New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1843.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 20 June 1843, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1843.

The intelligence by the Brig Victoria, from the Nelson settlement, the particulars of which wil be found in another cdlumn, is likely to prove pregnant with important results. We cannot but view, with deep regret, the futile attempt made to arrest a powerful chief without a sufficient force. That a party of persons, unaccustomed to -warfare, -should suffer defeat, was no more than might be expected. But the effect will not end there. Blood has been sliec on both sides, and -we fear a spirit of hostility has been raised in the minds Of the Natives which it will be difficult to eradicate. The greatest caution will be necessary in - all our proceedings, or that spirit of hostility will extend to the whole of the tribes by- whom we are surrounded. We hope that those'who-are proceeding in the Victoria will avoid falling into the error of a collision, [as we have no'doubt of what will be the result. By repeated defeats of the European settlers, the courage of the Natives will rise, 'and they will despise our power. Let us rather at present act only on the defensive. Government must, ere long, step in, and rescue us from the state-pf alarm which their neglect of us hitherto has caused.. That the most important settlement in these colonies, and one which has contributed thousands of pounds towards the revenue, should have been left without the protection which we had a right to expect and demand, is a disgrace to the local government, which will not be readily effaced. It has appointed a Protector of Aborigines, but left as to struggle as we best may through our difficulties. We'would ask, where is the moral influence of the Protector over the Natives ? Has be been able'to succeed in reducing them to a submission to the laws to which'we are subject ? No. So long as he advocates their interests they are willing to follow his advice 5 but when that advice runs counter to them, they follow their own course. We are therefore in a worse position than if we had no government. They refuse us assistance, yet bind our hands to prevent us righting ourselves.

Such a state of things cannot last long. The almost unanimous feeling exhibited at the public meeting yesterday, afforded a strong proof of what may be expected to result from their ultimate proceedings, if the local government does not immediately take steps to any collision with the Aborigines. We call upon the government to rouse itself from its supineness, and to give us the protection we require. And we call upon our fellow colonists, to act with the utmost caution, in the present critical state of affairs.

We are unwillingly compelled to omit the article from the Nelson Examiner, which we proposed to publish in our present number, and also some lengthened comments upon it, in consequence ofwant of space. We shall, however, arvail ourselves of the-first opportunity of doing so.