THE COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 660, 23 February 1864, Page 2

THE COLONIST.

NELSON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1864. THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT QUESTION. [Concujdino Aeticle.] The Capabilities of Nelson and Wellington. Compared.' Some of the advantages which can he named in favor of Nelson heing the " place in the neighborhood of Cook's Straits" which ought to be selected as the seat of Government, may be here stated. Before doing so, however, we shall refer to the amendment moved in the Assembly by Mr. Stafford, who objected to the removal from Auckland, because of the " native insurrection raging within a few miles of the seat of Government," and because of "the effect such a proceeding would have upon the native mind, and upon the Imperial Government." Mr. Stafford also argued that between the question of the seat of Government, and that of the place of meeting of the Assembly there • is a very distinct difference; and further, alluding to the History of Europe, he made the astounding statement that " the kingdom of Spain had lost Portugal, (which was once joined to it,) because the seat of Government hadbeenmaintainedat Madrid"! "We doubt if even in Alison's History this blunder is to be found. We know that after Alphonso, Count of Portugal and vassal of Spain, had rendered his office hereditary, his son Henry on returning victorious from a war with the Moors in 1139, was greeted as king of Portugal. This title and this position were afterwards confirmed by the Spanish Cortes, and Portugal then became an independent kingdom. Subsequently wars arose between the two nations. Pour centuries later Portugal again fell under the Spanish yoke; and continued so for sixty years, when by the aid of England, an internal conspiracy against the Spanish power was successful. Portugal again became independent, and John, Duke of Braganza, a scion of the first royal family was made king. It has been a kingdom ever since. If Mr. Stafford's other "facts" are as ideal as the comic notion that Spain lo3t Portugal "because the seat of Government was at Madrid," we fear the best lawyer would make but a poor business of his case. Then, as for the place of meeting of the Legislative Courts of an empire, or colony not being necessarily also the seat of Government—can Mr. Stafford, or any one else, point out a case where these are not identical? "We sink the changing about that has taken place in New Zealand, because this present agitation proves that here we are in a transition state. It is true that during the native insurrection it might be inexpedient to remove, but the very fact that there is always more or less danger from the existence of a hostile body " within a few miles of the seat of Government" is a reason why the Colonial archives should not be endangered by a possible incursion of the enemy on the capital, as was at one time feared while, a few months ago, the Governor and the General and troops were at Tamnaki. It is a similar reason which made Washington and not New York (which is liable to attack from sea), the capital of the United States, and the place of its legislative assemblies. So far as the effect the removal would have on the Home Government, that, we presume, would be nothing more than resulted from a similar change of the capital of the Canadas from Quebec to Toronto; and that effect was simply nothing at all, —the thing was done. The " effect on the native mind," which Mr. Stafford seems to dread, is also likely to be nil. We fancy that General Cameron will give a good and sufficient account of the natives, and the Maori mind will thus receive a lesson which the latest of the race will never neglect. Then, after that lesson is taught, the 20,000 military settlers who are to be introduced into the North Island, will take care that the native mind will guard its physical wel- ' fare, and never more attempt to overthrow the supremacy of the Queen. Mr. Stafford, when speaking to his constituents at Nelson, referred to this question, and in an explanatory note, which was printed in our columns, he expressed the opinion that Auckland possessed the greatest advantages for the seat of Government, and, " after Auckland," JPicton was the most suitable site in all New Zealand. The hon. gentleman did not give his reasons for this preference, beyond the statement of his opposition to Wellington, which he based mainly on the circumstance of that province being in the North Island, because, if there were any change, the place chosen ought to be on the Middle Island. But he has given no public reason which would show that Picton possesses advantages equal to those of Nelson, and, on' this point, anything like general concurrence with the opinion of Mr. Stafford does not exsit.

The argument iii favor of the site on the Middle Island is one which is important as tending greatly to prevent that separation of which, we wrote on, Itiday. IftheG-o.

vermnent were situated at Nelson there could not possibly be any excuse for the more southern provinces crying out for the establishment of the Middle Island as a separate colony^ : .' The telegraph line which is shortly to ba erected, would, if Nelson were the spot chosen, place the Government in instant communication with all the provinces of the Middle Island, where the growtOi* population has been far the greater and more rapid. "We. believe the decision will be mainly between Nelson and Wellington. It;is averred on English authority, that the contract for the Panama mail route makes "Wellington the port of call for the steamers on that line, but we incline to the opinion that this is premature, and in the absence" of official authentication of the statement it may be taken as undecided, especially as, so far as is known, Mr. Crosbie Ward may very possibly have exceeded his authority. It is true that the Inter-colonial Steam Navigation Company, which has undertaken the contract, is reported to have in view the purchase of the stock of the New Zealand Steam Company whose head-quarters is at "Wellington. At least an amalgamation of the two companies has been very distinctly spoken of; and it is not improbable that the choice of Wellington as the port of call may been made on account of the first-named company, for the purpose of inducing easier terms, and greater readiness for the amalgamation on the part of the Wellington Company. 'But the mail due this week will most probably explain all that has been done on this subject. The comparative advantages of Wellington and Nelson for the seat of Government are worthy of notice. Apart from our climate, which, (though it is admitted that Nelson is the Montpelier of New Zealand,) is a less important consideration ; there are other points which give a preponderance in favor of Nelson. We have a capacious bay, all over which there is splendid anchorage, and where there are rarely any severe storms felt; the large expanse of Blind Bay being calm and untroubled when a powerful wind and heavy sea are frequently to be found outside. And j even should a storm arise affecting the bay, ! which, as we have said, is of rare occurrence', there are always safe havens of easy access —the Waimea River, near the port, Astrolabe on the West, and Crokelles Harbor on the East side of the Bay. It is said by some that our harbor entrance is difficult of access, but we have the authority of Mr. Cross, our Pilot and Harbor Master (than whom there [ is no more experienced pilot in any New Zea- ' land port) for stating, that a very trifling alteration, near the Arrow .Rock, the removal of a small reef 140 feet long, at the North East of that rock, would considerable widpn the entrance at that particular spot, and would, by allowing the free run of water, remove entirely the " entrance ledge," a sand bank formed by the protecting influence of this small reef. This would render the harbor much more easily taken, and it could be effected at but a small expenditure of money. We have here more land available | fm' huilding purposes within the city limits than \v eilington possesses, and as for the great evil of earthquakes, to which Wellington is notoriously subject-in the heaviest one that ever occurred in Nelson no chimneys fell except some old ones built of raiid, and no damage was sustained by any brick building, even of single brick thick, except in one or two instances where a few loose bricks were detached from the upper part of one or two chimneys. Wellington harbor for extent is admittedly one of the finest in New Zealand; but the soubriquet of " Windy Wellington" has not been given to the port without reason. The spacious harbor is so subject to frequent and violent gales from tho uorth-east and southwest, that steamers frequently are obliged to have both anchors down, and in addition to keep full steam on to prevent them dragging. Pull-rigged ships have been blown from their anchorage in the middle of the bayharbor, and driven ashore. More might be said on this' point, but we dislike making such comparisons, and the number of wrecks which are to be seen on the shores of the harbor, sufficiently testify to the- influence of these gales. Wellington, unfortunately for itself, is the acknowledged centre of earthquake action in the Colony; and its liability to this calamity is well known, while the damage it has sustained and the loss of life resulting therefrom are equally so. The physical advantages which Nelson so much more largely possesses ought to weigh in the choice of the Seat of Government, aud .we shouldhope the production of coal ; and the commercial application of this mineral with which the province abounds will not be much longer delayed. If Golden Bay should prove the depository of a true seam of coal, as by recent sinkings at Pakawau is deemed probable, a supply of coal, of great service to the Panama line and Government steamers, could be supplied from our province from a locality near to Nelson City, and more cheaply than anywhere else in the southern hemisphere. • The central position which would be secured by having the Seat of Government at Cook's Straits, and the justice in point of equally regular communication which the two islands would then obtain, is shared by both Nelson and Wellington, the latter having to some small extent the advantage of being rather more centrally situated as regards the East coast. But this difference is slight and amounts to only a few hours' steaming. The advantages we have enumerated appear to us to be altogether in favot^ of Nelson. Briefly to recapitulate these :—We have the superiority of our climate, and the general amenity of the province as a place of residence (Bishop Selwyn terms it "Sunny Nelson," aud he is right),—subordinate, but certainly not trivial qualifications. It is nearer to Sydney and to Melbourne than Wellington is. To select Nelson would break the back bone of the separation movement, if the additional cost it would create should fail in silencing the agitators. Telegraphic communication with two-thirds of the population could be inexpensively completed without the outlay for a sub-marine cable in. Cook's Strait, which in the present state of New Zealand finance we are ill able to bear. Our harbor admits vessels drawing fully seventeen feet of water, and allows of their being moored with that draught to a wharf, where they can float at. low water. Any alteration that might be required to improve Nelson hirbor could, be effected byengineering sMUj biitj

an Archimedes could not stop the gales with which Nature too liberally supplies "Wellington. In Nelson an open boat can go out to the bay in all weathers; but in "Wellington such a thing is often an impossibility. "Weigh the various benefits, and •we think there is little doubt as to which

Bide the balance will incline. "We, of course, be accused of writing with the fondness of a partial eye; but we shall gladly listen to the other side of the case.

VOLUNTEER SHOOTING- FOR Me. MORSE'S PfilZE Curs.—Below we give the scores made at the different shootings which have taken place for Mr. Morse's three prize cups, the competition for which is limited to Companies No. 1 and 4. These comprise Nelsou company which includes the Wakapuaka contingent, and Waimea West and Motueka. The first three detachmeuts fired last week as follows :—