Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 137, 22 September 1847, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Eddor qf the iVeto Zealander. Sir, — It cannot be denied that the position held at present by tho Executive Government, or in plain words, by the Governor, who must be taken to be to all intents and purposes, dc facto, the Executive Government of this Colony, is a very peculiar and perplexing one. Unlike the respective Governors of the several neighbouring colonies, New South Wales and Port Phillip, South Australia, Western Australia, not excepting Van Diemen's Land — whoso course is marked, whose duties are to a great degree defiued— whose responsibilities are divided— who have no large masses of conflicting interests to be distracted by,— ihe Governor of this colony stands in a manner per se—isolated — alone — with no chart or compass but his own. discretion to guide him through the tortuous labyrinth of shoals and quicksands that beset his course on every hand. He has all things to do, and much te undo. He has every body's interest to regard, and yet no interest in particular, except as may be consistent with the general interests of the community atlarge.^ He has two opposite races to administer to, distinct in all respects— in colour, habit, manners, moralß, language. Jn short, his uncircumscribed multifarious duties, involve a series of onerous tasks which no Governor of any other British dependency in theie seas, is, or can possibly be called on to discharge, And when to them is superadded the positive necessity of waging warfare in one direction, and of guarding against the probable contingency of warfare in another, it can be no matter for wonder that the mass of previous difficulties should then swell into one of Herculean magnitude. To a Governor so circumstanced, it is therefore very clear that no ordinary allowances should be extended — and to requite his strenuous exertions, directed impartially for the benefit of all, with clamour and hostility, would be the height of injustice, and impolicy also. How much better will it be, if faults arc to be fouud, to state them candidly and moderately. If individual sacrifices must be made, to meet them in a compromising way. If the " peace, welfare, and good government*' of the colony cannot be secured without the co-operation of the colonists themselves, not to seek to annoy by personal attacks, or thwart by outrageous claims, the straight- forward designs of a government legitimately and beneficially disposed, but to give such a government their heartiest support. Not that, in my humble opinion, the large majority of Europeans resident here, require prompting on such a subject, or feel at all disposed to join the puny ranks of a eel fish opposition ; but that tin's is the only course which expediency and justice dictate, as calculated to realise the happiest results. In offering those remarks, Sir, I beg to be understood as confining myself simply to a statement of what strikes me as being most prominent among the enormous duties pressing upon this government, the propriety of making all due allowances ior difficulties so appalling, and the desirableness of meeting them in a conciliatory becoming way. The aptitude or otherwise of the present Governor, may properly form a separate subject for consideration. And here I think it is that Governor Grey does really and truly stand pre-eminent ; and for these plain reasons. First, it is clear that he possesses the fullest confidence of the home government — every despatch of JEarl Grey's that has as yet reached the colony and the public ! eye, bears abundant evidence of this. Take the following quotations for example from one of them dated Downing-street, Ist February, 1847, •' It has been a source of satisfaction to me to receive in the clear and comprehensive form in which it has been brought under my notice, the favorable account you Have there given of the financial condition, present and prospective, of the colony committed to your government. In the views you have expressed on this subject generally, as well as the line of policy pointed out by you as the best calculated in your opinion for securing a permanent and progressive increase in tho local revenue, I entirely concur, and you may depend upon my support," &c. &c. Again— j " I now proceed ,to advert to your statement respecting the probable amount of revenue and expenditure of the colony during the present year, and from the calculations on which that statement is made, I have inferred that the total amount of aid which will be required from Ihe Imperial 7'reastuy to enable you to carry on the service of your government for the year 1847, is £38,865 155., thereby coveringyour estimated deficiency of £3G,000, and allowing you a probable | surplus of £2865 15b." And again— " It now remains for me to acquaint you that an estimate to the extent of £38,805 15s. wjll be sub- , mitted to Parliament in the present session for the ser- , vice of New Zealand." ■ Thus then is Governor Grey not only declared by the Secretary of State to possess his fullest confidence, i but a Parliamentary grant of £38,805 15s. is placed at! his disposal for the service of the colony for the present )

yeiy, and th,e probability further i» held out of a similar grant for the service of the next year, and the next, should circumstances require it. A most munificent aid undoubtedly j and, it is to be borne in mind, given in compliance with Governor Grey's own request. This fact of itselfspeaks volumes. In tbe next place, there is every reason to belieyo that Governor Grey lias really and truly tho benefit of the colony at heart — not this section or tha,t— • but the whole ! In fact, what other object can hphave?^ It is in seeking to carry out this general object, that his Excellency now finds himself upon a brink of troubles.— " Beneath this depth— a lower depth Still opening to devour !" But I fear I have already trespassed too far upon your columns— and will, therefore) break off for the present, still remaining, Your obedient servant, NO PARTY-MAN. Auckland, September 20, 1847.