AUCKLAND TIMES. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1842.

Auckland Times, Volume 1, Issue 4, 15 September 1842, Page 2

AUCKLAND TIMES. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1842.

No official publication lias been yet issued by which the official duties of the deceased Governor are assumed by a successor—it is rumoured that some such notice is about to appear—we whether we should say from His Excellency The Governor, or from the Honorable Willoughby Shortland, Esq., — for he leaves us in a state of very disagreeable dubitation, which title to designate him by. It has been the misfortune of New Zealand that her public men have wanted promptitude and decision of character, and the very first act of the new Administration— we must coin words for ourselves, such as we consider suitable, since authority will not dictate —their very first act gives us reason to fear, that the same timidity in office,—the same humble deference to instructions, to be hereafter received, from the remotest part of the eaith, is to prevail for ever. The importance of the sovereignty and possession of the Islands of New Zealand to Great Britain seems habitually to escape those who ought most to be impressed with it. It was not thus, in the infancy of our Indian empire, that ’Lord Clive seized and held fast, for the benefit of bis country, all those elements of wealth and aggrandizement, which have made the petty Islands of Britain the most considerable among -Blithe national powers of the world. But it was and has been thus, and after this fashion, that Eliott made us contemptible in the eyes of the civilized world, by his indecision in China.—lt is needless to multiply examples: all that has been done greatly in the Colonies, has been achieved by the judgment and energy of resident rulers; not by the unstable, misjudged commands of the minister of the day, in England, who, rarely, if ever, can acquire by hearsay, a judgment, which personal expeiience sometimes fails to give. Why w»U not our rulers understand the active and useful duties of statesmanship which are entiusted to them, and not, by a foolish mauvaise honte sink into Downing-street deputies, accountable, in detail, for every petty action of their existenee, upon pains and penalties. It is said that a Proclamation has been issued by the Colonial Secretary, Administering the Government. Our readers will have f he goodness to peruse attentively the following Extract from the Charter—- “ W uereas, by Her Majesty’s Royal ‘ Charter for erecting the Colony of New Zealand, and for creating and establishing a Legislative Council and an Executive Council, and for granting certain powers and authorities to the Governor, for the time being, of the said Colony,’bearing date the 16th day of November, 1840; itis provided, That in the event of the death, or absence out of the said Colony of New Zealand, of such persons as may be appointed to be Governor thereof, all and every the powers and authorities therein granted to the Governor of New Zealand, shall be vested in the Lieutenant Governor of the said Colony; or in the event of there being no Lieutenant Governor, the said powers and authorities are, by the said Charter, granted to the Colonial Secretary for the time being, of the said Colony ; and it is provided, that such Colonial Secretary shall have all such powers and authorities until Her Majesty’s further pleasure shall be signified therein , J and they will see immediately that all and sundry the powers of Government have devolved upon Mr. Shortland —and that he should assume at the once position of Governor. —He cannot be Governor and Colonial Secretary too-—these duties are distinct; the office of the latter is one which the Governor must lean upon for advice —for assistance, for,—so to say,—a joint res-

ponsibility. But besides, the Charter especially contemplates that the office should be distinct, by providing that in the case of the death of the gentleman holding the reins of the Government, the Colonial Secretary shall succeed him, We do not wish to alarm our present Chief Ruler, but it is scarcely necessary, at this moment, to remind him that Governors are mortal, that accident may happen to himself, and that, by bis present course of proceeding, should any such event occur, the Colony will be deprived of that succession of authority which the Charter itself has specially provided.