Wellington Independent MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3299, 11 September 1871, Page 2

Wellington Independent MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1871.

" In no province does there appear to have been evinced so earnest a desire to promote immigration by taking advantage of the provisions of the colonial act as in the province of Wellington," Such is the opening remark of the " Otago Daily Times" in a leader of the 20th ult, which, after giving an appreciative account of the action of our Provincial Council, concludes thus: — " Aa the reason for conveying this instruction to the Agent-General, Mr Gisborne writes that the Government and Provincial Council of Wellington bavo given practical evidence that they are anxious to mark out sites for the settlement of the immigrants. The result of this attention to the interests of their own province on the part of the Wellington authorities has been that without spending or proposing to spend a farthing of provincial revenue they have made arrangements for the introduction within the noxt two years of some two or three thousand suitable immigrants. In marked contrast to this wise action on tho part of the Wellington provincial authorities is the obstinato course taken by our own Provincial Council during lust session, when, in spite of tho warnings given by Mr Dillon Bell that tho General Government, would not hand over to Provincial Councils the control of immigration under the Colonial Act, it was resolved that tho General Assembly should bo requested to place an equitable sum for immigration purposes at the disposal of the province. No practical steps have yet been taken to introduce immigrants to Otago under the act, and ye shall not be surprised if, by the time the Superintendent and Executive have agreed as to the courso of action to be taken for so derivable an object, the first shipload of immigrants selected under tho auspices of the Agent-General tvill have arrived in the colony." It is very gratifying to note the change that has come over our contemporary's views, which these extracts imply, a change which we have every reason to believe expresses a corresponding change in the opinions of all who formerly, in that province, opposed the colonising measures of last session. The papers recently laid on the table by the Minister of Works, give a very instructive history of how that policy has fared iv that province. At first it was met by the most determined hostility from a very noisy section, of which the reception given to Mr Yogel was a very demonstrative manifestation. The Provincial Council passed a resolution refusing to take advantage of any j of its provisions — in other words, they affirmed a right to select from the Acts passed by the Supreme Legislature of the Colony, which of them it would enforce, and which it would refuse to put into operation. Thus the Ballot ! Act, the Land Transfer Act, and other i Acts were acted upon ; while the Hundreds Act, and the Immigration and Public Works Act, passed by the same authority, were openly resisted. From the papers referred to tre learn how anxious the Superintendent was to carry into effect, without delay, all the measures then passed into law. In a letter, dated 19th December, 1870, he thus writes to Mr Yogel : — Sir, — Enclosed I do myself the honor to transmit copy of a memorandum on the subject of immigration to this proviucfe, sub mitted by mo to my Executive Council, together with the deliverence of that body thereupon. I need not Bay that it ia to me a matter of extreme regret that thero should be any delay whatever in initiating a stream of immigration in come measure adequate to the requirements of tho province. I feel persuaded that the province can readily absorb all the immigrants suggested in my memorandum, and that the public interests urgently demand some such action as that which I have indicated. lam quite prepared to take tho responsibility of commending this matter to the favorable consideration of His Excellency's advisers, in the interests of the colony and of the province alike. — I have, &c., J. Macandrew, Superintendent. The enclosure referred to is connected with the interesting and important question of special settlements, and we insert it in full, with a view to reference in future remarks on the 6ubject : — Memorandum for Executive Council. In terms of the Immigration and Public Works Act, 1870, tho Superintendent proposes that the Governor be requested to provide for the selection and transport of immigrants to this province as under, and requests the concurrence of the Executive Council thereto, viz : — (A f ) 200 families from Orkney and Shetland and the Western Islands. (B.) 50 families, coal miners, say from Lanarkshire, Staffordshire, and South Wales. (O.) 50 families, miners from Cornwall. The above to be located at Preservation and Chalky Inlets ; twenty acres of land to be free granted to each family, with ten acres additional acres additional to each child ovex* yeara old. (D.) 500 families to bo located at Stewart's Island, free grants as abeve. Families to be selected in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. (E.) 200 families from British North America, to be located between Catlin'e River, Waikawa ; free grants as above. (F.) 20 families, flannel makers, from Wales. (G.) 20 families, stocking makers from Nottinghamshire ; to have free grant of ten acres to each family, and five acres additional for each child over years, in such parts of the provinco as the Provincial Govtrnment may see fib. The above families to bring along with them all the implements of their respective trades, freight for which is to bo paid by the Government. (H.) 1000 single women from agricultural districts of Germany. (I.) 2000 female domestic servants from United Kingdom. (K.) 1000 ploughmen and agricultural laborers from United Kingdom. (L.) 200 dairy women. (M.) 500 Cornish miners. (N.) 6000 men, women, and children, the friends and relatives of such settlers in the province as may be desirous of bringing them out free of cost. Provided that in tho event of any under this class being applied for over years of ago, onehalf to be paid by the applicant. Provided aho that no passage shall be granted under this class unless eutisfuctory certificate as to the Government Agent. The immigrants from Scotland to bo seicctod by the British agent of the province, and tho others in such way as tho Governor may see fit. Tho whole to bo spread over a period of years, and to be shipped by steamer from London to Otago direct, provided the Provincial Government Agent succeeds in fixing upon a steam contract at rates not exceeding £l4i per statute adult. Minute by Executive Council. Eesolvcd— That in face of resolution of Provincial Council (i.e., in re General Government policy), it is doomed inexpedient to entortain question at present. This letter elicited the following reply :— Tho Hon J. Yogel to his Honor J. Macandrew. Custom House, Dunedin, 21st Dec , 1870. Sic,— l am in receipt of your Honor's letter of tho 19th instant, enclosing copy of a memorandum addressed by you to the Executive Council of the province, but not approved of by them. I am greatly interested by the memorandum,

and I very much regret that your Honors Executive bavo not been able to consider it except by the light of the resolutions passed by the Provincial Council. I may bo allowed to express the hope that your Honor will be able shortly to consider the whole of the ques tions connected with " the Immigration and Public Works Act" upon their own merits. Meanwhile I am not able to see what effect can be given to those parts of the Act as to which the preliminary recommendation of your Honor is required ; for the 94th clause makes it necessary that where an Executive exists, the Superintendent shall act with their advice. With respect to those parts of the Actas to which the recommendation of the Superintendent ia not required, it will, of course, be open to the Government to take such steps as may bo deemed advisable. The recommendation at present in question is one which the Act requires to be made by the^ Superintendent, and therefore by the Superintendent with the advice of his Executive. I have, &c, J. Vookl. His Honor the Superintendent, Otago. Thus far it will be seen the policy of last session met with a stolid resistance. The contingency contemplated by the Colonial Treasurer in his financial statement thus actually arose in that province which had hitherto been most distinguished for colonising spirit and energy. " I would not shrink from declaring," were his emphatic words, " that if the existence of the present institutions of the country are inconsistent with the promotion of public works and immigration, and a choice must be made. I would infinitely prefer the total remodelling of those institutions to abandoning that stimulating aid, which, as I believe, the condition of the colony absolutely demands." Thus one of the most ardent provincialists in New Zealand con.emplated (very remotely it is evident) a crisis in which, for the purpose of giving effect to great colonising measures, the institutions which he had hitherto strenuously defended would require " a total remodelling." The most ardent prov : ncialist in New Zealand, undoubtedly has been Mr Macandrew, and the effect of this recalcitrant action of the Provincial Council on his mind is unmistakably set forth in the remarkable resolutions now standing in his name. But, to continue. In the month of May this icy state of anti-colonial isolation begins to thaw, as the next letter plainly shows : — His Honor J. Macandrow to the Hon W. Gisborne. Superintendent's Offieo, Dunedin, 9th May, 1871. Sir, — Referring tc the personal interview which lately took place between the AgentGeneral of the colony (Dr Foatherston), the Provincial Executive, and myself, I haTe now the honor to forward, enclosed herewith, copy of minute on the subject of immigration to this proviuce, a 8 agreed to by the Executive Council and concurred in by myself. In the event of hii Excellency's Government agreeing in the first of these proposals, I would suggest that the Immigration Department here should at onco publicly notify its readiness to provide passages for applicants on payment of £5 per statute adult, such payment to bo lodged in the Provincial Treasury and passed over to the colonial chest bo soon as advice of the shipment of the immigrants shall have reached the colony. It will be observed that we propose to retain the services of the present Otago Agency, not with a view of interfering with the operations of the Agent-General, or of in any way competing with him in the matter of immigration, but rather for the purpose of co-operating with him, and inasmuch as that the agency is now of nearly thirty yeara' standing, has worked very successfully, considering the meana at his disposal, and possesses a considerable connection throughout the United Kingdom. — I have, &c, J. Maoandbew, Superintendent. The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Wellington. P.S. — With respect to the proposed charge of £5 per statute adult, I understand from your telegram that the fixing of the amount would be left to each province to determine for itself. I submit, however, that if there shall bo a variety of rates it will lead to one province competing against another, and would suggest (hat there shall be one uniform rate for New Zealand. — J.M. Enclosure in No. 76. Extract from minutes of Provincial Exeoutive Council of Otago. 6th May, 1871. 1. That the General Government be requested to provide, in terms ©f the Immigration and Public Works Act, for the transport to this province of such immigrants from Europe as may obtain passage orders issued upon the application of friends in the province, or as may be selected by the agents of the Provincial Government in Europe, in accordance with instructions sent from hence. 2. That the assistance of the AgentGeneral for the colony be requested in the promotion of a special settlement or special settlements on Stewart's Island, consisting of families from the Shetlands, Orkneys, and North of Scotland, or from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, who might be induced, by low rates of passage and free grantß of land, with the condition of years' residence, to combine under the auspices of home associations or companies in the formation of such settlements'. 3. That the assistance of the Agent- General of the Colony in Europe be requested in promoting Bpecial settlements in this province of congeries of families engaged in particular industries— bucli, for instance, as Welsh flannel makers, stocking-loom -workers — to be planted on suitable blocks of land, and townships specially set apart for them, with individual grants of acres of land to each head of a family, acres for each single man or woman, and acres for each child, who should join in such settlements and contribute to work in the eanio for years at the particular industries with which they are o nnected. J. Macandbew, Superintendent. Here it will be observed that the Provincial Council at last adopt the views laid down in the Financial Statement. "It would be cruel," said Mr Yogel, " to bring out immigrants if you do not see the way to their finding the means of self-support. As every immigrant who becomes a settler will be a profit, so every immigrant who leaves the colony or is unable to procure a livelihood in it, will be a loss. AYe therefore say that we will introduce immigrants only to those parts of the colony which are prepared to receive them. . . . What we shall ask will bo a guarantee that the desire and preparation exist." The omission demoted by the words italicised points out that the Provincial Council had not yet fully comprehended the policy they had so foolishly opposed. This omission is the more remarkable when it is remembered that their opposition to that policy was notoriously based on a mistaken idea that the provinces which had no land, among which Wellington figured most conspicuously, would get immigration and public works at the expense of thoso provinces which had. One would have thought that Otago could best defeat this (supposed) unjust scheme by first laying aside land

for special settlements, and then demanding that all other provinces do the sanae. Provinces which, had no land would then have no claim. Yet Wellington, the " lackland" province, is as yet the only province that has made this preparation ! It wa9, however, a great advance for Otago to desire — it only remained for her to prepare — for the immigration she had asked. The telegram sent from Wellington in answer to this last minute of the Council is very explicit on this point : — Tho Hon. F. P. Bell to his Honor J. Macandrew. Wellington, 27fch May, 1871. Advorting to your honor's proposals on tho subject of immigration and the formation of special settlements, the Government will cordially assist in giving them practical effect ; but I wish to point out that in the case of tho Bpecial settlements it will bo necessary, fli'sfc, that the Provincial Council should concur with your Honor in setting aside suitable lands ; and, secondly, that the conditions of settlement should bo clearly set forth. Subject to our revision of, and assent to, those conditions, you will receive the assistance of the Agent- Q-eneral at homo. I would urge taut your proposals should be submitted as soon as possible. Dillon Bell. His Honor the Superintendent, Dunedin. Several weeks elapse and no step of preparation seems to be taken, and Mr Gisborne writes tho following reminder. The Hon. W. Gisborne to His Honor J". Macandrew. Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 19th July, 1871. Sir, — With reference to your Honor's letter of 9th May, and to the Hon. Mr Bell's telegram of the 27th of same month in reply, on tho subject of nominated and special settlement immigration, I have tho houov to remind you that the regulations for nominated immigration, as well aa that for the contemplated special settlement, require to be submitted for His Excellency's approval and publication in tho " Guzotte." For your information, in this respect, I have enclosed copies of tho regulations already gazetted for nominated immigration into the province of Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Canterbury. Here ends the first set of papers on immigration, and up to this point the reproaches of the " Otngo Daily Times" are fully merited. Otago had passed from hostility to acquiescence, but still refused to prepare for what she desired ; while Wellington beginning with acquiescence had ended in preparedness — to use the term employed in the financial statement. The same attitude, it would appear from the papers laid on the table, has been taken by the Otngo Provincial Council with regard to railways. They desire a great number of railways, but they have laid aside no land as security or payment. la Wellington our desires are more moderate, but our readiness to give securityin the shape of land, while it seems to have escaped the notice of the Dunedin Council, has attracted the attention of Dunedin contractors, who have offered to make our railways for land* which they were told in Dunedin did not exist. Mr Donald .Reid, the head of this recalcitrant party, when on the stump, assured his-hearers we had no land. If our reserves for special settlements and railways fail to convince him, what further evidence can we adduce ? It will be for our representatives to see that Otago and the other provinces as faithfully carry out the measures of last session, and lay aside land acre for acre. We do not anticipate, liowever, any further hostility, for by the second set of papers on immigration we observe that Otago at last has followed our example, and that regulations for immigration have been accordingly gazetted. The reproaches of the <( Otago Daily Times" are therefore no longer warranted. The Otago Executive Council have done in Wellington what they refused in Dunedin. Ccelwn non animwm mutat is a dictum which we shall henceforth accept with limitations.