CAPTAIN ROUS'S LETTER.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 88, 6 February 1847, Page 3

CAPTAIN ROUS'S LETTER.

The letter of Captain Rons to the Editor of The Times, published in another part of our paper is, at once, a curious and an interesting document. His defence of his friend Captain Fitzßoy, is as warm and affectionate, as it is stiictly just. No ( Govern6f of a Colony was ever placed in circumsjances of greater difficulty, and ■with fewer or feebler means of overcoming them. No man, placed in the same circumstances, could have shewn more fidelity to his Sovereign, or more zeal in her service, and, certainly, few Governors have been so completely sacrificed to the almost criminal carelessness of his immediate employers, and the heartless and unceasing hostility of a jobbing Company. .So far,we ( perfectly agree with Captain Rous. But, it must bo a sub* jeel of deep regret to the best friends of our late and truly amiable Governor, that his friend' and advocate should have permitted his zeal to outrun his judgmont, so far as to bestow even a thought, upon one of the most ridiculous fables that can be well imagined. Upon very slight authority, he represents Captain Grey to have sent a formal and deliberate message to two chiefs in the neighbourhood of Auckland, about to engage in battle, that he would hang them up if they did so. He then proceeds to say, that the chiefs, after receiving this communication, adjusted their differences, and agreed to turn * their united forces against the Government and the town of Auckland.' Tlie whole story is wound up by a very grave announcement, to the effect, that the native chiefs of New Zealand never tell lies, The effect intended to be produced is quite obvious. But, how great must be the astonishment of Captain Rous, when he learns that the dispute in question was really adjusted by Capt. Giey, in a manner so truly wise and dexterous, as to have produced a firm friendship between the contending chiefs, and a still firmer friendship of both to the government and the settlers! We are compelled to observe further, that it would be wholly inexcusable in any other person, than one engaged in the advoency of a fiiend, to ascribe, upon any amount of mere authority, so ludicrous a piece of gasconading to a man, of all others, least likely to fall into any thing of the kind. The same circumstance will account for the extraordinary fact, that a m,ap us, Oapt* Hous should think of pronouncing judgment upon Captain Grey's government, before it was well commenced. How acute must be his regret when he is informed, that there is scarcely a grievance complained of in either district of the Colony, which has not in tho course of a single year been completely redressed ; that the rebellious natives have been chastised with so much judgment that at the moment when we write, oider and repose prevail throughout the whole islands, and that all 'subjects of dispute between individuals of both races are being daily adjudicated upon in new Courts of law, specially contrived for that purpose, uith the entire approbation of the settlers and the natives 1 The natives were indeed enthusiastically attached to Captain Fitzßoy, and lie well deserved that attachment at their hands. ' lint, Captain Rous himself will acknowledge, that great pmise is due to Captain Giey, for having won the affections of the great mass of the native population, after having been reduced to the ncccsbity of punishing them severely in some instances. This premature judgment upon the policy of the present Governor is the more to be regretted, as the failure of Captain Grey could be only very indirectly necessary for Captain Fitz Roy's defence. tWe acknowledge, however, m ill) pleasure, that there is one thing intimately connected with the present and future welfare of New Zealand, upon which Captain Rous has eminently dutiiiguished himself at a public man. We refer to his bold and constant exposure of tho juggling tricks of the Company. He is perfectly r,ight in thinking, that nothing can go on smoothly in New Zealand, until that body is cntiiely got rid of. They keep the, whole Colony in a state of continued excitement. They have already crushed three Governors, and, could they but get the slightest opportunity of opening li»v» upon Captain Grey, they would soon take to the

wotk, and nil this, for the purpose of proving, that the Colony cannot be governed except through and by themselves.