ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, AT NELSON.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 28, 15 February 1844, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, AT NELSON.

(From the Nelson Examiner, February 10. ) The long*expected and earn< B tly-de»ired arrival of Captaia Fitzioy, our n, w Livernor, took place on Monday last, though Irom the state of the weather hu Kxcelknty did not land until the following Wednesday. Shortly alter nine on that morning a salute from JI. M. Ship the Nonh Star, which was returned fiom the Foil, announced that his Excellency was on his w«y to the shore. Most of the inhabitants had asiscobled bifoiciba CustMa

House, m the expectation Ittai bis Lxcellency would land there, but the stite of the tide beiuji favourable, the boa's proceeded on to Mr. Utterson's j«tty, Auckland Point, where li» Excellency landed IB company with Sir E. Home, and proceeded l«» the Cjurt House. The assemblage tit persons had now be utie numerous, and a large nntnhbr were ebmpelled to remain without the bailding. His Excellency having taken his seat, a short ulatory address was read by the lion. C. A. Dillon a copy of which we regret to say we have not been •■lt to obtain, the draft having been mislaid. A memorial had also beeu prepared, and his F.x« cellency furnished with a copy, but as it is a lengthy document, we must defer its inaertion until our next.

His Excellency then said he had a fejsf mirk. to niuke befoie be read his ieplies to the address and the memorial. Much as the mh .b Unts of Nelson might deplore the loss of their mends at Wairau, there was no person not a relative of those wb'> fell on that occasion, who more deeply lamented their melancbolly fate than himself. 1 be late respected, aud deservedly rospedted, Coin, pauya Agent had been his ship ma/e; and he ne= ver knew ao officer for whom he entertained a higher respect than he did lor Captam artboi Wakefield. It was his duty, hovever, to look to the circumstaoces which ltd to the unhappy event, Hid. on so doing, he could not sppiove of the conduct of thoae who sanctioned the proceedings out .t »hich itarose. Hut he leli deep and inexpressible shame at the h. hav lour of his counirs men, who, when tbe deadly struggle had conni; vcr improperly, basely deserted their leader* in Ibe momtut of danger. If the? had behav d *s uur coutitiymen usnally did under similar ciroumssances, he felt assured tbat we should not have to deplore the loss which was now so severely fell. His Excellency eaprnsasj regret that several magistrates andgectom n s/Ibis settlement should entertain very enoiinoti* view the occurences at Wairau. Great allowance was certainly to be made for feelings ansi: . loss of friends so highly esteemed, but the j not justified in suffering themselves \ 0 be hurried into courses which the law could not sanction nor those placed in aothority above Ibem appn ■ aspect in a judioiai ,e proceedings at Wairau. his Excellency said he bad not yet determined what |j« should do in the mailer oi his Excellency iesUg tbe Aboiiginies, whioh would lead to the supposition that the natives were, at hast m the estimation of his Exoellency, an oppre>s d people, and standing so much in need of peculiar protection that bis chief business iu New Zealand was In shield the aggressions ot his countryt tbe place, nor have we room to discuss the matter now, but we may be alio» • A u> remark that if, instead ot listening to the insintiatiohs of interested persons, bis Excellency bad ted the records of even those partial tribunals, the Police Offices in the southern dibe would there have found more than sufficient to relnte this very erroneous opinion, and enough to impress an ooprejudicad mind that the reverse is sent iha actual relative position of the two races, at least so far as the inhabitants ot tbe shores of Cook's Straits are ooncerued. His Excellency then read in a very distinct and impressive manner the following replies to the addiess aud tuemoiial : Nelson, Februiry, 7, 184-i. Gentlemen.—l beg to offer you ray thanks for your congratulations on my safe anival on these shores. '1 o assist in removing some of the difficulties nnder which you labour, and to promote ' vance of the intereats of all who are connected with the»e islands, will be my earnest eudeavour. 1 thank von for the kind wishes you have exfor the health and happiuess of my family and myself, and I have the honour ro remain, Gentlemen, Your faithful servant, ROISLRT nisatrt, (jovernor. The Hon.Constanline Dillon, J. P.. Nelson. (For the Inhabitants of Nelson.) Nelson, February 7, 1844. Gentlemen, I have attended carefully t 0 the suggestions and requests which you have thought it advisable to make ; and I am happy t 0 find that all the subjects to which you hitve re. (erred have already had my full consideration. Inquiries into the circumstances of that fatal catastrophe which occurred in June last have been made aud are still its progress. Deeply do I deplan tbat drcatlral affair, in which twenty two ot our countrymen, some of whom Sfere our own |> r sonal friends, perished so wretchedly. In deciding on ih o line of conduct io be pursued in a matter ol such grave and general bjßjpOrtassOe, I should not seek lor adsice, nor could I expect to lad unbiassed opinion*, among those asbosse per >ohhl leelmgs have naturally been .so aiaob excited Fvery one must be fully aware of the vital iiiiporiance of «etilm R the claims to Land; and I will yield to no peisnial anxjety to effect their peacable and just settle ment. In answer to your enquiry respecting the posisition of the natives of New Zealand, I have to itilorm yon lhat they are British subjects, and are entitled to till the consideration and protection due to subjects of the Queen of Great Rritain , but that tiny are not in every icspect amenable' to tl r laws of KnglHud. The majority of s.be native population of New Zealand are as yet ignorant of onr legislative oode. ft would be oppressive, unjust and unchristian, to exact a rigorous obedient e to unknown laws! By slow degrees, the influence of civilization attendant on good example, and tbe general propogstion ;of Christianity, uoiisd to ths gtsdnally

increasing application of our laws, will work the desi ed effect, and bring the whole population under sufficient ooutroul. The important aod responsible office of Proteotor ofAborgices is one ol the most difficult to fill properly, because a cotnbi ation of natural end acquired qualifications is reqti.red, wb.ch aie rarely united in the same individual- I shall always endeavour to select the b«st qualified persons I can obtain for those indispensably necessary appoidiinentH. It is very gratifying to me to lirar that, in your estimation (no' withstanding all the difficulties of their position), " tbey have not dooe anything Wrong." The Judge of tbe Supreme Court for Iha' Southern Division of New )ia which Nelson is included), is now at Wellington, fa the full extciseol his judicial authority. It is intended lo Courts of Requests for the ixUting County Cuuils. Individual interests must give way to the gdneral welfare in Betters of legislation, as well as in other icspec'-. W hell ver me circumstances of life* colony will admit of reference lo all the s. ttlein. nts previous to passing any ordinauce, such reference will be made; but in urgently lg ca«e', ihoce members who mote particulaily represent the distant settlements will be led to alltnd fo iLcn interests, That the legislative Council may always have at least two ajCßbora connected with, or immediately interested in the Southern Division ol New Zea» laud, will be my particular care. You have been rather misinformed as to tbe expenditure of the public money at Nelson. Less than £3,01)0 per annum has been contributed by Nelson; whiie the « xpenditore in that settlement alone, sf2.no, aad the sum estimated for 1844 is j£3,000. At ibe settlements of Cook's Snaits and Akaroa, more than eleven ihoosaod pounds of public money were expended in 1*43, him au ut Iwefve thousand pounds are estimated to be the eSawaac n> 134st» -ums do not (;o to Auckland at all ; they are paid by the bank at Wellington, or by ihe colle tera of Customs. 1 am an advocate~for fr.e trade in a yoang country suob aa New Zealand, but I am not yet prepared to propose so sweeping a change. Government will rerder some assistance to the widows and families of those who fel' at Wairau alihough the r large nf doing so ought to fall on the New Zealand Company. Nil more pardoned offenders from Parkhnrst will besenltoNe* Znland preyiou. to my report oo i caobing England. I bat leport will not be iu favour of receiving anymore such youths ; but how tar it may have weight is of cours* uncertain. *4 not the intention o |taty*l Minister's to augment the military foroe in New Zealand ; and I wo specially desired not to allow any subdivision of the small deUob* ii this colony. It appears to me that, if the seders treat tha aborigi -tire, kind Bets, amlciartiv, tbey need not Tear a st riou. collision between the two races. I remain, ic. HUBERT FITZROY. Governor. RETURN Of Tin: QOVERNOE to \vi;i.liN(;t<)N. On the 10th February, H.M. ship North Star* SSO, Sir Everard Home, Bart .saihd for Welling, ion, Passengers, bis Excellency the Governor, vs. Kpois), i:-j. I'. U. Hell, E-q., and C. B. Brewer, E