THE "Wellington Independent." Saturday, June 12, 1852.

Wellington Independent, Volume VIII, Issue 696, 12 June 1852, Page 2

THE "Wellington Independent." Saturday, June 12, 1852.

We find in the Melbourne gapers that the necessity of the Government reducing, the size of tlie sections of Crown Lands, was felt at Victoria, as well as iv this colony. Tt is contended that-tho offering of Waste Lands in smaller lots would have been jit all times a great public benefit; but now the importance of fixing,, toy every possible means to'tlie,, colony that population its gold fields may.altratU,, should bo held paramount over everyo other consideration, and they therefore maintain that the sections should be re-' duced to such a size as would meet theviews, and come within the means ■ ofi such persons. It is possible, it is argued, that the Government has never been; requested to put up land in smaller lots, and only waits for such a dermoid to bo displayed, when it would at once be met. If it is important that the waste hinds be sold in small lots iv such a colony as- ■ Victoria, it is certainly of not less irupor-i tanco to a colony liko this; and- if it is necessary to adopt such a plan in Victoria in order to keep thoso whom the:; gold fields may attract; it is certainly equally as nccessury to adopt such a plan •in New Zealand in order not only to root thoso to tbe soil who have taken up their residence here, but to induce others to come to our shores and settle among us, after tho gold hunting mania expires. In reference to the great question of emigration, the people of Australia seemalso to think wilh us that tho' limited number of small'capitalists who come to this part of the world, in comparison with those:who emigrate to America, is

greatly owing to these two onuses-.-—'l ho impassibily which appears to exist, ot such "a class of men becoming small freeholders, consequent on tho high price, and .large sections of waste land; and the want of quick and regular postal communication between __these colonies aud the mother country. * Iv reference to the importation of labour we are deI cidedly of opinion that tho views advo- ' cat ed'bv Mr. Morrison in tho pamphlet to which wo alluded the other day are substantially correct. The colonists themselves and the home authorities have thought too highly ofthe boon they were proffering to the English poor, and have so overloaded and complicated the matter, that notwithstanding tho elucidation of lectures and tho commendations of agents, the labourer, in despair, says—"There's so much bother about, it I wont go at all." Seriously, it is to be apprehended, that it is to the fastidiousness of the colonists, and to _ the vexations restraints thrown around-Aus-tralian Emigration at home, that the disinclination to proceed to Australia is, in a great measure to be attributed. To which may bo. added, uot merely distance, but that bane to Australia—convictism, us having a deterring influence on the English poor from coming even to the neighbourhood of Botany Bay—the " bad j place" of their childhood, tho " bogy " of their infant dreams. The Governor of Victoria J. La Trobe, either is, or is to be, Knighted. The Geelonq Intelligencer says—the news that their Governor is to be Sir Joseph La Trobe has been received with contemptuous indifference, which he ascribes to the Australians having lost much of their English taste for titles. A New York Editor bantering bis countrymen on thenpassion for moustaches and military titles, says that General Wallbridge, who has been " figuring lagely in the Loudon papers," is among those who rightfully wear their warlike honours, for he is a " General Agent for a Canal Boat." Tlie second session of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, under " independence ami " separation," commences on the Bth of June; and a " stormy session "is anticipated. The progress of events, we are told, and the development of the public mind, so far as they can be scanned in tbe whirl of precipitous chauges which has overtaken the colony, seem lo assure us of a bold and stormy session. Questions ofthe. gravest constitutional bearing,- it is understood, will be brought forward; and as the position of power and patronage in which the Executive is entrenching itself, is such as to awaken the dormant patriotism of the most apathetic, it may be reasonably expected that these questions will be discussed with an earnestness und out spoken vigour, and be supported on the popular side with a .generous co-operation never before wit--4.ess.ed within the Council Chamber. -

That'colonies, after coming to maturity, should manage their own affairs, and be left to their own unaided, aud natural resources, has become one ofthe received and popular doctrines alike of political economists, and of British Colonial Reformers, but if this mean a total separation from the Mother Country, and complete independence of the British Crown, we cannot believe such doctrines are popular in Australasia, or that their practical adoption would be ot all desirable. Tt is not separation that the Australians , desire, but the management of their own internal alfairs; it is only in their failing to obtain the latter, that the former vvould be, in self defence, rendered necessary. We rather think the cry of " separation" is only got up to obtain that measure of justice from tlie Colonial Office which only fear of the dismemberment of the Empire, could induce it to bestow. It is deplorable to think, that before only moderate and just demands can be listened to by the Imperial Government, such a threat, and if need be the enforcement thereof, should become absolutely necessary, by one after another of every British colony. Despite the influence of the gold, and the fact that the miners of South Australia might be supposed to be the very best kind of men fitted for tlie work, of gold digging, the copper-mines of South Australia have not only not been abandoned, but the yield of the Burra Burra Mine becomes regularly more productive. In Iheir last report, the directors say that the rcturu of so many of the miners from Victoria, and their sottling down ( contentedly at the Burra, is doubly satisfactory, as vouching for the goodness of the employment, as well as a correct discernment oia the part of thoso employed. To this it is added, that, with uninterrupted quarterly dividends—tho possession of steam power—-the weekly accumulation of subsoil treasure—the almost instantaneous transformation of that treasure into merchandise of sterling value—and the concomitant expenditure of two vast establishments—the Burra Burra will reassert its claim to the highest consideration, and South Australians will have more reason than ever to be proud of their monster mine.

i -Tt'is our melancholy duty to. record the total loss of the schoouer Henry, of this port, in Filzroy Bay, in the sudden gale on Saturday evening last, when it is feared all on board met with a watery grave. Captain Cole, of the Henrietta, who arrived here on Saturday afternoon, from Nelson, saw the Henry a few miles behind him, when outside the heads. The windyvas then blowing moderately from tho north-west, and continued to do so until tho Henrietta, arrived at ber an. johorage, about 4 o'clock, p.m. .Soon afte-

U is, j„st as it was getting f' ! ' f. i suddenly chopped round to * east, when a heavy squall s. lung vi, vhich was accompanied by thunder & ligb - ning.and with every indication o as, vero and tempestous night. "'VVT, posed that tho Itoj/woHlbo ime the wind changed, in the dusk o the evening, near to the Leads, and that in the darkness she missed, or mistook he entrance, which could not have possibly been tho case, from tho position she was then in, had there been as much as-a ship's lamp, saying nothing ol a lighthouse, to distinguish the passage nlto our harbour. It becomes again our unpleasant, as we have long and often found it our imperative duty, to enquire where is the Lighthouse which was to be erected lust summer P What has become of the revenue from the extra duty on spirits, which was to have been devoted towards the cost of its erection ? ■ Would the lives sacrificed by the wreck of the Henry have been spared had the local government done its duty, had our Governor-iu-Chief performed his promise, had a Lighthouse been erected? And if not, who is to blame for this sacrifice of human life, at whose door is this great sin'in the sight of God and man to bo laid? Will tlie following extracts from the Independent- of the 30th of July last answer this, and these questions ? Will they not shew at one and the same time tlie culpable negligence of our paternal govern ment, and the utter worthlessness of lhe promises of our Governor-iu-Chief. "The deputation wore received by Sir George Grey, who informed them that on Saturday (July 26) the Council had voted the duty arising from the extra shilling a gallon on spirits to tho erection of a Lighthouse, and that he was prepared at once to advance the sum required." His Excellency concurred most fully in the opinion of the deputation as to the desi-. rableness of having another Lighthouse ou the Brothers ; and concluded by ".as-,; suring the deputation that while he vvould do his utmost to cause the erection of a second lighthouse, yet that he icould at once commence building a Harbour Lighthouse, either on Pencarrovv Head, or on such other site as should be deemed most suitable

Can any one we ask--and we put the question more in sorrow than in anger — can' anyone say that this solemn promise of his Excellency has been fulfilled ? Has a light-house been erected, is there a lighthouse .in. the course of erection ? Has the extia duty levied ou spirits been even put aside for that object ? Has his Excellency advanced the sum required ? AU these questions must be answered in the negative. There was no lighthouse when the Maria was wrecked nearly a year ago, .ucl there is nol one now, though eleven mouths have nearly passed since one was promised. The wreck; of the ■ Henry.in ull-himiau probability.would not! have happened, and this fearful sacrifice of human life and valuable property would not have taken place, had this .promise so solemnly made,,been as sacredly fulfilled.

It is'in vain for our Executive.to plead that timo was required to ascertain- the best site for a lighthouse, a mouth at most vvould have been sufficient for such a purpose, and if it.was determined to send to England for an iron one, there would have been plenty of time after the order was given, to have decided where it was to be erected. We have iio official information before us to shew, that a single step has yet been taken on this important subject. We did indeed learn from a' very poor source that an order was sent, to England for ah. iron lighthouse by the Midlothian, but if nine months were, wasted by our precious Executive in determining whether it should bo an iron one, we have no means of knowing whether it would not take nine months more even to write the order. If the promise of the Govei - nor-in-Chief that a lighthouse should be erected in the 'course of last summer has beeu broken, what dependence can we place on tho, information that one has been sent for, coming' as it does at second hand through.ysuch a Journal as the Spectator P. - '■'■' ' We aro happy to learn that a public meeting will be held at Plimmer's Wharf, at 2 o'clock this day, and we trust the at T tendance will be sufficiently large to convince the Local Government that human life is no longer to be trifled with. Wo trust it will not prove true, what we prophesied in our issue of March 27, " that after each shipwreck we shall have examinations, and enquiries, and talk, but no Lighthouse. The extra duty on spirits, will continue to be leived and spent, but no Lighthouse. His Excellency .will deal out his sympathy, his promises, and pledges, as liborally as hitherto, for thoy cost*)nothing, but no Lighthouse. The Schooner Henry was 30 tons burthen, and the property of Mr. Mackay of this town, fehe had been cbartered by the Commissariat to convey the "Military Stores left at tho Porirua barracks to Wellington. Her cargo consisted :of 20 tons Ordnance Stores, chiefly- iron bedsteads, shipped by J. O, Ham ley, Esq., and 5 tons Commissariat Stores) shipped by J. C. R. Wood, Esq. She sailed from the Porirua Harbour on Friday morning, June 4th, having on' board only the master and crow, four in all. The news of the wreck .was. brought to Wellington by Mr. Russell, and also by Mr. Walker. . ; .-; -. ■

Names ofthe Master-and crew.; of-.tho, Schooner Henry, lost'on Saturday-even-ing last, at Port Nicholson Heads., '■";' '■' John Holmes, Master, native ''place, Portsmouth, aged.29. . .. ;. -::' :: - .., :

Kenneth M'Kenzie, native place, Garlough, aged 32. ' W. Fisher, native place, Kilpatrick aged 24. ■ ' Ono body has been found on the beach but has not as yet been identified. We '"understand all .except' the mas'ter'vvero comparative strangers in t -Wellingt6n)'-'''-

"' We are requested byCaptain Coilas' to' ' state that tho Canterbury, chartered to ■ carry .stock to Port Cooper, had-'.beoii taken off the birth from the want of a sufficient number of hands to man her,

Tho Titan chartered by Messrs. Hervey Johnston & Co., to carry timber and New Zealand Produce to Melbourne will sail pn Monday. We understand Mr. Johnston; •; proceeds as a passengor by her, and we have no doubt from the public spirit'of that gentleman, his visit'to Port Phillip/.-;; will result in opening up a trade between Melbourne and Wellington which from the demand which exists for, our. agricul-: tural produce, cannot fail in the long run to' bo highly beneficial to this town.