SATURDAY, SEPT. 11, 1847.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 134, 11 September 1847, Page 2

SATURDAY, SEPT. 11, 1847.

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

" Quis Deus tibi non bene advocatus Vecordem parat excitare rixam 1 Anne ttl pervenias in ora vulgi ?" Catull. Ravldo. The plot is beginning to thicken. Difficulties, both, to Government and Settlers* are springing up on e^erjT side, with the rapid growth of a crop of toadstools ; and the old discontent, which has been so long smouldering in ash, seems now, by publication of the famous despatch, to be at last fanned up into a flame. Nor can any one be surprised ; the imputations cast upon our colonists' were almost too bad ; we have our faults, certainly, and plenty of them, but are not yet quite so black as we have been painted. Our object is now to lecover that good i name of which Captain Grey has attempted to deprive us. But that such recovery will be effected by the public meeting which is about to be called, where invective will be lavished, and .extreme opinions broached; where moderation will be voted tame and spiritless ; that we shall. rise in the estimation of the home government by any display of violence or ill-leeling, is what we cannot bring ourselves to believe. Whether this meeting will be numerously or respectably attended, is more than we can pretend to say : it is rash to hazard prophecies when the verification of them is so near at band* But this we sincerely hope and trust, that no one will attend for the mere indulgence of an. idle curiosity,' or give coun . tenance by his, presence to the proceeding, without having, first deliberately convinced himself that it is incumbent on the commu*, nity to take this step. ' . The policy of such a move at the present! juncture is a matter of opinion, and we have no wish to obtrude our own ; indeed, there are few persons here who are not competent to form an opinion for themselves as sound as any which we could pretend to offer. What we ask is this, that every person proposing to attend should take the trouble really to form one for himself about the matter ; not lending his support without reflexion, swelling the numbers, and so increasing the apparent importance of the assembly. And this we ask with the greater confidence, seeing that the population of this settlement is by no means turbulent or factious in character. On the contrary, the individuality of opinion here is remarkable; each man judging for himself, with little reference

to the judgment of his neighbours. A large proportion of the inhabitants quietly observe, and draw their own conclusions, with as little bias or prejudice as can be expected among men. It is to them that we now address our* selves ; it is their confidence that we have been always anxious to secure. Our own opinion is made up very clearly on the subject ; that the movement proposed it useless, as well as impolitic; and we take this opportunity of stating the reasons which have led us to such conclusion. In the first place, it is not easy to see distinctly the object of the meeting, or what direct advantage is to be gained by it. A public meeting called for the sake of intimidation, we can understand, though we could never approve ; there is something about it definite in purpose, at all events : a meeting called in furtherance of some request,, we can likewise understand, for there is possible gain in it ; but one called for the mere amusement of voting resolutions, seems worse than useless ; a sort of playing at politics, to the neglect of many more important realities. As to gaining any single poiut by it on this side of the line, it may, be assumed that no one dreams of such a .chance. We are not strong .enough, being, as yet, but the skeleton of a colony. The mortification of failure would be the only result. As to profiting by it at home, any such hope is of all others the most fallacious. Representation of our case is needless ; it would be merely telling what by this time must be well enough understood. And even should it be thought necessary to explain away the imputations ' cast upon us, there ate other means of attaining the same end, less cumbersome, and more effectual, than resolutions passed in public meetings, which are always supposed, and oftentimes with reason, to be packed for the purpose ; and are treated ac* cordingly, unless when held on a gigantic scale, with slight and inattention. ..- They who get up public meetings do not know the temper of those in power at home. These risings and agitations are merely supposed to argue a discontented iaco, that would manufacture grievances sooner than remain without complaint. Ministers are told that the chair was taken by Sir Porcupine Restless, or Mr. Make-mischief j that much good colonial invective was delivered, the substance of which every one has long since had by heart ; they at once set down the whole proceeding as factious, and abandon, as an overdistasteful task, all attempt to satisfy such unceasing and cormorant demands upon their time. To those who oppose the general policy of the* Governor, we might suggest an additional objection ; that his hands will be actually strengthened by the course proposed to be pursued. By bearing too hard upon the man of the^aeen's choice, we force her Advisers to throw their own weight into the opposite scale. They cannot, with decency, appear to yield to intimidation. Arid this view is supported by our own experience. It is well understood that Captain Uobson himself, by far the least unpopular of our several Governurs, would have been recalled, but for the extreme violence displayed by the opposition of the time. It is not in the nature of either man, or minister, to be bullied into any thing, or bullied out of it. They will not submit to it, any more than we ourselves ; at all events, when we can help it. But, besi les damaging the cause of the colony at home, by agitation and excitement, our interests may suffer on the spot It must not be forgotten that the promised crown grants have not yet been issued to the claimants; that although they are at present in course of preparation, a stop may be put to all by a single word. It might be as well to secure them first ; there is plenty Of time afterwards to get up as many meetingsas the colonists can spare time to attend. Agitation may be likewise thanked for the last new move upon the board ; transplantation of the Pensioners away from Auckland, about which there will be more to say anon. We are aware that many do not scruple to suppose it only an artifice; a preparation for the more easy carrying out of a different purpose ; that Captain Grey cannot, for the mere sake of private pique, be in earnest about any thing so manifestly ill-judged. Perhaps not ; as soon as the hare is hotly pressed, she begins to work her doubles ; but for our own part, we should be. sorry too confidently to assume that such is not at present his real intention. Hut it will be hard upon the new arrivals to be made scape goats ; driven into the wilderness with the sins ot the old settlers upon their backs. .Another. objection,— a stronger, too.than any that has yet been raised, —lies in the way of the meeting as. proposed. We allude to the risk of dividing the, colonists into parties ; into the party that attends, and the party that stays away j to the consequent invidiqus distinctions that ' might be drawn between the two classes, whether it be with regard to numbers, or to position and influence in the community; fco the mutual reorinuoations that might arise therefrom. And thii danger is by no means a shadow,— a mere phantom of the brain i for the mischief is already at work. Bad blood will be generated between, thoie

who think that they have. ail to gain, and those who are sure that they hare something to lose ; and we are too small a community to he able to risk those dissentions, the bitterness of which is always inversely as the population —always the most intense and concentrated where the~e are fewest hearts for it to be shared amongst. Neither must the intrinsic weakness of division be forgotten. Nothing but the must cordial unity of feeling can enable the settlers to make head against h'trsh or injurious measures. From the moment that the first chink of separation in the body politic is shewn ; from the moment that parties assume form and consistence, they become puppets in the hands of any Governor —and there are few in that situation sterling enough to reject the alluring facility of rule which dissension affords them —puppets to be played off against each other ; to be urged, through the hest and eagerness of contest, into rashnesses capable of being duly represented, or mis-represented, at home* , We turn from, this subject, to, say a feh words about ourselves. The New Zealundcr is thought by some, who' have not yet comprehended the principle on which it is con* ducted, to blow hot and cold, as the caprice of the moment may direct. We answer, that the semblance of consistency has been sacrificed to the reality. It is the custom of most journalists to take up. a thorough-going partisanship ; to enlist in. government or opposition ranks ; securing the semblance,— no matter how inconsistent the measures, so loDg as they stick to the men* Thi« course, by right of prescription, has Jong since acquired title to the name of " steady principle," and from this course we are accused of having departed. But it must not be forgotten that it is* equally the custom of journalists to put forth at starting professions, of impartiality and unbiassed feeling, which are seldom acted up to in the sequel. For the pro* blem of Mahomet's coffin is hard to solve* We have endeavoured,"— with what success let others judge, — to adhere to, that rule o£ guidance, which we confessed and adopted | some while since* VV c pointed out our line of country long ago ; we have ridden straight at least, and have never turned aside to look ! for gate or gap. The test by which our con* | sistency must be tried, is this'; resistance toj agitation. , , : : • , ' , Our conviction has always been) that whit this colony mostly . requires to. ' thrice and prosper, is quiet ; that 'the body of coloniits I is enterprising;, certainly above'par'in genera] ' intelligence, only needing to be let alone, to secure success to themselves, and rapid advancement to the country. But nothing can fatten at fever heat. Our rule has therefore been to oppose agitation and excitement, frem whatever quarter it might Wherever we' have opposed the Government Government itself has been the agitator; trying crochetty"expenment»rfippJng^u^old:'grteirs'' auces, or, what was worst of all, declining to relieve our colonists from suspicion of being parties to a breach of national faith. < . And by the very same principle, on which we have so often opposed an ovetbusy Government, do we now deprecate that counteragitation, which doubles the misohiefr opening a wide door to start and strife besides. The despatch has done its work ; yeoman's service, we fear; to the writer of it; but good as well as evil has arisen, for its premature divulgement lias read Captain Grey a lesson that he is not likely soon to forget* ' ' But be the evil what it may, a public meeting is a sorry care. We will dispose of it at Moliere's Sganarelle politely 7 dismissed his doctor; "Monsieur, je croi que tout Tor dv monde nest pas capable de payer votre remede ; - mais pour tan t voici une piece de trente sous que vous prendrez s'il vous plait." "Sir, the wealth of worlds is small payment for your recipe': but you must' allow me to offer you a fifteen penny bit."

Leoiilativi Council.— ln comequence of Hit Excellency* continued absence at the Northward, the Council did uot meet on 'Thursday last, at' was appointed.

Copper.— A discovery has recently been made in Euglarid, which if carried out here will tend to giv« ( a powerful stimulai to our copper mining operation*. It is nothing more or lei 3 than thi%,-~smelting copper from the ore by means of elect ricitt. ' We are unprepared at yet to give a detailed 'account of the process by which this result is acccoraplished,. but there can be no Joubt of its ready practicability and success. Time and money are both economised by means of it, to * very .extraordinary degree. "The smelters of Swansea, now effect in two days what luedtotake them three weeks to accomplish, and their annual saving by the new over the old method, they estimate at not leu than £500,000, in that district alone ! Out of the 10,000 tons of ore seat home last year from this and other adjacent party only 1600 tons of copper were extracted. What* a vast saving aud advantage therefore would there be, \a •melting an the spot} for every six ships that run must be employed to carry Atone and dross, one only would suffice. We hope to be able to put our rea.di ers in possession of the scientific details respecting this novel and ingenious prdcess.

Vaccination.— lt it time that the attention of government, and indeed of persons should tie called to the importance of prompting this highly neceuary protection against the ravages of a frightful and fatal disease, which though it" has not yet appeared iv this island, it is very passible may do so before long, among tbe ship. loa.d of pensioners aiyi ■others that are to be expected. What Ve' would sng gest is, that a Vaccine Institution should be established in Auckland, under the auspices of govern.

ment, where the operation could be performed gratuitously/ This is the principle acted upon in New South Wales, and fouud to be of great advantage. Should there be no lymph here, a supply might easily be had from Sydney, and a portion distributed among the other stations, as well as private practitioners. Such a scourge as the small pox, getting ■ among the native population who are so totally un prepared to meet it, would have a terrible and depopulating effect, and to the Europeans who have not been fortunate enough to have been vaccinated. We are sorry to have to record another deat ; among the Pensioners, who bad been long in firm. The remains of the deceased were interred on Monday afternoon, with military bononr*. < It it stated in tbe Sydney Morning Herald of the 16th ult., among the English newt received ; by tbat paper, to tbe 24th April last, that the remaining Pensioners for New Zealand were to be embarked at Devonport in two line-of-battle ships, which were to load here with spars for tbe navy.