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As the question of the seat of Government will probably again be brought before the General Assembly, and may, it is to be feared, again give rise to angry feelings and local jealousies, to the prejudice of the general interests of the Colony, the following remarks have been drawn up with the view of directing attention to a plan which it is thought may obviate the difficulties attending the subject, by removing the chief cause of contention; and leave the Members of the Assembly free to seek the good of New Zealand generally, instead of striving and intriguing for the benefit of their individual Provinces.
The arrangement by which the seat of Government is fixed in and becomes part of a Province, is open to the serious objection--that it gives an undue political preponderance to the Province selected; and thus naturally leads to great jealousy, and to endeavours, on the part of other Provinces, to change the locality to suit particular political or commercial views. As the most likely means to obviate the great evils resulting from this pernicious rivalry, it may become
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necessary that the seat of Government should form a separate District, similar to the District of Columbia, in America, subject to the legislation of the General Assembly, and with such local powers only as the Assembly might grant.
The sagacious men who drew up the Constitution of the United States had experienced the baneful effects of local jealousies even during the War of Independence; and it was, doubtless, to guard against this evil that they decided that "Congress was to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of Government of the United States," --thus freeing the Government from the influence of any particular State, and removing a fruitful source of contention. Accordingly, in the year 1800, the seat of Government was removed from Philadelphia to Washington, in the District of Columbia, where a tract of country, ten miles square, was ceded for that purpose by the States of Virginia and Maryland.
There can be no doubt that political reasons led to the adoption both of the rule and the locality; otherwise New York, Philadelphia, or one of the other large cities would have been chosen. But had the difficulty of selection been surmounted, political strife and jealousy would have been engendered. One State would have been unduly exalted, and the same feeling that has already shewn itself in the General Assembly of New Zealand would, doubtless, have prevailed in the Congress of the United States.
In Canada an opposite course was pursued. An attempt was made to reconcile the political and com-
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mercial jealousies of the two Provinces and their chief cities, by removing the seat of Government every four years; and it has alternately been located at Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto. But, independently of the great expense and inconvenience consequent upon these removals, the experiment has signally failed in a political point of view; and it was found so utterly impossible to reconcile conflicting interests either in the Legislature or out of doors that, in March of last year, an address to the Queen was adopted by the House of Assembly, requesting her Majesty to select some one place as the permanent seat of Government. A correspondent of the Times agues in favor of Ottawa as the new metropolis, and says, "Let this decision, then, (of the locality) be in favor of Lower Canada, and you light a volcano in the heart of Upper Canada; let it be in favor of Upper Canada, and you sink a deep well of discontent in the heart of Lower Canada." Ottawa is situated on both banks of the river which forms the boundary between the two Provinces, and may thus be said to propitiate both; but unless it is made a separate District, and thus independent of both Provinces, we believe that jealousies will still arise, and with the greater virulence, probably, from being concentrated in one spot.
These instances show the result of these different systems. In America, ill feeling between the various States from this particular cause (the locality of the seat of Government) was removed by rendering the Government free of all the States, and the experiment has been eminently successful. In Canada, the attempt to propitiate the two Provinces by a compromise resulted in a signal failure. But perhaps the
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most striking instance of the difficulty of reconciling conflicting interests has occurred in the State of Michigan, in America, where, quite recently, and after much controversy, the capital was fixed at Lansing, an uninhabited spot in the centre of the country, owing to the difficulty of reconciling the rival interests of the principal towns in the State.
Having considered the reasons which render it desirable that the seat of Government should be disconnected from any Province, attention is next drawn to the choice of the most fitting and convenient spot for its location; and, proceeding to this part of the subject, it should be premised that the advantages of the locality to the political view of the question are the only claims which should be considered in the choice.
Passing in review the several Settlements, we will, previously to setting forth the claims of New Plymouth, refer very briefly to what we consider the disqualifications of other localities; not for the purpose of disparaging any, but as circumstances that should be taken into consideration in discussing this particular question.
The proceedings during the last Session of the General Assembly, relative to the seat of Government, indicate that there will be a powerful opposition to its being retained at Auckland, partly on account of its extreme distance from the Southern Settlements, but owing principally, we believe, to the jealousy felt at the political preponderance thus given to the Province of Auckland. The objection to the locality is one of long standing, and, with the rapidly increasing wealth and population of the Southern Settlements, this feeling will naturally be strengthen-
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ed. But in the decision of this question, the locality will probably not exercise so much influence as the consideration of the great political advantage that would be given to the already most powerful Province, if the seat of Government were permanently fixed there.
Although Wellington might be acceptable to the Southern Provinces from its central position, yet Auckland, the principal European Settlement, and in the midst of a large native population, would strongly object to such an arrangement. The political objection applies with equal force as in the case of Auckland; and it is probable that both Auckland and Nelson would, for political reasons, oppose the transfer to Wellington. The same objection, indeed, applies to all the Provinces with the exception of New Plymouth, which, from its comparative insignificance, would not excite the same jealousy.
The objection to Nelson, or any other locality in the Middle Island, is, that nearly the whole of the natives are located in the Northern Island; and it is essential that the Government should be able to communicate constantly and readily with the Native Districts.
Referring to New Plymouth, we are struck with the many recommendations which the Taranaki District possesses.
Should the disconnection of the seat of Government be resolved on, New Plymouth is, geographically considered, admirably adapted for the proposed District; and after reserving a few square miles for the purpose, the remainder of the Province might be divided between Auckland and Wellington. But
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whether such a course should take place or not, the following remarks will equally apply.
From its central position in the Northern Island, New Plymouth presents the capabilities of more convenient and speedier communication by land, with all the Settlements on the Northern Island, than any other place that can be named; it is in the midst of the native communities, where the presence, strength, and watchfulness of Government are principally required; and it is all but devoid as a Province of political and commercial influence.
By sea, it is within a few hours' sail of Nelson, and in the direct route from there to Manukau, and from Manukau to Wellington. It is also the nearest port to the Australian Colonies, and, if made the point of arrival and departure for the inter-Colonial postal steamers, Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson might all get their news and correspondence nearly at the same time.
It is true that we have no direct road to the extremities of the Island, but we believe that, if the General Government exerted itself, this difficulty would soon be obviated; and it would be to the interest of both Auckland and Wellington to perfect their communication with the seat of Government. The benefit that both Provinces would derive from opening up a good road, in the impetus that would be given to the coast Settlements, would more than repay them for their outlay by creating native trade in the Districts through which it passes. No difficulty in obtaining a road from the natives need be anticipated. We have examples of their desire to facilitate their own communication with the English
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Settlements. It is a fact that, within the last two or three years, they have made upwards of sixty miles of good cart road southward from New Plymouth at their own expense; and are still anxious to complete it to Wanganui, the estimated cost of which would not exceed one hundred pounds. Already Government contemplates a weekly post between Auckland and New Plymouth, and between New Plymouth and Wellington; and it is more than probable that, by the present routes, the mail might be conveyed to Auckland or Wellington in five or six days. It is also probable that a post road could be obtained to Ahuriri, which would render the communication between that place and New Plymouth much shorter than to either Auckland or Wellington.
A good road from Auckland to New Plymouth, and from New Plymouth to Wellington, would render accessible the best agricultural district in New Zealand. The line, we believe, would present but few engineering difficulties, as nearly a level country intervenes between Auckland and Upper Mokau; from thence to New Plymouth is an unexplored country, but such information as we possess is of a favorable character. We know it to be level from New Plymouth to Kairoa, and that Mount Egmont, on its interior face, is less broken and throws out fewer ridges than on its face opposite the coast. A native path exists, and a road was rudely traced and cut by the New Zealand Company towards the South, inland of the mountain. When the coast by this route is reached, no impediment to a good road exists from thence to Wellington.
The country such a road would necessarily open up is especially adapted for agriculture, and would pre-
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sent, generally, greater attractions to the farmer than any other equally wide portions of New Zealand; and would, questionless, induce extensive cultivation by the natives, and largely increase the trade of the neighbouring Settlements. Timber and water are both abundant throughout the entire country such a road would traverse. If we compare this line of road with any other which might be found to unite the two most important commercial depots of the Northern Island, Auckland and Wellington, we believe it will be found not only the shortest and the easiest to make for present necessities, but also the most valuable route for all time, and must, ere very many years elapse, become a railway line.
Although our oversea communication may be occasionally interrupted, yet, in some other respects our locality has great advantages, and is the most accessible point in the North Island to Sydney and Melbourne. In the "New Zealand Pilot," published by the Admiralty, it is stated on the authority of the Beach Master at New Plymouth, as the result of several years' experience, that he considers a boat may be launched from the beach six days out of seven, and the cargo boats worked five days out of seven, on an average. In confirmation of this statement, we would mention that, during the time the Zingari was employed by the Government, she never missed landing the mail with exception of the first trip, when the captain was unaquainted with the roadstead. A very unfavorable description is given of the existing arrangements in 1849, the boats being then manned by any body who could be picked up, the result being, that an experienced boat's crew could never be got together, time was lost, and the
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service often inefficiently performed. Since the Harbor Department has been under the control of the Provincial Government, great exertions have been made to render it efficient; and it may now be said to be as complete as it is possible to make it. A permanent establishment of seventeen boatmen and three experienced coxswains is kept up, boat sheds have been built, and three new sets of moorings laid down. The present Colonial Secretary (Mr. Stafford), in a debate in the House of Representatives on the 3rd June, 1856, bore testimony to the great efficiency of the department. He says, "The Harbor Department alone in that Province (New Plymouth) was, taken in connection with its revenues, a source of very great expense, and the ability and determination displayed by the local Government there, in overcoming natural obstacles, had resulted in establishing a department unequalled by any in the Colony for its efficiency in the landing of goods and passengers."
New Plymouth can be approached without danger, except when a north-west wind is blowing. Vessels ready for sea can take their departure at once; and we venture to assert that, on the average, a vessel from either Melbourne or Sydney could communicate with New Plymouth, and return to her port of departure, in less time than to the site of any other English Settlement in the Colony. The construction of a harbor of refuge on the west coast must, sooner or later, be undertaken, and the position of New Plymouth, as well as its natural facilities, point it out as the most eligible place. A proposal for such an undertaking is already before the public, and we believe it is intended to bring the subject under the
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consideration of the General Assembly. The commercial interests of the Colony will eventually require its performance, and the materials for its construction are at hand.
That New Plymouth is never likely to become a purely commercial city is, in our opinion, rather in its favor than otherwise as the seat of Government. That in other countries it is not considered necessary for the seat of Government to be fixed at a large shipping port we have many instances, the most significant being the modem one of Washington, in the United States. In America they had the choice of many commercial cities; but New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, and others of lesser note, were passed over, and the capital fixed at Washington, a place that has no commercial capabilities. Under our present Constitution, it is very questionable whether it is advisable that the Government should be located where it would be subjected to the influences of a large commercial city.
If New Plymouth should ever rise to importance, it will be by its agricultural and probably, from its water power, by its manufacturing advantages. Amongst its recommendations as the seat of Government we would mention its large extent of available land, its climate, fertile soil, and abundance of good water and timber close to the town, --the two latter no trifling advantages to a community. As all writers on New Zealand concur in these particulars, we only advert to them to express our belief that there is no other part of New Zealand that will eventually support so large a population; and if, added to these advantages, it became the seat of
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Government, that no other portion of the Colony would so rapidly attract settlers.
At the first glance, the idea of New Plymouth as the seat of Government may to many appear chimerical, but there is surely nothing improbable in the supposition, that the conflicting interests of the several Provinces may render it desirable to select a locality which would be independent of them all, and one which we believe would be more generally acceptable than any other that could be named. We have seen that, in America, notwithstanding the number of large cities already in existence, a locality was selected devoid of any peculiar advantages, and a city created, it may be said, for the seat of Government;--that in Canada, the important cities of Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, and Toronto are likely to be set aside, and the small town of Ottawa chosen in preference; and that in Michigan, in which several large towns are established, an uninhabited spot has been selected as the site for the capital.
These selections were not dictated by caprice, but were a political necessity; and if, in their infancy, the several Provinces of New Zealand cannot reconcile their political and commercial jealousies, still less will they be able to do so as they increase in population and importance. There will doubtless be other causes for political jealousies, but the permanent and most irritating one, of the location of the seat of Government, will be done away with, if the principle which we advocate be acted upon. If, on the contrary, some one Province is to be favored, we believe every opportunity will be taken to revive the question, and in the struggle for political power the prosperity of the whole Colony will be sacrificed, and our liberal
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Constitution become an evil instead of a good. In fact, the position of the Colony involves the same difficulty which America and Canada have found it imperative to surmount; and the evils arising from the pernicious rivalry of the Provinces in relation to the seat of Government will, it is every way probable, demand a similar solution from our own legislature. We have propounded a remedy, not as a suggestion of our own, but as a plan adopted by the most eminently practical people in the world, and considered by them of such vital importance as to be embodied in their Constitution. It has successfully stood the trial of sixty years, notwithstanding the vast increase of territory and population, --a sufficient testimony to the wisdom of the principle which guided them. WHEREVER THE LOCALITY MAY BE, WE BELIEVE A SIMILAR PLAN MUST BE ADOPTED IN NEW ZEALAND, TO SECURE THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT FROM PROVINCIAL INFLUENCE, AND TO REMOVE FROM THE PROVINCES A FERTILE CAUSE OF RIVALRY AND POLITICAL JEALOUSY.
Printed at the Taranaki News General Printing Establishment,
