Spirit of the Press.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 305, 11 September 1865, Page 1

Spirit of the Press.

"WILLIAM FOX’S LETTERS TO HIS ; BROTHER. [From the Wellingtoa Independent, August 31.] That public opinion vat Home relative to New Zealand Affairs, is glaringly wrong, and that the Colonists thus rest under imputations equally cruel and false, are facts which every one who reads the English journals, or has the benefit of ffn extensive private correspondence, is forced to admit. It is not easy to find a remedy for this very serious evil. Colonial journals might do something by stating the case of the Colony, and discussing the questions which have arisen between it and the mother country in a temperate manner, for the benefit of their English readers, but unfortunately. Provincial jealousies and petty conflicting interests, render such a course nearly impossible. Auckland, hates Wellington with a furious jealousy. Otago, or at least that section of its settlers termed “ the new iniquity,” who find so appropriate a representative in Mr Julius Vogel, think in a muddied sort of way that they are being robbed by the Weld Ministry and the Wellington party, while even within our own Province, a Wanganui journal which looks upon Dr. Featherston as the incarnation of all evil, opposes the policy of the Ministry, because they have his support in carrying it. The influence of these very contemptible;motives is most disastrous. Instead of the Press being unanimous in repelling the slanders which have been urged against the Colony, it is in many instances, doing the very thing which is calculated to give those slanders some appearance of being well founded. It is almost universally admitted that the non-success of the policy pursued in New Zealand during the last three years, has been the result of Imperial interference and the system of double government which it has produced. The logic of events has proved this so unmistakeubly, that Mr Weld’s proposal to remove the troops and adopt a policy of self reliance, was welcomed ty all thinking men—nay, even by the great majority of the colonists—as the only possible resource. That it has not been universally supported by the press, is owing to those local jealousies to which we have referred. The Auckland papers which, little more than a year ago denounced Sir George Grey for his unconstitutional interference with the Colonial Ministry, and expressed themselves ready to make any sacrifices for the sake of constitutional rights, now adopt quite a different tone since the seat of Government has been removed, whiuingly implore the Imperial Government not to remove the* troops, accuse the Weld Ministry of wishing to ruin their Province, by making such a proposition. What must the English public think of the colonists when they peruse such statements? It is indeed little wonder that the leading English journals should suppose that Mr Weld’s proposals were only a d dge to keep the troops a little longer, when such statements have been sent home month after month by the Auckland press.

'lt is satisfactory to find that some of our leading public men have . done much to set the English public right as to Colonial affairs. Mr Grosbie Ward’s pamphlet published in Englan I some two years ago, was an able and temperate review of the past, while Mr Fitzgerald's letter to Mr Adderley, published in the Times, was a deadly blow at Imperial interference, and" a complete condemnation of Sir George Grey's proceedings. But the New Zealand Statesman who has done the best service in the cause of the Colony, is William Fox. When misrepresentation of the Colony in England was at the worst, and just "as the lengthened struggle between Sir Gfeorge Grey and his Ministry had ended in the resignation of the latter, Mr Fox sat down to pen the justification of the colonists in a series of letters to his brother in England, the Rev. George Townsend Fox. These have since been published iu a short pamphlet a copy of which has reached us. .A preface'by the recipient of the letters, explains that they are published, at the request of his brother with the tiew of impart-

ing correct ideas relative to the New Zealand war, and removing the unjust obloquy under which tbe*colonists have fallen. The rev, gentleman himself, admits, that the impressions in the public mind concerning the New Zealand war are wrong, but asks the colonists to make some allowance for this because, as he says, the greater portion of the English community make the Times newspaper their text book, and hence statements made by the military Colonel, probably form the staple of many persons’ knowledge of the New Zealand war. He also alleges that the English mind having been embued with a strong impresssion that the first N. Zealand war was wrong, has a strong suspicion that the second one is wrong also. To combat all this Mr Fox wrote his letters, the first of which is dated 7th Dec., 1864. In this, after stating that he has resigned office “ because Governor Grey acting, or rather professing to act, on instructions given by the Colonial Office in England, had backed out of the policy which he endorsed a year before,” Mr Fox goes on to say

You say that our actions have beenmisinterpreted by some good people at home, aud you enclose me a note from your friend, the Rev. Mr Tait, of Rugby, which, thongh couched in language most kind and respectful towards myself, shews that he participates m the belief that his fellow-country-men in the colony have been more or leas guilty in this matter. You may be sure that we have been deeply grieved, and that our indignation has been greatly roused, by the cruel and false aspersions which have been cast upon us in Farliameniawid by portions of the English press, and more j3micularly by what I can call nothing else than the shameless libels which have been circulated iu letters received at home from military and naval officers in the colony. The friends of these writers, speaking -on their authority, do not hesitate to describe the attempt which we have made to defend ourselves against an unprovoked assault by a savage and warlike enemy, as a “ reckless and unrighteous war, carried on for the benefit of sordid persons, and waged with cruelty and injustice.

If there were any truth iu the statements which have been referred to, I should, as a New Zealand colonist, be ashamed ever again to show my face in England. I know that my friends will not believe of me personally the charges which have been brought against the colonists as a body; but they must either believe them of me, or refuse to believe them of the colonists as a body, for I have been in this matter, in my political and official capacity of Colonial Secretary, a “ representative man,” and as fully committed to the policy which has been denounced as any man in the colony. I feel, therefore, that it is desirable to give you the means of refuting these aspersions on the colonists, of whom I am one, in order that the many friends, whose good opinion I value, may understand and appreciate the merits of the case, and have before them proof that this war was forced upon us as one of self-defence, and that we have had no other object in engaging in it than the security of ourlives and property, and the future peaceful occupation of the country, under just and equal laws, by the two races to which Providence has given it as a common heritage.

A review of events is then given, commencing at the truce which followed the Taranaki war of 1860. Mr Pox condemns Governor Browne for going to war about the Waitara, which he characterises as “ that beginning of strife” which “ is as the letting out of water.” Sir George Grey arrived in 1861, and Mr Fox though not believing “ that he carried an enchanters wand and that he had only to show, himself on the shores of- New Zealand to cause revolt to sheath her sword,” yet thought the time had come when the cause of quarrel between the colonists and natives might be removed by a pacific adjustment of the Waitara dispute. Negotiations followed, but Sir'George Grey was foiled because the haughty chiefs of Waikato held aloof. Several attempts were made to meet Thompson and the other principal men of Waikato, but these were evaded, and Mr .Pox himself, who had made a long journey to see the former, obliged to return disappointed. Nor were the friendly efforts of some Hawke’s Bay Chiefs more successful, as their proposals were rejected by Waikato iu contemptuous terms. This closes one portion of the narrative, which is resumed at the point when Mr Fox resigned the Colonial Secretaryship in 1862, because the Assembly refused to accept responsiblity in native affairs, and the office of a Minister would have therefore been little else than a mere clerkship to the Governor. The accession of the Domett Ministry to office followed, and.during the ensuing year, '* the Governor was

himself the sole actor, and solely responsible for the policy adopted with reference, to the natives.” The sketch of succeeding events is given with a few masterly touches. Alter hlis failure with the Waikatos, Governor Grey went to Taranaki, where be got hold of some facts relative to Waitara, which though apparently new to him were well known to the House of Representatives two years before. His first act was to occupy Tatarairaaka, and on the 4th of May, the murder of an escort party took place, while almost simultaneously, Waitara was given up. Mr Fox accuses Sir George Grey of having committed a grave blunder in diplomacy. He had to do two things; first, to give up Waitara, and second, to retake Tataraimaka, but he reversed the process. There is little doubt that Mr Fox is right.

We have no space to follow the rest of this narrative in detail. Avoiding all debateable ground, Mr Fox explains how the field of operations became changed from Taranaki to Waikato, and clearly proves by facts and documents, that the war was forced on the Europeans by the natives, who had organized a movement to attack Auckland. Ihosu who know the facts connected with the origin of the Waikato War, will at once admit the truth of this statement. Mr Fox defends the justice aud necessity of the war and of the confiscation policy, at considerable length, but we need not recapitulate his arguments here because they are the same as we have again and again urged. He concludes as follows:

In conclusion, I must mention one fact which has greatly surprised and grieved the colonists of New Zealand. We have seen exhibited in Parliament, and in the press in England, the utmost sympathy for the Natives who have involved us in this war—the utmost anxiety to reduce to (he smallest possible amount the punishment to be inflicted upon them. But we have looked in vain for any expression of sympathy with ourselves. A whole settlement lias been blotted out of the map of New Zealand ; another district of twenty miles square has been ravaged, audits inhabitants stripped of all they possessed; women and heloless children have been massacred in cold blood ; absolute ruin has been inflicted on hundreds of unoffending families; but those who have raised their voices so loud in behalf of the aggressor have nothing to say in behalf of the victim. On the contrary, we are denounced “as sordid men, waging, with cruelty and injustice, a reckless and unrighteous war.” This is not what we had a right to expect from tho “ great heart” of the British Nation. We have not deserved it. The colonists of New Zealand are entirely free from the imputations which have been so unjustly cast upon them ; and we cannot doubt that when the facts are better known, the good feeling and good sense of our fellow-eon try men will render us tho justice that is our due. We commenced this article with the assertion that the opinion of the English public on the New Zealand War is wrong, and we may now add that the man who honestly endeavors to set it rigid, deserves the thanks of the Colony. Mr Fox is one of these men, men, and his letters will do much service. They will be circulated amongst a class of people whose influence is great, and they cannot fail to make a powerful impression. Though the services of Mr Fox on the spot, are for the time lost to New Zealand, yet we have every reason to believe that during his stay in England his pen will be again emaloyed on behalf of a Colony, the history of which he has helped to make.'

THE NEW PROVINCES ACT. * [From the "Wellington Inpepeudent.] Simultaneously with the publication of another petition from Wanganui praying for the constitution of that district into a separate Province, Mr Mucandrew’s Bill relative to the New Provinces Act, comes before the House for its second reading. This Act is so very short, that we quote it at length here. It runs as follows: I. The short title of this Act shall bo “ The New Provinces Act, 1865.” 11. Prom and after the passing of the Act, no new province shall bo created or established within the Colony of New Zealand, unless by special Act of the Legislature, anything contained in “ The New Zealand Provinces Act, 1858,” to the contrary notwithstanding. The difference between this Bill and the other’ which was lately thrown out, is very material. The Ministerial measure proposed that in the event of separation being asked

by the settlers of any particular district in, •would be competent for the Government to show that adequate provision has been made for the wants of the district desiring to ta secede, and should the Governor in Council be satisfied that such had been done, then no existing Province could be dismembered. The settlers in outlying districts would therefore by that measure have had the means of securing attention being paid to their requirements, by resorting to separation as a last resource. If such provision were made and guaranteed by a special enactment, then that Province could not at any future time he dismembered, but if that condition was not complied with, then the boon of an Independent Government could be obtained. We think there was much to recommend that Act, and Mr Weld’s honest explanation of his reasons for supporting it, was a strong argument in its favor. Still, it was rejected, because some bon. members wished the New Provinces Act repealed, others were anxious that it should remain law, and a third party thought that while at present too much power is given to the Separationists, yet if the Bill were passed too much would be given to the Governments of existing Provinces. Mr Macandrew’s Bill proposes, in effect, to repeal the existing law, and allow the Separationists to come before a different tribunal with their petition. They are to appeal to the Assembly to grant their request, and the constitution of any New Provinces in the future, is proposed to be only allowed by a special Act of the Legislature, This would afford an opportunity to have the merits of each case fully discussed, and be a guarantee of justice being obtained. It is not unlikely that the House may adopt this course, and thus stay the evils which threaten to result from tiie New Provinces Act. by passing Mr Macaudrew’s Bill.

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. [Prom the New Zealand Advertiser, August 26. J We have been very much amused at the storm which has ariseu in the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, out of the explanation which took place in the House of Representatives when one of the members asked the Postmaster General a question respecting a charge \vhich appeared in the Hawke’s Bay Times against certain gentlemen in Auckland, with respect to trading in arms and ammunition on the East Coast. Mr Combes, of the tirm of Combes and Dahly, indignantly denies the whole transaction—and it is well fur them that after the publication had been allow ed to remain unnoticed for some time, the subject was brought prominently befuro the Legislature. We are glad to hod that a distinct denial is made to me charge, and we hope that Mr Combes will follow' up the denial by well-selected proofs that his firm was not, and could not have been engaged in so dishonoring a transaction. The subject should undergo the must rigid scrutiny ; it will not do to prove that American whaler 3 was engaged in such operations. The charge is apparently direct that arms and ammunition were supplied by a certain vessel, and that that vessel was supplied by a resident firm in Auckland—but we augur well for the groundlessness of the charge that it has met with a Hat denial from one firm against which it was apparently directed.

The facts of the case are simply these: the Wellington Independent, of the.27ih June, copied an extract from the Hawke’s Bay Times, in which the writer indicated the existence, trom 1855 to 1859, of a system of gross fraud on the revenue of the Colony by certain inhabitants of Auckland. This extract induced the Commissioner of Customs, Major Kichardsou, to urge the editor of the Times to give or obtain such information as hemight* be enabled consistently to give, in order to lead to the exposure of the fraud and the punishment of all concerned, either actively or by negligence—and he invited him to give the, writer of the article an opportunity of aiding the Go* vernment in the matter. The charge was that a certain noted firm trailed with the natives s>y supplying gunpowder, load, and rum, arms of all sorts, tomahawks, and car* touch- boxes.

The editor very courteously acceded to the wishes of the Commissioner, and the writer supplemented his information confirmatory of the previous statement, giving the certain natives who were cognizant of the facts of the case. The writer very, fairly gave his name in support of his charges—and expressed his readiness to give further information. He states that he was an eyewitness of what he describes. Messrs C. and 1).,' are said to be the parties in Auckland connected in some way with the supplying transaction, and the Messrs 8., the owner of a store at Tanraoga, Bay of Plenty, are also saul to be concerued. : We know not what truth, if any there he, in the report; but it is tv fortunate thing for those whose names have been indirectly alluded to, that the Commissioner would not allow' the honor of the Department to be tarnished by the supposition that it was remiss in its duty.