Original Correspondence. THE GOVERNOR AND THE MISSIONARIES:

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 176, 5 February 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence. THE GOVERNOR AND THE MISSIONARIES:

To the Editor of the New Zeatander. Sin— ln reading the Auckland papers, I have often felt surprised at the misconception that seems to prevail of the relation in which the Governor and the Missionaries now stand towards each other. By one party, we are represented as hating been attacked by His Excellency, to be despoiled of our possenions; by another, (among whom is your correspondent of Dec. 11th—^he •« Early Resident")— it is said " Hating learned to look upon themselves as the guardians of the Colony, they did not relish the ' rath attempt' of Capt. Grey to rule without them," and " that they are jealous of the man that east them off.' 1 It your conespondent meant that the Governor ha* decided upon managing hit own matter*, without calling in the aid of the Missionaries, there are few of our body that dissent from the propriety of such in arrangement. Assistance, in mediation, we have always rendered, when asked for ; bat the opinion has long since been advanced amongst us, that the most unpleasant part of our duties is, defending the measures of the Government, and adjusting the quarrels of the aborigines with our fellow-countrymen. The Governor's proceedings can very little affect us in oar spheres of labor, influence with our people we have attaiued, and, with the blessing of God, will maintain, no mattes who is Governor. Hut, we skill exercise it for good; and shall join to a man in denouncing and removing that Mi-sionary who is convicted of " scattering the seeds of disaffection amongst the natives." Are the Missionaries hostile to the measures of Governor Grey ? First.— lc is true that'we contemplated, with mingled feelings of surprise and pain, some of Governor Grey's, first proceedings towards the Aborigines at the Southward. We regarded those measures as not only injudicious but unjust. Secondly.— Those measures we are now inclined to regard as the result of inexperience, and as in some measure excusable from the peculiar circumstances in which he «m placed. Thirdly. — It is admitted that there has been a mis-, understanding between some of the Missionaries and\ His Excellency on the subject of land. This misunderstanding, however, has been much exaggerated. Jn reference to lands purchased front the Natives* mny be divided into three clasrei : — • lit. Those who have never made any such purchases. 2nd. Those whose purchases have been so small that no objection has ever been made to any of them. 3id.> Those to the extent of whose purchase objections havt been made. This last class does not comprise more than six individuals. Of these, one has altogether renounced hit claim ; and, as to the others, it will be found that there is nothing larger than what a respectable, settler would think requisite for his children in a new, and by no means exclusively fertile, country. I bulieve I am correot in saying that, of the whole body, only two have demurred to the Governor's late requisitions. These cases are peculiar. The point 'm debate was not the number of acres they are tq receive, for they have distinctly bound thcmielves to their owjv

body to take but a limited quantity. Unfortunately, before the Governor's proposition was made, a despatch of hit appeared, which, by implication, would appear to affect materially their characters. The n ature, also, of the requisition, that they should resign the surplus acres into the hand, of the original owners, was one we 1 calculated to Impeach their Integrity, iv ri^£J < S people. H.ving, moreover, heard from some chiefs at tS northward, that the Gorcrnor b.d used I.o 6 «. 5 e to Se his good intensions by retract mg, or explaining, thoseremarWrom wbich.uch suspicion, had originated; and JnT enable them to surrender the said lands » a manner consent with the character of upr.gh ne.s which should always be the dearest possession of the K gS Grey's remarks can, I consider, be satisfactorily explained : though that explanation has not, 1 How unfounded the charges against him were, was^unknown to myself until I read, a few weeki since, • pamphlet ("Plain Facts") lately published nuAuckland ;-a pamphlf t, from the perusal of which no unKsed mind can, I think, rise, without the convichon that Archdeacon H. Williams is an injured man. Governor Grey's remarks having appeared on the back of theie calumnies, it wasbui natural that a man of spirit and honor should decline voluntarily acceding to any requisition of Governor Grey's until such remarks had been either substantiated or explained. It is to this and one other case, which is also peculiar, that the " Early Resident" tAludes, when he speaks of « several" having joined the " Glenmore Cottage clique." But to proceed. Fourthly. The great body of the Missionaries instead of being hostile to Governor Grey, are beginning to see that, while he has made less professions, he has done much more for the Aborigines than any of his predecessors. His prohibition of the sale of powder to them was timely and judicious. His prohibition, also, of the sale of spirits was a measure for which, as a Miitionary, I sincerely thank him. His efforts to obtain speedy justice for tUera is operating with the happiest effects. His late bill for the education of the native youth opens a cheering door of hope. It shews that he is acting upon a systematic, and generally developing, plan. It reminds us of the philanthropic author of the well known Sonth Adelaide report; and revives those feelings with which we first hailed his appointment to this Colony. Every good subject should consider it his duty to ■watch and canvass tbe measures of those in power. The Missionary would be wanting in duty to his charge, if « his jealous eye did not keep a vigilant watch upon the proceedings of the Governor in reference to the Aborigines. This charge, therefore, I take as a compliment from the •« Early Resident." But I can assure Eim that no remarks of his, that no remarks of even the Governor himself, will cause us to be hostile to him, as long as he proves to be a friend of our people. That those who are opposed to Governor Grey s measures should be glad to associate the Missionary name with their party, is only natural to expect : but I cannot imagine how the Governor's advocates should be so ihort witted as to aid in fostering the delusion. I remain* Sir, your obedient servant, A CHURCH MISSIONARY.