THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, August 19, 1846.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 89, 19 August 1846, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, August 19, 1846.

We have noticed in the London New Zealand Journal, a cerain tone adopted in discussing the various questions bearing on the prosperity of this Colony, which we cannot approve. When the Company and settlers were at war with the Government, plain .speaking- was necessary, and sternness of matter might be excusable, though even then we believe tliat a little less personal hostility would have increased the effect of the statements made on behalf of the Company, by divesting them of an appearance of personal ol.jects. Now that the British Government have shewn by the appointment of Captain Grey to this Government, by sending out tr-oops and munitions of war, and- by intended large grants of funds in aid of the Colonial Government expenses, that the real welfare of the Colony is to be promoted, we cannot see the propriety of continuing the old tone in newspaper writing. And if habit has so completely shaped the modes of thought of the writers in that Journal, that they cannot avoid the use of their pc« culiar style, the greatest favour we can ask of them (always acknowledging past services) would be to transfer their anxieties to some other colony. This stands more in need of the services of persons who having been here, and seen the real difficulties which beset thesettiersin their course will honestly make them known to parties interested at home. Did absentees know the real state of affairs here, we should not hear of 30s. to £3 per acre, per annum, being demanded for country land, near the town indeed, but not containing on an average ten level acres in a section. We should not hear of £50, £75, £100, £250 perannum being demanded for tow nacres of which as many shillings, would in numerous instances, be the true annual value, Nor should we be subjected in a season of danger and scarcity, as that we are now passing through, to the painful sight of several hundred acres in the town, well fitted for growing wheat, grasses,, or garden produce, now lying waste. We cannot supposo that the absentees believe the statements put forward by the Company, resjieciiiig the distress and losses of the settlers. If they did they wouldiristruci their agents to let the town acres, say for term&of five or seven yonrs, at rents of £1 per annum. This would p y for cultivation and fences; and suppose die settlers were to gain a little by it, all their accumulation* of capital would add to the value

of the settlement, the cultivation and folic-; mo- in of the acres would give them a va ue they do not now possess, and that value would be so much added to the stock of the colony. . :It seems to us that the absentees have falleninto , a great error in anticipating by twenty years-the increased value of (ho land. Give the settlers time to accumulate ami they will build good houses, and make substantial improvements. But with 14 years leases and a rent for the land alone higher than a proper house rent would be, it-?s not surprizing that-TFew good houses are built, most being only of a temporary description. Let the absentees then cease to wonder that theiragents have failed to let their lands. Let them cease to receive their impressions from Writers devoted to the New Zealand Company's interest. Let them send out fresh instructious to let on liberal'terms; let them release arrears of assigns, because grossly disproportionate rents exacted from the necessities of those who were compelled to remain in the town. And they will be recognized as benefactors of the Settlement, not aa nofr denounced as amongst it greatest enemies.