SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE. [From the London Spectator.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 39, 5 July 1845, Page 4

SUMMARY OF EVIDENCE. [From the London Spectator.]

1 . The evidence of Lieutenant M'Donnell relates exclusively to the character of the harbours of Hokianga and Kaipara, and the surrounding country, and the condition of the settlers before and since the establishment of a British government in New Ze^l&nd. He gave a striking account of the 'delay and expense of the Court of Land Claims, and the unjust and exhorbitant claims suggested to the natives by its proceedings. Lieutenant M'Donnell summed up his opinion of the past and present state of the dig-, trict with which 'he is connected, iri the emphatic words — " Since it became annexed to the British Crown, it certainty has -retrograded most miserably." c , 2. Mr. Brodie purchased land at the Bay of Islands in 1839 ; but his range oosf s personal observation in New Zealand has been more extensive than that of Lieutenant M'Donnell : he is well acquainted both with Auckland and Wellington. A great deal of information respecting the natural capabilities of the North Island ,was elicited from him. Mr. Brodie's object in purchasing land was to obtain possession of a copper mine on it. Mr. Brodie is of opinion that ip the Northern Island not one acre in a thousand is cultivated. He attributes the wars and bloodshed in the North to the injudicious course pursued by the Protector of aborigines. He stated, that even in the cases of land-claims decided by the Commissioners no have yet been issued ; and that consequently no one lays out capital on land. He attributed the mis-govern-ment of the colony to Mr. Shortland ; detailed the land-jobbing propensities of that gentleman: and explained the transaction in which Mr. Clendon disposed of the site of Russell to Governor Hobson. Mr. Brodie brought forward some strong examples of the levity with which the natives violate their engagements when they believe they can behefit themselves by so doing, and of the partiality towards the natives evinced by the Commissiners. The natives, he says, were on excellent terms with the settlers before Governor Hobson's arrival ; but their relations to the,m have since been quite altered. The Crown could have obtained the cession of ;the waste lands for a- trifle at first ; but the policy adopted By the Local Government appears to Mr. Brodie to have rendered that impracticable now. From Mr. Carrington a great deal of information was obtained . relative to the natural capabilities of the New Plymouth district, the efforts of the settlers, and the state of affairs in that settlement. He too believes that Government could have settled the land claims at a trifling expense : now, from the protraction of the dispute, he thinks the prices required would

be enormous. Mr. Carrington approves of the plan of giving an interim title to the Company — the plan which Lord Stanley promised should be adopted, but which Governor Fitzroy has refused to act upon. Great part of Mr. Carrington's evidence was taken up with crimination of the Company ; but the effect of his statements on this head was materially modified j and shaken by cross-examination. He admitted ' that he " felt sore" on account ,of his dismissal; and that, after applying to the Directors in vain, he went and gave information 1o the Land and Emigration Commissioners — " not with any ill feeling or wish to injure the Company, it was simply with the purpose of getting an appointment." 4. The examination of Mr. George Butler Earp lasted three days. The first was devoted almost exclusively to an exposition of the agricultural and mineral resources of New Zealand, and the commercial advantages of its position. Mr. Earp's statements on these topics are characterized at once by largeness of comprehension and minuteness of detail; they arc obviously the evidence of a man who has enjoyed a liberal education, had some experience of trade, and turned his opportunities of observation in New Zealand to the best account. The second day's examination bore on the temper of the natives, the state and prospects of the settlers, and the policy of the Local Government. To these points Mr. Earp spoke as one who had shared in the early struggles of the Port Nicholson settlers; and had learned from his position at Auckland as a Member of the Governor's Council to -look at the affairs of the colony from a commanding point of view, and to appreciate the policy of Governmeut from opportunities of personal observation. Mr. Earp concurs with Messrs. M'Donnell and Brodie as to the effect produced by the expense and delays of the Court of Claims in paralysing- the efforts of the settlers, and awaking a hostile and exacting disposition towards them among the natives; as to the! large share which the injudicious policy of the Protector of Aborigines has had in stirring up native wars ; and as to the deep implication of the leading officers of Government in land-job-bing. More information was obtained from Mr. Earp than from any other witness respecting the disputes of the Wellington settlers with Rauparaha, Rangihaeata, and other chiefs, and the agency of Mr. Clarke in originating those disputes. 5. MrCrawford\)\irchased landfrom the natives, and some from a purchaser from the Company. His claim of purchase from the natives has been a year before the 'Commissioner ; it is unopposed, but no decision has yet been pronounced on it. Mr. Crawford gave the Committee much information respecting the numbers of the natives, and their views of land-rights and transfers of land, and the title acquired from natives previous to the establishment of British authority. He was at Port Nicholson when the first body of settlers arrived, and also when Mr. Shortland arrived. Before the latter arrived, the most perfect harmony and good feeling existed between the two races : the natives were principally employed in building houses for the whites, for remuneration. But "they ran about the beach when Lieutenant Shortland came down, crying out that the Qween was coming to drive the Company's white men into the hills." "There was a feeling of hostility towards the settlers on the part of Mr. Shortland, and followed up by the other subordinates who were with him : this taught the natives to treat the settlers with contempt." " The natives of New Zealand are, like all semi-barbarians an exceedingly greedy race ; and if they are persuaded they can get more payment for anything they will try to get it. They soon got persuaded in this instance they could get more payment ; and in several instances when a white man tried to settle upon his land, they insisted upon a fresh payment." 6. Mr. Kettle has travelled over much of the North Island ; has learned the language, and has had much intercourse with the natives. There is about the whole of his descriptions of the country |and its aboriginal inhabitants the freshness of impression derived from recent intercourse. His information respecting the extensive agricultural plains in the upper Manawatu, the Raumahunga, and Wairarapa, in the Wellington district, is entirely new, and very valuable. Mr. Kettle described the aggressions of Rangihaeata and Rauparaha, and of the natives instigated by them, on the settlers ; the opening of the Court of Land-Claims, and its immediate effects in inducing the natives to advance claims unheard of before. The most valuable part of the evidence of Mr. Molesworth is his account of the capabilities of the soil, and his own successful efforts to bring it into cultivation. At the close of the first day's examination, (20th June,) the following resolution was moved by Mr. Roebuck, and adopted nem. con. — " That the Committee does j not consider it necessary to receive any further j evidence as to the natural resources of the islands of New Zealand." 8. Mr. Robertson said, " Port Nicholson, I think, from its central position in the islands, has a decided superiority over most of the har- ! hours in New Zealand : independent of its position, a better could not be found." The voyage from Port Nicholson to Auckland is only a few hours shorter than from Port Nicholson to the Bay of Islands. The average voyage from Port

Nicholson to Auckland is twelve days. TTET' communication between Port Nicholson and Ml harbours in Oook's Straits may be made i™ a few days or hours. Wellington is more convenient than any harbour in New Zealand i Df being called at by vessels from Sydney to En g: land. The Straits are a little out of the way ft Tessels from Sydney to England ; but vessj Is from Hobart Tpwn and Port Phillip would find a decided advantage in" passing through them. Captain Robertson does not thiuk much of the harbour 3 of the Bay of Islands. 9. Captain Wilson contributes some- valuable information respecting the collision at the Wairau. He was on board the Government Brig which conveyed the ill-fated expedition from Nelson to Cloudy Bay. His evidence leaves not the shadow of a doubt that the murder- of Captain Wakefield had been predetermined by Rauparaha and Rangihaeata ; and that thequarrel at the Wairau was only made a pretext for effecting it. 10. Mr. Heales evidence related to the views' of the natives about Auckland respected property in land. He admitted that his information was,second-hand from his partner Mr. White, | formerly a Wesleyan Missionary, discharged; by the Mission for land-sharking. Speaking on his own observation, Mr. Heale states, that the effect of the Waitangi treaty has been to prevent Government from getting a good title to lands, to excite exaggerated expectations of gain in the minds of the natives, and to make them discontented. 11. Lieutenant Lean was appointed by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners in London to superintend the emigration conducted by the New Zealand Company. Of the Company he said — " On all occasions they have attended so every suggestion I have offered ; and I have been happy to co-operate with them in the way I have done." And again — " I cannot speak to highly of the mode in which the ships have been fitted ; and I have been perfectly satisfied with the provisions suppliedto them, and with their conduct and arrangements in every respect." 12. Mr. Child resides at Halifax : bethought he could give information to the Committee which they could not procure from others. He sent a statement to a friend, which was communicated to the Colonial office ; he was sent for to the Colonial office, and shown the evidence of Messrs. Earp and Kettle, on which he made notes. He differs in opinion from those gentlemen on many points. Mr. Child states, that the proceedings in the Court of Land Claims at Port Nicholson have instigated the natives to make fresh demands — demands so exhorbitant that the Commissioner was obliged to" controul them ; that the constitution of the Court is bad, its proceedings - dilatory, and encumbered with judicial forms not understood by the na<tives ; and that the proceedings were not calculated to produce harmony between the Engglish and the natives. 13. Lieutenant Wood re-asserted statements he had published a year ago. He is of opinion that the conduct of Government in regard to the native question has hindered the prosperity of the colony.

IV. The Decision op the Committee. The resolutions adopted by the Committee, • after carefully scrutinizing this enormous mass 'of evidence, sp.eak for themselves : they are embodied in the Committee's Report, which is subjoined. They are nineteen in number : ofthe nineteen originally proposed by the Chairman, twelve were adopted without modification ; two with slight modifications suggested by Lord Francis Egeiton, which in nowise diminished their strength ; and one with the omission of the name of the New Zealand Company to please Mr. Card well. Three were omitted ; and the only one remaining to be accounted for was left out where first proposed to be inserted, and subsequently, on the motion of Lord Francis Egerton, substituted in another place for one which was allowed to drop as unnecessary. Of the three resolutions moved by Members of Committee and adopted, which make up the original number of nineteen, one (proposed* by Mr. Charteris) approves of the principles on which the New Zealand Company have acted ; and another (by Lord Francis Egerton) vindicates the memory of Captain Arthur Wakefield and his companions. Of the twenty-five counter resolutions proposed by Mr. Cardwell, not one was adopted ; not one of the alterations on the Chairman's resolutions proposed by Mr. Hope was adopted ; on one of them he stood alone, nine Members of the Committee — even Mr. Cardwell — voting against him. Though the majority of the Committee refused to adopt a resolution proposed by the Chairman, and a similar resolution subsequently proposed by Mr. Milhes, condemning the selection of Auckland as the site of Government, they alsb refused to adopt the substitute proposed by Mr. Hope approving of it. The draft of a counter-report moved by Mr. Hope,, but not put to the vote, and apparently not even seconded, seems to have been produced merely to show that the representative of the Colonial Office dissented from the judgment of the Com <■ mittee.