The New-Zealander. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 179, 16 February 1848, Page 2

The New-Zealander. WEDNESDAY, F EBRUARY 16, 18 4 8.

Be just and feat not: Let all the ends tlion aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truths. The Wellington papers, received by the Government brig, are nearly barren of intelligence. What spell has been cast over both organs of public opinion in that settlement, ■we are unable to guess ; bul the reserved tone by which they are at present characterised is not unworthy of notice. They shew like Hies in amber, peifectin form, yet unable to use foot or wing. If there be nnytruih in the old observation that a happy country is without a history, or, at least, without a history sutficiently interesting to be worth the telling;, we may congratulate the Cook's Strait's settlers on the present dearth of news, as symptomatic of all contentment and prosperity. Still it is remaikable, that in these rather stining times, with a new constitution sprouting up, boon to expand into full luxuriance of bloom, with important details to be yet arranged, that they should not have even a wish to express, as if they were infected by the same apathy and indifference towards it as that with which they have long twitted us n?ore phlegmatic hin ghers of Auckland. Have they nothing to say with regard to the sensation created al home by the bitter complaints which have been made against the Company by the Company's own settleis, which are inci easing, day by day, the disrepute into which that body lias fallen ? Or have they no comments to make upon the differences which are said to have existed between " a high quarter/ and " an influential quarter," (let it be observed that we can be as discreetly mysterious as our brethern) concerning the sinews of war and of government ? We are obliged to confess, that the greater portion of our information respecting Port Nicholson affairs has been derived as yet from private correspondence. They certainly shew some symptoms of uneasiness at finding the old firebrand, Rauparaha, with his original hatred of the Pakeha's exasperated by a long and wearisome captivity, cast loose again among them and appear willing to resign both the profit and the pleasure of his company to us. The original idea of the capture, as planned nnd executed by Major Last and Captain Stanley, was good; but it was never worth while to inflame the enmity ofsuchanin* triguing and influential chief, afterwards to turn him adrift at last with free play and &cope to all his talents for mischief. We believe that it was once confidently supposed at home that he had been long since hanged ; and that the said suspension had been approved of, as a decisive and energetic measure. Without going so far as that, we should have been glad at least to have seen him sent out of the country, to be decently maintained for bis few remaining days. As it is, he will surely be the cause of bloodshed yet— he has already declared that atonement must be made, that utu must be had, if I not from us, at all events from Natives that have shown themselves friendly to our cause. Missionary exhortations and Government threats would as easily talk the spots out of the bkin of a leopard, as change the nature of this cunning old savage. Wanganui is to be lortified. We are shy in expressing our opinion on its value as a military position, but must allow that we have heard it objected to on that score by some who must be supposed perfectly competent to judge. As to any loss of ciedit, or of moral influence over the Natives, to be feared from its abandonment, we believe that the days when such considerations might have had their weight have long biuce passed by. It is upon our actual strength alone that we must now depend, and even that we conceive to be rather under, than over-rated, by the martial people with whom we have to deal. The Governor, it appears, expressed a wish, through Major Wyatt, the Commanding Officer, to converse with the rebels, but found them quite impracticable, refusing to enter into any communications whatever. At Tarauaki the cry is— broken prom'ses — and, what we have always so strongly insisted on in Auckland, impediments thrown into the way of cultivation, turning away an undue proportion of industry, into the channel of mercantile pursuits. With what justice the cry from tint quarter has been raised, we are unable to say — it suffices us to notice the complaint giving an extract from the letter of one who styles lumsself a ruined Settler — In ihort, Sn, the original land-owners and founders of this settlement huve neulitr Kind to cultivate m>r capital lett to woik wiih. Had the question been 81 titled according to CaptHin Gay's promises ten m nths ngo, a considerable oreadih of ne^v wheat land might have been sown this coming autumn; we have been thus prevented by the Government trom ictneving even tbe smallest portion of our loss. The Govunmeij' officer* may indeed see every thing in a a most favour

able light, but I have found, to my cost, that so long as their salaries are paid, the losses and sufferings of the settlers affect them but little. Those who have spent all their means in employing labour, and in developing the resources of the settlement, ruin stares in the face. Some, worn out with vexation and disappointment, have already abandoned their enterprise; more contemplate following their example. The Government and Company may therefore congratulate themselves that those who were most likely to remind them of their broken promises can hold out but a little while longer, and will soon cease to be in any condition above labourers. I am, Sir, Your obedient humble servant, A. Ruined Settler. This settlement, be it remembered, was once styled the garden of New Zealand.

On Monday, Major General Pitt took the oaths as Lieut.- Governor of New Uls'er, during the absence of the Governor-in-chief. We take this opportunity of remarking, that he has yet time, it" he think fit, to extricate Captain Grey from the awkward position in which he has placed himself with regard to the Court of Requests, by assuming the responsibility of ordering 1 the warrants to be again issued, as heretofore. The probability of success in the application for a mandamus, is of course a matter beyond our ken ; but of this we feel convinced, that a favourable decision will prove incalculably mischievous to Government, tending to bring it, if not into contempt, at least into very general disrespect, even the risk of which it would be unwise to run ; and we are undbls to perceive any other present means of avoiding the possible consequences of what is allowed on all hands to have been an act somewhat hasty and unadvised. If, however, this rough assertion of the " Quod liliet licet ;" of " what I list, is law," had been slightly softened down, it might still have chanced to scape unnoticed.