dependence on the sincerity of his first friendly professions. We attribute no motives: we only state plain facts. The bill being rejected, the absence from England of Lord Durham, and of Mr Wakefield, the author of the project, rendered further efforts apparently hopeless. It never occurred, however, to the adversaries of the colony, that men who had embarked in such an enterprise, were not likely to submit to a single defeat. They soon formed another plan for founding a settlement, without asking the sanction of Lord Howick or the colonial office. After various troubles and difficulties, during which many new partisans joined the old body of emigrants, an association termed the "New Zealand Colonization Company" was formed at Messrs Wright's banking house, on the 29th of August, 1838, and on the 2nd of May following, the "New Zealand Land Company," combining all the preceding societies, was brought before the public, through the powerful exertions of Mr Wakefield, who now resumed the part ' which had been sustained by others during his absence from England. The list of directors of this company is perhaps unexampled for weight with the public. In unremitting attention to the business of the shareholders, the directors have never been surpassed. Their anxiety to provide for the safety and well-being of those who are about to emigrate under their auspices and direction, merits grateful acknowledgment from this first organ of the colonists.
The property and influence of the old company of 1825, are thrown into the common stock, with other purchases and acquisitions made by the directors. Shares to the amount of 100,000l, to be paid up almost immediately, have been subscribed for; and, what is still more remarkable, the sum of 100,000l. was paid within five weeks, for as many acres of land, in a township the site of which is not yet determined. Two vessels have been despatched to New Zealand, one (the Tory) with the company's principal agent, Col. Wakefield, the other (the Cuba) with the surveyor-general, Lieut. Smith, and a surveying force of thirty persons. A large body of emigrants are preparing to sail in the beginning of September, carrying with them all the elements of civilization,—a church, an infant school, for the children of natives as well as colonists, a public library, a dispensary, a bank; together with a large amount of capital invested in machinery, mills, steam-engines, agricultural implements, the frame work of houses, and property of various kinds. The first colony will consist of more than 100 cabin passengers, and about 3000 of the labouring class; all conveyed to the colony by means of the purchase money of land. Five large vessels, of more than 500 tons each, are nearly ready for sea, and will sail early in September. Others will follow, in regular succession; and the whole party will rendezvous at Port Hardy, D'Urville island, Cooks's straits, it is hoped before the end of January.
Such an expedition is unprecedented in modern times; and it was imagined that such a body of her Majesty's subjects, about to extend her dominions and the bounds of civilization, at their own cost, would have had the same sympathy from the government which they have had from all other classes of their countrymen. This hope has been disappointed. The colony, so far as it has had any intercourse with the government, has been treated with cold indifference, to say the least. The arrangements which have been made for its government, are wholly inefficient, not to say offensive. By a treasury minute which we have printed elsewhere, it appears that the colony is to be placed under the rule of the governor and council of New South Wales—a penal settlement, twelve hundred miles from New Zealand, and where the new colony must necessarily be regarded with the jealous feeling of rivalry. Applications have been made to the colonial office for local administration, but without any effect. The only reply is a reference to the treasury minute. From this we learn that Captain Hobson, R.N., who sailed a few days ago, is to treat with the native chiefs for a cession of the sovereignty,—a thing for which their language did not afford a word until the missionaries coined one for the occasion—and then he is to become lieutenant-governor of the of the islands so ceded. Meanwhile, the country is to be abandoned to the scramble which Dr Lang has so powerfully described; in which the missionaries and grogshop keepers are to vie with the "land sharks" from Sydney, in plundering the natives of their territory, without any of those provisions for their permanent advantage which a just and paternal government would enforce. We know that we speak the sentiments of the New Zealand company, and of those who have purchased land under them, when we affirm that nothing would be so satisfactory to them as the plan laid down in Dr Lang's pamphlet, for a general assumption by the crown of the property in all lands in New Zealand; provided only, that the South Australian system were rigidly enforced; that the present owners of lands were allowed a reasonable time for pre-emption; and that a set-off were allowed to them for what they have expended in the purchase and improvement of those lands. In fact, this is not a new proposal. It was a fundamental principle of the bill prepared by the New Zealand association last year; and to this, sooner or later, the colonial office must come, if they would not abandon the islands to the bold adventurers who may dispute with the missionaries the possession of the soil.
Lord Howick is unremitting in expressions of hostility to the colony. We know that he is in the habit of advising gentlemen in the House of Commons to avoid all connection with it; and that he goes about describing it as a bubble scheme, and Poyais project for cheating the public. His influence in the cabinet on colonial questions is known to be very great. He will probably continue to exert it to the injury of this infant society, to which he seems to bear an animosity not less bitter than inexplicable. Whatever success, however, may attend his ungenerous efforts, our consolation is, that all things and all men bide their time; and that, come what will, Englishmen carry with them, wherever they go, not merely the right, but the determination and the capacity, to manage their own affairs. With these feelings, and with this farewell, three thousand emigrants take leave of his lordship and the Colonial Office.
We feel great satisfaction in publishing the following verses by the distinguished author of the 'Pleasures of Hope,' Thomas Campbell, one of the original members cf the New Zealand Association, who has always taken the deepest interest in the undertaking.
By stars beyond the line—
We go to found a realm— one day—
Like England's self to shine.
Cheer up! cheer up! our course we'll keep
With dauntless heart and hand,
And when we've ploughed the stormy deep
We'll plough a smiling land.
The Briton to its bowers,
To sow hut plenty's seeds and prune
Luxuriant fruits and flowers.
Cheer up! cheer up!
Of healthy plains and hills,
With giant woods to build our fleets,
And floods to drive our mills.
Cheer up!, cheer up!
Seclusion's wildest holds,
Shall hear the lowing of our herds,
The tinkling of our folds.
Cheer up!, cheer up!
Our vineyards, girt with corn,
And wine, and oil, and gladness gush
From Amalthosa's horn.
Cheer up!, cheer up!
Her blood is in our veins,
We'll girdle earth with British arts,
Like Ariel's magic chains.
Cheer up! cheer up! our course we'll keep
With dauntless heart and hand,
And when we've ploughed the stormy deep
We'll plough a smiling land.
T. Campbell
—The Druid, 44, Capt. Lord J. Churchill, will shortly proceed with Capt. hobson, R.N., to New Zealand, to which he is appointed consul and lieutenant-governor.— Colonial Gazette.
The Government of New Zealand
Return to an Order of the Honourable the House of Commons, dated 26th July 1839;—for
Copy of Treasury Minute sanctioning an Advance from the Revenues of New South Wales, on account of the Expenses of the Officer about to proceed to New Zealand as Consul, &c.
{{align right|F. Baring.
Whitehall, Treasury Chambers,
24th July, 1839.
Ordered, by the House of Commons, to be printed, 29th July, 1839.
Copy of Treasury Minute, of the 19th July, 1839.
Read letter from Mr. Stephen, dated 4th instant, transmitting by direction of the Marquis of Normanby, for the consideration of this board, with reference to a communication from his lordship's department of the 13th ultimo, on the subject of the establishment of some British authority in New Zealand, a letter from Captain Hobson of the royal navy, who is about to proceed to New Zealand as her Majesty's consul, and as eventual lieutenant-governor of such territory as may be ceded to her Majesty in the New Zealand islands, with an estimate of certain expenses it will be necessary to incur in respect of this mission, for his passage toe those islands, construction of a residence, presents to native chiefs, and other incidental charges.
My lords have again before them the letter from Mr Stephen, of the 13th ultimo, adverting to circumstances which had appeared to the Marquis of Normanby and to Viscount Palmerston to force upon her Majesty's government the adoption of measures for establishing some British authority in New Zealand for the government of the Queen's subjects residents in, or resorting to, those islands; and, with that view, proposing that a British consul should forthwith be despatched to New Zealand; and that, upon cession being obtained from the native chiefs of the sovereignty of such territories therein as may be possessed by British subjects, those territories should be added to the colony of New South Wales as a dependency of that government; and likewise proposing that the officer to proceed to New Zealand, as consul, should be appointed lieutenant-governor of this dependency; and that the expenses which must necessarily be incurred for his passage, and for the purchase of articles which will be required for his immediate use in the public service, or for presents to the native chiefs, should be defrayed by advances from the funds of the government of New South Wales, to be hereafter repaid from such revenue as may be raised within the ceded territory by virtue of ordinances to be issued for the purpose by the governor and council of New South Wales, from which revenue also all other expenses relating to the government of this dependency are to be provided for.
My lords also refer to the opinion of her Majesty's law officers, that any territory in New Zealand, of which the sovereignty may be acquired by the British crown, may lawfully be annexed to the colony of New South Wales, and that the legislative authority of New South Wales, created by the Act of 9 Geo. IV, c. 83, may then be exercised over British subjects inhabiting that territory; and my lords likewise refer to the provision made in the estimate for consular services, now before the House of Commons, for the salary of a consul at New Zealand.
My lords also read, their minute of the 21st ultimo, expressing their concurrence in opinion with her Majesty's secretary of state as to the necessity of establishing some competent control over British subjects in the New Zealand islands, and further stating, that this board would be prepared, upon the contemplated cession in sovereignty to the British crown of territories within those islands which have been or may be acquired by her Majesty's subjects, under grants from the different chiefs being obtained, to concur in the proposed arrangements for the government of the ceded territory, and for raising a revenue to defray the expense of the establishment it would be necessary to maintain for this purpose.
Write to Mr Stephen, and, in reply to his further communication of the 4th inst. now before this board, request he will signify to the Marquis of Normanby my lords' sanction for the advance by the agent-general for New South Wales, from funds appertaining to the government of that colony, of the amount required to defray the expenses of the officer proceeding to New Zealand, as specified in the estimate furnished by Captain Hobson, and submitted to my lords in Mr Stephens letter, with the understanding that such advance is to be repaid from the revenues of the territory it is proposed to annex to that government. But Mr Stephen will at the same time state to the Marquis of Normanby, that as the proceedings about to be adopted in regard to New Zealand, in the event of failure of the anticipated cession of sovereignty and of the contemplated revenue, may involve further expenditure from the funds of this country beyond the salary of the consul already included in the estimate for consular services for the current year, my lords have considered it necessary that the arrangement should be brought under the cognizance of Parliament; and they have therefore directed that a copy of their minute, giving the sanction now notified to Lord Normanby, shall be laid before the House of Commons.
The following answer was returned by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to a memorial from Glasgow, praying the erection of New Zealand into a British Colony.
Downing street, 27th June, 1839.
Sir,— I am directed by the Marquis of Normanby to acquaint you that the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have referred to this department a memorial, addressed to their Lordships by the merchants, shipowners, and other parties in Glasgow, praying that New Zealand may be erected into a British Colony; and I am to request that you will inform the parties who signed the memorial that measures are in progress which will probably lead to the result which they express their anxiety to see attained.
I am, sir,
Your obedient servant,
H. Labouchere.
To
John Herney, Esq.
Glasgow.
First Colony of New Zealand.
Committee,
With power to add to their number,
George Samuel Evans, D.C.L., Chairman.
Hon. Henry Petre.
Captain Daniell.
Dudley Sinclair, Esq.
Francis Molesworth.
Edward Betts Hopper, Esq.
George Dupppa, Esq.
William Swainson, Esq., F.R.S.
Robert Henry Wood, Esq.
Under the above designation a Society has been formed, in connexion with the New Zealand Land Company, and consisting exclusively of heads of families and others, intending to settle permanently in New Zealand on lands purchased from the Company.
The object of this society is to promote co-operation in the numerous measures of preparation requisite for establishing a prosperous settlement.
The Society already numbers a considerable body of gentlemen, who have determined to emigrate with their families and property. Others, who may entertain similar views, are invited to join them. Qualification of a member of the Society, the purchase of 100 acres of land; of a member of the committee, 500 acres; including, in both cases, part of the first town. The greater part of the purchase money to be expended by the Company on the emigration of the purchasers, their families and servants. Members admitted by ballot only.
The Colony will depart in a body during August next, so as to reach their destination about Midsummer (in the southern hemisphere), when the site of the first town will have been determined and prepared for their reception by a preliminary expedition now on its way to New Zealand.
The Committee meets daily at the offices of the New Zealand Land Company, No. 1 Adam Street, Adelphi, where further information may be obtained on application (if by letter, post paid) to the Chairman of the society.
