[Appendix (B).]
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APPENDIX (B). SPIRIT OF THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
THE summary of the intelligence received from Port Nicholson, since the writing of the foregoing pages, is certainly favourable, and, in its measure, confirms the substantiality of the opinions expressed relative to the rapid advancement of that colony and its prospect of final supremacy.
By the accounts from the various settlements of the Company, it appears that the inhabitants (and more especially those of Wellington and Wanganui) are, by their energy and determination, ensuring rapidly the realization of their primary views and intentions, all their communications breathing a spirit of satisfaction and confidence.
Nor do the settlers in the more northern parts of the island seem to be inactive, though, having to contend with the disadvantages of an expensive, yet inefficient government, which in New Zealand, as in most of the colonies, is in its executive, always second to private enterprise. In all the settlements, however, it would appear that the population are, by experience, becoming aware that on production and not on exchange alone must be their dependence.
The most important of the intelligence from Wellington is the account of the extraordinary produce of the soil in that district: and from the large scale on which some of the agriculturists are conducting their operations, an estimate, nearer approaching the truth, may now be obtained of the risk and profits which attend the cultivation of land in that colony.
Mr. Molesworth has cleared, in the Hutt Valley, about
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120 acres of wood-land; and the following extract from the Wellington Spectator of Jan. 8th, exhibits the advantageous results of his enterprize.
"That gentleman," (says the paper) "is digging his potatoe crop on the Hutt. He has tested the quantity produced upon an acre, and the result is most satisfactory. His calculations were made upon six tons to the acre, while the produce has been twelve tons per acre. He has sold some of them at 12l . per ton, or at the rate of 144l . per acre. This price, of course, is not looked for. At 51. per ton, 60l. per acre would be received. The cost of fencing, clearing, putting in, hoeing up, and digging this crop, will not amount to 30l . per acre. So that at 5l . per acre, one hundred per cent, profit will be returned for the first outlay. This return, too, is for six months. The same ground will again be planted with potatoes and the crop harvested about June. The expenses of clearing, fencing, and seed potatoes may be deducted from this crop. These deductions should reduce the cost of the next crop to about 16l . per acre. Supposing it to yield eight tons per acre, and that they fetch 5l . per ton, 40l . will be the return for an outlay of 16l . for six months. This is a pretty good proof that the often commiserated wretches of Port Nicholson will not be able to pursue agriculture with profit!
"We have been informed that Messrs. Bowler and Smith have cut down the wood upon 86 acres of land in the neighbourhood of the Hutt. Mr. Frank Johnson will have shortly cut down wood upon an equal quantity of land, on his section upon the Porirua Road.
"We are pleased to notice the increased inclination to resort to the bush. We are anxious to furnish a correct statement of the quantity of land in cultivation, and being cleared by Europeans. We believe the quantity is ample to prove our population to have been industrious; and information of the kind would be exceedingly interesting to our friends in Europe."
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Accompanying this extract is the account of the first annual show of the Horticultural Society in Wellington, by which it appears that many, and deserved, rewards had been given for varieties of fruits and vegetables, and the encouragement extended alike to the native as to the white inhabitant. Had the missionaries ever offered rewards to the New Zealanders for their improvement in agriculture, it would probably have been conducive to their personal benefit, and, at all events, would have stimulated their industry.
The Wellington Gazette , in reporting the show, says, that "among the more remarkable productions were the cabbages grown by Mr. Burcham within thirty yards of the sea-beach at Petoni, one a Hybrid, weighing 21 1/2lbs., the other an early Fulham weighing 121bs.; if these cabbages had been cut three weeks earlier, they would have weighed at least 41bs. more, as they were past their prime. Some of the potatoes exhibited by Mr. Molesworth, grown from native seed, measured nine inches in length. Specimens of the red flat turnip were exhibited 19 inches in circumference and weighing 2 1/2lbs., and of the common white turnip, 21 inches in circumference and weighing 31bs. The wheat measured five feet seven inches in length and the ears were remarkably full. Nor must we omit stating that the apples exhibited by Baron Alzdorf, are the first fruits of trees brought from England, and which are in admirable order."
The annual festivities, in commemoration of the arrival of the first colony, were again taking place, proving the settlement not to be in such a miserable condition as some in England would wish it to be supposed, but in a sufficiently lively position to be able to expend a considerable sum in matters unconnected with its support.
The news from Nelson is satisfactory. The favourable opinion which Captain Wakefield entertained of the locality selected is supported by that of the subsequent
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visitors from the other settlements--good practical judges of colonial land affairs.
Ten vessels had visited Port Nelson, which they entered and left without sustaining injury. The immigrant ships Fifeshire , Mary Anne , Lloyd's , and Lord Auckland had arrived; and through the efficiency of the surveying staff, and the vigour with which its operations had been conducted, much of the district had been surveyed; and, the plan of Nelson being already on paper, the town lands would soon be open for selection.
The opinion of the Nelson settlers will shortly be received, and I am confident that they will confirm all that has been said of the excellence of the locality.
Although in England the affairs in this colony are by some pictured as having arrived at a crisis of misfortune, it does not appear that the local rivals of the Company's settlements are able to maintain similar ideas ; for not only does Capt. Hobson acknowledge the prosperity of Wellington in his speech at the opening of the session of Council, but the Australian prints find it impossible any longer to contend with facts, and at last own the success of the New Zealand enterprise. An Adelaide paper contains the following paragraph :--
"Late arrivals from Cook's Strait announce the advantageous selection of the site of the Nelson colony (the New Zealand Company's second settlement), in what has been termed Blind Bay, but now more applicably named Tasman's Gulf. The country thereabout is described as more free from forest than that to the northward, and as excellently adapted for sheep pasturage, for which some say the greater part of the middle island is pre-eminently suited, being of a similar nature to the country between Lake Torrens and the Murray. At Wellington, or Britannia, as it was first called, there are not less than 5000 white inhabitants; and it was by all expected that the
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seat of Government would shortly be removed thither, which, with deference to the opinion of the Governor of New Zealand, we certainly think the most preferable situation. Commerce was thriving at Port Nicholson and Wanganui (a place we have not before heard of), and vessels from Sydney and Van Dieman's Land found a ready market for their cargoes. We wish the colony well, and, knowing the system on which the Company have founded it, a system essentially similar to that of our own, we can confidently predict its success."
Another colonial print observes--
"Everything is prospering at Wellington. The Colonel still conducts the affairs of the colony with singular temper and skill; coming events will try his judgment most severely; but if he continue to display the same sound sense which has hitherto guided his actions in the various arduous responsibilities that he has so successfully overcome, we doubt not that in him will become vested the virtual, though not the nominal, government of the island.
"It is extraordinary with what rapidity this colony has gone a-head in spite of the obstacles with which it has had to contend."
Governor Hobson is also at length obliged to acknowledge that the chief settlement of the Company is neither so insignificant, nor its inhabitants in such a state of destitution as he had before described. In his speech previously referred to, he says, "Since the last meeting of the Council, I have visited Port Nicholson, the site of the New Zealand Company's first and principal settlement. From the zeal and vigour with which the Company have conducted their operations, the enterprising, energetic, and independent character of their settlers, and from the natural advantages of its harbour, there can be no doubt that Port Nicholson will soon become a very valuable and important settlement. From my own personal know-
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ledge of the character of the gentlemen selected as the leaders of the Company's more recent settlements, I should anticipate with equal confidence, the successful establishment of Taranake and Blind Bay."
Notwithstanding this public admission of the importance of the Wellington settlement by the Governor, he does not appear to trouble himself with its wants, or with any desire for its prosperity; nor have the political affairs of the colony, generally, improved during the last few months of which we have intelligence. While the local Government remains unchanged, but little alteration for the better can with reasonableness be expected; for the same blind fatuity which characterised the first proceedings of Governor Hobson, seems still to dictate measures similarly inefficient, which his Colonial Secretary (with the recurrence of whose name the reader must be wearied) has not ability or tact enough to make appear in their least offensive light.
The most important of the measures which have been brought before Council is the Municipal Corporation Bill, which, when passed into law, will, to a considerable degree, give the settlers a representation that will tend to secure them from the more petty acts of annoyance of a hostile Government.
In no way will the benefit of its operation be felt more strongly than in the result of the power of the appointment of police magistrates and officers being vested in the corporate bodies.
The immediate influence which a harsh and oppressive exercise of the magisterial authority has on those who are within its jurisdiction, is the primary cause of greater dissatisfaction and opposition, than more weighty and lasting objectionable political measures; and on the part of government, is impolitic in the extreme, as it fails not to arouse every voice in condemnation.
The determined opposition which the people of Welling-
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ton, have, at all times, shown to the acts of the Governor, may be accounted for by the dissatisfied state of public feeling, which was first excited by the bitterly insulting behaviour of Mr. Shortland towards them, followed, as it has been, by acts of both negative and positive oppression.
The police magistrate, 1 resident at Wanganui, we learn from the Gazette, is, in every particular, following the example of his predecessor in Wellington; and as the settlements on the northern shore of Cook's Strait, grow into maturity, the future government will have to attribute their want of the confidence of the settlers there, to the circumstance of the appointment (in the early stage of the colony) of a magistrate, whose wishes and intentions seem to be those of intimidating the inhabitants, and thwarting the prospects of the colony.
The investment, in corporate bodies, of the power of conducting local improvements, will be conducive of much benefit to the townships of Wellington and Nelson. At Port Nicholson especially, its effects will be conspicuous, as there, the many public works, which the government has declined executing, will no longer be neglected. To the site of the town, at that place, a large extent of ground will be added, by taking it in from the harbour; which will also be advantageous in improving the facilities of the port. Public quays will also be erected, and lights and signal stations established. By the powers of the corporation extending over the district, as well as the town, roads will be constructed for the interior communication.
Much inconvenience has lately been experienced in Wellington, from the want of lights and beacons, for the guidance of strangers into the harbour. To a port, commanding the traffic which that of Wellington does, the
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offices of Harbour Master, and Pilot, are most necessary, in fact, are indispensable; and on the recent occurrence of some heavy gales on the coast, much property was lost through the absence of distinguishing marks and guides for the harbour. Two ships were stranded, and another received considerable injury, while running for the port, the entrance of which, though of easy access, is not always immediately discernible. In justice to the anchorage, it must be added, that during the gales, no ships in it, drove, or received the least injury.
The circumstance of two vessels, bound to the port with valuable cargoes, being wrecked at the same time, of course caused a commotion amongst the settlers; and at a Public Meeting that resulted, there were not wanting some to asperse the New Zealand Company and its Agent, with charges of alleged indifference to the wants of the colony. These were, however, met with able and just refutation, it being proved that Colonel Wakefield had expended judiciously all the means placed at his disposal, for the immediately necessary public improvements. Nor could the Company, in this instance, with any justice, be charged with neglect, as the duty of local improvement did not attach to them, they being in possession of no fund for the purpose; but who, nevertheless, knowing the attendant wants of the Colony in its early stage, had expended very large sums (exclusive of the expenses of immigration and survey) in promoting its advancement.
As the country around the site of the first settlement is explored and becomes known, the advantages of its locality become still more apparent. By the reports of the recent expeditions to the Manewatu and Wairarappa vallies, we find that the detailed information which they contain confirm the reality of the more general, and in some cases almost speculative, accounts which were at first made known. The examination of these districts
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proves Port Nicholson to be surrounded by much valuable and excellent land for the operations of the agriculturists, and to be seated in the midst of a country which will continue, as it at present is, the most important and attractive in the New Zealand islands.
