THE “TIMES.”

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 37, 18 April 1844, Page 2

THE “TIMES.”

In the “Chronicle’’ of last week, under the head of “ Native Opinion of British Authority,” we published an account of a robbery committed by a Native Chief, and also his defiance of the constituted authorities. We stated that we could give the particulars if required. We gave no reason for suppressing the names of the parties concerned, but it was simply because some fear was entertained of further outrages being committed by the same Chief upon the person who was before robbed, if he should happen to hear that the Gase was published, as he might possibly think it was done with a view of bringing him to punishment. For the benefit of the credulous however we furnish the particulars as under.*—

The Times of course is the first to doubt its authenticity, without having the courtesy to request we would give him the names which we stated we could furnish if required. He begins his violent attack by designating it as a “ wild statement every way calculated to disturb the tranquility, and to injure the reputation of the Colony.” He then goes on to say that “ it is fit for publication only when it can be shewn that it has been officially made known to the Government and by tlfom neglected and finally winds up by treating the whole affair as mere “ bounce ” on the part of the Native. In reply first as to it’s being a‘wild statement’ we would only observe that as it transpired in a wild country, and amongst a wild people, it may appear strange to our Contemporary, but it is nevertheless true. We also admit that it may “ disturb that deccitjul tranquility” which is the result of ignorance, and which would teach us softly to recline at ease, with overweening confidence, when danger is immediately at hand ; and we further remark that if the reputation of the Colony is bolstered up on a tissue of fabrications, and is so very tender that it will vanish before the recital of plain matter of fact, the sooner the world is undeceived the better We have a duty to perform to the public, we are aware that the prevalence of Kxetei Hall sentiments has operated injuriously in this Colony, because they are founded in iguorance of the true relative position of Europeans and Maories. We believe that a course of misrepresentation has been carried on, in order to deceive the humane and philanthropic English, and it has wrought much evil to the Colony by giving birth to the useless and extrav agant Protectorate system. We wish to tear off the mask and exhibit the real features of the case, that the injured repu talion of our own countrymen may be rescued from the obloquy so industriously heaped upon them, and the useless system alluded to abolished.

But in reply to his observation that “ it is fit for publication only when made known,” &c., we assume such must have been the case, as a Magistrate holds a very prominent and responsible situatiori in the Government of the country, and we could not suppose that he has so grossly neglected his duty as nut to have made it known to tbe Government. Our contemporary treats the whole affair a 3 bounce , a mere lade, which to his Spirited imagination may possibly be something similar to knocking up a street row, and flooring a Charley or two ; but we think differently, and so perhaps might he, if he had been robbed a few times himself. In order to fill up his paper he has raked together and made a great parade of two or three typographical errors which in the hurry of correcting midnight proofs will sometimes escape detection, even in his own immacula e “ puOUEation.” “ WarwiEkshire ” to wit, in his paragraph taken hom the “Dumfries Courier.” But recrimination on -such a subject cannot be very interesting to the people of Auckland, so we leave him glorying in the wisdom and discrimination he has displayed in “ dragging” such subjects before the public, bidding him farewell that he may retire and concoct the venom of his spleen for the next number of his weekly publication.