ADDRESS OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO AUCKLAND’S SIXTH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 2, 18 December 1856, Page 2

ADDRESS OF THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT TO AUCKLAND’S SIXTH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

We take it for granted that few of our readers have neglected to con over and revolve this important document. It is the first official programme of the new policy and from it we gather that an effort will at length be made to remove obstructions in the way of real progress, to get rid of nominal progress “ arrangements for general confusion” and to supply their place by other arrangements for general harmony. Our Financial System is to be improved, our Land Purchase Department to be “ effectively organized,” the Survey Departments of both Governments made what they ought to be, Land Claims brought to the long-talked-of “ final settlement,” provision made for the acquisition of large tracts of land, also for a liberal system of disposing of those lands when acquired, by which not only capital may be attracted to this Province, but the utmost’encouragement be given to desirable classes of immigrants to settle in it, a change marked “immediate” in our Land Regulations, a change not so marked and therefore we presume not “ immediate” in the present mode of assisting and encouraging immigration, a Bill embodying the main principles and the details of a certain Educational Scheme recently ventilated, more extended Postal Communication, and a Bill for vesting in Commissioners the management of the affairs of the City, the Harbour, and a portion of the Suburbs of Auckland.

Nor are Public Works passed silently by, his Honour having determined to ask votes for prosecuting the public works upon the trunk lines called the Great North and South Roads, whilst the charge of making branch roads and other improven ent’s in the respective districts, will be left to the Local Boards; This “abstract and brief chronicle” of the Superintendent’s Address plainly shows that he has cut out plenty of work for himself. There are, nevertheless., some omissions it may be well to insist upon the importance of. As he says the affairs of the Province are fn a critical situation, and being so we think it wise to hide nothing, shirk 'nothing, ‘extenuate

nothing, but look our difficulties full in the .face. An ostrich in danger will thrust his stupid head deep into the sand hoping by that manoeuvre to save his precious feathers, but he seldom succeeds. Did we keep out of sight or wilfully shut our eyes to the difficulties of our position we should be no wiser than that unwise bird. The omission most important in our eyes and the only one to which we will now direct attention is that of any and every phrase which might throw light upon our Constitutional Superintendent’s Native Policy. Silence is often more expressive than words. It is so in this case. Nothing can be plainer than that Government is unprepared with any measure which shall enable us to purchase land direct from the natives.

Our Superintendent approves of the Regulations adopted by the Provincial Council in March, 1854, generally known as the Whitaker Land Regulations. But those Regulations will not meet the case. Under their action all right of direct purchase is vested in Government which hitherto has shown itself a sorry manager of such matters. In point of fact the policy of England with regard to New Zealand is a total failure. Dog-in-the-manger-like England cannot herself solve this land problem and will not allow us to do so. She insists upon our purchasing from her what is not her’s to sell. Were our Land Regulations wisely framed matters could, soon be so adjusted with the Natives that while they were fairly dealt with the lands of the Colony would be open to all comers and in less than half a century be possessed by hardv millions able and willing to cultivate it. Land should be open to every man who chooses to purchase it. Were land open in this sense the Maori would soon cease to be what he long has been an impediment physically, a nuisance morally, and we Europeans occupy that position to which our superior intelligence entitles us. We can hardly think with patience of the humiliating and rediculous position in which Mother country’s Land Regulations have placed us. The Rev. R. Taylor in his -work on New’ Zealand speaking of Great Britain, says—“ She has no title to take an inch of their (Maori) lands either as property or as sovereign territory, or to impose on them a single British usage or law, or even to protect her own subjects against their barbarous forms of justice when living amongst them.” And Dr. Stratford has lately told us with perfect truth that instead of treating the Maories as British subjects we pet and spoil them with indulgence. A better state of things is surely practicable ; a worse is barely possible.