THE NEW PROVINCES.

Colonist, Volume V, Issue 465, 8 April 1862, Page 3

THE NEW PROVINCES.

That the Waste Lands ought to furnish the means of adding to the number of the population 'by the promotion of immigration from the mother country, is an established axiom cf policy in all the Australian colonies. It was recognised and acted on in New Zealand before the Constitution Act became law. The larger provinces have, since their establishment, loyally endeavored to fulfil their mission as colonising bodies, and have devoted a proportion of their land revenue to its legitimate use—the introduction of immigrants from Great Britain. The provinces of Wellington and Otago have, in addition, incurred large liabilities in the promotion of this great work.

In an evil hour however the imaginary exigences of political party appeared to render the dismemberment of two of the provinces necessary: Wellington must be divided to punish political opponents; Nelson must be divided to reward political supporters—the New Provinces Act became the law of the land.

We have had occasion to refer more than once to the proceedings of the Hew gentlemen to whom the fair province of Marlborough has been handed over as a patrimony ; we are furnished to-day with a new commentary upon our old text, by his Honor the Superintendent of the province of Hawke's Bay, who has just opened his Council with a speech remarkable at least for its length, if not distinguished for its statesmanlike views or graces of style.

With regard to the great question of colonisation, the views of the Government of the province of Hawke's Bay are thus succinctly stated by the Superintendent, and, if we may judge from the absence of all reference to a matter of such trifling import in the ' reply,' acquiesced in by the Provincial Council :—•

' With regard to immigration, I believe, and am supported by the members of my Executive Council, that to promote the true interests of this province we should give assistance to those immigrants only who are sent for by resident inhabitants, who will be responsible for the amount of their passage money.'

The plain English of which is, that no portion of the revenue of the province of Hawke's Bay will be applied to the promotion of immigration. Indeed, since the auspicious period of its release from bondage to Wellington, no money has been thus applied. Grass and roads are what the fiockowners of Napier require, not men. And grass and roads they are, it appears, strong enough to take upon their own terms without reference to the general interest ol the colony of which they form a part, and of the property of which, the land, they are most selfish and dishonest administrators.

'For the past year, says the Superintendent gravely, ' our revenue has been chiefly derived from the sale of ss. land; but for how many years longer we can venture to depend upon the land as a source of revenue, I am not prepared to venture an opinion.' There are indeed visible signs that the goose which laid the golden eggs is almost eaten up. Nevertheless, the revenue for the year 18G2 derivable from the sale of land, ' chiefly' at ss. per acre, is more than £20,000, and the fortuate runholders of Napier are about to have all the money that they pay for land returned to them in the shape of roads and bridges for the improvement .of their little property, the 'grass' land of Napier, which they are happily enabled to acquire at the moderate price of ss. the acre.

It is no wonder that the appetitite for such an excellent investment grows with

what it feeds on, and that it is not content to satisfy itself in the ordinary fashion. Speaking of the unsatisfactory relations existing at Hawke's Bay between the natives and Europeans, caused by the tresspass of the cattle of the pakeha upon the Maori land, the Superintendent says—

* The natives on various occasions have taken the law into their own hands by seizing cattle, and have made before releasing them such demands—though no doubt just—which to Englishmen were intolerable. We must, however, attribute this to the hitherto supposed inability ot our magistrates to render any assistance to the natives on this question, it never having been considered, until very recently, that natives' claims for trespass could be sustained under the Impounding Ordinance. 'The application of this Ordinance has been brought into force and acted upon at the instance of the General Government, who wish to arrive at an amicable solution of the existing difficulties.

' I must now call your attention to the fact that the leasing of native lands as runs by Europeans has not as yet received any check; on the contrary, I believe runs are still sought for and obtained, notwithstanding that the Native Land Purchase Ordiuance, which is still in force, prohibits Europeans dealing with the natives for their lands.' 'These illegal acts give a very unfair advantage over those persons who, out of respect to this law, have abstained from infringing it, and from availing themselves of a source of profits arising therefrom. 41 venture to predict that these leases, if persisted in, will, in the absence of any legal tenure, be the means of causincr frequent disturbances, not only between Europeans and natives, but among the natives themselves. These leases will also conflict with-the proposed plan by the Governor for the introduction among the natives of law, order, and management of their own affairs.

'The permanent occupation of the Ahuriri plains for pastoral purposes would be highly detrimental to the province. It would be a death-blow to our future prosperity, not only as affecting the interests of the working classes, but of the revenue as well.'

We believe that amongst other measures for the settlement of the native difficulty the introduction of immigrants the increase of the European population, are generally regarded with hope and favor; in Hawke's Bay, whilst care has been taken to prevent any addition being made to the population from without, it is not thought necessary in pursuit of « profit' to abstain from practices at once illegal, and full of peril to the interest of the whole colony of New Zealand. Upon any less authority than that of the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay, we should have been unwilling to accept the picture given of the proceedings of the Government and of the paople, as a true representation of the existing order of things. As however there can now be no room to doubt of the facts, it behoves the central authority, the General Government, in the interest of the whole colony, to take heed to a condition of affairs so unjust at once to the general interests, and so dangerous to the public peace. The General xlssembly will meet in June, we understand. Enough has been said of the working of the New Provinces Act, setting aside the well known and radical defect ot that law, to ensure its expurgation from the statute book, and at the same time the flagrant jobbery and mis-use of the public patrimony, the land, in the model provinces of Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, will demand such modification of the provisions of the Waste Lands Act as may prevent the continuance of abuses which are as scandalous in themselves as they are detrimental to the interests of New Zealand.— Neio Zealander.