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Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 29, 9 July 1845, Page 3

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THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY. IFrom the Times of February 14, 1845.] Yesterday a special meeting of the proprietors of the New Zealand Company took place at tlie New Zealand House, Old Broad Street, to consider the state of their affairs consequent on the course which had been pursued by the Colonial Goverment. Mr. J. Somes, M.P., the Governor, presided, and the attendance of proprietors was exceedingly numerous. Among those present were—Mr. R. D. Mangles, M.P.; Mr. Steward Marjoribanks, M.P.; Mr. H. A. Aglionby, M.P.; Mr. W. Hutt, M.P. ; Sir Ralph Howard, M.P. ; Captain Nairne; Mr. George Lyall, jun.; Mr. G. F. Young; Mr. ex-Sheriff Pilcher; Mr. Alex. Currie; Mr. J. R. Go wen; Mr. E. G. Wakefield, &c. Mr. Harrington, the secretary, read the following report: — " The publication of Lord Stanley's despatch to Governor Fitzroy, of the 13th Aug. 1844, (which will now be read to you) leaves, we fear, no hope of obtaining, except from an appeal to the justice cf Parliament, redress of the wrongs which you are suffering at the hands of the Colonial-office.

" We, therefore, recommend that you authorise us to lay the whole case, if we think it necessary, before the House of Commons in the form of a petition from the Company. " Supposing that you will not fail to approve of this suggestion, we purposely abstain from alluding on the present o-xasion to any of the topics which such a petition must embrace. "In the midst of the follies and disasters proceeding from the Local Government, of which every arrival from New Zealand brings some fresh account, it has been most gratifying to us to learn with what fortitude the colonists of your settlements' have received intelligence of the unhappy position of the Company. "There will he laid before you, in the form of an appendix, copies of all letters of importance which have been received from your local agents since the date of our 14th report." The Chairman said, he deeply regretted thespirit that had been evinced by the Colo-nial-office against the New Zealand Company ever since Lord John Russell resigned the post of Colonial Minister. Had his Lordship remained at the head of the Colonial-office up to the present time, the Company and the 10,000 British subjects in New Zealand would have been in a very different situation to that in which he regretted to say they were now placed. The Colonial-office had not ! carried out either the spirit or letter of the agreemenfentered into with the New Zealand Company. When Lord J. Russell granted a charter of incorporation it was upon certain conditions, viz.—that the New Zealand Company should make over to her Majesty's Government all lands to which the Company had a claim. In return the Government were to make over as many acres of land at ss. per acre as the Company had laid out money for the benefit of the Colony, subject to the award of Mr. Pennington, which sum amounted to £218,148 4s. 2d., and entitled the Company to 762,593 acres, for which the Government were bound to give to the Company a clear and bona fide title ; and he (the Chairman) maintained that the Company had nothing to do with the native claims. That was a matter between the Government and the natives, and he therefore feared there was no other course left for the Company but to appeal to Parliament for justice and for that compensation which was cleary due to them. (Hear.) The Secretary, then read the despatch of Lord Stanley referred to in the Report, and the statements contained therein appeared to be considered as most unfavourable to the Company. The reading of the despatch having concluded,- — A Shareholder inquired the reasons why Lord J. Russell, when in power, had withheld the grants to the Company. The Chairman said, the principle reason at that period was, that the surveys wer_ not made, but there were several others of a minor character, which rendered such a course on the part of Lord John Russell impossible. Mr. George Uobins expressed his confidence in the Directors of the Company, but would certainly like to know what course the Board would recommend in the present emergency. Companies of various kinds had sprung up in all parts of the country, but there were none of them wheie the directors excelled those of the New Zealand Company in honor and integrity. (Hear, hear.) He considerel the proprietors had been most unjustly treated by Lord Stanley, and on his shoulders rested the blame. In the present state of affairs something decisive must be done. It would be their duty to go to Parliament, hot with any milk-and-water measures, but iv the spirit of determination that should be expected from men convinced of the soundness and justice of their cause. (Hear, hear.) Dr. Terry moved the adoption of the Report, which was seconded by Mr. Watson, and carried unanimously. Major Curphey moved the adoption of a petitionto be presented fo Parliament, pointing out the wrongs which the New Zealand Company'had to complain of. Major Chase seconded the motion, which was also carried riem. con. >.;. Mr. Aglionby, M.P., said, he had been requested by their Chairman to explain what had taken place on the part of the Colonialoffice, with respe t to the land belonging to the Company in New Zealand. So far from the Colonial Department using any endeavours to free the Company from difficulty every impediment had been placed in their way. Lord Stanley had no right to taunt the Company with obtaining a meagre majority, when it was found that Mr. Hope, Mr. Charteris, and Lord Francis Egerton, were amongst the members who composed it. The question was, whether the Company had or had not. been treated in the manner, by the Coloniaj

Department, they h:«d a right to expect, and the Committee affirmed they had not, by a 7to 4. He (Mr. Aglionby) would publicly declare it, that the whole couise of the policy of the present Colonial Secretary had been to ruin the Company, and destroy the settlers of the colony. After at much further length denouncing the course which Lord Stanley had pursued, Mr. Aglionby concluded by expressing his conviction that the British Legislature would never permit the wrongs which had been put upon the Company, and the settlers in New Zealand, to continue. After some further discussion, a vote of thanks were passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated.

Yesterday a long Parliamentary return was issued, shewing the revenue of the colonies, and th_ expenditure of the same for the year 1842. The account of New Zealand is not given in the present list, having already been' printed. It appears that the revenue of New South Wales was £841,265 Bs. lOd. and the expenditure £804,928 19s. Bd., leaving a surplus revenue of £39,282 9s. 2d. The Great Britain steam-ship, which now lies off Blackwall, is open to the inspection of the public, at the modest rate of 3s. 6d. each individual. Why'not a shilling or sixpence, in order that the industrious classes may examine the interior of this noble vessel. Contemplated Alteration of the Jewish Sabbath. —A correspondent of the Archieves Israelites, mentions with indignation, that some of the Continental Journals have reported, that the Central Consistory of Paris have a project in view of changing the celebration of the Jewish Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. Merchant Seamen's Fund.—An appendix to the report on the Merchant Seamen's Fund has just been printed, showing the particulars invested funds and balances iij hand, with their estimated value, &c. Among the bills printed for consideration in the present recess is one to amend the laws relating to the relief and support, in certain cases, of merchant seamen, their widows, and children. It is proposed by this amended bill tbat masters shall pay 2s. and seamen Is. a month towaids the Merchant Seamen's Fund, which, it would seem, parties wish to perpetuate. There is a provision to provide-a fund for masters and seamen in case of shipwreck, from which they are to obtain assistance for their support, and to procure means (and a sum for clothes) to enable them to return to the port to which their ship belonged.