LEVEE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 37, 30 December 1843, Page 2

LEVEE.

Tiie same day at ono o'clock, His Excel- j lency held his first Levee at Government , House, which was more numerously, and i more respectably attended than any thing of the kind which has ever taken place in New Zealand. The kindness, affability, and condescension of his Excellency on that occasion, were most gratifying to all present. He had something pleasing to say to every one, and the only wonder was how he had become possessed of so much knowledge of their circumstances in so short a period. The introduction by the Chief Protector of Aborigines of several powerful, and influential Native Chiefs, excited the utmost interest. These Chiefs presented two addresses to his Excellency, conveying the expression of attachment to the British Government ; a respect for British Laws and British Institutions ; and congratulating his Excellency upon his safe arrival in this country. But as the Natives are possessed of too much common sense, and too niucli intelligence to be satisfied with a mere formal address, the expression of loyalty was accompanied with a precise and well written statement of grievances, conveying as accurately and briefly as possible a history of events since the arrival of Captain IIob?on in the colony ; their ideas and understanding of the treaty of Waitangi, and especially the meaning which they attached to the right of preemption, which we must say was highly creditable to their common sense ; their apprehension of. this portion of the treaty was, that they had merely pledged themselves in the first instance to make the Government the offer of any lands they felt disposed to sell ; and that provided Government, did not wish to purchase, or they could not agree with the Government about the price, that they should then be at liberty to sell to any other person they chose. The addresses concluded wiih an ardent desire, and earnest request to be immediately permitted to sell their lands as before. His Excellency in reply, stated to them through the Chief Protector, that ho was extremely happy to see those of the Chiefs of Now Zealand who were then present, as her Majesty the Queen of England had directed him to inform the Natives of New Zealand that she felt the greatest interest in their welfare, as a proof of this interest he would inform them that he had been instructed by her Majesty to tell them that an investigation would be made regarding all lands purchased from them by Europeans, and after allowing certain portions of these lands to such Europeans in accordance with certain arrangements, and upon certain principles, all tlio surplus lands should revert to the original native owners, where such owners or their descendants were in existence and could be found ; but that in the event of the original owners not being discovered, the surplus lands would be claimed and held by the Crown. The Government of England would never sanction any act of oppression towards the Natives any more than the Europeans, and he was happy to tell them that their protectors were no longer to purchase any , lands from them on account of Government, I they would act as their protectors solely, and he could wish that even the Government itself should not purchase any land from the Natives ; he had been, instructed to enquiro into the working of the system of Pre-emp-tion, which had been originated solely with a view_ to their benefit, and that, if upon enquiry it was found to be to their disadvantage it should be discontinued, but this however could not immediately be accomplished, it required some time and some consideration to form, the necessary arrangements. the view of immediate and mutual benefit to the Europeans and Natives, permission would as soon as possible be given for the

occupation of Natives' lands by Europeans upon short leases, for which they would pay a yearly rent to the native owners. His Excellency also stated, that there was another point regarding land, which he would wish to be distinctly understood, that all lands bought on account of the Church Missionary Society, or any other Religious feociety or Body, would be allowed to be retained by such societies or public bodies for the general good of the inhabitants of theColony, European and Native His Excellency then addressing himself to the Rev. Petit Jean, the Roman Catholic Clergyman, said that however much he might differ with some of Ills fellow-creatures on certain points, yet as he wished to enjoy his own opinions, so would he also wish others to enjoy an equal liberty $1 conscience. Roman Catholics and Protestants, while they differed on some points, still each of them believed in the essential doctrines of salvation : they both looked to the same Almighty God, and they both looked for redemption through the same Saviour.— His Excellency requested Mr. Clarke again to inform the native Chiefs that he was much pleased with their addresses, they contained much good sense, and that if he saw it was to their benefit that their request should be granted, he had instructions to do so ; but it must take some time to effect so great a change. To assure the Natives still more of the interest Her Majesty manifested hi their welfare, she had instructed him to appoint another Judge of the Supreme Court to administer justice to the Europeans and Natives in the southern settlements of the Colony. Mr. Chapman, the new Judge, then shook hands with the native Chiefs, and His Excellency concluded by intimating to the Natives, that the best Counsel that could be found in the Colony would in future be provided for all Natives tried before the Courts of Justice, and that he hoped the Chiefs of New Zealand would assist in "promoting good Government and forwarding the ends of justice by surrendering any Natives who might commit crimes or offences against the law ; and he would to-morrow return a written answer to their addresses. The following are the names of the gentlemen introduced to His Excellency :—: — MBJor Bunbury — Captain Lockhaft — Lieutenant ' Wellman — P. Gammie, Surgeon — Lieutenant Bennett, R.E. — Messrs. Plummer, G. Graham, Lardner, and Turner — Lieutenants Langford, R.M., Johnson, R.N., Egerton, R.N., and Curtis, R.N. — Dr. Sinclair, R.K — Messrs. Sutherland, R.N., Launders, R.N., Sutherland, R.N., Campton, R.N., and GiU ! pin,R.N. Messrs. Appleyard,. Atkins, Barrow, Barstow, Bell, Berry, Betts, Brown, — Dr. Campbell — Messrs. Chapman, Church — Rev. Mr. Churton — Messrs. G.Clarke, H. F. Clarke, S. Clarke, Cleghorn, Coats, Connell, Cooper, Coyney, Corbett, Cretnay — Dr. Davies— Messrs. Elliott, Falwasser, Fitzgerald, Forsaith, Fulton, Govett, Graham, Grimstone, Hardy, Hargreaves, Haile, Hart, Hogg, Hoggard, Hutton, — Dr. Johnson — Messrs. Kelly, Kempthorne, Kennedy, Leech, Ligar, Marshal, Martin,— -Dr. Martin, — Messrs. Mason, Mathew,— M'Guaran, Surgeon, M'lntosh, Meurant, Mitford, Montefiore, Moore, Morris, Afunro, Nelson, O'Mealy, O'Neil, Outhwaite, Parry, Paton— Rev. Petit Jean,— Dr.Pollen,— W. F. Porter, M.C.,— R. F. Porter, Messrs. Rich, Ridings, Rough, — Captain Salmon, i Messrs. Savage, Scott, Sinclair, Smith, Spain, Stau- 1 dinger, Swainson, Taylor, Thompson, Tucker, Tur- ; ncr, Whifaker, Yates, Young. ■ Native Chiefs— Jabez Bunting, Kati, Paora, Te j Iwi, Tarnati, Ngna Pora, and Te Whero Whero. '• The following ladies waited upon, and were received by Mrs. Fitzroy :—: — Mrs. Berry, Mrs. Churton, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Coats, Mrs. Connell, Mrs. Eames, Miss FalwasE er. Mrs. Kempthorne, Mrs. Ligar, Mrs. Ludbrook, Mrs. Mathew, Mrs. Porter, Miss Porter, Mrs. : Ro »gb, Miss Shepherd, Mrs. Shortland, Mrs. Smith, j Mrs. Smith, Mrs.-'Tucker, and Mrs. Young. The proportion of ladies is extremely small I cainparetTtb that of gentlemen, but to a cer- j I tain extent this arose from the fact that very : «w of the inhabitants were informed that Mrs, Fitzroy had wished to receive the ladies. "o are aware that some had thought they i'ad been slighted until they heard that the intimations were entrusted by Mrs. Fitzroy to another person. Several gentlemen were also prevented from attending the Levee because they did not hear, until the time ) va f P ast f or so doing, that they were required J 0 le , aye their names at the Colonial Secrewj s Office before 10 o'clock in the morning. ti, T *? Govei ' n or dined in the evening aboard th e North Star.