The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 166, 1 January 1848, Page 2

The New-Zealander. SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1848.

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

His Excellency Captain Grey this day casts, Jike tbe. silk -worm, his fckin of LieuienantGorernor, and emerges more iully developed

!as Governornin-Chief. On Monday next | he leaves as to pay a visit to^ the south. We are desirous then at this juncture of having a few parting words; and also, of following the customary practice on the ter1 mination of a dynasty, to take a slight leview of ihe defunct Lieutenant Governorship. I And in so doing, let it not be understood for a moment, that our pen is suddenly i endowed With a keen sense of fault-finding ! from any malicious motives. To perceive i dearly our future way, we must recollect the errors and difficulties that we may have fallen into orm^t with in our path ; and our best friends are those who will seasonably draw our attention to them. Besides, to judge entirely from results in such an " experimental " colony as this is not altogether fair; for it isaveiy difficult matter to collect the 'whole truth in this country on any one subject. . . The Lieut. Governor arrived here in JNov., 1845. He was greeted on his landing by the inhabitants, assembled to pay respect to the representative of Her Majesty. More than this, the well informed classes were inclined to place great confidence in him, for he wa? a known man ; South Australia had prospered under his rule. Certainly no address was preseutcd him. a practical or r-»ther tangible demonstration of public feeling which ou«ht not to have been omitted ; perhaps a eeling of delicacy to Captain Fitzroy, perhaps the paralysed state of the community at that time, which in spite of having been blessed with the administration of three governors in a short space of time, with matters retrograding from bad to worse, might have been the cause of the omission, and almost a sufficient excuse. The first act of the Lieut, Governor was to put an end to the circulation of the debentures. This should have been done by his predecessor, as it was known that positive instructions had been received by Captain Fiizroy to that effect. The proclamation being expected, did not cause much surprise ; for no one for a moment supposed that the British Government would sully its honour by disowning the paper money of its own agent, and which its subjects were obliged to use, The Lieut, Governor now changed from financier to soldier ; and the colony having received a large accession of troops, he went to the Bay of Islands, to suppress the long standing rebellion; an undertaking which his predecessor had not sufficient physical force to effect, In the mean time, Auckland the capital, was left in a most defenceless position, and there is every reason for believing that a plan was being loimed to pillage the town, a catastroi he which was prevented in the first place by the interfered of our faithful ally, Thomas Walker Nene, until the fortunate and somewhat unexpected arrival of the steamer with troops. The rebels at Ruapekapeka were soon convincedjthat they had a powerful foe to contend with. But no sooner was peace soundly established in the north, than Rangiahiatd began to molest the settlers in ihe south ; and ended in an open revolt. This gradually led to the military operations at Wanganui, of which we shall speak presently. The Protectorate establishment which had perhaps been of some use in amusing the natives when we were weak, was very properly got rid of now we were strong— about as much as can be said, except perhaps bestowing a tiibute of praise on one of its members, a gentleman ot whom it will be sufficient to say, that by his disposition and talents he so ingratiated himself with the natives that perhaps no European was enr so much beloved and respected by them, as he—we mean, Dr. Edward Shortland. I It cannot be denied that Captain Fitzroy left the land question in an unsettled and perplexed state. Ihe Lieut. Governor h<is been here more than two y«'ars, and if the problem has been reduced to more simple terms, the question is still unsettled. Were the colonists solely dependent on his dictum, and had they to look to a no higher controlling power at home, the question would wear a much brighter aspect. We have however not yet quite forgotten that the acts ot Governors are not always assented to at home, even should the same patrons continue in office; bbuyt v let some one of the many cases of ministerial change occur, and your new minister soon finds that the easiest way of exhibiting his power and importance, is by acting contrary to the instructions of his predecessor. The uncertain state of the leelings and intentions of the home government has been exceedingly hurtful to this distant colony ; we will cite one of many instances, On the arrival ot Lord Stanley's despatch ordering the acknowledgment of the •« penny an acre " land claims, great confidence vras inspired, cultivation began with spiiit, and some of the lands changed hands at a high price. No act ol lie colonial government could destroy this confidence, until news arrived that a "new king reigned in Egypt." What ! Would the choleric Lord Stanley have allowed his expressed wishes to have been so slighted by the Lieut. Governor of a young and distant colony ? Not for a moment. We know him too well for that. But bis successor heeded it not.

The whole of the land Claims indeed might have been settled long ere this in an equitable manner. The whole matter lies in a nut-shell. It must sooner or Jater be settled equitably. And the only question to decide should be the amount each claimant is entitled to. With regard to the law of the case, we shall endeavour to elucidate it by taking an argument of a learned Attorney General, used indeed by him on the other side. If an usher during the master's absence, gives the boys a holiday without expressed authority, the responsibility rest* with the usher, not the boys. But if the usher gives one day's holiday, and some boys take two, the young rogues must then expect a thrashing,fl<:r&. sap i The glorious campaign at Wanganui will ! we fear not obtain a sufficiently large space |in the pages of British history. This splendid location, held above all other reasons on account of its importance as a military position, its open plains on which the natives could be utterly annihilated by our soldiery, did they dare show themselves there ; these are circumstances which may be advanced by some for the purpose of diminishing the value of the laurels there acquired. But we hate detraction. We have the most respectable evidence that during some hours hot engagement one native was positively seen to fall. So tired are the natives of waiting for the appearance of our troops from their snug encampment at Wanganui, that they have at last retired, leaving word to the effect that they will be happy to fight them at any time after three weeks notice. Is not Colonel McCleverty's despatch a sufficient equivalent for all the "blood and treasure" expended at Wanganui ? The capture of Rauparaha too was a feat of dexterity which even surprised our native belligerents ; and the natives of the Northern District are under especial obligation for his being left at large in this neighbourhood, to dess'cminate his correct principles and extend his humanising influence amongst our friendly tribes. It is now time to glance at the domestic poI licy of the Lieut. Governor. Of course, the first object in a new colony is to afford asssist- ! ance and give every fostering care to the colonists. Like recently transplanted trees, they require such especial treatment, which is iiiot provided for by general laws, either of nature or of man. We are sorry that the oftly mode of culture we can recollect worth recording has been a system of hashing and pruning^ We are gardeners enoug.i <o know tha< fruit cannot be b>rne without branches; and we therefoie seriously recommend a milder use of the Government pruning knife tor the future. But are not splendid roads being made for the especial use of the settlers ? That certain roads are attempted to be made we admit, and that they have been commenced, but we fear that some time will elapse ere they are finished. We say certain roads, for why are farms, sold years ago by Government with a 11 road frontage/ and on which hundreds of pounds* have been expended, still left without any means of communication ci.her with Auckland or anywhere else, without going over private property ? We could point oui a large District, fertile and near the town, but lying a waste, because about three quarters of a mile of road is not opened. We have no wish to reflect any censure on the Lieut. Governor for these things ; he is only answerable as ihe first and prime cause. They evidently proceed from his appointments. He had a decided prepossession for everything military. No settler brought up in the conntry at home, and who had perhaps a thorough knowledge of road making, would do as a Surveyor of the r.oads here ; a military man was a sine quo non. Thousands of pounds have been wasted by making roads in the raoit circuitous manner, and over the softest ground. Some of the layers of stone have sunk so deep in the winter mud, that we fear some future geologist will be deceived in thinking he has discovered new strata. " None but the brave deserve the fare, 1 * none but those of the services have been thought worthy of a place either of honor or emolument ; be it to take charge of the sick, to superintend the roads, or to°act as the guardians of public order. We do not recollect one single instance of a nonmilitary man having had the compliment paid him of being made even a justice of the peace We cannot conceive this to be much encouragement to settlers. Next came the pensioners; who, having been for some time expected, of course, their cottages and acres were ready for their reception. Stop a little, Pegasus ! Not a stick was up, nor a sod turned. More than the usual mystery hung over these arrangements. At first, Onehunga was fixed on for the settlement; the place was examined by government surveyors lamentable cries arose from parties about to have their land taken away ; when presto, the intention was abandoned. Then, as the home intentions expressed that the pensioners should be located in the im- ! mediate vicinity of Auckland, a most eligible spot was discovered at Mahuranghi. The Inflexible almost puffed herself out of breath, in flying to and fro ; and after more mystery, it was decided thnt a party was to go there immediately. It was also about this time suddenly discovered that the Bay of Islands was a situation still better adapted wth re-

spect to LordGiey's instructions; and a settlement was to be made on the Keiikeri forthwith. But for a certain event, the next place chosen, might have , been the North Cape. This event wa& the arrival of Major General Pitt,with Captains Macdonald and Smith, from England, In a wonderful short time, the obstacles to the settlement at Onehunga were removed, and a certain place called Paparoa, on the Tamaki was selected as a second settlement, in defiance of all the fascinating attractions of Mahuranghi or the Bay. Yet it must not be forgotten that the Lieut. Governor had great difficulties to contend with ; and not the least was the difficulty of discovering the true character of the people he had come to govern. He was so annoyed by some overgrown briars and thist es, th*t he couLJ not perceive those more useful plants which do not so readily obtrude themselves, but must be sought for to be found. It has been equally annoying to the majo ity of the settlers, that the sayings and doings of a few busy individuals, should have so gieatly misrepresented the whole community. But " let by-gones be by-gones." We are now about to commence a new era ; and be ruled by a Governor-in-Chief. Capt, Grey has now a noble field before him. We believe he has talents to conceive; we know he has power to execute. But he will have to account for his acts, and his almost despotic power is only equalled by the amount of responsibility attached to it. It is our sincere wish that we may in future have occasion to give utterance to nothing but merited commendation, and that everything objectionable and mysterious, which attended the administration of the Lieutenant Governor will be cleared away under that of the Governor inChief. We trust that as Captain Grey has now attained a controlling power over the whole of New Zealand, that he will neither suffer himself to be hoodwinked by the acts, nor led astray by the blandishments of the New Zealand Company. Indeed, we cannot conceive ourselves that it can possess many fascinations so near death ; especially as it can leave but few legacies. His Excellency hag chosen a fine season for his trip. We wish him a pleasant voyage, and a safe return.

On Tuesday last, the annual feast of the schools in connection with the Episcopalian Church was held on the grounds of the Rev. Mr. Kissling, at the Tamaki. The day was most propi'ious, and excellent arrangements having been made for the entertainment of the scholars nothing occurred to interrupt the flow of rational enjoyment, in which both the teachers and visitors participated with the children. A bout five hundred sat down to dinner in two long tents, tastefully ornamented with flowers, and the rapid manner in which one ox ♦ three sheep, and five pigs, with the et ceteias, disappeared, speaks well for the healthy state of the gastronomic and digestive powers of the, rising generation. The afternoon was agreeably passed in exhilirating amusements, in which we were pleased to see the natives heartily participate ; and in enjoying the refreshing sea breeze on the beautiful beach which fronts Mr. Kissling's residence, Another mustering having taken place to participate in " the feast ofplumcake and the flow of lea/* the meeting separated ; some proceeded to Auckland by water, some to the interior by various conveyances, but all to the conclusion, that the exhibition of so much decorum and harmonious feeling among so many children, must have been the result more or less of the schools, the anniversary of which they had that day met to celebrate.

His Excellency hns iastruoted « Featt to b« pro* tided [for the Natires who have been employed on Government worki, and others alto, this afternoon, in the space fronting Government House. We underhand that seven hundred invitatiou titkot* have been issued , and we hare little doubt but that ample justice will be done on the Tiandi in return for Hit Excellencjr'l liberality.