HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS OF THE SETTLERS OF NELSON.

Auckland Times, Volume 2, Issue 58, 20 February 1844, Page 4

HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY TO THE ADDRESS OF THE SETTLERS OF NELSON.

Nelson, FebuiaVy 7, 184#, GfeN-TtEMBN, —f nave a tended■ carefully to the suggestions and nquests wliieli y»>n Imvc (bought il advisable lo snake; and I am happv lo find that all lbs subjects to wiiicii you have lef'ened have already Siau my full consideration. fnqniiies into die circun;stances of (hat fafai Catastrophe which occurred in June last have been made and are still is* progress. Deeply do f d*~ plore that dreadful affair, in which twenty-two of of our connlryhaeo, some of whom were our own personal friends, peiished so wretchedly. In deciding on the line of condoci lo be pursued in a matter of such grave and general importance, I should not seek for advice, nor could i expect to find unbiassed opinions, among those whose personal feelings have naturally been so much excited. Every On* must he fully aware of the vnal Importance of settling the Claims to land ; and l will yield to no person in anxieiv to effect their peaceable and just settLmen!.

In unstier to your inquiry respecting the position of the natives of New Zealand-. I have to inform you that lltey are British subjects, and are entitled to all the consideration and, protection due to subjects of the Queen of Great Britain; but that they are not in every respect amenable to the laws of England. The ipxjorttjr of the nctive population 6t New Zealand areas yet ignoiaitt of our legislative code. It would be oppressive,, unjust, mid unchristian to exact a.rigorous obedience jj» unknown Jaws. By slow degrees, the intlasnce of civilization attendant on good example, aud (lie general propagation of Christianity, united to tite gradually increasing application «f our laws, will work the desired effect, and bring the whoie population under sublet . ut control. The important and responsible ( ffiue of Protector of AB-ngmes is ooe of the most difficult to fiffe propei 1?, because a combination of namrd and acquired qualifications is required, wittoii ar* ssrdy united in the same individual, ! shall aliAfay« endeavour to a elect ilie best qualified'persons I can obtain for those indispensably necessary ap-point-meats. It is very gratifying to me to hear that; in- your estimation (notwithstanding all the ditlnuliies of tlj.eii position), “ they have not done out thing wrong." I tie Judg« of die Supreme Court for the Southern Division ot New Nelson is included), i- now at Weltirigt&n/.ki the lull exercise ot his judicial authority. W ft is intended to substitute * lift's of Requests for the existing County Courts. Individual inteiest must give way to the general •velfate iu matters oi iegs Itdion, as well a* io.mh*r

respects. Whenever *he circumstances of the Colony will admit of reference to a*! the settlements previous to passing any ordinance, such reference will he made ; but in urgently pressing » cases,.those members who more particr’ar’y re-f present the distant settlements wili be expected to attend to Their interests. That the Legislative Council may always have af least two members connected with, or immediately interested isi the .Southern Division of New Zealand, will be my particular cate. You have been rather misinformed as to the expenditure of the public money at Nelson. Le-s than 3,000!. per annum has been cont?ibuteri by Nelson ; while the expenditure in that settlement alone, during 1843, has been about 2,3 f 01., and the stun estimated far 1844 is 3,300 f. At the settlements of Cook’s Straits and Akaroa, more than eleven thousand pounds were expended in 184.3, and about twelve thousand pounds me estimated to be the expense in 1844. These sums* do not go to Auckland at a!!; they are paid by the hoik a! Wellington, or by the collectors of Customs. 1 am an advocate for free trade in a yoisng c-'im-try such a» New Zealand ; but I am ?iot prepared. yet to propose so sweeping a oh ange, Doveirunent wdl render some assistance o the widows and families oi those who fell at Wan an although the charge of doing so ought to fill on the New Zealand Company. No more pardoned offenders front Parkburst will be seat to New Zealand! previous to my report on the subject reaching England. That report will nc* be in favour of receiving any more such youths;but how far it may have weight is of course uncertain. When T left England, it was not the intension of Her WajestvN Ministers to augment file miiitarv force in New Zealand : and l was specially not to allow any subdivision of the small detach* metit in this colony. b anpears *o me that, if the settlers treat thewith iustiop, kindness and charity, the; need not f a serious collision between tne iw »■ races-—I ■ einain, SioRobbrt FiTZRoy, Governor^