New Zealand Gazette.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 13, 4 July 1840, Page 2

New Zealand Gazette.

.1 -W, .Ii LV 4, ISiO.

\\\ a:K>tli2i pjrt of our paper we have inserts! rue proceedings of a public meeting, called to determine upon the propriety of pic-tuting an address to His Excellency Capt. Hob^on. R.N.

Mr. Sinclair is charged with making extraordinary and mischievous statements to His Excellency, respecting the objects and intentions of the Colonists of Port Nicholson. Should he not be able to exonerate himself, his conduct will have been the more remarkable,, as it is well known he did all in his power, at the time sending a deputation to His Excellency was contemplated, to defeat that purpose, and not without success. It is equally well known that his reason for pursuing that line of conduct, was a fear that the deputation might from its course deter His Excellency from making this the seat of Government. Further, his motive would be more difficult to discover, for disparaging the Colonists of this place, when we bear in mind that he is a large proprietor here, and his relatives are deeply interested in the success of Port Nicholson. We await his return, in the hope that he will be able to explain satisfactorily or justify the course he is accused of having pursued to our detriment.

These statements, it is said, were backed by more of the most unfavorable kind, made by the notorious Capt. Pearson and other passengers in his vessel besides Mr. Sinclair. We couple " notorious" with Capt. Pearson's name, because we have heard numerous singular reports concerning the broils he has had in other ports. It would almost appear that he quarrels with his passengers every voyage he makes, or gets' himself into difficulties with the authorities of the place to which he proceeds. His conduct on arrival here on the last occasion was so offensive, as to make it necessary for Mr. Shortland, the Colonial Secretary, to abandon his vessel almost at a moment's notice.

In consequence of these reports, His Excellency chartered the " Integrity," and immediately dispatched her with Mr. Shortland, the Colonial Secretary and J. P., and troops and an ample supply of ammunition. On arrival, a most unpleasant meeting was anticipated, and we need hardly say they were most agreeably disappointed, by the enthusiastic manner in which they were received."

It is said that upon receipt of these wicked statements, His Excellency sent a dispatch to the Colonial Office greatly to our disadvantage ; but this we do not credit, since experience must have suggested to His Excellency the propriety of awaiting information from Mr. Shortland previously to communicating with the Home Government upon. ; ,the .subject. It was rumoured here that unfavourable reports of the kind had reached the Bay of

Islands; we and our fellow Colonists however give the rumours no credit ; but recently such confirmation was received as could not be disregarded, which led immediately to calling a public meeting, the proceedings of which will not fail to prove how much the Colonists of this place have been slandered.

The address is deposited at the X( Gazette" office for signature, and it is hoped all will hasten to sign it, as the sooner it is sent forward the better.

In our last number we made some remarks upon the appointment of a Commission in London, to manage the waste lands in the Colonies. Since then we have read Lord J. Russell's letter of instructions to the Board of Commissioners. In our next we will endeavour to find space for some extracts on the subject. In the meantime we would state for. the satisfaction of the Colonists, that New; Zealand is especially pointed out as a valuable field for emigration; and the South Australian principle, under which this Colony has been established, is particulary recommended to the attention of the Commissioners.

We have heard that His Excellency Capt., Hobson contemplated selling lands in New Zealand at twelve shillings an acre, but as Mr. Shortland will have forwarded information by the* " Bee" which sailed for the Bay of Islands, a^er the arrival of the " Brougham," in courtesy, '^instructions from the Board of Commissioners will be awaited. - We have little doubt the London Board will advance the price of land in New Zealand to £2 the acre ; at that price each 100 acres would yield £200. If the whole sum was devoted to emigration, at £20 per head for each person, 10 persons for every 100 acres sold might be introduced to New Zealand. Of this number half would be females, aftd of the males at least two out of each five would find town occupations, which would leave but three males to every 100 acres, as agriculturalists, which would be only a moderate supply. But as various deductions are sure to be made from the immigration fund, even at £2 per acre, there is little prospect of the country being sufficiently supplied with labour.

Subjoined are some extracts from a dispatch, dated London, 10th Feb., by the " Brougham," from the Secretary of" the New Zealand Company, which entertain expectations similar to those we expressed recently on the same subject.

I transmit to you herewith two copies of the Royal Commission and instructions appointing a Board of Commissioners for Colonial Lands and Emigration.

You are aware that a measure of this description has for some years past, been anxiously desired by persons whose authority has the greatest weight with the public in colonial affairs, and that it was strongly recommended by a select Committee of the House of Commons in 1836.

I would particularly direct your attention to those parts of Lord John Russell's instructions which point to New Zealand as an emigration field. His Lordship truely describes New Zealand as probably containing districts which it is not possible to exhaust, by any rational scheme of colonization, for a long course of- years. It is also important to observe, that although the system of sales by auction must unavoidably be continued for the present in New South Wales, his Lordship expressly directs the adoption of the South Australian principle, in such settlements as may be formed in New Zealand. No doubt therefore remains that in the disposal of such waste lands in Ngw Zealand as may become vested in the Crown, Her Majesty's Government will uphold the system of sale at one uniform and sufficient price, applying the proceeds to the main object of emigration to the settlements. Thus you will see that the Crown will continue to act upon the very principles of colonization, which have been adhered to as a fundamental rule in the proceedings of this Company. Referring to Captain. Hobson's instructions, an extract from which has already been sent you, the Directors ate of opinion that the constitution of the new. Commission upon the principles described in Lord John Russell's instructions, is an event highly favourable to the interests of the Company's Settlements. It must effectually .put an end to those disgraceful land-sharking transactions, which if continued must be the bane of any thing like economical prosperity among the British settlers, and will probably be the means of attracting British capital and labour to a great extent. The appointment of th.c Commission is so recent, that I am unable to admit specifically to its plans, but it in not improbable that

this Company may hereafter effect large purchases through the Commissioner i, who will consequently be under an obligation to supply the Colonists with a proportionate amount of British labour. Upon this latter object the attention of the Directors will be kept steadily fixed.

You will not fail to call the attention of the Settlers to the great improvement in Colonial Administration which Lord John Russell has in this instance been the means of introducing. His Lordship has in this and other instances, given the strongest proofs of his desire to promote the best interest of the British Colonies : and the Settlers may now look to the Colonial Minister with a well grounded confidence, which at some former periods they could scarcely have been expected to entertain.

We publish with pleasure the following extracts from a dispatch from the Secretary of ahe- New Zealand Land Company. They "show that the Company have not been unmindful of their, promises and our interest. The colony is now secure in a good supply of provisions for nine months ; th»ugh without this supply, we are convinced there would have jbeen no prospect of want, yet Company are not the less entitled to our approbation for dispatching the "Brougham," as they did upon the receipt of unfavourable intelligence from New South Wales.

The ship " Brougham," by which I transmit to you this and other dispatches, has been chartered by the Company, for the purpose of conveying a supply of provisions to the Colony, the arrival of which it is hoped may tend to counteract any very great rise of price in the first necessaries of life, and at all events prevent the possibility of so serious a calamity as an absolute scarcity of food. The intelligence which has lately reached England, of the advanced price of flour in New South Wales, has induced the Directors to dispatch these provisions with the leas.t delay that circumstances would permit.

The Directors commit these provisions to your charge, first to enable you to provide subsistence for those emigrants of the labouring class, whom the Company has publicly pledged itself not to allow to fall into destitution, and secondly for the purpose of sale to the Settlers at the best prices that you may be able to obtain for the same.

Our friends in London will be pleased to find that the instructions and recommendations contained in the following extract from one of the dispatches received by the " Brougham," have to a certain extent been anticipated.

In case Captain Hobson should desire it, you will provide him with a proper site for ;his Government House, at the Company's principal settlement, and afford him any -assistance in building it up, and making it a , comfortable residence.

In case he should require it, you will also .supply his party with provisions from the Company's stores.

. So far the Directors are enabled positively to instruct the servants of. the Company. With respect to the Settlers generally, over whom they pretend not to exercise any other influence than that which they trust may be due to their increasing desire to promote the advantage of all who have emigrated under their guidance, -they trust that the view which they have taken, of this subject, may meet with general approval. They are satisfied th.at the interest of every settler is deeply concerned in the most complete and earliest success of Captain Hobson's mission, and it is really for the sake of the settlers, for whose fate they cannot buf feel the greatest anxiety, that they hail with so much, satisfaction Lord John Russell's invitation, it may almost be termed, to the Company and the settlers, to aid in promoting the object of Her Majesty's Government. v

The " Coromandel" sailed from London, for Sydney and Port Nicholson, the 11th December. She is reported to have met with damage in the Channel, and tq,have put into the Cove of Cork to repair. She has on board for this place, eight cabin passengers and thirty-six in the steerage, besides a considerable quantity gf goods.