The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1847.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 92, 6 March 1847, Page 2

The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1847.

Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

PROGRESS OF REFORM IN THE COLONIAL OFFICE.

In the government of Her Majesty's Colonies, the Colonial Office in Downing- street is the controlling central authority. Every imperfection in its constitution, and every practical inefficieny in its machinery, must be felt through the whole extent of Her Majesty's colonial empire. • Some defects in the principles and practice of this office were distinctly pointed out in the beginning of the present century. But, during the continuance of the revolutionary war, the faint grumbling of the advocates of colonial reform was drowned by the din of European warfare. Some years, however, atter the re-establishment of peace, the growth of the colonies themselves, the numerous grievances of which they complained, and the universal diffusion of juster views as to their vast importance to the mother country, induced even speculative men, wholly unconnected with the colonies, to direct their attention to the office in Downing- street. A much deeper degree of interest was taken in this subject by the ship-owners of Great Britain, and by the colonial proprietors and other representatives of colonial interests resident in England. Witliiu the last few years, assaults have been made from all quarters upon the Colonial Office, and, as we have more than once undertaken to criticise the conduct of the Is'ew Zealand Company in other respects, we have the greater pleasure in acknowledging, that that body has been, during the period in

question, always in4he van of the assailants, and that it has, in this way at least, done good service to this colony, and at the same time materially promoted the cause of colonial reform generally. Notwithstanding, however, these long-con-tinued exertions from so m my different quarters, the deliberations of the Colonial Office hig? not yet been made as independent of the changes and chances of party warfare in England as they ought to be, nor have its deliberative and ministerial departments received those accessions of force, or undergone any part of that remodelling,so loudly called for by the magnitude and difficulty of the business to be managed. The sole fruits hitherto reaped by the labourers in the field of colonial reform, have been, increajed attention to colonial affairs in Downing-street, and a faint glimpse of change in the mode of man-aging one highly important part of the business of the office. The New Zealand Government act, the Australiun land sales amendment act, and the power, so promptly conferred upon colonial legislatures, of abolishing differential duties upon their imports, by way of compensation for the loss of that protection, which, until lately, they enjoyed in the home markets, are all strong evidences of the increased attention now given to colonial affairs. But, there is a provision in the New Zealand Government act, which, if adopted in all future imperial acts of a similar nature, relating to the colonies, and there can be no doubt that it will, is, even in itself, a mostimportant change. The provision in question, however, becomes still more important on account of the reasonable hopes which it excites, that other changes will soon follow, and that a course of gradual and well-considered reform in the Colonial Office will, from the present time, be carried on with a degree of earnestness suited to;the interests at .stake, and Ihe objects in view. We refer to the provision, that all letters patent and instructions under the sign manual, issued by Her Majesty in pursuance of the act, shall be published in the London Gazette, and laid before both Houses of Parliament, within one calendar month from the day of the date thereof, if Parliament shall then be in session, and, if not.then within one calendar month next after the commencement of the then next ensuing session of Parliament. Now, should this provision be universally adopted in like cases, and should it also become a regulation of the Colonial Office, that despatches to and from Governors of Colonies should, immediately after their issue from, or receipt at, the office, be published in the London Gazette, whenever such publication could not be detrimental to the public service, it would be impossible to over-estimate the beneficial effects of these simple changes upon the future destinies of the colonies. Hitherto, the government of the colonies has been carried on by secret correspondence between the Secretary of State and the Governors. The Companies, and individuals in England connected with the colonies, were compelled to wait for intelligence from the colonies themselves, as to the contents of orders in council, letters patent, and instructions under the sign manual issued from the office in Downing-street. In the mean time, the worst effects arising out of doubt and misapprehension had been produced, and were generally incapable of remedy. In the matter of dispatches, the amount of injury inflicted upon the settlers in the colonies and the colonial interests in England, was much more serious. The governor in his dispatch submitted to his principal an account of the state of things in the colony, of the measures which he had actually taken, and the reasons upon which they were founded, and either recommended measures for the future, or sought advice, or asked assistance, naval, military, or pecuniary. The Secretary of State in his rescript informed the Governor, that the laws enacted by himself and his council were allowed, or disallowed, or left to their operation by Her Majesty's Government, that his other measures, actual or contemplated, were respectively approved or disapproved, or left to his discretion, that the assistance solicited was granted or refused, and then came the usual amount of advice, expostulation, and, in some instances, of hard words. Of this correspondence, however, the settlers and the colonial interests in London seldom knew any thing, until, a long time after the events to which it related were forgotten, it came, in consequence of an accidental motion in the House of Commons, to form a portion of a Blue Book. This method of managing the affairs of a colony,solely and exclusively by secret aud unchallenged correspondence, will account for many anomalies in our colonial history, which a foreigner would have great difficulty in explaining to himself. But, when in conjunction with it, it is considered that the governor of a colony is almost omnipotent in it, that the imperial and local governments are frequently separated by vast intervals of space, and that, until very lately, the selection of governors has depended upon causes as precarious in their nature as those which regulate the direction oi the wind, no man of plain common sense can avoid coming to the conclusion, that, some few years since, any thing whatever might have happened in a British colony. Looking at colonial governments in this their true light,

we cease to be astonished at the frequent occurrence of crude legislation, and at the no less frequent adoption of measures of public policy, either positively mischievous in their tendency, or utterly absurd and impracticable* Nor will it any longer appear to be a paradox, that the Imperial Government should not be informed upon the precise state of affairs in a colony at any particular period, until several years after it prescribed laws and regulations for the management of that very situation of things. These evils would be very materially lessened by the prompt publication, in the London Gazette, of despatches to and from governors, of orders in council, letters patent, and instructions relating to the colonies. The shipowners, the mercantile firms in Great Britain onnected with the colonies, and the colonial proprietors resident there, would, by this simple process, be able to obtain that immediate and authentic information concerning the meaures of the imperial and local governments, which is absolutely necessary to the prudent management of their affairs, and to which they are therefore fully entitled, whenever the public service could not be injured by the publication in question. They would, also, by prompt corsespondence, with the Colonial Office, be often enabled to procure the repeal of bad laws, or the revocation of hasty and rash measures of the government, before any great extent of mischief could be produced by their operation. The real intevests of the different bodies just mentioned being perfectly identical with those of the settlers in the different colonies, the views and interests of the latter would be effectually promoted by the proceedings of the former. In fine, the whole business of colonial government, hitherto carried on in perfect darkness, would be conducted in broad daylight, and subjected to the wholesome action of public opinion in the mother country and in the colonies. Fortunately for the Colonies, the 3ubjoci Upon which we have been observing, has tor a long time occupied the attention of the public men in England who interest themselves in colonial affairs, and there can be very little doubt, that the improvement in question will, at no distant date, be carried into effect.

The tranquillity of New Zealand may now be considered as firmly established upon settled and abiding principles. The Aborigines prefer the presence of their white neighbours to their absence, and the Colonists feel- that the Natives are very important auxiliaries to them, both for labour and for traffic. The parties have tried their strength in the battle-field, and both have come off with honours ; one is strong and overwhelming on open ground, and near the sea ; the other is lord of the mountain} bush, and swamp. But the most important advantage has been gained by this struggle to the white population, and that is, their native friends have been tested and ascertained, the result of which' is most gratifying, and we now know that more are they who are for us than for those who have been against us. The Aborigines generally are convinced that cultivating their lands and planting food is more to their advantage than fighting against soldiers and our native allies. There may probably be now and then a lucal interruption of the general tranquillity of the Colony, but the universal tendency and order of things is peace and its prosperous consequences. We, and we are certain that most thinking men, are fixed in the belief that New Zealand, as a point of emigration, is greatly elevated in the scale by possessing a fine native population ; because, from these we may derive that amount of cheap labour, upon which the advance of every new country must mainly depend : and in turn the natives consume largely of our imports. The exportation of Flax must and will proceed, and that article, together with Timber and Copper, will quickly give this Colony such an impulse as will draw the tide of emigration to our shores. There is nothing to hinder this. We have probably about 60,000 natives on this island, most of whom are able and willing to woik for a reasonable remuneration. Forty of these can easily prepare a ton of flax in a week, and would sell it for ten pounds to the merchant, giving to each native five shillings per week as earning for men, women, and children. This ratio of earning would be at first quite enough, and would leave room for a small advance, as they improved in bring* ing to market a better article. It is very desirable that they should have room to advance, for the native does not like to retreat and come down in the price of his labour. The difficulty of rousing the natives to prepare flax will not be very great, as we may infer from their earnest and persevering efforts to procure kauri gum : it is true that that traffic has at present failed, but the flax trade need not fail ; there is no end of flax in New Zealand, and the market at home cannot be glutted, and the article by means of cheap native labour will bring a remunerating price in England. What seems. to b» desirable is, an importation of manufactured flax in drills, and other forms, that the natives may see what can be made of their Harakeke ; a tract in Maori should be written and widely circulated among the natives, setting forth the open door for profitable labour in flax j stating the price

by weight, in cash, and the place where they might deliver their flax and receive their money. We think well of the auggresJions of our sensible correspondent, the (< Voice of a Settler/ upon this subject. He advocates the formation of an association, the chief value of which would be to secure one uniform price for the same article j for the danger is, that one buyer will give ten pounds, and another twelve, until the high prices paid to the na~ tives will ruin the trade altogether. By such a course they would be injured as well as the merchant; and one of the finest openings for an export trade from New Zealand would be closed by the folly of those whose interest it were to promote the traffic in flax, and with it promote emigration and colonial prosperity. With a climate surpassingly salubrious, situ* ated in a most commanding position, having the riches of the East and of the South flowing before us : a Governor wise, kind, and firm beyond his years,— .just the man for the place and the times ,• a native population strongly attached to him, and a Colony emerging out of deep gloom, into open day and cheering prospects, how can* this land fail to rise, when almost every man among us h enlarging hig borders, increasing his wealth, and privately writing home to his friends to say, "If you wish to prosper in your estate, and enjoy good health, come hither, where you will find full scope for all your energies/* We observe with great satisfaction about one hundred natives at work forming a beau* tiful turnpike road from Auckland across to the Manukau harbour, several miles of which, are already formed, and preparations are being made to cover this fine line of road with scoria, which abounds in the neighbourhood. With good roads, and our comprehensive river navigation penetrating into the most interesting parts of the interior, and all meeting at Auckland, constituted by nature the Capital of New Zealand, let every citizen turn his energies less or more, some in one way and some in another, towaids the permanent establishment of an extensive export trade, the only thing necessary to complete our colonial prosperity.

Armed Police and the Natives.— A case was tried before the Resident Magistrate on Monday last, which shewed how easily we might be led into a quarrel with our maorijneighbours, by indiscreet conduct toward* them, on the part of the authorities. It appeared in evidence that, on Sunday evening last, a number of nativeswere loitering about the Town, as they usually are on the Sabbath day, when a drunken maori girl, who had been turned out of one of those sinks of iniquity that disgrade our settlement— a public house, and being guilty of shameful conduct, was very properly taken into custody by the police. Some of her friends being present attempted a rescue, a general row was the consequence, and three native men'were taken into custody. One of these was a respectable chief, named Whakapo r from the upper part of the VVaipa. He was charged by the Police with "passing the word" to the mob to rescue the woman. In his defence, he declared that he was trying to prevent them from attempting to rescue her ; that he called out to the natives, " Let her go— th« is a drunken woman," when he was accosted by a policeman, who said, " What is that ?" He replied, " Nothing ; I am advising them to let her be taken to the whareherehere / she is drunk." The question was repeated, "What it that?" He repeated, "Nothing but let her go, the is drunk." Then the policeman aimed a blow at him with his truncheon, which he warded off: another was aimed, and he warded that off also. He was then seized by the hair by two or three individuals, whom he knew not, and dragged to the whareherehere (prison). This was his own defence," which he certainly made with a considerable air of truth, and of conscious innocence ; while his accuser made a most blundering and contradictory statement. The Beuch dismissed the case by fining the natives each ss. and costs, which they paid, and were discharged. The magistrates were evidently convinced that there had been great indiscretion on the part of the police, and cautioned them to be more careful in future. The arrest of Whakapo produced great excitement among the natives who were in the town and suburbs. The news soon spread to the different encampments, and they were all summoned to meet on Monday morning, to go to the Court, and hear the result of the enquiry ; having determined that if they could get the girl, they would kill her on the spot, as utu for the impiisonment of their Chief. A messenger was also despatched to Waikato, to acquaint his friends with the circumstance, and all the natives on the Government works left their employment and came into town. They conducted themselves, however, with the greatest decorum ; and not the least opposition was offered to the course of the law. In fact, they were entirely unarmed, and evidently well-disposed, only anxious that their friend should have justice, whom they considered innocent of the crime alleged against him, and degraded by imprisonment without cause. Whakapo himself seemed to think it very hard that he should have been liere'd, when he was not only innocent of any breach of law, but was actually trying to keep the peace. They had a korero after the case was settled, and then quietly dispersed, Whakapo taking it upon himself to order all the natives to leave Auckland ; some of his immediate relatives, perhapi, will do so, but those of other tribes have gone on with their work as usual. This case should tetch our authorities two or three useful lessons, which we hope they will not foil to read, and so far profit, as to be induced to provide such remedied as shall prevent the recurrence of similar soenes; for we are persuaded that a repetition of such cases -will very seriously affect the good feeling that has so long existed, and, we believe, still exists, between us and our native neighbours. In the first place, it should teaoh the Justices of the Peace for the district, the importance of exercising great care and discretion in the issue of Licences for Publio Houses. Some of such places here are common di». turbers of the public peace, and are among the greatest nuisances of our settlement. They are increasing beyond all due proportions, and are holding out to the natives temptations to drunkenness and prostitution, to an extent that must awaken serious fears for the results in every mind that wishes well to the Colony. That a general diminution of the number would cause a small decrease in the revenue from that source of income, is allowed ; but such a consideration is not to be placed on a par with the morals of the people, the peace of the community, and our friendly lelaitons to the natives. The peace of the whole settlement ought not to be en-

dangered, either with a view of increasing the revenue, or to accommodate individuals, who might employ their capital and their time much more advantageously both to themselves and the Colony. This affair, also, should teach the police to be more discreet in the performance of their duty, and not to use their truncheons io freely. To break a Chief's head, or drag him away by the hair, is the greatest insult that could be offered him, especially when he is innocent of any crime, and it might be followed by very serious consequences*. The police were evidently at fault in this matter. That some native called out, " Hold our woman ; don't allow her to be taken away," is without doubt ; but that Whakapo was not the man, is very clear. He said something, and that was enough for the policeman, who took it for granted that he was maori scholar enough to understand that Whakapo was "passing the word," "Past the word" he did, but it was a word of advice to his friends, to allow the woman to be taken to prison ; and what right had a man who knows not a word of maori to conclude, that it was a word to encourage riot, and attempt to break a native's head ? Would not a little common sense, and a little more self-possession, have taught him that he ought clearly to understand what was said before he used his authority ? Let the police do their duty, by all means ; and let them be firmly supported in the proper discharge of it ; but they certainly ought to be taught better than to conduct them* ■elves as they appear to have done on this occasion, and then we trust a little more coolness and judgment will direct them in future. This affray should also teach the Government the necessity of adopting some better method of dealing with riots, when natives are involved in thorn. It would be much better to dispose of such charges against natives in a more summary way, by conducting them at once to the Native Secretary, himself a Magistrate, who might examine the case through the medium of proper interpreters, and be satisfied that there was just cause in taking the accused to the lockup, before he was dragged off to that place. It is obvious, that to leave the law in its present state may involve us in mistakes that will not be easily rectified. A policeman and a native may both be aiming at the same object, as was the case in reference to Whakapo— : the policeman wanted to preserve the peace, Whakapo was using his influence with the natives for the same object ; but their ignorance of each other's tongue led to the incarceration of the latter, and produced illfeeling in his mind with reference to our laws and customs, for which we grieve— for to impress the na tive mind with the equity of English law would be a great point gained towards securing their cheerful submission to it. Ought not, then, some measure to be adopted that shall prevent the recurrence of such a case ? At least, let there be an interpretation of what is said by the accused party, that the officer on duly may be able to give a good reason for his conduct, and be able to satisfy the natives that our conduct towards them is strictly just. Though a native may be liberated as soon as the case can be tried, yet a nighi's false imprisonment would be regarded such degradation by a chief, as he could not easily look over ; and we should avoid all occasions of bringing the natives into collision with us. And might not some means be adopted for keeping the natives as much as possible out of the town, except for the purpose of trading ? Could not an eligible spot be found somewhere hi the suburbs, as a market-place for them, where they might dispose of their produce, and have their huts of a permanent kind, in which they might Jive during their sojourn?— such a place, for instance, as Mechanics' Bay, and prohibiting any license for a public house in that locality. This would remove them from many scenes of temptation to which they are now exposed, by encamping under their canoe sails in the market place, and along Fort-street; in the midst of dram shops, and all the evil for which such places are distinguished. And if any measure could be devised for getting them out of town after a cettain hour in the evening, except when able to give a good account of themselves, so much the better. It would not be very difficult to distinguish between groups of idle loiterers and wanderers, and such as were on business. Certainly, something ought to be done for their comfort, and to preserve them from temptation when they come in with their produce ; and some such plan as that we have hinted at, would not be without beneficial results. Man Drowned.— The Son Accord arrived yesterday from Kawau, bringing the body of a mau, named John Johnson, who was drowned at that Island, on Wednesday last. The deceased had went in a boat, with another man, for a load of bricks, and, after loading the boat, was shoving off from the shore, when the pole which he was using broke, and he fell overboard and was drowned, before his companion could render any assistance.