NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 3, 1845.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 30, 3 May 1845, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, May 3, 1845.

We have received the Southern Cross of April 12th, containing the "Property Rate Repeal Ordinance," by which the Property Rate is abolished, and the customs re-established. We have not our almanack by us, and are unable to say whether the moon was at the full, when this sudden change was made by his Excellency ; on reading his speech in council, however, we should incline to think it was. Our contemporary denounces in good set terms his Excellency's conduct, which he seems to consider the height of madness, " until he be superseded in his appointment, this unfortunate colony is doomed to suffer all the freaks and mishaps that attend the career of a confirmed lunatic," — and " it will be actually necessary that his Excellency either be superseded «from home, or the inhabitants of the colony will assuredly have to adopt measures which were before had recourse to in a neighbouring colony in 1808." We^'e sure our contemporary is in earnest in his indignation, and tire glad to find he at length agrees in the correctness of our views, though a short time since he took occasion to controvert them. 'He has given the*best<proof of sincerity in ' his conversion, by borrowing largely from our previous statements, and goes forth to the battle with weapons of .proof carefully selected from our armoury. On the present occasion it will be necessary merely to state* Captain' Fitzroy's reasons for this sudden change in his own words, and to append a few observations. His Excellency says, "six months since, when he proposed the Property Rate and abolished the Customs, he had hoped to avert insurrection and a collision with the natives, and that was his principal motive. That now, unfortunately, 'had taken place, and therefore the reason no -longer existed. At that time he "had no idea that the residents in the Southern settlements, who had been so clamorous for the abolition of Customs, would be so slow in assisting the Government in these measures. The revenue from the Property Rate in those settlements was perfectly contemptible; by taking legal measures to enforce the enactment, would be to proceed against half the population. The plan of the Property Rate has failed with the European population, and the abolition of Customs has also failed to quiet the discontent among the native population. — The naval and military force would enable the Government to prevent smuggling, and the men-of-war would render their assistance. — He was still the same 'advocate for free trade he had always been ; and knowing as he did, the views of Lord Stanley and Mr. Gladstone, it was with the utmost regret that he found his own countrymen, in the Southern settlements, support so feebly their Government in measures of direct taxation. It was an old saying in England, that it is folly to go to law with a township ; so it would be here, for the Government would have had to go to law with two thirds of the population to enforce direct taxes." The wise man hath said "though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his foolishness depart from him." And we find Captain Fitzroy unaltered by experience or by recent reverses. According to his own confession he appears to adapt all his measures to the ruling whim or caprice of the natives, the only use of the settlers is to be taxed-; they "should not be slow in assisting the Government £' he considers the -settler 'to be like Issachar " couching down between two burdens ; who saw the land that it was pleasant : and bowed his shoulder to bear, aud became a servant unto tribute." As long as 'his countrymen pay whatever exactions he chooses to impose, and submit to the extortions and 'robberies of the natives, in his opinion all is well. But why is " the Property Rate derived from the Southern settlements perfectly contemptible?" — Why? — but because up -to this moment we have not an acre we can call our own, or for which we can shew a crown grant. — Because by the Local Government's sanction or connivance, vagabond natives have been planted in the centre of our most valuable district, and any attempt to dislodge them, under present

circumstances, which have been entirely brought on by Captain Fitzroy's folly and imbecility, may be attended by results that would cause a wise man to pause before he resorted to extreme measures. — Because Captain Fitzroy has so depreciated the value of property, that land which four years since returned one pound per foot annual rental, within the last week was sold, in fee simple, with the buildings upon it, for only the same sum. Since we are destined to suffer all the mischief and misery a madman can inflict, we regard this change as immaterial; "but when these things are known inEngland, wertrust that public opinion, strongly expressed, will by his prompt removal, save the settlers and the native race from the misfortunes which Captain Fitzroy will surely bring upon them, and of which they already have a foretaste. The system of direct taxation by the proposed amended Property Rate Ordinance and General Dealers' Bill would have been down right robbery; — the return to the Customs duties, the Southern Cross justly stigmatizes as nothing more or less than a legalized way of swindling, for, having first encouraged the merchants of England and other parts of the world to make shipments on these "flourishes of free trade, in one day, without any previous notice, heavy duties are again imposed to their serious injury. Captain Fitzroy will lie -deceived in the return to the Custom."*, as he was in the, imposition of tlieProperty tax. "Exnihilo nihilfit, and the means of the colonists are so exhausted by the ruinons effect of his measures and his sudden changes, that no trade will be carried on by them, except that which provides for their mere necessities. In the meantime we entreat them to wait with patience and husband the few resources yet left them, on no account to smuggle, but to use as few exciseable articles as possible, and to hasten by all constitutional means a total change of measures and of men, which must speedily take place if the British Government desires to prevent a war of extermination, or save the colony from ruin. We have yet to learn what the "Queen, my mistress" will say to these vacillations and inconsistencies of her representative ? Before she could receive his entreaty to make permanent the Property Rate Ordinance, it was destined to be amended; before her confirmation can arrive, the Ordinance is abrogated. When the colony is delivered from their Governor, we hope his friends will consult his safety by placing him in an hospital for incurables. Even now, if the Legislative Council were composed of efficient independent members, instead of blind tools, subservient to Captain Fitzroy's caprice, puppets moved by the strings in his hands, immediate steps would be taken to place the poor gentlemen under wholesome restraint, -since his malady appears every day to take a more mischievous turn.

The establishment of the capital of these islands at Auckland, was made in defiance of the plainest principles of public policy. But it would be perhaps unfair to deny the existence of many circumstances, which might serve to justify to Captain Hobson the choice which he then made. The existence of what might be termed an old community in the Bay of Islands, of a trading settlement at Hokianga, of the rudiments of settlements at Kaipara and Kafia, and the uncertainty which attended the future operations of the New Zealand Company, might lead him to suppose, that in selecting Auckland as the seat of Government, he had chosen that spot, from which the colonization of this island might be most advantageously superintended, andfthe progress of the different settlements be most effectually aided. Even at that time, however, it might have been suspected that the northern settlements, which owed their existence and their prosperity to the absence of authority, would decay from the moment that they were subjected to the regular administration of justice-; and that no new settlements would be formed in that district to supply th ?ir place. The settlers, no small portion of whom had selected New Zealand as their home, in order that they might be free from the restraints of law ; and the whalers, who from similar motives frequented the Bay of Islands, could hardly be expected to acquiesce in a change, which destroyed the sole, or at least the chief circumstance which had made New Zealand eligible to them. And at the same time, the partial occupation of every eligible spot in the north part of the island, by individuals who, whether justly or not, were supposed to belong in a great degree to the class of runaway sailors or convicts, would naturally repel any attempt, on the part of the New Zealand Company, to make these places the theatre of systematic colonization.

These anticipations, which we know were then entertained, have been abundantly verified by the result. In the five years thathave elapsed since the Queen's Government was proclaimed in New Zealand, there has been a gradual but uninterrupted decline in the numbers and in the prosperity of every one of the older settlements. And this has now been consummated by the utter destruction of Kororarika, the oldest, and originally the most flourishing. It becomes, therefore, a consideration of no small importance to the settlers in Cook's Straits, by whom the revenue must be furnished, how long the capital is to be continued at a spot, not merely distant from the main body of European settlers, but isolated in the midst of a native population, who neither contribute to the support, nor acknowledge the authority of Government. Nor is this question without its interest to the English nation ; since, without any corresponding advantage, the maintenance of Auckland, as the seat of Government, will at least double the expenditure which is requisite for the protection of the colony : and as we feel convinced that, in the ensuing session of Parliament, public attention, will be directed to the affairs of New Zealand with more earnestness, and upon more authentic information, than has hitherto been the case, we are not without hopes that some advantage may result from the present discussion of this question. For our readers in this colony, it is almost unnecessary to refer to our superiority, not merely in population, but in every element of progress. But for the information of our friends in England, and of the English public, we may refer to one or two obvious tests, of whose accuracy and conclusiveness no doubt can be entertained. The jury list at Auckland, which comprises the whole adult male population, contains little more than 200 names; while the jury list for Wellington contains upwards of 900, and for Nelson upwards of 400. This, of course, decides in the most triumphant manner, the question of numbers. With an English population, perhaps, no surer test can be found of commercial activity, and the extent and importance of mercantile transactions, than the amount of legal business decided in the Supreme Courts of law. Tried by this standard, the superiority of Port Nicholson is even more strikingly evinced. The sittings of the Supreme Court for civil cases, are held twice in the year ; in September and in March. At the last September sittings in Auckland, there were two civil cases, and at the recent March sittings, three. In Wellington, at the September sittings, there were nineteen cases, and at the March sittings, eighteen, and these cases involved an amount of property equal to £40,000 : so that the office of Chief Justice of New Zealand, is, in reality, of less than one-sixth of the importance of that of the Puisne Judge who presides in the Court of Wellington. But even this does not afford a fair comparison between the two districts. Although, in order to swell the importance of the northern division of the island, New Plymouth has been divorced from the other settlements in Cook's Straits, and united to Auckland, with which it never has had, and never can have, any relations, commercial or otherwise, (except, indeed, the payment of taxes), it has not added a single case to the civil business of that court. Its forced union with Auckland has not, however, been without its fruits ; since at the last sittings of the Supreme Court, some criminals were tried at Auckland for an offence committed at New Plymouth, at a cost of time to the witnesses, and of money to the Government, threefold greater than need have been the case, had the trial taken place at Wellington. The number of civil cases at Nelson was three at the September, and five at the March sittings. So that while the population of these two settlements, as evidenced by the jury list, is more than six times as great ; our commercial transactions, as deduced from the number of civil cases tried, is nearly ten times greater than Auckland. We have selected these two tests, not because they are the most favourable to ourselves, but because from their very nature they are above all suspicion, and cannot be denied or evaded. Unfortunately, we have not the necessary returns of exports and imports, to enable us to institute a direct comparison between the external trade lof the two divisions of the colony. We may, however, safely assert, that when those returns are furnished, they will abundantly support the conclusions at which we have arrived. At Auckland, there are no exports but copper ore and manganese ; and the mines that yield these are worked by a Sydney company. In this part of the island, our mineral resources are yet undeveloped ; but our exports of oil, whalebone, woods, and other articles, cannot be estimated, for the last two years, at less than £50,000 a year. In Auckland, we learn from the best information we can collect, the amount of cattle is 200, and of sheep 300. In the southern division there are 400 horses, 3,600 cattle, and 15,000 sheep ! In this estimate New Plymouth has been omitted, because, though nominally belonging to the same division with Auckland, it is, by geographical position, and by mercantile relations, no less than by origfp and by feeling, one of the settlements in Cook's Straits. We have not adverted to *,he disproportioned expenditure at Auckland, because we do not wish to introduce any invidious considerations ;

but we may remark, in passing, that the amount of expenditure in the two divisions of the island, will probably be found to be in nearly an inverse ratio to their relative importance. We have referred only to those topics which are matters of simple calculation, and which involve no questions of justice or policy. From these calculations we have shewn that the southern settlements, which, at least, are not indebted to the fostering care of the Government for their success, comprise upwards of four-fifths oi the population, nine-tenths of the trade, and nineteen-twentieths of the wealth, of the colony. Surely, then, we have a right to enquire, w,hethcr the English Government will continue, at our cost, to maintain the capital in a part of the island from which commerce and population have alike departed ; and where the attempt to maintain British authority has produced results as disastrous as the burning of Kororarika !

Postcript to lard as an Export. —We are glad to find that several settlers in different districts along the coast are actively engaged in preparing lard, and we have reason to know that the S])ectator has heen very instrumental in turning their attention to this important subject. At Taranaki several tons of lard will shortly he in readiness for shipment: And at Wanganui many of the settlers have expressed Iheir intention of preparing lard on a large scale. We have heen furnished with the following account of an experiment lately made hy a settler at Manawatu which confirms our previous statements, and gives additional encouragement to those who are almost persuaded to i emhark in this pursuit, by the certain profit which it holds out to them. A pig weighing 1701bs. was purchased from the natives for twelve shillings. It was killed, and the two hams weighing 421b5., were cut off. The carcass was then cut in pieces and boiled down in a large go-ashore, and 741bs. of lard extracted. The following were the results of the experiment: —

for fuel, lobour, cost of transport to Port Nicholson, and profit. Where potatoes and corn are plentiful, a few weeks' fattening before killing the animals, will repay the cost and trouble by the increased weight of lard, and the settler must bear in mind the whiter the lard the higher price it will command. In the United States, the flesh of the pig/is rendered in the usual manner, and is then'pTaeed in a Hy dfaulic Press, by which means all the lard is expressed, ancTwhat is left forms an oil cake which is used for feeding cattle. It must be remembered that lard is an established article of commerce for which there is an extensive and increasing demand, and on which advances will be readily made by the Bank, and we hope the enterprize of our fellow colonists will soon render it an important export from the settlements of Cook's Staits.

On Monday evening the volunteers assembled at Te-aro, when the following memorandum was read : — Wellington, 25th April 1845.

Captain Russell having kindly offered to drill the Wellington Volunteers with the Regular Troops under his command, the Te Aro and Thorndon Divisions will assemble at their private parades on Wednesday next, at such time as will enable them to join the drill on Thorndon Flat, precisely at 5 o'clock, p.m. M. Richmond, Commandant.

On Wednesday the volunteers assembled in full force at Thorndon, when they were reviewed by Captain Russell with the regular troops ; they were formed in line and in column, and went through the various evolutions in a very satisfactory manner, and we understand the commanding officer expressed himself highly pleased with the efficient state of the corps. It is reported that these reviews will take place every Wednesday, and that, on the next occasion, the volunteers will be furnished with blank cartridge. Firing with the great guns was practised at the head of the bay yesterday. Two of the Company's carronades have been sent up the liutt to strengthen the works which have been erected for the defence of the inhabitants in that district.

The Caledonia, we believe, sails early in the ensuing week, and we think her cargo will prove one of the most interesting ever shipped from tin's port. The ornamental woods are the most complete in variety and in value that have ever been collected, and we have no doubt will obtain a permanent reputation as ao. article of export, under the able management of Mr. Jerningham, who has devoted himself with an untiring industry and zeal to this subject, with the view of rendering the woods of New Zealand profitable to the settlers in a commercial point of view, that is above all praise. While the intrinsic beauty of the woods commands admiration, there is anpeculiarity about the grain which in many instances nearly resembles the veins and markings of marble, that will cause them to be still more sought after. - The bark of the Hinau also, of which several tons are shipped,

offers to the woollen manufacturers the means of dying a permanent jet black from a vegetable material, which has long been considered a desideratum. Nor must we omit to notice the curiosities, particularly a beautiful case of birds, prepared by Mr. Vaughan for C. Clifford, Esq., which we believe is the most complete collection of the kind that has been made, and which will not fail to attract the attention of the lovers of natural history in " the Old Country." We hope the returns of the wool, of which several bales are shipped, will encourage the owners of sheep stations in the Wairarapa, and cause additional stations to be formed in this beautiful district, from the price which wool of such long staple may be expected to obtain. The following is a correct list of the cargo :—: — 526 logs mairi, 15 pieces totara, 863 knots hinau, akiaki, rata, rimu, matepo, totara, rewa rewa, maia, tapi tapi, kowai, &c. &c. &c. 4^- tuns sperm oil, 1 do. humpback do., 16 do. black do. ; 6£ tons tanning bark, 16£ do. hinau do. ; 71 pieces ornamental woods, 16 logs akiaki, 2 logs rimu, 10 cases arrowroot ; 48 bundles whalebone, 19 bales of wool, 7 cases of curiosities,.

We are informed that the great cause of the Bank of Australasia v. the Bank of Australia has ended in the jury being discharged from not being able to agree upon their verdict. This is considered a triumph on the part of the Bank of Australia, as it is supposed in the event of a fresh trial the verdict would be given in their favour. It was fully expected that the Bank of Australasia would prefer settling their claims by an amicable arrangement rather than resort to further legal proceedings, in which case one of the most serious embarrasments to the trade of Sydney would be removed, and commercial affairs in that colony would assume, a healthy and prosperous appearance.

Extract of a letter, dated 23d April, from a settler at Ora-whenua, in the Manawatu district. " The maories are extremely quiet in this neighbourhood, only Rauparaha had a deputation waiting on the natives here, and on some of those at Manawatu, wishing assistance in the event of a row with the Pakehas regarding the Hutt, but his views have been scouted by all in this quarter, at least, such is their story ; they say that if Wata Nui had been well and had wished, them to turn out they would at once have done so, but they wont recognise Rauparaha as their leader, and, besides, they do not admit the justice of his cause. j

We have lately been favoured with an opportunity of turning over Mr. Brees's portfolio, and of examining the series of drawings he lias prepared of Port Nicholson and the adjoining districts, including views of the Wairarapa, and Wanganui, and sketches of different places along the coast on the road to the latter settlement. These sketches are remarkable for their correctness and truth to nature, and the subjects are happily selected. From them our absent friends will be able to form a more just conception of the settlement and the march of impovement, they will better realize The fountain's fall, the river's flow, The woody vallies, warm and low ; The windy summit, wild and high, Roughly rushing on the sky ! and all the varied combinations of beautiful scenery with which these districts abound, than from volumes of description. The views in the valley of the Hutt, and the Wairarapa, the view of Wanganui, and some of the bits near the town shewing the progress of cultivation are particularly interesting. We hope Mr. Brees, on his return to England, may be induced to publish them in a serial work, which we should think from the interest of the snbject would take a high rank among productions of this kind. His panorama of Wellington, including the harbour and surrounding district, we recommend to Mr. Barker as likely to prove most attractive.

! bams weighing 421b. at 5d 0 17 6 2 Ib. lard at 3d 0 18 6 £1 16 0 Jostof Pig 0 12 0 Leaving £1 4 0