HISTORIC DAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 238, 15 November 1940, Page 2

HISTORIC DAY

TO-MORROVV'S ANNIVERSARY NEW ZEALAND MADE A SEPARATE COLONY

One hundred years ago, oil li>ih November, 18-10, a Royal Charier was signed in London erecting New Zealand into a colony in its own right, separata from New South Wales. A lew days later, on 24th November, letters patent Avere issued appointing Captain Willinn> Hobson the liist Governor of the independent colony. Hobson Avas already New Zealand's first and onl.v Li e u ten a n t-G oa'C rn or.

New Zealand's partnership -with New South Wales had been natural enough to begin with. Much of the trading' and whaling activities of white men round the New Zealand coasts before 1810 had been based 011 the Australian settlements at liobart and Sydney. Australia was the nearest British possession, and the obvious source of protection to the new colonists. On the other hand the interests of the Australian merchants were by no means identical with those of the New Zealand colonists. The state of dependency on New South Wales could only be a temporary arrangement.

Autocratic Governor Gipps. The severance from New South Wales Avas more than ever desirable because of the relations of Hobson Avith his superior officer, *• GoA'ernor Gipps of Ncav South Wales. Governor Gipps took his duty as overlord of Ncav Zealand sufficiently seriously to rap Hobson OA r er tlie knuckles more than once. He acted, no doubt, Avith the best of motives, but inevitably he could hardly judge New Zealand affairs with the same eyes as the man on the spot. This should not be interpreted as meaning that Gipps Avas always mistaken in his judgments of Ncav Zealand affairs but he AA-as a masterful man, and his very abili-. ties would soon have gravely hampered the development of the individual destiny of this country. Delayed Effect. -In 1840 mails took at least three months to travel from England ;to New Zealand, so it is not surprising

that Hobson did not receive the notification of- the change of New Zealand's status (and incidentally, his own), until 1841. O'n 3rd May!, 1841 Hobson proclaimed the erection of New Zealand as a. separate colony and his own assumption of office as governor. At the same time he appointed executive and legislative councils. The former consisted of the Governor and his three senior officials. The latter consisted of the executive council with the addition of the three .senior justices of the peace, but it had an entirely advisory capacity. In actual prac tice neither of these bodies had any more power than the Governor chose to aliow them. No doubt, however, their deliberations would aid him in deciding policy. Hobson's health was already failing but he struggled manfully with the financial difficulties that inevitably attend a-new colony. New Zealand owes him two great debts of gratitude —for the Treaty' of Waitangj and for the foundation of Auckland,

New South Wales was always ready to come, to New Zealand's aid. with troops, and Australia was for many years New Zealand's principal overseas customer. So that, though New Zealand's individual destiny demanded independence, political separation did not sever the bonds of mutual interest thai united and still unite us to Australia.