THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBERS, 1859.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 214, 8 November 1859, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBERS, 1859.

The subject of Assisted Immigration has been of late very forcibly brought before our notice. The various extracts which we have from time to time made from the Canterbury journals, shew us the necessity there is for using- discretion in seeking for labor. The farmer may think that, i^ is highly convenient to create a competition in the labor market, but it is certain to be visited upon him to his cost in some way; or other. At home the heavy poor's rates add much to the yearly expenses of land. Men,' women, and children, induced to leave their homes to settle in our colony, niust live; occupation must be found for the'np,' ir not by the legitimate employers of jlabQiyJby "tfef^overh^ient, and :the resultH^llbe^pfj course, increased taxation/ Our position m| Belsbn is-sd veVy free from the e^OT'Clari-1 terbury has fallen into, that we;may look calmly on;~that province has given a warning to all others, which is too significant to be neglected. It is not so much from published accounts as private sources that we gather our information; it is hardly probable" that any journal would dwell largely on the distresses of its province, aid, although we are told that. the.meeting Ijeld, at Christchurch of those unable to find employment sufficient to, keep their families and themselves was a mistake and a failure, every fresh vessel that arrives from Port Lyttelton confirms the tale of serious distress. A year ago and the cry was, How rich is Canterbury ? She had then a plethora in her money bags, and to ease that, her streets are being filled with unemployedlaborers. We could find alleviation for many of them, but few are likely to be in a position to remove their families here. The exhorbitant rates demanded for travelling accommodation on.our'coasts,makesus practically more separated from each;other than England and Spain; a person might ■ almost journey from London to Constantinople for the same expense, as Auckland to Qtago. . .Were it not for this drawback* an overflow' of 'population into one port would soon be equalised by a gradual, scattering amongst neighboring provinces. ~ Till within the last few months, New Zealand couldlbbast that no man willing .and able to work ne.ed remain unemployed, and however hard the times, there was always a something to be done..and if capital were increased here in the same ratio as labor, we should always find it so. New land has to be broken up and the hundred vinous occupations which are necessary for the carFying on "a community, daily-require filling up. The chief and principal cause of the state of things in Port Cooper, is the reaction caused by restricting overtrading; they had made money too fast, and had; as a province, embarked beyond their means. Paper had been freely distributed, ajidhad been easily circulated—purchases wer^e, made on credit. in the hope of a rise, and when the stop was once put a general stagnation ran through all ramifications of society. The farmer had to look after the means of meeting his acceptances instead of ploughing—the builder had to omit tendering tor future work till he could see himself well clear of the present; and unfortunately, at'this very- time, arrived in masses those wl?,o fead 'heard of the province as it was some six-months before. All new. arrivals are partially disappointed; how much more so must they fee w^o reach their land of adoption at a monetary crisis. We have only >to imagine some nine huncfe^l jsouls landed now in Nelson to form an opinion as, to what must necessarily have ibeen thestate- «f 'thjrigs. :in. Lyttelton. The/ large plains would .a^orb-some, but with tride slacV and old hasps' }?ut half empjoyea, there/could not be much ,ctaosip|rjnew« It has become so much a matter, 9£tysk for one party here to abuse oj^r, present goversns^jJClhat. we have wondered that1 some xiotice has not been taken of the' absmd of destitution and a growl got

out of it. We could have had then some nice little paragraphs about " rights of capital," "competition," "getting our labor in the cheapest market," &c, &c; winding up with a powerful recommendation to the farming interest to import more men. If a working man were of no more value than a horse, we could perhaps agree with such a line of argument, and advocate his importation. But we think—and we write these words most solemnly—that a heavy responsibility attaches to every person who knowing what colonial life is, induces others to adopt it. It has been too much the fashion to beat up. recruits, and accept any, fit or unfit. The "Live Colonist" is kept at some ship broker's Colonial office, who ships off his load as rapidly as he can, careless, 10 long as their passage is paid, as to what becomes of them afterwards. A want of judgment has been shown by the Emigration officer for Canterbury. It is sad that at a time when this grievance is hardly healed, we have to publish extracts announcing such heavy fosses by fire; misfortune seldom conies slow or single, and it certainly has not in Canterbury. But aye^ago we spoke of her as the most prosperous -province amongst us. A feW m&nths, $nd the cry of poverty has been iningfe| witlitheifcrackling and roaring of the flames. It shows how3delicate is the ground on which our success stands. And whilst pitying their reverses, we may be pardoned if we feel thankful for our own escape from a similar fate. " Palmam gui meruit ferat;" and when we know where it is due we but fulfil a duty in offering it. RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Wednesday, 26th October. Before John Poyiiter, Esq., Resident Magistrate. Paul Spanger v. Edwin Snow. —This was an action to recover £10. Paul Spanger sworn: On the 27th September last I put up my horse at the Wheatsheaf Inn at Richmond. In the evening I wanted my horse and I found it was gone. I saw the horse next in town at Mr. McGee's stables, the horse was then in bad condition —lame—horse and saddle covered with mud, and seemed to have been ridden hard; his hind legs were inflamed. . There was an Odd Fellows' dinner at the Wheatsheaf tlie day the horse was taken. The ostler did not know how the horse was taken away. The ostler knew my horse well. It had been put up there several times previously. I sustained loss of the services of the horse to me; it was eight or ten days before I could use the horse again. I paidl3s. 6d. to the Doctor for attending the horse. I consider £10 a fair charge for the damages. The horse was in .good condition when; I put it up at the Wheatsheaf. Frederick, Williams sworn: I.took a horse to the Marine Rojtel on the morning of the 28th September last; it was the horse Mr. Snow rode from Richmond.' I came down with him. It was about one in the morning;, we-did not ride hard; we were about two hours coming. Cross-examined: the ostler at the Wheatsheafbrought both our horses to the door by my orders ; I asked for my horse and Mr. Crooks. —Mr. Snow was to ride Crooks' horse. I - was sober; Mr. Snow was not. , ' Edward John Brock sworw: I gave the Plaintiffthe certificate produced; I examined the horse ; he was covered^ withimud as if he; had been xolling, or been down, on Jjia sjdejf he Qppea\ed to have been hard ridden; the feet Kgre inflamfed^; the in-'1 jury appeared'recent.. It-tyouli.be*about eight or ten days before the horse Was fit; For hard work; the injury was the result of the feet being bruised. The horse had no shoes on the hind feet. The case was then adjourned till Wednesday, the 2nd day of November. ■ r." , Wednesday, 2nd November. , Charles M'Gee sworn saith: I cannot recollect the day of the month, but a horse was brought to my stable on the night of this Odd Fellows' dinner at Richmond, the horse was covered with mud; it was the same horse as the ''defendant claimed the next day; no one had ridden the horse from the time it came into my stable until the defendant arrived; it was in the same state as when it arrived. Robson B. Walcot sworn: Defendant left Richmond on the night of the dinner about, half-past eleven; I passed him about a mile on the other side of the Turf ; he was not riding hard when I passed him; I was with Mr; Wadman in his cart; I kept in company with him about ten minutes; he was just behind us until we got to Nelson; I renienaber him getting off the horse at "Everett's; the horse ran away; I remember seeing the ostler at the Wheat Sheaf; I cannot say whether he was drunkior,s6ber.i - Cross-examined: I did not see the ostler bring the horse for Mr. Snow; I did not see him with the horse, he was within the house at the Wheat Sheaf. . .... .. Samuel Wadman sworn: I was at Richmond on ihe night of the Odd Fellows'dinner'; 1 went out.of the Wheat Sheaf to feedmy hoi*se; I found another horse iv the same stall with mine; I took the horse away to feed my own with some corn; this was between 9 and 10 o'clock; Ido hot know whose horse it was that I took out, but I put the horse in a large stall with two others ; I did not see the ostler holding two - horses outside of the door of the inn; I went into the houaeto see after Mr. Crook, the painter, as hie was farjefe with me, and Snow was to^ ride his horse; I cbuld'hot find him, and when I came put defendant and Williams were gone; I overtook defendant just the other side of C^tain Nicholspn'f f JWuse; we were not going very last when we/overtook the defendant, we kept pretty: well't'ogeiheir'iuto Nelson; I isaw the ostler atthe mii seyfiral; tinies that eveniug; I believe the ostler was: drunkv he could not put the harness impression that defendant ba^jkhe'horse that Crook took up. ■' ■■■■■■■ ■< - ■: ''.{■■'■ ?K.* -'■ Verdict for plaintiff five pounds damages with costs; payable in fourteen days. • ■*■'• < — .»■»., n. ■■■■ '~ '_:■■■■ ■•••'■ Motueka Diggings.—The accounts which we receive of any diggings in this province are so contradictory, that without a personal inspection we are dubious in giving publicity to them. We have made a visit to the above, and can give what we believe to be authentic inforhtation. Not only has gold been found, but it has-been found in sufficient quantities to pay more than Wages; the actual earnings can be estimated at eleven shillings per diem. This, however, isu\yith a prospect of 'larger results. Thejparty^ which has been at that rally ;n.ear the Pig Valley^ have gone higher up prospecting pome five miles beyond Mr. Salisbury s property, and Ye w,ere informed by the wife of one of the diggers that the.'prospect was very promising. A specimen of goja hadl»e.e^ brought ■ down, and was much larger and heavier than iliat J found in the lower gullies; it was described; as | resembling1 in' shape and size * Apple pips.'! A party of Maories have also 'amended the course of the Motueka river, and are about to try their ! ortune. We can say this upon the authority of fhose most intimately acquainted \vith, these dig-. Agings, that almost any number of parties would ifliia remunfixatiye claimp. ;.They , would have to use a-sliuce anft have some, little experience. The.ra are^wo 'r^ds Jo. the^ound lately worked iand a bullock-dray can gjrwitWin ;t\y6'miles, rest can be travelled upon level g^rojind.'"''' j The Case op Phillip JoiiDi.N.-^lt w|U } be; irememhered that onthe 24th ultimo, we vep'orte'd1 la-iagp afcjthe Resident Magistrates Court, ra ..whiten U'person"'of tfs #ame appeared charged ,by, a Mr. "Byrne, ofWanganui, :,w}£§ i faiaed money in Wellington, upon a horse he had lent bun, «n<l having decamped toNeboD»w»ojithe

point of leaving by the ship ■Charles Edward, for Newcastle; when Mr. Byrne arrived in time to stop him., By the decision of Mr. Poynter, he was returned in custody to Wellington,- to answer the charge; where, tho magistrate' decided that that of horse-stealing could not be sustained in consequence of Mr. Homer not having lent the £10 upon the horse left by defendant, rbut upon other property placed in his hands. Upon Mr. Byrne intimating that he did not wish to press the charge, Mr. Bunny, who appeared for tne defence, stated that the expenses incurred by the plaintiff would be paid for, besides all other amounts involved in the transaction. W,e hear that, through the exertions of some friendly Wellington residents he was furnished with a passage to pydney by the Lord Worsley, and on again reaching Nelson, last week, was further assisted with some articles of clothing by some, well-disposed persons.. The steamer left on Friday last, and we hope that the lesson he has learnt r will be productive of gratitude, and more caution for the future in avoiding such foolish and, as he might have learnt, highly dangerous eccentricities. The Wairau.-tA person named Thomas Dagan arrived by the Tasmaniad, Maid in charge of constable John .Ewart, for incarceration jn the Nelson Gaol, for two months, for having set fire to some bush belonging to Mr. Simmonds, storekeeper, Beaver, who estimated the damage at £20. The defendant had offered to pay £10 for the loss sustained by the plaintiff (the fire having occurred through accident), if allowed one month to pay it in, or £5 in cash, and the remainder in sawn timber, at once. These terms were, however, refused, and the defendant was sent to "Nelson by'the magistrate, b. L. Muller, Esq..,- for the <j.erm above Stated. Qnarrival, a dilntj^fcy-.presented itself: . admission was refused, on' the grounds of the hitherto friendly connexion between Wairau and Nelson having been rudely severed by the Separation Act, and that our gaol was not at the service of Marlborough. In this fix the question was referred to the Superintendent yesterday. Since the report of Samuel Woolf being fined £5 for an assault upon his wife, we have heard further " honorable mention "of him. It appears that he has been charged with arson by a person named Hall, living in the big bush; but inconsequence of some slight contradictory evidence, he was dischargedi We are also told that there is to be a meeting held at the Beaver this week to canvas amongst other, questions the .possibility _of altering the port of entry to Port Underwood instead of Picton, and Mr. W. Adams was expected to attend. / ,