NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1841. THE LAND CLAIMS.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 24, 10 November 1841, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1841. THE LAND CLAIMS.

[The Land Claims formed the subject of the first article of our last Number : we were obliged to curtail the length of that article, and what follows was intended fcr a portion of it.] We have said, that, considering the Claims collectively, they are foremost beyond comparison of all the important questions affecting the interests of the Colonists—the condition of the country. We alluded to the mischievous operation of delay —the injurious consequences which must inevitably result if the adjustment of these claims extend over a long period of time. We now say, that all other questions are secondary and inferior: that, from an early determination of these claims, effects the most immediately beneficial will accrue to the Colony generally, but in a special degree to the northern part of this Island, and to this settlement: that, on the contrary, to certain consequences of the non-adjust-ment of them, is partly attributable the present condition of the Colony—the pervading doubt, uncertainty, discontent; the want of hope, energy, enterprise; the prevalence of discomfort, and therefore the absence of that wholesome enthusiasm for the Colony, which its grand natural features, great and certain resources, various beauties —its numerous and peculiar attractions and solid advantages fail to inspire, are unavailing to create ; —and lastly, and most to be deplored, is partly attributable the growth of factious feeling. Here truly " the delay of justice is the stepmother of misfortune.'' (Festinatio justitie estnoverca infortunii.J. This Colony may at the present time be likened to a ship ashore: it is immoveable, stationary. It cannot be launched to begin its voyage, and thus 'twill lie until these obstacles to its progressive motion—the Land Claims—be removed, adjusted. If this adjustment be delayed or proceed by a tedious process, for that delay, that procrastination, there can be no substantial plea, or there will be the least excuse. If it were said that the Surveys have proceeded slowly; the Land Sales have been infrequent, insignificant; and that therefore the Government is poor, is without the means of proceeding with any necessary undertakings :—that the several Public Departments are ill organized, wholly inadequate to the peculiar wants of the country ; and that, for these reasons partly, the inhabitants of the provincial settlements are deeply dissatisfied, 'are fired with restless pernicious jealousy of the metropolis and manifest no respect or esteem for the Government : —that no needful improvements have been begun in the towns :—that Government have no measures in progress by which a regular communication by land or sea might be maintained between the several settlements :—that for purposes social, commercial, or legislative, no certain, frequent, and healthful intercourse exists among them :—that there are no inducements, no guides for the Emigrant to any extensive rural pursuit, or important branch of trade in native products:—that nothing has been done by Government to make better known the available sources of wealth which, may exist in the country ; no reports under its auspices, or authority, of the result of any investigations or exploratory

teports to appeal to*:— that nothing of this nature has been done, though from its omission with regard to this newest Colony, will arise in England feelings of disappointment, and a belief that there exist in reference to New Zealand no material circumstances calculated to laise or sus tain its character, which a Government of the Colony tender of its reputation, could prudently or conscientiously sanction the dissemination of: and that though it is a plain, prominent truth, a palpable fact, that advancement solely by the extension of tillage, must be slow and inconsiderable ; the Government has made no arrangement by which, under favorable licenses for occupation, or other encouragement,capitalists and stockholders might be tempted to introduce and depasture stock upon those few and limited portions of the territory, which in their present natural state are adapted to that purpose. We cease to enumerate ; if these things were said censoriously and also if that lamentable policy, the consequences of which are so distressingly felt, so ruinous in effect, were a subject of complaint; for all, some extenuating plea may be urged, some vindicatory statements made. The Government! it might be said, began with limited power andj limited means : —itcouldnot defray the of a larger Surveying Staff—the Surveys could not proceed rapidly nor the lands be sold extensively : —lt was poor and could form only a small Establishment in all its departments/and an undue share of labor had fallen upon the heads of Government ; and for this reason, and because it was embarrassed and necessitous, it could not mature \ the arrangements make the provisions—plan and commence the undertakings and improvements required. All this might be spoken and to a certain extent admitted as fair and valid. It might be said, and must be owned, that knowledge judgment, industry, will not always win money or command services—supply the want of funds or manual labor; and to and from the absence of means and assistance it might, further, be said, should omissions be ascribed and were delays occasioned. But this question of the Land Claims is in a great measure apart, exempt from, independent of those causes of delay, and for delay with regard to their adjustment there will assuredly, as we have said, be the least excuse; for their speedy or protracted settlement depends chiefly upon mental qualities alone, which as the Governor and his advisers and those acting under the Commission possess and exercise, or are deficient in and fail to apply, so will be the result. The Government may be opposed and may be embarrassed by opposition ; or the public, the Colony, may respect, esteem act in unison with—and support it. All interests may continue to languish, as they do now; or this great question, which makes so much indeterminate, being settled, that which is the principal foundation of wealth —the Land—may be extensively a means of credit, a secure attraction for capital, a field for industry and enterprise, a source of prosperity and happiness.

* It might be said by some, lint the general character of the surface of New Zealand—l tie inierior as well as its coasts, is pretty well knewn. We say, that there are a lew who have gathered together from different sources, hearsay, Missionary pamphlets, books, and from the few works published on the country, a good deal of information, which digested and combined with their own expedience, has enabled them to acquire a tolerable knowledge of the Colony, and has satisfied their curiosity : but we say, that the whole body of information regarding New Zealand, is meagre, o/ of inferior authority—that any other than unsatisfactory, threadbare acquaintance with the physical character of the country is practically unittainable ; and that, therefore, the English public, and even the great majority of the Colonists kn w, a' the present moment, very little more of the Colony than wa» known halt a century since by a reader of Cook's Voya-.es ! For the little knowledge ihe public have of the interior o the North Island, or that portion of ii extending between this and foil Nicholson,it may thank the New Zealand Company*