AND BRITANNIA SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Volume I, Issue 30, 7 November 1840, Page 2

AND BRITANNIA SPECTATOR.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 1840. ' Her Majesty's ship " Favorite," Capt. Dunlop, arrived from the Thames on Thursday last, after a passage of eleven days. His Excellency was at Auckland, and had not expressed any intention of visiting Port Nicholson at present. There were about 150 persons at the seat of Government. The Commission to act under the Sydney Claim to Land in New Zealand Bill had been appointed. The members of this Commission whose names we have yet heard are Mr. Fisher, late Crown Solicitor at Sydney, Col. Godfrey, and Capt. Richmond, 96th Regt. The Commission it was expected would be at the Bay of Islands by this date, and was to confine itself at first to the consideration of the English claims. The "Britomart" and "Ranger" were at the Thames. The Rev. Mr Churton has been appointed by the Bishop to the Bay of Islands, and will probably be removed to Auckland. No account of the "Cuba" had reached the Thames when the "Favorite" sailed. An advertisement by the Government will be found in to-day's paper, for mechanics to proceed to Auckland. We are not monopolists, nor would we advocate monopoly many shape; but we do think that it is very unfair for the Government to send here for labour imported at • the expense of parties who have purchased land in this part of the Island. None would murmur at Goverment seeking labour here to im-pi-ove Port Nicholson ; but to take our labour away to improve a district as distinct from this place as Barbadoes is from Trinidad, we fear shows a determination to wield the powers of Government for the especial benefit of a single district, and against which monopolising proceeding it becomes our duty in the name of the settlers in this part of New Zealand to protest. The more especially as the Government by placing laud on the Thames at a proper price, can secure itself in an ample fund with which to supply that district liberally with labour, if the fund be applied to its sti-ictly legitimate purpose. If, however, we .ire to hare < r i costly Government; and it is to be supported nut of Hie land fund, then adieu to the rapid advancement open to these fine Islands, and which ignorant or bad Government alone can prevent." If these Islands do not make the met rem;irknl>]e strides ever witnessed in Br.tibh Colonization, it will be an eternal stigma Uj:on the policy of those who may preside over their infant btate. We have been informed that several of the working class are about to leave this Colony for Van Dienian's Land, having been tempted doubtless by the hope of living without labouring. We have not heard the mode in which their passages are to be defrayed, but if they have bound themselves for a term of servitude, they will find that they will be compelled to fulfil the contract into which they may have entered, for the law between master and man is, we understand, very strict in that Colony ; possibly it has been found necessary to make it so. If, the master of ths vessel is taking them under the idea that he can claim the bounty of twenty pounds allowed for each adult by the Bounty Act, he has, we think, misunderstood the law, and will find his error at his cost on returning to Launceston ; or else the Bounty Law is acted upon far differently from the. construction we consider it bears, which is that the party must be brought direct from Great Britain or Ireland. If, however, it admits of parties receiving the bounty intended for a much longer voyage, ship masters cannot freight their vessels so well as bringing people from a Bounty Colony, and taking them back again, supposing that they cannot always get persons to carry home. If the Bounty Acts of Van Dieinan's Land and New South Wales do grant the bounty upon persons brought from neighbouring Colonies., they are highly mischievous, and must be repealed. These Acts are then a nuisance, for they will encourage those whose habits have become unsettled by the long voyage from Europe, to wander from Colony to Colony, living in idleness at the expense of a fund intended for a highly useful purpose. We have always doubted whether the Bounty System was equal to the South Australian scheme ; and mainly because the latter permits of all which can be done under the former, and superadds giving a preference to buyers of land, who, as they create the fund, are entitled to an advantage. But we had not thought of its inducing persons to proceed between the Colonies. This is an unmit'gated evil ; it encourages persons to idleness, without adding one single settler to the whole number of Colonists in this part of the world. It does it, too, at the cost of the industrious poor at home, who will be thus allowed to remain in misery while they might have removed to where they would find prosperity and happiness. It would beget the worst of rivalry among the Colonies, and by which all would be weakened, while the fund property expended might be alike to all a daily increasing source of strength and wealth. Among those departing are some idlers who are in debt here; indeed we are given to under-

stand that the loss of most of these persons will be a gain to the settlement, as they are noted for laziness, and will find that they cannot get in Van Dieman's Land six shillings a day for working most indifferently from seven until five. We believe that the New South Wales Laws forbid masters of ships carrying away debtors; and if tHis be true, we warn them that Mr. Murphy is not a magistrate who will allow the law to be trifled with. Let those members of the working class pay their debts, and go if they will to Van Dieman's Land or New South Wales. We shall be well rid of persons not satisfied with the present rate of wages and moderate hours. The other Colonies will be no gainers by im porting persons so unreasonable, while they by their change of position in society will meet the punishment which all here must feel is their due. To-day's paper contains the first part of the report to the Surveyor-General by the expedition which proceeded to Taranaki. The report is of considerable length, and a large portion of the country to which it refers has already been described by E. J. Wakefield, Esq. ; but as the document is connected and official, we have determined to give the whole insertion. We hope to get the remaining portion in our next, or at furthest that the ensuing number of our journal will conclude this paper, which will be found to contain much that is interesting. The description of the country is generally satisfactory, as it puts beyond a doubt that there are extensive available districts to the north-west. It has been a question whether the rivers afforded the necessary facilities for embarking produce ; but we think a perusal of this report wil convince all that though it would have been well had the rivei - s been larger and more available, they are sufficient for that purpose* There has been handed in with this report a map of the coast from Sugar Loaf Islands to Port Nicholson, prepared by Mr. Park. It is far different from that which has been published \>y the Admiralty or Mr. M'Domiell, of Hokianga. The most striking difference is that in Mr. Park's, which may be relied on, there is not even the slightest appearance of what has been termed Taranaki Bay. The satisfactory feature of the map is the absolute dependance of this large and important territory upon Port Nicholson. It is impossible to look at the map and not feel this is the harbour of the Straits. A letter from Captain Munn, will be found in another part of the paper in reply to our shipping report of last week, wherein the driving on shore of the schooner " Jewess " was, in defence of the reputation of the port, attributed to his he.edlessness. Capt. Mjinn denies, that the an-,, chorage at Petoni is at all times -t,ale, and of course it is intended to be inferred that the "Jewess" got ashore mi consequence of the holding ground not being good. The answer to this is that since the settlement has been formed many large vesses have been at anchor there durine very heavy gales of wind from the south-east, and without any damage ensuing. Landholders and agents will find r.n advertisement in to-day's paper of the SurveyorGeneral, l elative to giving out the Country Sections which were notselectedat the last meeting. We publish for the guidance of the working class, the subjoined letter from a mechanic, who proceeded from this place some time since to the Thames. " Waitemata, River Thames. " Sir, — Agreeably to promise, having an opportunity of conveying these lines by H.M.S. "Favorite," I inform you briefly of the proceedings of Government. On arriving at our destination, I had an interview with the Surve3'or,who was willing to engage me at a salary I could not accept. This ship is to convey mechanics to this port from Port Nicholson. 1 would not advise you to engage yourself to Government, for those that have arrived from Sydney are of the rough description of carpenters. They complain of their treatment, having to work as labourers in the bush. It will be some time before they commence building permanent houses. This is a very fine part of New Zealand, very level land. Do not leave without you find a number of capitalists coming to this port. Here there is no chance,- they are all Govermnent officials. No store to supply private individuals ; Government will not supply without you are engaged with them. Please to inform your friends of this account. ..." I. remain, yours &c, " THOS. DAVEY." " Mr. Cockburn, carpenter, "Port Nicholson."