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New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 298, 7 April 1849, Page 5

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Bishop, the Chief Justice, and oibcrs of the public offi. cer<;^Ji rhib colony. I Upon the hole, I thought it more prudent not to neither any communication t» tbr. Chief Justice upon the mbjtctot hi* signing the petition, but I have delayed forwarding it until I had seen and spoken to oilier officeis of the government who had signed it ; and I find that thry had not ically carefully considered i your Lordship's iuntructioiu, and had been misled by the statements made by other persons. I therefore mtre'y stated, that I thought, for the future, they had better abstain from Mgnin<r petition* which censured the government under which they were acting, until they htd acquired more accurate information upon the subject reeimling which they intruded to petition. In conclusion, I have ouly to state, that I have repenU-dly, and in various ways diawn the attention of both tbe European! and Naiireg, to tb« fact, that your Lord' hip has instructed me most scrupulously to fulfil wbatevei engagements have been contracted with the natives : at the same time declaring it as your opinion, " that no apparent adr»ntage could he suffered to weigh againit (be evil of acting in a manner either really, or even apparently, inconsistent with good faith." I have however, unfortuuttUly, found a small portion of the European population, so influenced by prejudice, that they could not understand even such language, a* I have abovo quoted. With the natives upou the other hand, I have had less difficulty ; and, Ida not think, that at any period in the existence of this colony, their minds have born more free from suspicion and alarm than at the present monieut. (Sigueti) G. Grkt. Now he believed that the meeting would coincide with him m thinking, that it would be folly to ask Governor Grey to support the pret.eut petition. Fur his own pait, if his Excellency were now present, and proffered his support he *?ould reject it, and infer from the »cry fact of his promise to support it, that he would on the conlraiy oppose or at loa-t endeavour to damage it. (Seiifa'ion, cheers, and cries of Oh !) What reliance could be placed upon tLe word of a man who, at the very liiuc whui the entire roithern pot turn of tbe island nan asiMte.l and tin? minds both ol Natives and Europeans un*<.tt'eil beiaii'e ofEul Gray's h<-ti uctions— hail u »Liu«hi'gly a .sorted ih»t—" With the aathest uptm the olbu hand, I have had less difficulty, and I do not think tl 1 at nt any period in tl.a txistence of this co'ony, their minds have ben more free from mspicion, and alarm tlian at tbe piese.it moment.'' He thought lie ha<t nd<! '<ed ßnffii'frnt : e son w h y the meeting should no* peril ihe avccis* of /[their important petition by seizing for it tin- equivocal tuppwt of Governor Grcjr. He would then- ti move us an unnnilm^nt— "That thi"t Meeting having heard the re en arks which H N l>xce leucy tlic ftovcrnor-in-Cbief addrested to Earl Giev on the 9th o f March last, when transnuttng a Petition to Her M« jetty, on the subject of a fnti'mulatci brcadi of tie Treaty of Waitangi, fTitrned by hi> Lordship ihe Bishop, by hii Honor the Chief Ju.ticc, and by other government officrn, as well »« by a very large number ot tbe most respectable and influeiitidl mem) erfc of the comniuui'y— and these remarks bun? at variance with the (statements of the Petitioner*, and otherwise inconsistent with truth — that this meeting can plate no reliance on the opinions which hii Kxcailency may cxpie^s on tbe present occaMon; and deem it necc&saiy to warn Her Majetty'* Gove rnin<-tit not to be misled by any remarks he m<iy make oppnsed lo the opinion* exptessed by this ineeting, and to be embodied in a petition to Hei'Majoty, and fuither,deemit not only unsdvisable but improper to wait upon His Excellency by deputation, Mi'h the view ot ascertaining His Excellency's opinions on the present occasion." CoiiMderfclile excitement for some minutes prevailed, and «everal remarks were made by different peftoui, tbe purpoit of which was lost. At length Mi. Forsaiih c-Ujc fonvar.l. He said he knew of the existence of t de-patch which leflrcted upon tbe Chief Justice and the Bishop, and insulted the good sense and uiidcrotniiciinic ot a p irt of the comnvinity, but he v/as altogeihcr ignorant of an mleution to bring it forwnrd at that merlin?. He had not the slightest idea that Mr. Biown had intended to iutruducc this subject. But us such an important piece of mformvtion had been laid befoie tliem, he did think that the meeting could non wiili propriety pas^ the ori|;inml motion. (Hear, heir, and question, question.) He would apeak to the qu ktion. and sate at once that he would aecoud the) aiueudment. He had, pcihaps, a better rigbt io Efcond it ihbii many in the meeting; inaimuch a» he h»d been ptrtunaUy misreprekented in another of His Excellency's despatches. (Great confusion.) Mr. Rout: Between two stools let us not fall to the ground. We are losing si«ht of the mam object of the meeting. He, for one, would not enter into private iore«. Mr. Forfaith : he did not wish to obtrude any private sore up in the notice of the meeting. But it was no private so c, it wan a publtG evil, f<,r no man in ths cmnr.unitv was tufc from the misrepresentation* of Governor "Grey. (Cheers and counter cheers ) Utter such a di<closuse of the misrepresentations contained in his E.\cel)eory'B despatch; misrepresentations, too, bffecung some ot the highest functionaries in the :olony; insomuch that it was insinuated that the Judge and tbe Bishop had signed a petition without ;on>ideriHg what they were doing, or understanding : ts purpoit or meaning. It would be absurd for the I neetinij to solicit Governor Grey's support. (Conmur\l excuemeut.) j Her. W. Lawry . -He was not prepared to admit the ustice of these observation!. What evidence had they hat the allusion to Ihe want of consideration on the part if the Judge and tho Buhop were misrepresentations ? Mr. Forsaith.— What eviddute? why thj best of all vidence— the character of the men tbemselves. (Hear, ' lear.) Would xny one pretend to persuade the meet. ' ng that hib Honor Judge Mai tin, and Bishop Sdwyn, : rere men 'ikely to put tueir names to a pupt>r the mrport of which they did not thoroughly understand, ir without well considering' tbe propriety of what they re re duing J The very idea was preposterous, aud t would be an insult to the Bishop and to the Chief funtioe if ihe meeting were to refrain from exprqpitag

its condemnation of the insinuation contained in the despatch. And if the motion were carried in the fiice of that despatch, it would certainly imply that tUmeeting did not think tho etntemerts it contuincd of any itrc<U importance, or deseiving of much censure. Mr. Hart regretted exceeding!* that Huyt'inu sl.oul-' hate arisen calculated to stultify tbc proomlin»« o! the meeting. If the umendment were carried t%e entire object of the meeting would be def>»ud. He believed it was tmial not only fo etind petuinTjsth.otif.h the Governor, but to seek bis uppoit. lie ihoujlit the amendment of Mr. Brown an iriva-ioti won Liulegitimate objects of the meeting. If le i«col!ccto<i rightly, Mr, Blown was one of tdose who were appointed to propose a memorial on ih ( > jjt'-v-ances of the Colony. Ho imagined tlmt a publit meeting would be called ero long to coiihuUr that memorial. Upon luoh nn occasion the pr-hent question might be properly discussed, but lie objected to its introduction at thin meeting altogether. Mr. Hunter said it was a prostitution of tho buvness of the meeting to abuse the Gove'inr. (Hcmt, heir ; great confusion, and cries of question— dunk' ) Several pcisons rose together to uddies-. th* meeting, but the purport of then observations wu l"st. The chairman Hujd that Mr, Kiosvn had taken an unwarrantable liberty in worniing tn'o tl.e rrcetuiir a subject which was wholly ifelevei.t, ,uid fo. whiMi the meeting wai not prepared. Mr. Brown !r-*l not even produced the authoriiy fiom wlroh he dvirud ininformation. He had rend a despatch purporting- to be from the Governor, but it would have l>e n mote satisfactory if he had produced th-j Blue Book. Ih would not occupy the chair if tha amendment wni CBi-ried. The meeting might then elect a.io.hei chunman and proceed as it thought proper, but he would warn them that by such acouvsr the ltait mate 01 j ■< t for which they met would be entirely defeated. (G.eat sensation, Ciiei of Divide, divide; and Char, chair.) The Rev. W. Lawry concurred with the chairman. The amendment bad been thrast upon the met tint; irregularly. It was uiual in all well regulated meetings for a committee to prepare the resolutions, nnd no owi had a right, without giving notice, to come for* a. d aud inter* apt the course of busims-. Tliere were mm there who weie ac'ing upon principle, and they would wot be drawn in to support such an araeniiuicnt. Mr. Forßaith.-— He entirely dissented from this view. Any man had a right to propose an amendment on the resolutions brought forward, even thuuji ility were prepared by a committee 1) -forehand. He did not understand the wllusion to men of p:inciple— no doubt that every man at that meeting was act'ng upon principle. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Brown. —He begged to disavow the comtruetion put upon hii motion by tht Chair-iimn. He had not introduced it ■urreplUiovujly ; neither did he consider himself at all open to censure for introducing it. A. motion had been made, to sulicit the Govcrnoi'a support to a petition. He (Mr. Brown) was iv posseition of information, which he thought sufficient to prove that it would be unwise and nmafe 10 do so. That information was derived from the Blue Boo'<, and he would vouch for its accuracy as .1 copy. He luri submitted it to the meeting, and upon it had founded an amendment embodying his opinion. That Amendment had been seconded, and it now rested with the meeting whether they would adopt it, or übide by the original nio'ion. He should press the question to a division. (Great scnoation — nniidsr conflicting crits of ** Divide, divide," and "Chair, chm.") Mr. Forsaith said— He deeply le^ret ted that anything should have occurred 10 disturb the hn-mony of the meeting. He believed that il wus far from the n>tention of Mr. Brown to throw into Heir inidot the. apple of discord. At all ovcats, if he thought sucli wu the motive, he would not have supported the ama.dment. But after what had fallen fiom the chmr, .md as it was evident there «eie some in ihe roam who were not prepared to go as fur n<\ thu body of the meeting, and whose feslings, thercioip, ought to be ro,i*uh d, he would, preparatory to making a piopoKilca'cjl.itnl to rt' store unaninaiiy, nsk if t'.ere wi«w i« any |U>rbun iv the room connected with the Public Prrn^ as irp.>tti iand if a complete report of the procei'dhgs nouid be published. An intimation to thu I'ifci.t btin^ {liven, Mr. Forsaith procpeded—lle would then piopo3P, wit) Mr. Brown's permission, that if Mr. Li^ry would withdraw h'« motion, so that thp pe'inoi miffbt n^ni,]. be tent in to the Governor for tiMnsmi'Sion in 'h.' «su>il way, without any request for snppoit, th n ilu motion made by Mr. Brown should be withdriwu aLo, and the matter altogether dropped. Bj this course every objectwould be gamed j tnenieeiiog would noi be divided ; and if any were inquis.tive enough t<> wish 111 1 know why the original motion wus wnhdiaivn, the re. port of the proceedings would inform them, (lle.it 1 , hear, and cries of '* Withdraw, withdraw.") Tlte Chairman taidhe saw no objection to the cour-c proposed. Rsv. W, Lawry laid,— «He should not object. It wai rery certain that the rrsolu'ioa and the arorntU tnent could not both be canted, and rather than cause any division in the meeting, he wouli consent to withdraw hit motion. But it did not altogether rest, with him— would Mr. Panton consent ? Rev. G. Panton had nothing to say in the matter. If Mr. Lawry consented to withdraw hi* motion, of course theie remained nothing for him to second. The fourth Resolution v\as accordingly withdrawn. Mr. Bum rose to move—" It being the opinion of this meeting that the desire of the Rijht Honourable Earl Grey to felonize New Zealand is a pioj/ct uu known to, and^ uuainctioued by the ttri'ish s>en,iie— that|therefoie both Homes of Parliaan nt be nnplored to interpose their authority, and to protect the; colony from such an intolerable aud unconstitutional infliction of Colonial Office despotism. Aud that to ixiompliau thi» object, petitions to that effect be addro Bs<>d to Parliament;—and that, at the consistent and uncompromising opponents to Transportation iv cveiy sha^j, nun as ardent advocates of the udvaucyment of New Zealand—those petitions b* trau;miltud to liia Grace U>< Archbishop of Dublin and Sir William Molvsw< rti , with a request that his Gmce will be pleased to prt/>o it and enforce thut to the Home of Lords, aid tha. Su William b« toUcittd tv evert « like interest wuu that

io thp House of Commons." He wouM not ditaiu the, meeting by any observation, but submit the motion itself to their favourable consiJeral'ou. Mr. Hart said — He roar not with pleasure merely, hut with di'light to Kerouil this reioluiion. The Meet, m haJ '.\w an oinmriunity of «dop ing" a rcsdution whirh would enable them to prepare |it > uti<jn i » into which 'hey ini.j'ur i ut as much b>).ce :is tl ey j, easeJ (OI.WH ) 1 v»onl(J be ij'ini; lelowuble to aiinpt much •lr >n^er Nn^unjc in . n aU'Ttbt to the Mouses <>! Pai. I lirnicnt han Vi a l;><ly. We- would not at th-.t yvo* J tr ic'c«l ht vt* of tiP proceeding, detain tin- mcdi 3 I 'onj, Imt he wi'hecl t'» make, out m two olnervn'ior>!» rtij-ive to tiicib-.rnc.lcr of the Foikhuist Bi>ys who (.no al'M'iy bn n iril e'ed noon tho lolonj. To show how completely the) hud s cceedod in duping those w' » wetu appoint* dto watch them, hf need only nien- | i.i'./n t"e mloa'uirtiii p^ed upon the r conduct duiing ! thr pi-Mre bv Mr. Horn. According to that genilen"in liicy were p'ira,rons of rcrfeuiiou, ami if we as a comrnuirty wished to improve < w selves we iiaJ ni-thinj t> do I'm t j o ;py the example of tho^e model* of vrtup. Now hi would give one iijluu'e only rf llieir »i tuoii'j acromplmlimen":. It w a<> upon lh» au'borily of «i leiitlcmau of u nloubt d veracity, O'ie. of tho^e hoys I)v spme m u »ns or uihcr fow.il ni< wav into the inteii >r and w.»s tto))|<ine ft ft native p<ih. In this vtth incut ihfro vv-ic '.omoof the waM\ts no<- veiv lions*t hi Uu.r dii) usit.ons, (oi «uhoush su a piopif !he\ wera gnnerally hojiest st l! t'.itr<! tw«re 'S. la (ho pah I'terj was ji bux bf lon»ui;; ta au H'iropfun, which had lor simdo lesson or olhtr b en 1. ft iliere ia chaise. Somfi of the natives wanted co help themseKusto a pt.iliou of its contems, nnd pr.ipos <1 btvahu.£ it opLii with a tomjiia.vk, •' Oh no," smi! the i I'dikhu'St mui'ceiit, " You are not up to tb.i> cmt "f thii g, iierj 1 will bhow you a 'letier way thau hre.iK,iiu?Uoi>e>. Njvcr break locks when you can h<'l,% i:." So m, in:; heca sizjtl the bo\i rcicuched out tlie bottom, Bud hiving emptied the con'oatf, rep accd it I with gr.'-at duferity. "Tinre," R^id ho "then^xc i time you will know better how to do buii.iess." ' v hear, facdr kuu laut liter.) Ilev. \V. Ld.rry —Thought that before <he rcrolution wus put it h.«d better be lead a^ain, as thiic was a word or tuo in it which 6truclv upon hit ear as rather , of(\ burning nature. Tlie resolution was read a^ain. Rev. W, Lavrrj— Another word might perhapi be substi'uted tor u despotic," without at all impairing the effect of the lesolutioa. He disliked all hauh words. Mr Newman— lf a nan by his f.iir ipeeches were to ingratiate himself into your confidence, and be admitted to familiar intcrcoursa with yourfiroil., ikud w« afterwards to employ the influence tl''n obtainf«t tj deceive and injme the fatniiy who find hniorcd him with confidence, would be not be mo?t aptiropna'e'.y termed a Til am ? (heir, hear ) E»rl Giey had deceived m>t it Jamily but a community; andifkt"n{ Linjuaiie wa^ nnplicuble to iucli conduct when exhibited on a small scale, it was still moie acpro| note wh^n t})t offence is of a more aggravated c laiact'T. T«e word despotic was not a •vrlnt too &liro ig — if indeed it -.•ns strong enough io eatress tbc turpitude of £arl Gicy'» cond.icf. (lijur, hear.) Mr. Jjae,,! 1 ! Pobinson tbought it always the best couiis to call things by their right rames. We are living under a despotism, nud thorefere it could rot be improper to uae tlie word despotic, (lloa^, heir.) iWr. Rout would recommend the Uae of smh Jan-pu-'ge only as would secure lha o ject of the incetinpI* wis qu tiionublc wiiuther uuyihing would be gan»ed by hard wur !&. Mr. Bu«h. — He would not consent to mince the D.at'er. No Inn; wu& ever Ruined by neiv lity, when ti.e ocWif'ii wauanted u bold and uufli'ichm^ utawl. lie w ( ohi remind M . Ron' , lint fe (U-,« sjienkpr) aud ?Ir. ll' v* h»il oftMi bi"nt and sucetiQibftl to Govrinnifiit iiilldouce, .m ( he wouUi a-k Mr Roat u-ltit lie l<ad jrainul by it. It whs no use employing hoai"d phrases w'len a grievous ii.jury was to ba complained of. (!le.r, hr .) Nev. W. L'uviy thought th'»t the rcs)lu*ion was su'hci.utly btionif, \>it!i,mt i.sinj; a term which irn-'it hi ciinsidnn; I offensive, -md had no doubt that Mr. Burn Nvj.ild t'xi'un^ v, i«lr. liuiii «d d — Hfl hal licen twenty years fiihtin^ against tue dcs, olir pu>Lcedi:ig( of tlio (.o'oniiil Oilue, dm] h" hid so far i» 'Cdedod .n to mlucr soms of tii<; iiifl tcn'iiil Fiondou J um.il; to tain, up the qiusion. ihe tefolutmn \\a"» before the m>.etin^. They might p.isn or «ij r.i it hs Uuy pleaded; but hh 1 * wjulu T«t c 'UStftir to f. itter U -iwiy, as he toiwientuu-.'y be'.ierid that it w«ii n-.t uiore (lov.ted tlun w.i* absolu ely n-cesw sary. (Ch-er*, and pries ot " Put th« question. "J The ( hitirtnau tat'l he 'hju d put tbe ie-olufou as it <'(«>i!. it not uUdii.:nciu-ly hu >porteJ, it would then he ev'dntt thut a modilud phr.oeulogy would be pre» lerreii. The resolution be:n«; put. wia oariied uniuimoasly. Rl-. MooHfiore. — Th« resoluttnn jiropoaed by Mi. Burn having been curie't, it W'is neceoi«uy, in OiJer to lender it prauticnilj ciheu've, to a,'P-/i:it a Com mittee ior the purpos>« of |>ie|iarin<j the petition to be forwarded to tue Houses of Parliitneut. Ec would therefore pcopo*e that ths fol'o^ing genilcmeu be re* ques.cil to undertake that duty— MV But n Mr. Cnnnell Mr. Ba^h Dr. Carter Kv. Brown Mr. Whitalcer Mr. Wli , tliivr M». Woovltiouso Eecondcd this resolution, which was cai-rifd unaninauusiy. Mr. Ijuumi rose to move— "That a memorial to ihe Qu^eti ou the sa'ue snhjeit be prepared in the nativu la 'gua^e, and the sig»utuie« i>f ih« «<«{>»""! 01/taincd." lie would not cnfoiou the necessity c/ this i»«;niure upon the meeting, by any addiltoual rsrnaik*. The subject bad been ahcady alluJed to, aud he tilt sure that it was -i measure which accorded with the leehngs of tha met up. A.r Why law seconded this resolution. I«ev. V» I aivry. — Was very jjl*d that this step had not uccu loot sighE of. He was suie tint tbe iiptivcs would cordially join to oppose the intioducticu i f convicts. Why, ie was tve-'l known tliat they had a greut antipathy to iucU offeaderf, They would point

to such a one «nd say he was a " tangafa tahae." Only let the petition be prepared, he would warrant that they sii/iied it readily enough. The question was n ooied who should prepare it, Mr. Forsaith whs s>usgested. He begged, however, to be exetnerf, hi* tim'j vrnr, now so fully occupied that he could not undertake tho task. Rfv W. La.uy. — Did not sew any great difficulty <n i he oabe. 11? hnd no doibt Mr. Huddle, who was a lios>l in h f m«olf ii tiwL mitiprj, would irinnn'^e it for Hum. Itwuu'd oe but a t JusUtion 01' the oilier petition, asaenilyas the difieient idi<un af the Ja. gtj go penn'UcJ. Th'B sngsrsfion was received with applause, and the reiilutton being put from the chair, was carried uu r *aiumously. Upon the motion of Mr. Montefiore, Mr Gra *■ .■. ■ wns requested to leave the chair* and Mr. Wo^d to fake ie, A vote of thanki to the clmirman rt-r ', able and impaitiul conduct; was then cainei . < ■ svclaujciuoo, and the nierting; separated.