NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1841. Upon what depends the future Prosperity of an Infant Colony?

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 6, 14 August 1841, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 1841. Upon what depends the future Prosperity of an Infant Colony?

We have received a few Sydney Papers cf the last month. The distressed state of the country is on the increase. No Master-mind has yet discovered a remedy to arrest the fatal disease which threatens to hurry the offspring of Convict Colonization into an early grave. It bore the elements of decay in the very germs of its constitution. Supported by Government, with an expenditure of more than Fifty Millions Sterling from the first settlement of the Colony, on Convicts, the Colonists have grown rich on this labor, free of expense, instead of paying for it themselves. Now this system no longer exists, the Colony must devise means to supply its place, if its former prosperity is to be restored. The large Landed Proprietors and Capitalists anticipate, and fear, that the employment of free labor will diminish their accustomed profits and incomes, and consequently diffuse the resources of the Colony more generally, among all classes. Therefore, to another source for cheap labour have they directed their attention, —the Coolie Scheme—which Sir George Gipps very properly calls another name for Slavery. By the introduction of these poor people into the Colony at very low wages, the population of New South Wales would be very soon comprised in two classes only—the rich Merchants and Land Proprietors— and the working outcast Coolies. But Sir George, perhaps, perceives that this Importation, even of Coolies, would only protract the pesent difficulties—not remedy them.

An experience of Fifty Years has proved that New South Wales does not furnish sufficient agricultural produce for its support. The soil is sterile, and only produces grass for sheep and cattle. We would also ask if the staple export of Wool will be much longer profitable, even if Coolie Labour were supplied? Will it compete

with the Wool of the Cape of Good Hope, which is rapidly increasing its flocks, —with that of the Southern Provinces of Russia, —with the unrivalled Saxon Fleece of Germany, where there is more labor than can ever be obtained in New South Wales, and a labor that is congenial to the spirit of its population?

Moreover, all these countries are much nearer to the great Mart for Wool—England; making the freight, from such a distance as New South Wales, tantamount to a heavy duty as regards competition with Foreign Growers. To these facts must be added another, which is, that the New South Wales Flock Master must import every thing that himself and labourers consume, —even the simple food of the Coolies.

Turn we now to the prospects that await the industrious settler in this Colony. Here, both European as well as Native labour will be dear— perhaps more so than in New South Wales, until they have a large influx of emigrants direct from England.

But this high price of labour must be counteracted by the individual exertions and moderate views and expectations of the settlers themselves. Instead of looking to land-jobbing and specula-

tion for sudden wealth, let the settler base the foundations of his present comfort, and future competence and independences on his own personal exertions.

This is a country peculiarly adapted for that class cf European population which has been the foundation of England's greatness and wealth, and in all times of danger, her best safeguards—we mean that middle class of society, substantial in property as independent in principle—the YEOMANRY of Great Britain.

To such persons, this Colony offers advantages and prospects very different to New South Wales. Here there are extensive districts of land, which may yield two Crops—Grain and Potatoes—in one year. Droughts and failures of crops are unknown. All descriptions of European Vegetables grow during the whole year. Fruit trees succeed extremely well. Tobacco can be grown, although the climate is too rigorous for Tropical plants and vegetables. Here is Timber of excellent description for Ship-building, Houses and Furniture. Cattle, Sheep, and Horses, can be reared for our own use, and for supplying ships with provisions. Here are valuable Dye woods and Tan, Coal, Sulphur, Alum, and Copper. Here is Marble of all colours and descriptions, and fine Sandstone for buildings. Here are Thermal Waters for the sick, and a genial invigorating climate; and ere long we confidently anticipate that machinery will be devised, so as to create an abundant supply for Export of the indigenous staple of these Islands—Flax. Such are the resources and advantages of a country naturally intersected by rivers, with a coast studded with harbours, affording the most easy and least expensive mode of communication.

But all these natural advantages will avail nothing if the Government lay out Towns instead of surveying Country Land, and if the latter is to be put up at prices which are as extravagant and enormous as they are unjust and prejudicial to the bests interests of the Colony. It is most unwise and short-sighted policy to abstract from the first settlers their capital, solely to create a Revenue to pay off the debt to New South Wales, and to support the Government Establishment in the Colony.

It is well to sell the Town Allotments to the highest bidder, but it is unreasonable to fix a high upset price, in addition to public competition, on Country Lends. Instead of sending surveyors, of which there are but a few, to Maurangi, let the Country Lands in the immediate neighbourhood be surveyed, in preference to all others, and marked out in small farms at a fixed and low price, ready to be taken possession of by any new comer. Some time since, when it was complained that there were no farms in the neighbourhood for sale or occupation, the excuse was there were no surveyors here. "Ex nihilo nihil fit." We were satisfied.

But now the Surveyor-General's Department has received considerable accessions of numbers, there are still only the small number of fifty four farms, varying from eight to fifty acres. We would ask, what can be the present object of sending surveyors to Maurangi? Do the Government intend making a Town there, before they survey Country Land here? And expect to have a second edition of the first sale of Auckland there?

To induce emigration of such persons as will be in course of time substantial Yeomen, Land should be at a low fixed price. One Pound per acre, is too much for Country Land. If the Colony was well-stocked with farmers and agriculturalists, the Towns would realize such sums, as would support any extent of emigration of the class so much required in the Colony. It is the peasantry in the country that support the villages and towns, by their produce, or by the returns for it; therefore, Allotments for Towns will be more valuable when the country is occupied.

On the measures of Government on the one hand—and on the judicious conduct of the Settlers on the other––depend, therefore, the future prosperity of this Colony. By pursuing a course we have suggested, the former will secure to the State a revenue far more permanent and increasing than the temporary enormous sums now realized by limited sales––the latter, by being moderate in their desires, and abstaining from rash speculations in land, will ultimately reap independence; and then, under Divine Providence, as Lord John Russell observes, "by the energy, the capital, the virtue, the perseverance, the capacity of Englishmen, this Colony will advance and prosper."