The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-14 00:00:00

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FINANCES OF NEW ZEALAND.
The following extracts are taker. from a parliamentary
volume (recently issued by order of both Houses), on the
affairs of New Zealand. They form portions of a dis-
patch from Lieut.-Governor Grey to the Right Honour-
able Lord Stanley
My Lord—One of the most important duties which
has been imposed upon me by your Lordship is the in-
qmuaiyry
binto
mtohset sroeuardci el
ys far
no
dm bwe hn
ei cfihn aa sufficient ri env etnhui es
country. I now propise to place before your Lordship
the principles upon which, I think, the future general
financial arrangements of this country should be con-
ducted; and the reasons which have led me to form these
conclusions.
In the first place, I have assumed the amount of the
European population resident in these islands to be 12,000
souls, and the amount of the native population to be
120,000 souls; these estimates are not founded upon ac-
curate returns, and probably are each of them, especi-
ally the latter, far below the real amount of the
population which they respectively indicate ; they
are, however, sufficiently accurate for the purposes of the
present inquiry.
So great a disproportion existing between the Euro-
pean and native population, one is driven to the inevitable
conclusion, that if any attempt is made (as was formerly
the case) to raise a revenue by direct taxation upon the
property of the European population alone, from which
the natives are exempted, that it will be found impos-
sible to raise the funds requisite to provide the establish-
ments required for the protection and good govern-
ment of the natives; indeed, it would be essentially
unjust and ruinous to the European population to attempt
to do so.
Since the termination of the war in January last, the
receipts of customs have continued rapidly to increase,
and a trade of great importance is rising between the
European merchants and the native population. There
seems no reason to doubt that this trade will very rapidly
increase in extent and importance ; the natives are now
very generally purchasing small vessels for the purpose
of trading ; they are extremely anxious to procure arti-
cles of European clothing, and luxuries generally, and
they possess abundant means of paying in produce for
all such articles as they may require.
The extent to which British commerce may be carried
on here is limited, in the first place, by the amount of
the population, which I believe has been under-estimated
by nearly one half ; and secondly, by the extent to which
life and property are rendered secure. The short period
of tranquillity which the northern portion of the country
has recently enjoyed has already given a considerable
impetus to trade, and a large augmentation to the re-
venue, which being raised from duties of customs, aug-
ments in the same proportion as the commerce of the
country, and with its increasing prosperity affords the
Government the means of still further securing the future
tranquillity and order of the colony.
I have no intention of attempting to raise a revenue
by any other means than the imposition of light duties
of customs on all imported goods ; and, as I have before
stated, I feel quite satisfied that within a very few years
from the present time, the revenue realised from this
source will be found ample to defray the whole of the
colonial expenditure.
The present condition of the colony, in reference to its
financial state, is different from all other portions of the
empire. It is not in the ordinary position of a young
country, the establishments of which could grow in ex-
tent in the same proportion as its population, revenue,
and commerce. The fact is, that a large population
rapidly becoming civilised, and capable of immediately
affording a considerable commerce and revenue, already
exists here; but no establishments have been formed for

the protection of life, property, or commerce, or for the
collection of revenue; or indeed for the controul and
government of this large population, who, if their ener-
gies are not directed into proper channels, and if they
are not governed and kept under controul, will certainly
attempt to set up the government of various ambitious
chiefs, and will keep the country in a constant state of
diturbance and war.

It appears therefore absolutely necessary that a con-
siderab!e annual expenditure in excess of the revenue
should be sanctioned for a few years by the British Par-
liament, to provide for tihe formation of the public build-
ings, roads, and establishments which are absolutely re-
quisite for the assertion and preservation of British
supremacy, for the centroul of the turbulent, the protec-
tion of life, property, and commerce, and the security of
the revenue which the country can at once field.
The advantaees which justify such an expenditure are
the impetus which will be give-. 0 to the interests of hu-
manity and civilisation, the ultimate saving which will
be effected to the country by the prevention of expen-
sive internal wars, which would require the constant
presence of a large naval and military force, the exten-
sion afforded to British commerce and industry, and the
great increase of the revenue of the colony, which will
shortly enable it to defray the whole of its own expenses.
The amount of such expenditure in excess of the
revenue need not at any time be very great. It may, I
think, be fairly deduced from the following estimate :
Probable general ordinary annual expen-
diture of local Government £27,000 0 0
Probable extra expenditure on account of
natives, police, roads, &c 31,000 0 0

Total expenditure
Probable revenue from this date, but
rapidly increasing in amount

Immediate annual deficiency, yearly de-
creasing in amount £36,000 0 0

IThus leaving the sum of about 30,0001., in addition to
the present parliamentary grant, to be provided from
some extraneous source. It should, however, be
observed that this additional grant would decrease in
amount from year to year, exactly in proportion to the
progress of the colony.
I beg to assure your Lordship, that after having now
visited almost all the important portions of the
colony_
I feel quite satisfied that the Government cannot be effi-
ciently conducted for a lower amount than that which
I have above stated, and that any attempt to do so will
ultimately only result in great disaster, and eventually
in a much greater expense to the British Treasury than
that which will be incurred under the system I have dp-
tailed, and upon which I intend to act until your Lord-
ship's further instructions can reach me. It is probable
that I may have stated the estimated revenue at two small
an amount, and I think that I have done so ; but I have
thought it better to incur the risk of erring upon this
side than of leading your Lordship to form too favour-
able an opinion of the present financial state of New
Zealand.

The next question that arises for consideration is the
probable expenditure that must ultimately be incurred
for the naval and military protection of this colony. So
soon as there is an adequate military force in the coun-
try, I think that the naval force can be very considerably
reduced, possibly to one steamer and one vessel of war ;
but the presence of a steamer will certainly be always
indispensable upon these coasts. I will, upon the arri-
val of a sufficient military force, lose no time in com-
municating with the senior naval officer upon these sub-
jects, and in reporting my final determination to your
Lordship.

_
(Signed) G. GREY.
COPY OF A DISPATCH FROM LIEUT.-GOTERNOR GREY TO
THE RIGHT MON. LORD STANLEY.

My Lord—l have now the honour to transmit copies
of the correspondence which has passed between the
Lieut.-General commanding the forces in New South
Wales and myself upon this subject.
Your Lordship will find from this correspondence that
I consider that a force of 2,500 troops of the line should
for the present be stationed in New Zealand.
I find that my predecessor, in his dispatch of the 9th
of April. 1845, stated it as his opinion that two regi-
ments were required for the maintenance of these islands,
which would amount to a force about 2,000 men; but
after having now visited many portions tf the islands, I
should recommend that the force here should be in.
creased to 2,500 men.

I make this recommendation under the belief that in
four or five years time this torso might be reduced to a
pint le regim tit, and that it would be advantageous to
continue as rap,dly as possible the formation of a local
police force, composed to a greet mvasure of natives;
whleh force I inn tom or,anisiti Klth al Parent success.
i h► expense of skis force coal I, at the on: of a few yeats,
be oefrayed iron, the r, venue of the colon, and would
be no in every way suited to the ,ervice of this country.
Ind, ed, I thi,:k it would in New Zealand he found more
advantageous than any European force.

G. GREY.

JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

The Bill prepared and brought into Parliament by
Sir John Pakington and Sir William Heathcote, " for
the mere speedy trial and punishment of juvenile
o ffe n d e;se,a"rsp
or ofpaogsee,s
committing
tetti
nthga
simple
pa personspleilapay rr
cnobepoen:yrsetux3o,mcr. emfoee
rdiaoirnani
summarily
able as such, obtaining property under false pre-
ettPfieeoufmnnltnecvtple.e:tctnshsh,teetocdhmceboanygmtsi:mswtfriotealtottemnnsiyadogiusissusmterrihasestcoeeffsti,hevnie:c,gehesae,sroeent
thethe vahluellof
make
property does not exceed 40s.
out a certificate to that effect. These 9proviysiosnas arem nota
to apply if the mbeyaegritinasdtirnicattiseenstthiinkAthe case a fit subject
faodrmprosecution
n
now be done by two magistratn
est.he samemag
single magistrate may
'.magistrates,
instead
ssmteasyd
of bailing, may detain the accused in custody, or take
security for his appearance before two Justices, for the
Purpose of his being summarily proceeded against.
If the examining magistrates think the offence
too trifling to merit punishment, they may dis-
miss the accused at once. One magistrate may
convict upon the confession of the accused
in certain cases. Such confession must be put in
writing, read over to and signed by the accused. The
Act applies to accessories, &c., as welt as principals.
Where conviction before two magistrates, they may
order whipping. Clause 8 relates to the mode of com-
pelling the appearance of persons punishable on sum-
mary conviction; and Clause 9 to the application of
fines, which are to be placed to the general rate of the
county, &c. If fines not paid Justice may commit, and
Justices may discharge offender in certain cases. Pro-
ceedings under Act a bar to any other proceedings for
the same cause. Convictions to be returned to quarter
sessions, and no forfeiture upon convictions under Act.
The Act is not to extend to Scotland or Ireland, and
may be amended or repealed this session.

PIRATES. SMYRNA,
MARCH 19. Two pirate
vessels, one manned with a crew of 18, and the other
with 15 men, have been seen off Cape Corba (near Alaz..
zata), and a vessel, under the Greek flag, from Alazzata,
oo
was plundered by them of 63,000 piasters on the 12th
instant.
e notice
nd inth
the
severalgreate townsr
p portion of
becometoePsohTaAvTeoEs . —W
plentiful,
fair quality !
.Prices at Salisbury were on Tuesday last

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