New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 49, 17 January 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1843.

We have learned that the Auckland paper (not of the Mangle press) has put forth some rather singular notions as to the independence of those natives of these Islands, who have not formally become parties to the treaty of Waitangi.- As we have not as yet been able to obtain a perusal of the article to which we refer as containing these opinions, we do not feci justified in expressing any judgment upon the views of our contemporary. But, in every case, we believe that the natives run greater risk from the injudicious advocacy of their friends, than from any violence on the part of their enemies; • and the doctrines which we understand- to have been enounced by that paper, are so fraught with the elements of discord and danger, that they ought not to be allowed to pass without some comment. We shall not at present attempt to argue the case upon strict technical grounds —not that Aye have any reluctance to enter into the lists even on those points, hut —because we feel that a question affecting the peace of the community, and involving the fortunes, and perhaps the live 3, of thousands of the native race, should not, and cannot, be decided upon such grounds. But we may, in passing, just remind our contemporary, that if the authority of England in these Islands s founded upon the mere technical operation of

tin- treaty of Wailangi, then every individual New Zealander of full age, who has not signed that treaty, is not- a British subject. There never has been a period, at least since our acquaintance with these Islands commenced, when any one man, c qr set of men, however high their , nominal rank, could, transfer the allegiance of theii inferiors to another power; still less, could impose upon the members of their tribe a sub-r jection of which their own customs afforded no example, and which, in truth, none of them could, however remotely, comprehend. If the doctrine,of our contemporary were pushed to its legitimate consequences in this respect, the bands of Government would be loosened, and society here would soon resolve itself into its original elements. But the true ground of English authority in. these islands is the absolute and inevitable necessity for-- some paramount and overruling power, and the intrinsic superiority of our social and governmental organization, and of our laws; of our whole civilization, in short; to those of the Natives. Add to this, that we have power to confirm and support our claims, and that only by the exercise of our superior force can any respect be inforced for those rules whiqh the common interest requires. That the two races —the original and the imported —should remain side by side in isolation and independence, without any supreme authority to which both are bound to yield obedience, must be at once felt to he preposterous. It is obvious that the only result of such a position would be jealousy and snspicion, terminating in undisguised, and perhaps, unappeasable hostilities. The want of any common authority by which differences might he adjusted, and the limits of their respective pretensions be defined and maintained, would not but produce these consequences. And if possible, the absurdity would be greater, if here and there an individual, or a small community, should he allowed to remain unsubjected to the authority to which all around them are subject, and were encouraged to cultivate a barren and profitless independence. It is indeed so extraordinary that any one should fail to perceive these consequences, that we suspect there must be some misapprehension of the meaning of our contemporary, and that he could not have designed to advocate any such doctrine as that against which we are arguing.

The conduct of the Government has, how- 1 ever, shewn that these notions have had no weight. The law has been enforced in a particular of great importance to the peace of the community, and in a manner to convince the natives that they must for the future submit to English laws. The lesson thus given is likely to prove widely influential. And this example of firmness and display of powei will have its weight in maintaining tranquillity in this vicinity. Among the chief objects of the visit of the acting Governor to this place, is, we believe, the settlement of the native claims, —and while, we are quite assured, that the strictest attention will be paid to the rights of the natives, we are equally convinced that when once any arrangement has been made, by which particular districts are given up to the settlers, no aggression on the part of the natives will for a moment be allowed. The recent occurrences at Tauranga will convince the natives of the resolution and strength of the Government, and we feel assured the lesson will not be thrown away.

We understand that it is not the intention of the acting Governor for the present to construct any further public works at Auckland, or to apply any part of the revenue to the improvement of that place, excepting the specified proportion of the land sales within the district. To this the people of Auckland are clearly entitled, hut they certainly have no reason to complain that any other funds applicable to these objects should be expended in places which have hitherto been deprived cf that advan-i tag-e. During the present year, we are informed that the Government expenditure for public works will be made in this place. The first building erected will he a jail. The amount, probably, will not be very large,—though, as the permanent expenses of Government have been of late considerably reduced, it will be larger than might be expected from a comparison of the revenue with the former estimates. We are, however, chiefly pleased with the circumstance, as it affords a pledge of the spirit in which the Governmnnt will be carried on, and assures us fhat the interests of all portions of the Colony will receive their full share of attention.

Mr. Murphy returned in the Neio Zealander, from Cloudy Bay, on Friday last, and we have heard that he has brought over a white man, who is suspected of the murder of the Maori woman and child we gave an account of in cur journal a short time since.

We have been informed that Mr. Villers was woke on Friday night, by his wife telling him there was some one in l the honse. He immediately proceeded down stairs, and while groping about in the dark, caught hold of a man, who'was secured and conveyed to the watchhouse. He turned out to be a man who hawks fish about, and was formerly a whaler.

( Communicated.) On Thursday last the Lady of Capt. Daniel entertained a select number of the elite at their town residence, in the evening, with her usual affability and hospitality. The most select of the latest arrival in the Colony’Were likewise of the party. The dance was kept up until the glowing beams of Aurora illumined the sky, and warned the fair visitants to fly to their several domiciles. o