A DESPOTIC GOVERNOR AND CONSTITUTIONAL AND CONSISTENT MINISTER.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 18 September 1862, Page 3

A DESPOTIC GOVERNOR AND CONSTITUTIONAL AND CONSISTENT MINISTER.

To the Editor of the Advertiser. Wanganui, August 18th, 1832. Sir, —The Spectator of the (ilh instant announces the resignation of Mr. Fox, immodiately following which announcement is quoted a despatch from Sir George Grey to the Duke of Newcastle, dated 30th November, 18G1. Had Mr. Fox, really objected to hold office under a dictator, he would have resigned when he first saw this despatch; the very fact of his not having done so showed that he consented to he responsible to the dictator rather than to the General Assembly—that he either bowed to the wishes of the dictator, in upsetting the votes of the Assembly, or that he joined the Dictator in a sort of conspiracy against the power of the Assembly. Were it necessary to prove to the people, who know Mr. Fox, that he is only consistent in being inconsistent, and that his words are words only, and chiefly made use of “to conceal what he means,” a summary of this despatch, and a reference to some of his speeciies, would be sufficient. Were it .necessary to prove that Sir George is, - and will be a Dictator—alike careless of the voice of the Assembly, and of the expressed wish of the Home Government —a summary of this despatch, and reference to former votes of the Assembly, and to the Duke of Newcastle's despatches, would be sufficient. In the despatch of the 30th November, paragraph No. 1 announces that the recorde I votes of the Assembly are not to be carried out —these votes being to the effect that the Queen’s supremacy is to be maintained, roads made through the country, and the Taranaki plunder restored, &c., Mr. Fox has frequently by his vote and voice asserted that Ministers should be responsible to the Assembly, and that no one “who had anv re-

spect lor himself'’would serve as Minister, or act. as nominee to a Dictator. Paragraph No. '1 intimates that the terms offered to the Waikato tribes, by the late Governor, as approved of by the Assembly, cannot be carried out; because war would be the consequence. Mr. Fox said in the Assembly last year “If we cannot succeed without the sword, we shall not hesitate to draw the sword.” ■ Paragraph No. 3 states that no adequate preparation has yet been made for war. Mr. Fox (out of office) frequently accused the Stafford Ministry of not having organized and armed the out-settlers, Mr. Fox (in office) requested that the out-settlers of Raugitiki might not be armed, and he has also while in office completely disorganized, by his arrangements, the very efficient local forces of Taranaki, Wanganui, and I believe Auckland. Paragraphs Nos. 5,6, and 7 imply that the Maories are not reasonable beings, are unable to understand the nature of an agreement, and that consequently, they must either be treated as a semi-barbarous people, or as children. Mr. Fox has frequently remarked, in his law and order speeches that the Maories are like other men, and should be treated as men. If the natives are now unable to understand the nature of an argument, how can Sir George Grey, or Mr. Fox ever refer to the Treaty ol Waitangi? If a written agreement with the Maories is now only waste paper, of what value is the Treaty of Waitangi, made so many years ago ? But the Maori does understand arguments, and knows how to enforce them when it suits him. Paragraph 8 points out 3 that the Maories are not a separate nation from ourselves—(this is contradicted bythepreviousparagraph, as, only for the Treaty of Waitangi, we can claim no power over them, which treaty is shown to he waste paper—an illegal document signed by children who were incapable of knowing what they signed)—and that it is better to take precautions “ to prevent the repetition of natives plundering Europeans,” and “to bring any to justice ” found with stolen property, rather than to risk war in compelling “a tew troublesome individuals” to disgorge their plunder. 1 Mr. Fox has frequently advocated justice alike to Maories and Europeans favo.t and affection to none. Sir, is this the way to carry out his words ? Is this 1 lie way to prevent war?—to prevent future plunderings?— future child murders ? Moreover, it is true that only a few individuals, “whom their fellows have no power to compel to do right,” are in possession of plunder ? No, sir. The tribes between this and Taranaki, as well as the Xgatimuniapoto, are mixed up in holding tne plunder, and do not seek to obtain redress for the Taranaki sufferers, and the course acted on by Sir George Grey and Mr, Fox is calculated to teach others to plunder and to bring on future wars. Previous to Sir George Grey s arrival, and the accession to office of Mr. Fox, the Wanganui, and ianpo tribes considered it a matter of course that the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui tribes would be made to pay for the murders and robberies they had committed, and Wanganui and ianpo would not have joined against us to prevent this justice being done. Now, they consider it would be treachery on our part to interfere with those we have suffered to remain unpunished so long, and the part they would take is doubtful' If accidentally some of the plunderers are actually caught with the plunder, will the others allow them to be punished 3 without war ? And what steps has Sir George Grey taken to recover the plunder ? Ngatiruanui natives have been allowed to pass through this settlement with plundered arms—soldiers arms—in their hands, and no notice has been taken. Also, if the plunderers are only a few individuals, how is it that|the others cannot compel them to do right ? If Maories are allowed to retain soldiers arms, will they be forced to give up the settlers cattle ? The remaining paragraphs of this document are to the purport that the other votes of the Assembly will not be acted on. Sir George Grey, with his own word, vetoes the vote of the Assembly, that the natives should have a meeliig of uhiefs from all parts of the Island and Mr. Fox approves this letter and their general vetoes, and Ministers have proclaimed themselves, as one with Sir George in native matters, after which he asks the House to sanction for his Ministers a nominal responsible government, in native affairs, believing that if he can get them paid appointments of Commisioners, Magistrates, &c., handed over to him, he will be able to enslave Europeans and Maories at the cost of the people, by gorging Maories, and Europeans alike, with paid appointments.

Truly, Sir, the Colony has had an escape from this constant and constitutional Minister and ought to know what to expect from a despotic Governor. I am, &c., I. R. Coopee.