Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 123, 4 August 1847, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor, of the New Zealander. Sir,— 1 have studied the speech of his Excellency, on opening the present session of Council, and carefully examined the reports of proceedings since, anxiously hoping to find some allusion to the all absorbing topic, which now occupies the public rm"nd, the ( preseut intention of Government with respect to the Native, Lands, arid its future proceedings in 'that matter, under I the Hew Charter, and accompanying instructions. In the speech, the subject is studiously avoided, and no member of the Council has as yet broached the question, and we of the people who should be up and stirring, sit, like a crowd, into which a shell has, been thrown, gaping at the consuming fuse, awaiting, in speechless inactivity, the catastrophe. Each d*y,' every, hour, evil influences are at work ; from Taupo to the North Cape, from Poverty Bay to Taranaki, in every ,pah, in every hut, wherever natives meet together, nothing is heard but incessant korero on tbis point, and the flame of • discontent already wide spread and active, is being fanned by distorted reports of the orders and instructions and purposes of Government,, whilst the ominous silence preserved at head-quarters, countenances and supports the insinuations of the vicious and ill-disposed. A discussion in New Zealand, of the meaning of the Treaty of Waitangi, would be a waste of words— we all kuow well what ii was intended to express. I was present at that great meeting, and heard the honor 'of Her Gracious Majesty pledged by her Representative, for the honest observance of its provisions ; I heard, Missionaries of every denomination, men whom the natives loved and trusted, solemnly assure them that no, wrong was intended, that the land which the Queen, required,she would fairly purcha«e,and that the object or .her Majesty was npt to despoilthem,but to prevent others! from doing so. This alter all, so far as, the native party was concerned, was the whole treaty, this was ( the "'substance," so solemnly assured to them, for) which they yielded up the " shadow," that now affrights; them, You have lied to us, they now say to their pastors,'— we have been, deceived,, soldiers have come and, ships— more are^ exp^ted, and when you are strong,, we shall be robbed, and driven into the sea. We all} know, that, there is not in this .island, one single, acre; of waste, that is, of unclaimed land ; we all feel that any attempt to carry out these instructions, must involve us, in war with the aborigines, and, even if we could close ♦ur eyes to the flagrant breach of morality that would' be perpetrated, that politically, even if successful in that, war, we could not be gainers, that it would be robbing the true colonists .of these islands, the most extensive, indeed the only cultivators, the only .producers of articles of exports, and the largest consumers of our mnn,u-, factured goods, in order that their lands might be, mad,e a part of ithe merchandise of, us peddling, shopkeepers. We feel all this, we see danger creeping upon,' us, imminent, and yet we are silent and inactive.

"Earl? Grey has given too much time,. and care, and thought, to this preoipu« 4 bantling of his brain, lightly to abandon it ; he is nursed* in his delusion by the English press, who knowing nothing of the real circumstances of the case, declare that the whole scheme is peffect, a model— and the plan is highly applaudejl by the Company," by the Company's settlers in New Zealand, and by their public organs. Here is a formidable combination. If Captain Grey, _as 1 sincerely trust is the ca.se, has refuged to carry intoi effect the instructions of his official superior, hi* Excellency has taken the whole responsibility of disobedience on h)9-QWn shoulders, and we. coolly permit him to bear the weighty burden. No friendly hand is stretched, out to help him, nq vpice is raised to encourage and support him. It should be ascertained wha has been done, and what is resolved to be done ; we have a right to know.fon it concerns us deeply— in any qtse, I think we have a duty to perform : if his Excellency has resolved tp stand in the breach jthe champion of truth and justice) he is entitled to the hearty assistance of all those who in their dealings with the aborigines, have reaped the advantage of the rule,— that Honesty is the best Policy,—}^ h ; as a claim to the support of public opinion. But, if in obedience tohil instruction!", any attempt shall be made, to disturb our peaceful relatiqns} with the native(peqp,le, I look upon it as a solemn obligation, that we of this community shall publicly and as one man declare, to our native neighbours, that we do not repudiate the engagements made with them, on our behalf, and that we will resist with all our energies, and by every constitutional means, any attempt at spoliation or wrong doing in their regards I am, Sir, &c, &c. X. Auckland, August 2, 1847. [We think our correspondent a little hard upon the Governor, in assuming 6~veu a possibility of his attempting to carry into effect the orders of Lord Grey. However strongly we may have spoken and felt upon the subject, vve have always done his Excellency the justice of never supposing that such an idea could have entered his mind. We complained solely of his temporising policy, in declining to reassure the natives, out. of a misplaced regard for the feelings of a Secretary of Stpte. It is said that an address on the subject of our correspondent's letter, is in contemplation, for the purpose of strengthening the hands of the Governor. We are not quite sure that we rightly understand the phrase. If it signify something that shall supply him with an excuse for noncompliance with orders, it is superfluous ; for we arc convinced, that with or without excuse, he has too much self respect even to attempt the measuro. But if the address be merely brought forward with a view of enabling him to hack out oi it with a better grace— with the double motive of enabling him to act upon high principle and conciliate Lord Grey at the same time, we say agaiu that it is superfluous; for that he has already done more to spare Ljrd Grey's feelings, to the sacrifice of New. Zealand interest, thau any minister at home«ould have had a fair right to expect.— Ed, N. Z.[

To the Editor of the New Zealander, Sir,-— I take the liberty to address you, in hopes that by such means, the attention of the authorities may be directed to the present state of Durban? street, which, from the accumulation of mud and other filth, is next to impassible; that it should remain so any longer would be the height of injustice to all who own property therein, as we all by common conientgave up 5 feet 6 inches on each side to enlarge it. The solitary plank across the dr.ain in Queen street, was laid down by the inhabitants, and is at best but a dangerous vehicle of passage* I truit, therefore, that, something may^ be done speedily to remedy the evil, ere we have to, deplore the loss of life through the want of proper precautions. 1 am, Sir. , Yours, &c. Jl SUBSCRIBER,