AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator, Issue 36, 19 December 1840, Page 2

AND WELLINGTON SPECTATOR.

Saturday, Dec. 19, 1840.

"We have heretofore avoided, so far as pos ble, alluding to the social condition of the penal settlements, desiring tha,t they should no.t accuse us of seeking to disparage them ; but we feel the subject forced upon us, and therefore obey the call. From information we have received, this course has not screened the settlement from detraction ; on the contrary, there has been a greater exhibition oi bad "feeling cowards Port Nicholson than ever fell to the lot of the South Australians, who may be said to have courted the attacks. We hear that the "Patriot" before leaving Launceston, received instructions to obtain here and take back with her a considerable number of the working classes. The report was abroad that free passages were offered, that no restraint of any kind was to attend this supposed boon. Considering it our duty to make ourselves acquainted with the matter, we have found upon inquiry that the boon -of a free passage is only attended with the slight disadvantage of being bound by indenture to serve for two years at wages considerably lower than the lowest rate ever yet paid in Port Nicholson, and to submit to a deduction from the first year's wages of ouly eight pounds, as a slight acknowledgement to the kind Captain for having transferred the free man from a state of independence and self respect, to the blessing of herding with the miserable and the wicked in the sink of the Southern seas. There is no fear that these liberal terms will be accepted ; to suppose for an instant that they will, is to assume the working man to be as ignoraut as the proposer must be vicious. We care not, however, whether the proposal be listened to or not, its criminaluess is the same. Those who have sent here know lhti law in Van Dieman's Land, and they know also that that Island is to be the sole remaining penal settlement ; that whereas Van Die-, man's Land before received but a portion of the convicts, she is now to receive in addition the larger portion heretofore sent to New South Wales. She rejoices in the increased amount of guilt and shame henceforward to be landed upon her shores, and will properly be denounced in England as still more than ever unfitted as a place of residence for the "honest and intelligent, but needy working man of Great Britain. How ignorant, how disgustingly besotted, or vicious, must that man be who would not shrink with ho.rror at this moment from asking the working man and his family to become the daily companion of every crime fov which transportation is the reward! To leave a free and promising Colony, to merge into the society of every thing that is degraded! What can be offered as an equivalent to the workman for the exchange which he is invited to make ? Can there be any prospect of ad- ' vantage surpassing that which is open to him j here ? And if there were, can it be a return for the frightful ordeal through which his wife i and children would have to pass, in attaining

a good social position ? All k,now that the richer classes may inhabit the pen.il settlements with comparative security against contamination ; it is however only with comparative security, for their children are exposed and frequently fall beneath the evil influence of the terrible example before them from the hour of existence. The working man cannot avoid coming in daily contact with the convict ; both are employed frequently upon the same task, and both are alike subject to the same police law ; and the free, mistaken, or pretended to be mistaken for the bond, not infrequently feels all its severities, necessary to control the unhappy state of society to which through ignorance or deception he has been . led to subject himself. The doubt aud suspense arising out of the acts of the Government have checked the progress of the settlement, but from this we are now relieved, and the feeling is replaced by a perfect confidence in the goodness of our titles. The consequence of .this suspense, however, has been to delay improvements, and many have arrived who do not find themselves at the moment able to obtain all the comforts they expected ; yet how much better is their condition than was that of those who arrived a few months since, for they land with every thing in a promising We landed before any houses were erected, had to erect temporary dwellings, await the surveys, and when about to erect permanent buildings on our land, received information which led us to doubt if we should enjoy the fruits of our labour. To none of these annoyances are the newly arrived exposed : the place is well supplied with every article required at moderate prices, aud the work of permanent improvement is now being proceeded with. It is understood that building small economical houses, for the temporary occupation of persons just arrived will be a profitable manner of outlaying capital, and doubtless will now become an important pursuit. Henceforward the inconveniences, few as they have been, in comparison with those s.till experienced in old Colonies, will be at an end, and families will be enabled to set themselves down comfortably from the moment of their arrival. But if it were to be otherwise for a long time, we would say — you have an unexceptionable climate for the working man, ,the country has great aud inherent advantages, and there can be no doubt that capital and labour will be here in abundance to develope these great resources ; therefore bide your time. But v if you mus.t go, surely self respect and love of offspring will direct your steps to some spot in the many free Colonies, where vice is not the rule and virtue the exception. If it be otherwise, we say pity you did not subject yourself to a free passage with r indred souls, and leave the fund derived from the self-sup-porting system for better men.

By the schooner " Kate," Capt. Dunning, from Sydney and the Bay of Islands, we have dates to the 25th Nov. from the former, a " Bay of Islands Gazette " of the 3rd, and dates to to the 9th of Dec. from the latter. The Government had purchased the brig " Victoria," and "/as about immediately to be transferred to Auckland ; and it was rumoured that His Excellency Captain Hobson would soon after pay Port Nicholson a visit. Mr. Henry Tucker had been appointed to the ofljce of Colonial Storekeeper of New Zealand. The " Bay of Islands Gazette," states that many houses were being erected, and infers therefrom that " the people of Kororareka were recovering from their apprehensions of the power of Sydney." It also speaks of other works in progress, which indicate a freedom from fear of loss of property. The same paper announces that Mr. Webster, the celebrated American statesman and lawyer, was about to represent some claims he has to land in New Zealand, and the case • generally of his countrymen in these Islands, to the American Government. The house of Mrs. Baker, a respectable widow lady of Hokianga, bad been destroyed, by which a loss of £500 had been incurred. The brigantine " DehorSh," from London, arrived at the Bay of Islands on the 26th November.

The "London," Captain Shuttleworth, arrived on Saturday last from London, with one hundred and ninety three immigrants, and forty three cabin passengers, and cargo. She sailed from the Downs on the 19th August, and brings a London paper of the 18th of August. A Regency Bill has been passed, appointing Prince Albert Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, " if at the demise of her present Majesty (whom God long preserve) there shall be issue of her said Majesty who shall become and be King or Queen of this realm whilst under the age of eighteen years." The Parliament was prorogued. The New Zealand Committee's Report was printed, but there was not time to procure a copy to be forwarded by the "London." It is satisfactory, we believe, to the friends of New Zealand, and led them to hope that the ComEany would henceforward work in a very .satisictory manner with the Government. Th*

-following members. constituted the Committee : — Lord Eliot, Sir William Somerville, Messrs. Labouchere, Gladstone, Tuffhell, Vernon Smith, Francis Baring, Hutt, Robert Steuart, Chapman, Edward Buller, Briscoe, George William Hope, and Captain Boldero. It is with sorrow w.e have to report the death of Lord Durham. Particulars will be found in another cojumn. It w,as reported that the Duke of Richmond •was about to become Governor of the New Zealand Company. . A' clause has heen introduced into the Bill continuing the New South Wales Council, enabling the Ministry ,to render New Zealand independent of New South Wales at (heir pleasure, and it was expected this would .take place early in the next session of Parliament. It is stated that the friends of the Church have subscribed 4120,000 for Church purposes in this settlement. The Sur.v.eyor-General, to the Plymouth New Zealand Company and part of his staff, have arrived in the " London." Two vessels with immigrants were to leave Plymouth for the new settlement last month. A new settlement, called " Australind," was advertised. It is in Western Australia. It was under an Association of which W. Hutt, Esq.. M. P. is chairman; and many other friends ol Australia and New Zealand .appear as Directors. We congratulate Western Australia upon this, as the most important event in its history. The following ships are advertised for New Zealand :—ln: — In connection with the New Zealand Company, the "Blenheim," from the Clyde, and the " Slams Castle " and the "Lady Nugent," from London, 10th Sept. and 10th Oct, Private ships "William Hughes," "Nelson, 1 "Harrington," and"Anglesea," together sever vessels. The weather had been exeedingly unfavourable to the crops for a long time, and it was feared the harvest would be very unproductive In August there was a great improvement ir the weather, and it was hoped that the crop; would not be very deficient.

The brig "Patriot," Captain Brorrn, froi London, touching aj; Launceston, fimushes v with English papers long over due, but whic are valuable as completing our files She bring dates from Hobart Town to the 3rd, and froi Launceston to the 12th November. There wei several cabin passengers on board the "Patriot, who left England with the intention of comin here ; but we are informed that the unfavouabl reports which they were assailed with at Laun ceston induced them to abandon their intentior These chicken-hearted gentry will in good tim find they have been duped, or have listened t persons as ignorant of the condition and prog pects of this settlement as themselves; an discover, too late, perhaps, that they have re signed an excellent opportunity of advancin, their worldly interests at a rapid rate. We find by the Launceston papers, that th " Patriot " is to be sold on her return to tlia port ; and that the vessel had a narrow escap from being destroyed by a fire, which broke ou in the fbrecHPi'.c. The new Colonial Bank, with a nominal capi tal of £300,000, had not afforded the expecte< relief to the commercial interests of Hobar Town. The expectation was unreasonable unless the new Bank was the cause of hoardec capital being yielded to the public, or the com' munity required an extension of paper issues or occasoned the introduction of foreign capital One or more of these conditions is necessary t< render a new Bank useful ; and we do not gather from the statement which has suggestet these remarks any compliance with these terms We have repeatedly seen the public disappointed after the commencement of a similar local Bank. Far different is the case of the mortgage or loan Bank recently established in England for' Australia, it having already been attended with the introduction to Sydney of £280,000 ol English capital. We hope this Institution will establish a branch hei'e, as its transactions could be performed with the most perfect security, and with good alike to the. Institution and this Colony. The people of Port Phillip had petitioned Sir George Gipps to postpone the great land sale which was to have taken place at Melbourne, with which he had complied. The financial state of all the Australian Colonies appeal's to continue in a deranged condition. It originated, we suspect in imprudence, and must find its cure in a good deal of suffering, when all will again proceed in a healthy state for a time. We have received the third and fourth numbers of a paper entitled the |* Launceston Courier," and find from a notice in the "Launceston Advertiser," that it is issued from that office until the arrival of materials enables them to publish the " Advertiser " semi-weekly.

We gather from some valuable statistical tables presented to the Council of New South Wales in the last session, that the value of vari us European articles exported from. Sydney to New Zealand, the Fisheries, and South Sea Islands, amounted in 1839 to and that the value of articles, being chiefly oil, whalebone, timber, and flax, imported into Sydney from the same parts in IS39 { amounted to £261,784. To this export and importation large sums ought to b.e added for similar business transacted with Hobart Town and Launceston, to show the real extent of the trade already existing in these Islands, and yielding large profits to a Colonial commercial body. These facts are highly interesting to this settlement, and necessarily suggest the probability of our having a large trade, if properly supported by our commercial friends in England. The Bill continuing the Sydney Government has a clause enabling the Queen in Council at any moment to sever the connection between these Islands and New South Wales. We have already urged upon our fellow Colonists the propriety of immediately petitioning for this separation, and at the same time of expressing an opinion upon the kind of Government best suited to our infant state ; and we added that * an appropriate petition would aid our active friends in England in getting our wishes accomplished. ' The sort of Government supposed to be adapted to our condition wa3 granted in i

the Constitution given us by .the Sovereign Chiefs of the District, subsequently set aside by the unqualified assertion of the Queen's authority. Possibly if Lord John Russell remain without a petition on the subject, having an amazing regard for popular rights, he .will take that as the basis of a Government for New Zealand, introduce the Bill, and — withdraw it.

It is with pleasure -we can announce that the landed proprietors, after a full discussion of the subject, unanimously voted an address to Sir George Gipps, for the speedy and liberal consideration he gave to, the .representations made by the settlers of this District. The settlers, very properly, also showed their appreciation of the value of local self government, by referring in an especial manner to the promise to recommend a Corporation for this settlement to the consideration of the Colonial Office. The following resolutions were agreed to at the meeting on Tuesday last : —

Resolved, — That the unanimous and cordial thanks of this meeting be given to his Excellency Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales, for the spirit of justice and liberality he has displayed towards the community of Port Nicholson, -in securing to them a confirmation from the Crown of their title to the lands about to be occupied, on the terms consistent with the public policy, and which they hereby giatefully and loyally accept. Resolved, — That the thanks of this meeting be likewise given to his Excellency Sir George Gipps for the promise of a Charter of Incorporation as a Municipality, by which His Excellency has provided for the settlement the inestimable advantages of local self Government, in all matters cf a strictly local nature. Resolved, — That the thanks of the colonists are especially due to the Deputation for the zeal and ability with which they represented the interests of this settlement, with the Government of New South Wales.

Resolved, — That the thanks of this meeting be given to Capt. Edward Daniell, for the able manner in which he fulfilled the duties of chairman.

• It will be seen by the report of the Library and Reading Room Committee, that they have taken Mr. Barrett's house for immediate use. It would have been more convenient could a house have been got nearer the head of the Bay, as the present is well situated for less than one-fifth of the town.

A competent judge who has recently visited Wyderop, states that there are five hundred thousand acres of available land there, bein? level, of good soil, and moderately wooded, well supplied with water, and in many parts well clothed with excellent grass It must shortly be decided in what direction or directions the surveys are to be vigorously pursued, in conformity with the arrangement made with Sir George Gipps. As a means of deciding this matter, the land abou* us ought to be visited, and previously to the holders of land orders being called upon to make any more aelect-ons, the intended boundaries of the District made public.

We believe arrangements will immediately be made for putting the holders of second series of land orders in possession of land at Wanganui; and the Surveyor-General of the Plymouth Company is about to hire a vessel in which to proceed to select the proper site for the operations of that Company.

We hear that a meeting is to be called to vote an address to Lady Durham, in condolence with her upon the in etrievable loss her Ladyship and family have sustained in the death of Lord Durham. We would suggest the propriety of suitably marking the loss the Colony has suffered by all attending in mourning.

A fire broke out about noon on Sunday morn- .' ing last, in the bakehouse belonging to Mr. . Goodfellow, which we are sorry to say did considerable injury to the premises and materials therein.

A shock of an earthquake was experienced about 1 o'clock, a.m., on Wednesday morning. It much resembled a heavily loaded waggon passing upon a pavement.

American flour is advertised in Sydney at 325. the barrel, or 16s. the cwt.