely-circulated colums) to enter into some explanations rendered necessary by your article of Saturday last, relative to a • correspondence which I have had lately with Lord Stanley, on the subject of a proposed new colony on the Middle Island of New Zealand. In order that I may be enabled to do this, it is necessary that I should state that acting on behalf of a numerous and respectable body of persons desirous to emigrate to that colony, I drew up (in the month of August last) a plan which I submitted to the court of Directors of the New Zealand Company, to which an assent was given, provided that I could obtain the sanction of her Majesty’s government to the scheme. In preparing the above project, I ascertained from the best sources of information what were the capabilities of the different unoccupied sites on the shores of the New Zealand islands ; being then, as I am now, entirely unbiassed by any predilection in favour of one island more than another, excepting so far as the one may possess local advantages over the other. From all that I could learn it appeared that on the eastern coast of the Middle Island, it had been ascertained that there was a superior harbour ; that the nature of the country combined the qualities suitable for grazing aud rearing of flocks, as well as fitted for agricultural purposes ; that the natives were very few in number, and that the geographical position of that portion of the coast adapted for settlement, offered-the facility of an immediate communication with Nelson, the last colony sent out by the New- Zealand Company, from which it is distant not more than seventy miles across a country unimpeded by any natural obstacle. I stipulated in the plan submitted to the New Zealand Company, that they should prevent the recurrence of those vexatious annoyances which had occurred at their earlier settlements, from the want of preparations previous to the srrival of the emigrants from the delay and expense to which they were subjected from the lands not being surveyed, and the titles being incomplete. To obviate those inconveniences the company assented to the conditions which I proposed, viz., that a preliminary expedition should be sent out, consisting of surveyors, mechanics, labourers, &c. That a safe and practicable landing place should be made in the harbour chosen. That a large barrack and warehouse should be constructed, and the site of the town completely surveyed, with reasonable accommodation, by roads and bridges, to the different allotments, made at the expense of the company, previous to the landing of the colonists. By these arrangements, there would be every reasonable grounds to expect that the serious losses in time and money, which have occurred in the commencement of almost every new colony, would be avoided, as well as the bad habits which idleness and want of occupation never fail to engender. The emigrants would find accommodation for their families, and shelter for their goods, in the barrack and warehouse ; and, the land being surveyed, the capitalists could at give employment to the labourers. The company and their agents being, of course, well acquainted with the capabilities of the soil, offer the best guarantee to the intending emigrants that they will get some value in return for the purchase-money of their lands, by their having previously advanced all : the funds necessary for preparing the colony . for their reception. These are the principles on which I proposed to join in promoting this new . colony, and having received, from the court of Directors of the New Zealand Company, a .general assent, provided I could obtain the sanction of the government, I wrote to Lord Stanley on the 30th of September, enclosing my letter to the company, with their answer. On the 6th of October I received a communication from Mr. Stephen, of the colonial office, stating, in substance, that Lord Stanley was of opinion that any proposal of the above nature should proceed from the New Zealand Company, but that he thought it right to apprise me >that his lordship was not disposed to hold out any encouragement, at present, to more extensive settlement on the Middle Island. No reasons are assigned for the withholding “ encouragement” from settling on tne Middle Island, •but T cannot believe that Lord Stanley intends positively to obstruct the colonization of the Middle Island, although it is evident, from his lordship’s despatches to Governor Hobson, page 156 of the “ Blue Book,” lately published, that he shows ,a disposition to turn the stream of emigration towards Auckland, the seat of the colonial government. Now, sir, representing, as I do, bond fide, a large and respectable body of persons, chiefly capitalists, who will necessarily carry along with them a numerous body of labourers from this country, already glutted with a surplus and famishing population, I ask of the government to point out to me (1 care not in what part of New Zealand) a site for a new colony which shall offer those qualifications which we consider indispensible to the success of our expedition. Those requisites are—first, a good and commodious harbour—a fertile soil suitable for grazing, as well as for the raising, of grain crops—and that it shall not bi a district where the natives, from their numbers and

turbulent dispositions, keep the settlers in a state of terror and insecurity. All the above qualifications, we are assured, are to be found on the east coast of. the Middle Island of New Zealand. We are ready to embark in the expedition, under the guarantee which the New Zealand Company are ready to give. If, however, the government can show that there are other situations equally eligible to which a colonymight.be directed, I have little doubt that my coadjutors will ready assent to the proposal; for it cannot be imagined that, under the circumstances of this country, any impediment or unnecessary obstructions can be intended to check so desirable a mode of relief. I am justified in stating that there is an anxious desire on the part of the Directors of the New Zealand Company to do all that lies in their power to promote the undertaking, and adopting, as they have done, this acknowledged improvement in the practice of emigration. as a means of preserving that confidence which has of late been so much shaken in colonial investments, it would certainly appear a very extraordinary act of the government to refuse them permission to spend a large sum in relieving the necessities of the country, by the exportation of surplus labour; whilst to the capitalists, who ask leave to purchase waste and unoccupied crown lands, it would, seem equally strange to say to them, “ You shall not be allowed to purchase where you desire to do it; but we offer you land elsewhere, which, whether it suits your views or not, you must either take or stay at home.” To show the value which theeommerce of the New Zealand settlements is likely soon to obtain if judiciously governed, it may suffice to state that there entered Port Nicholson, the harbour of Wellington (a colony only settled in the beginning of 1840), from the 10th April, 1841, to the Ist April, 1842, no less than 203 ships, of an aggregate tonnage of 32,815 tons. Of these, 22 were chartered by the New Zealand Company, all the rest having been attracted by the business of the flourishing settlement. I feel assured that, when the New Zealand Company shall have had an opportunity of explaining to Lord Stanley the objects of the expedition, and the guarantees which they are prepared to give to insure its success, that it will receive his lordship’s sanction, and that he will grant those reasonable facilities (nothing more being asked or required) which are necessary to carry out the undertaking. I am, sir, your obedient servant, George Rennie, Jun. Frightful Explosion.—Three Lives Lost. —Between three and four o’clock on Wednesday, the 16th, the inhabitants of West Collingwood were thrown into great consternation by a loud explosion, the shock of which was felt by many. It was quickly ascertained that the explosion had ■ occurred at the residence of a man named Pinner, a manufacturer of fireworks, and the first object that presented itself to the persons who ran to the spot, was the lifeless body of Pinner, lying in the open space in front of his house, amidst a quantity of bricks, shattered pieces of wood, &c., whilst the entire of the upper story of the house was- completely carried away. The body of an old man, an assistant to Pinner, was likewise found shockingly disfigured lying in the garden at the back of the premises. No signs of life were perceivable in Pinner or the old man, and the remains of both presented a horrid spectacle. On proceeding up the stairs of the house, the lower part, (extending to the floor of the second story), of which was left standing uninjured, it was discovered that every vestige of the roof, walls, and the various articles which had been in the upper room, had entirely disappeared. Jammed against the lower part of the wall of the first story, and near the top of the stairs was the body of a lad, aged 14, with the features so dreadfully disfigured and the body blackened and mutilated, that but for circumstance of its being known that the remains were those of a boy employed by Pinner, considerable difficulty must have ensued respecting the identification of the body. The house, which is a detached: one, consisted of two stories, the upper' one having been appropriated to the purpose of manufacturing. the fire-works. From the state• ment of an elderly woman who was engaged by Pinner to superintend his domestic affairs, it appears that a large quantity of gunpowder had lately been placed in the upper room for the. purpose of making fire-works for the sth of November, but in what manner the explosion, was caused remains a mystery. The wom,an. alluded to, and who was in the room on the ground floor when the explosion took place, had a narrow escape. She had been up to the. work-room only a short time previously, for the purpose of taking a half pint of beer to Pinner, who, with the old man and the hoy, were then employed in filling squibs. :She had.. barely returned down stairs when the shocking, catastrophe occurred. There were no lights in; the room when she was there, as it had ; nob become dark. Several windows in -the neighbouring houses were smashed in, an t d,a, number of chimneypots, thrown down by the oexplosiori.. Dreadful Boiler Explosion,. ScaruO';-. rough. —An occurrence of an awful description took place at Middlesborough, on Tuesday, thb 18th, at a quarter past nine o’clock, the...ste.ainj-. boiler, belqnging tp theiron man ; ufaotpry :(pfiij-;

cipally useff for making rails for railroads) of Messrs. Bulcho and Co. exploding, which blew the roof of the building -up, and, sad to relate, the principal part fell upon the men at work, where they had just arrived from breakfast, About 100 men are employed, but to my, latest information it could not be stated how many were on the premises at the moment; two hours, however, after the accident, I ..had some conversation with a respectable gentleman (resident in the town) who had then left the ruins and had seen about 14 bodies taken out most sadly mutilated and scalded, of course quite dead. All the particulars I could collect in my route from Stockton to this place I forward, thinking it will be the earliest. What is above stated may be relied upon ; other exaggerated accounts were in circulation, but I proved them from conversation with various parties to be erroneous. I have handed you nothing more than I considei; will be found correct. The same manufactory had an explosion about six months sihee, when one life only was lost; what it may be now, time will shortly show. It is the general opinion that the engine was working above its power, which caused the boiler to explode. Middlesborough is a town, on the south bank of the river Tees, about four miles from Stockton; the two towns are connected by railway. —Further particulars: About , nine o’clock on Tuesday, the town of Middlesborough was thrown into a state of the greatest anxiety and consternation by the bursting of the boiler of a stbam-engine at the castiron foundry of Messrs. Bulcho and Vaughan, in that town. The whole population was instantly in motion, and the scene, as represented by eye-witnesses, was of the most heart-rend-ing description. One man was killed on the spot; another was seen, as it were, roasting alive on the blazing qinders under the furnace, and before he could be extricated he ceased to exist. Both these unfortunate, men were what is termed puddlers. A poor boy came running out with one arm burnt off, while other persons, amounting in the whole to between thirty and forty, presented the most wretched spectacle imagination can conceive, added to the shrieks and lamentations of the wives, children, parents, and friends of all who worked on the premises. Since the awful calamity occurred three pf the sufferers have, as we are informed, died from the injuries they sustained. A most rigid inquiry is instituted, as various rumours are in circulation respecting it. The surgeons of Middlesborough were promptly in attendance, and with the whole of the members of the same profession from Stackton, who were conveyed by a special train, rendered every assistance in their power, but many of the sufferers are so dreadfully burnt, that in all probability some of them will be unable to work for the future, and continue objects of pity for life.

A General Fast and Prayers by the Wesleyan Society. —On Friday a general fast was observed, and prayers offered up at all the chapels of the Wesleyan Society in the metropolis, and throughout England, for the future prosperity of the country, and more particularly as regards those districts in which so much distresses at present prevailing. The prayers commenced at seven o’clock in the morning, two in the afternoon, and seven in the evening.

The Calais Packet. —“ Pass we the horror of the details, and suppose the hour (that which full many had declared would be their last) arrived, when the mate descending with a greasy leathern bag in his hand, demanded the fares. His first attempt was upon the dishevelled houris by whom I was begirt. They shook their heads, and pointed to the figure on the table. That shape, holding a hat that had been upon extra duty between its legs, noticed the appeal with a sound like the penultimate of a bagpipe. ‘lt is right to wait until exactly we are arrived,’ it said; ‘ I shall pay you, sare, when we are to Dover.’ ‘ Sharnt get to Dover this trip,’ replied a voice that seemed to come out of a copper tube ; we’re a-running for the Downs.’ The last trump had not caused a more awful effect on the ‘ poor players.’ The principal tragedy started as never tragedian started before. ‘ What you shall say ?’ he exclaimed— ‘ ronning down !— sacre tonnere: tout est perdu /’ * Mere de Dieu,’ responded the fallen angel, who lay upon my heart; ‘ mourrons, mon ami oh! mourrons nous ensemble’ (this was the sentimental lady of the lot). ‘ Ees it all up ?’ inquired one with a handkerchief tied under his chin. * No,’ said the occupant of a' berth, ‘ but it will be, very soon, I ;should rather think.’ A crash that caused a shout of agony in a high treble followed this sally.. ‘ There goes the anchor,’ said the mate; she is in smooth, water; who’s for Deal ?’ ” Sporting Review. > Fox v. Dog. —A combat between a fine old dog fox and a shepherd’s dog belonging to Mr. Marshall, of Teversall,. took place in Crossly Bank Wood, near HardwiGk-hall, which lasted for about ten minutes, when Reynard would no doubt-have proved victor had it not been for Mr. Marshall and others, who separated the antagonists with much ado,-taking ; car.e ,of Reynard, who was taken to Taversall, and chained .up for the night; Being apparently;, determined to undergo no more suffering, he stretched his chain to the length, and p.utan.endfo his existent e by hanging hims ' -