Untitled

Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1310, 28 July 1858, Page 5 (Supplement)

better than a shamV Very substantial beuclita are. unquestionably offered to military and naval settlers of all grades j but that fact only places in stronger contrast the miserable delusion attempted to be pnlmed off on the working classes as even-handed justice. With your permission, I will hazard a few remarks on such land.regulations as seem to call for notice. I According to the 18th 'Regulation, the Governor is to be empowered to dispose of land to the person or persons at whose- instance the extinguishment of the Native Title shall have been effected, at the rate;of 10s. per acre, with the cost of the release of.the Native rights and of survey superadded. Now it appears tome that this regulation, if it do not actually propose legislating' for Mr. St. Hill's behoof, is eminently calculated to preserve him, and persons similarly circumstanced, unscathed, notwithstanding their violation of the law. It looks very like a bill of indemnity in bis behalf. I recollect that when challenged with illegally holding a mn from the natives, he said he would be most happy to facilitate, through means of his influence with them, the public purchase of the land lie occupied, and certainly, with such a regulation as this in prospective, he very well might. Waiving tbis point, however, it strikes me that the power proposed to he vested in the Governor is very objectionable; that its direct tendency would be to alienate large tracts of country for runholdiiig purposes, which may be eminently suited; for ; agTiculture,,and. to create j a sort of bastard lauded, aristocracy, at the expense of the musses. It cannot be. too.often insisted on, that however vitalthe 'wool-growing interest is in the infancy of a country, it must, with the increase of populatioif'and extension of agriculture, be but of secondary and "yearly decreasing .[importance; and therefore to alienate krge ; tracts of arable land in its behalf, is to aggrandize it ut the expense of posterity. Some perhaps .will consider that if posterity will be -principally affected by such a disposition of the public property as that deprecated, the question involved is of little moment, but i deny that we can be justified in squau : dering-any portion of the people's patrimony, because the people existent may not be sensibly affected thereby, supposing, for argument's sake, such lobe the case. That Mr. J. Wakelield should have introduced into the " Land Begtt lalions" this clause in favour of his runupMing accomplices, does not surprise me, as I make uo doutit it is oiie of the articles of the secret treaty concluded betweeu the high contracting parlies. ■■■ - ';. ■

I would now offer a few remarks on what Mr. Wakefield .is pleased to rterra 'VCredit Lund," though-it would'be hard to eo'ric'eivfe'a greater misnomer. Instead l of his scheme as a system of Credit Land nn deferred payments, why not call it what it. is—a system of leasing, lands with the right of purchase, from which credit is studiously excluded ; the first two years rent havingto.be, moreover, paid in advance. It would puzzle even the depraved'ingenuity "of a Wakefield, to show how this system of leasing lands with the right of purchase, can with propriety. b a termed," a' system of Credit Laud on deferred payments." This political ! jujrgler is egregiously mistaken if he suppose.that he'cau throw'dust in the eyes of the working classes ivith such au elaborately false .definition. Their ;acumeu is ■greater than he .bargains for, and they can see that his scheme, ostensibly fur the amelioration of their cundiiiou, v, liv« hiwVclf,.yynfoc and huttow." "

It is worthy of note to the locality selected for the development of thissip''rojeet;'" the Manawatu," and othei districts yet to be- purchased from the Natives, and which'possibly never may. 3f there wore any real boon in the measure this looks very like' postponing- it to tire ; Greek'Kalen'ds. But conceding for argument iSafce, that the Manawatu may at no very dis.taut date, be purchased from the and therefore available for tho :experimeut,-I say it advisedly that no public 'works being in course of prosecution there, and there'being compari- '■ lively little employment to be had.frpm settlers, the working classes could 'no'c-aVail themselves of the iseneh'ts so illusorily hold out. To be .generally serviceable to them, the project must be carried into effect in districts where remunerative employment can be had from day to (lay, either on the public works or from settlers. This system of leasing land willi ;x right of 'purchase, (for I will not.use the false glosses of Jeriiiugliiun Wakeliuld) is a. real,boon to those j who like Mr. St. Hill have been residing in. j contravention of the law ' on Native territoiy, (a I ■ particular clause including such in its operation) but i> no i am whatever ,, to the working classes without tho special proviso suggested. ■ : T'urther-I should like, to be informed why accoiding to the 38th regulation, while the Superintendent is to be empowered to set apatt land for special settlement, for •' Immigrants from the United Kingdom and elsewhere," is . he debarred from acting a similar part toward " Immigrants from the Australian Colonies ;" and why Isy the 41st ilegulation is the same invidious distinction observed, Australian Immigrants who arrive in tho country at their own • expense, being precluded from receiving land free of cost, while all others so arriving are entitled to this privilege •■■■■; I should like to know the philosophy of. the .52nd Ilegulation, which makes • ducks' and drakes of the people's patrimony, bestowing it after a wholesale fashion on members of the military and naval professions of all grades— 400 acres to every commissioned officer; SO acres to every non-commissioned and warrant oflicer ; and (>0 acres to every private soldier, marine, and seaman. Wherein consists the rationale of such astounding liberality. Do the professional services of these heioes entitle them ,to higher consideration than ordinary mortals ? I deny it, hut supposing such to be the case, it' is the business of the parent still not ours to reward them. Iv South Australia, uud I believe in the other Australian colonies " no land can be alienated except by way of sale," and accordingly military and naval settlers have to pay for their land like other people, and .until we adopt tho principle of Free Grants, it would' be well that a similar rule obtained here, as the only effectual security against jobbings But perhaps Mr. Jerningham Wakefield having 1 in view the warlike character of.the Maori population, is anxious to indoctrinate: us with the principles of the art military,by the dispersion amongst us of military settlers of all grades. This to my mind is u:vcryi round-about aad futile way of proceeding; give tho colonists arms, embody a militia, toll them that it is to themselves principally they' must look for selfpreservation, arid with the "rapidly increasing population of the country, they' vvill be found equal to any emergency proximato or remote. But perhaps this proposed,bounty to the military and naval professions is thrown as a sop to the Cerberus of centralization-; perhaps the intention is to,conciliate the support of-Down-i iug street in the person of its colonial represen- . tative, by making.these liberal offers of land ■ (paid for with colonial funds) to : the younger • sons of England's aristocracy. If they must be , degraded to the condition of state paupers, if their own improvident habits and the law of

primogeniture have reduced them to this paw let them become pensioners on the bounty of the parent stute, and not on that of the colonists. Britain's iiristocracy hai' BatfeiSeKilSJa-W enough on the people, they must be taught that* their offspring will not be permitted to play the same game here. ... . Mr.v Editor—l: will, not able space much longer. In this land, project considered in, all its parts, % recognise the gtniusofthe master • spirit that- devised it*' the crafty policy so characteristic of the man,- the lerefal parses lifojljr'tb be interested therein being mdtiially bribed to connive at concession* each to the other ; but while others are to be bribed by a reality, an attempt is made to bribe the masses by,a sham.. -Pai^es/^ho ::like Mr, St. Hill are occupying* Native terri'tonr iv contravention of the law, are bribed' tpsupporftlie' measure by the proviso 'that'th'ey%ay ! purchase' the whole of their runs • (wiilr the ■'GoTerirtij'gconsent) pruvided they, have'beeh'.ingtrume'nlaT in bringing about the ;extiiipiishineut;of'tbe Native title; or, if it do,not suit • thenvto make' so large a purchase, they may.;buy 3pp- acres provided they have been violating rtlie Jaw for a period of five years previously!" The representative of Downing street, Govermiv.Browne isallured to give his assent to the regulations by the prospect held out of providing a last resource for importunate solicitors of place and office in the ranlis of the arinyand navy, and the working classes are'bribed .to. raise no objections, by a plausible scheme; the fealkalioil • of .which is indurimtelypostponed,' and which'»t" best is, but illusory. ;■•-: ■ ,o> iU ;. ■ i '.,..i.:J ~■■,[ ~,<■•■■ Sir, on beha'f of the .peopln,, I ;wish to be informed, is it yet toft late to prevent these pernicious ilanjl;,regulations becoming law. Is it competent for the Superintendent to veto them or does their rejection or,adpjuVjn'rest with the Governor? ln ; th'e;lat't.er .c.iise L 'supposing the people adverse to their' adoption, What is the proper course to be pursued iwith a'view to the prevention of so greata calamity asTis involved in the realization of thisland-prpject.

; PIIILALETHES,

REPORT!: of they-DIRECTORS of the LIVERPOOL and. LONDON FIRE and LIFE' INSURANCE,.'COMPANY, to the Twehtjj-sekond annual General Meeting of the. Proprietors,.held parsndrit'to the Pro- ' visions of '■■ the Deed-'of' Seitlenient, on the Eleventh day of Febrtuir'y\ 1358; in the Company's Offices, I, • Dale-street, ■ Liverpool. In the summary of the,; Company's; operations .during the pastyear, evidence will be found of ,its...cpn.tinucd progress,and. prosperity. '"•■ ; An ■auialgamutidri-'witW die 'Monarch Assurance Company, which was Under discussion at the close of 1856, has been completed, and an important addition, has thereby, been made to tlie Proprietary,.Agencies,,.and. Connexions of the Company.' Its permanent"funds aqd iinmial revenue have .been 'greritly augmented, ami, notwithstuncliiig recent date of its establishment, it : -takes'iiow a first rank amongst In?urunce Institiitions. The .numlier of issued during the year is' 0,707; imik'ing" tlie, total .number in the hands of the Proprietors '9-1,21 ]; which, at £2 a Share, represent'a paid up 'Capital- df £iy8,422

Fire • Departtn'ent'J I he increase inthe Kire'Premiut'Hs, as compared with those of ,185,6,, is v£66,P71 9s. 10(1., and the Board desires to/ ackno'vyledge tlie S va W ;,. K molljlmw iu'.lVic 'Qompany,' Which that fact so strikingly" illustrates.* 1 In 1856, the Premiums were, ,jG222,270 10s. Gd.; in l.Ss7;they have.,.airib:uj)ted to £289,251 Os , . id. A business of such, magnitude,, brings with it responsibilities for those engaged jn'its managemeiit', but , its sources' nf'e/. so various, and so many, the area over which 'if is : -spread is so extensive, as security .in the Shareholders, that seiions'.iuisa'ster is not likely to, befal them. •, : 'J , lie , .sum l -|ret|uire.d to meet, the . losses ~.by,.,Firo. :in.'.1857 ~,was £105,240 7s..Gd.' '." *, i'"." .7.*""

liife Department f J I-id 'I lieiie-.y PremHitns,.of, .1856 ware, £12,770 ■■14s. llcl. : ;. : year £16,21-5 15s. (id.,: , derived from,. Vti.l". Policies, insuring ;£502,p-23. The total income from Premiums was £110,928 14s. Id., and the claims amounted to £40,010 12s. lid. These figures show very satisfactorily that, in this department also, '■in onward movement has been made ; foul there is still to add. to them the.iiMin of £20,995 17s. 7d., which lias;been, of Annuities, amounting i to,£2,lT(-!'lds..'4'd v '.;'l,herebiis been .paid tb-'Auiimtan'ls.'in \ijie , cinh'seof' the year i£l'3,4o7 : i4'i;"4d;',"aii : d eleven Ann.iii-' tants have died,, wliose annual claims 'on the' Company were £856 Bs.' ■ -:• ; ••:. :'. ■■' : Branch Establishments- arid"r."l _-~.• • . Agencies , - '■•■.,- :.,.,-.;,.., It has already been intimated.that there-has been a considerable'accessioii'tOlhe : mimber of the Company's Agents, and. the Directors would hcio merely iidil;" that tlicy'big-lily'"rTj>pY'&ciatc" the very valuable service rendered to the Company by the various'Boards'-and Agencies, whoso contributions to.the general-resiiltare so.* considerable aiid'iinpvruiftt.7 ,M%lVr>'ut'seeking; to discriminate whole all.have aided, e/iicienlly in placing, the office .in trust of their 'respectivo'/comijiiinitie?, , , they would beg to bespeak 'for,tb'u.,ii(3w..year' a con.' tinna'nee of exertion's,, wliicli'.the brisk comp.eti-., tion of tlio,,divy. renders.so essential 'to .success. ■ Reserved Surplus .Fund-■■-'■■;•■ Ilie.Jrretmum yeceived on;.thu;Slnivos issued is £31,351 Is. lid., which has been .carried f to the credit of this account;-/now'ainoinHing to £2M.oic..us. lid. ' .iv-fti .::■•,;': .;.. Profit and Loss- ■—- Xne result of fhe. year's.working, -is-seen in the Balance' of this'accViiht'/'WiiicU' proVes to be £J 10,23?.. ... Ofi£ of. tlii/smri, tho:,.Dircctors;' have'determined to'de'clare7sulijeut' v to tlie"ap" prov.il of this meeting,TaiDivJd'eiul of Twelve Shillings-per Share, freeof.inconie.taxv When that has been paid, there ~wUl..retuain,'.cumed forward as a .lie-insurance ■li'.uihl, the-sum oV £153,710 85...... ~..., :.. ~.,-.', -~..-! ~; ,-,:v;i ; ! ■» The "followiiig:Tablc will show the'position of the Company's Funds now.as'comjxired with' 1856:— .- -.-HtA V.,-..■,■:•■:•.•■ ■••■' IB56;:^ ; ;1 --1857. The Capital— ■'■ '"increased by . .is now ( £ 8. d. ',c *.?<>{ <;;'"s: u>, "a:-a. i 178,008 0 0 13414 0 : '0 ' _0 0 The Reserved Fund— . . i IBo,3fla.'io:;o '■'•'ai.eb^ ; i''i'i' ; ; 2'ik;di6 ; ii 1.1 Tho Life Fund—• ~ {■ H m>!.b ■>.-«> "(' ] .809,400 ,S 10..19J,810 .8 .ov-581',309v13 10 'The Fire Re.asa,uranoe ...i. •>.■ lii-.'i*. ■ <■'••-■'' ■>"'•'■'■ ~,,Fund —... 1,,,. :■, . . •/' :',■.••(..j'.iidiii.- .s*-vi)j ■ [ 125,003' 6 5 38,057' 1 7*::JOS;7Ip!J '8 ,0' ". 820,374 2 3 207,0±i 11 0 1,0J8 J 08.1..13_9, The Directors cajniot. conolude their Beport without expressing t'liii'r gratj(icjition.oivsc.eing tlie'Proprietors. Assembled' on 'this,'occasion/in a building of theif'own. '' Thcy,';trust. l that iv ; style, in (iiiislij-in execution, and arrangement, the striicture, will/bo found all that can be wished; anil that, as an investment, it will be sufficiently remunerative. .HAI ,<•'-' JOSEPH C. EWART, Chairmim. Livcrppol, lltli February, 1808.