NEW ZEALAND COMPANY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 56, 1 November 1845, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND COMPANY.

The annual general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held yesterday at the offices in Broad-street-buildings. Lord Ingestre was in the chair ; and among those present we observed Sir John Pirie, Bart., Mr. H. A. Aglionby, M.P., Mr. C. Buller, M.P., Mr. J. A. Smith, M.P., Mr. S. Majoribanks, M.P., Mr. R. D. Mangles, M.P., Captain Nairne, Mr. J. Pilcher, Mr. J. R« Gower, Mr. A. Currie, &c. Letters were tead from Mr. Somes (the Governor of the Company) who was unable, in consequence of important engagemenls, to be present ; and from Lord Courtenay and Mr. Hutr, who were obliged to attend the parliamentary committees on which they had been appointed. Mr. Harrington (the Secretary) then read the minutes of the meeting of the 13tb Feb. last, which were confirmed. The following leport of the Directors was next read : — " When you assembled in this place on the 13th of February last, you empowered your directors ' to prepare at their discretion a petition to the House of Commons, representing, on the part of the company, the wrongs it has suffered, and praying for redress; and to take steps for procuring its representation.' " In furtherance of the intention thus expressed, the following steps have been taken since the commencement of the session. Numerous papers have been moved for, and printed by order of parliament, each exhibiting, more forcibly than the one preceding, the disastrous effects of the policy pursued by the local government. Discussions have taken place in the House of Commons, more especially on the 11th and 18th March, preparing the way for a more satisfactory consideration of the real questions at issue, by removing from them matters of a personal and controversial character, with which they had unfortunately, but unavoidably become connected. Petitions have been presented from the merchants, bankers, and traders of the City of London, on behalf of this company and its colonists ; from the colonists of Nelson, for inquiry into the matter of Wairau ; from the intending colonists of Eiinburgh; from the New Zealand landholders residing at Halifax ; from other landowners and members of the New Zealand Society : and from the colonists of Wellington. " In the preparation of your own petition, extreme difficulty was experienced so to compress the voluminous records of the wrongs which you had suffered as to reduce the narrative within any moderate compass; and so to subdue the indignant feelings which the re-perusal of those records awakened as not_ to interfere with that calm and dispassionate inquiry into your case which it was the first object of your directors to ensure. Reduced, however, and subdued with this view, the petition itself was presented by your governor on the 16th of April, and ordered by the house to be printed immediately afterwards. As it has been for some time in the hands of every proprietor of the company, we do not deem it necessary to make any further allusion to its contents. "Before the petition was presented, one of your directors, Mr. Charles Buller, gave notice, on the 31st of March, of a motion ' to call the attention of the house to the state of the colony of New Zealand, and the case of the New Zealand Company., That notice was withdrawn, on the Ist of the present month, under circumstances which it.is now our duiy to detail. IC On the day last mentioned, the Ist of May, a communication was made confidentially to your directors by Mr. Buller, upon which they thought it right to adopt the following resolution :—: — " ' That this court, retaining a firm determination never to relinquish the asiettion of its just claims, but sensible of the extreme delicacy and importance of the present position of the companj's affairs, deems it advisable that the practical proceedings now to be adopted should be intrusted in a spirit of unlimited confidence to a small number of its members. "'That the undermentioned gentlemen be therefore appointed a secret committee, with full authority to conduct and conclude any arrangement which they may deem most expedi* ent — namely, " ' Mr. Somes, M. P. (Governor). Mr. Aglionby, M. P. Mr. Buller, M. P. Sir Isaac Lvon Goldsmid, Bart. Lord Ingestre, M, P. Mr. Lyall, Mr. Wakefield.' " ' Of the several questions which came undsr the consideration of the committee thus appointed, the steps taken by them thereupon, and the motives by which they were therein influenced, we cannot better put you in possession than by giving you the report which they have prepared, and which is as follows :—: — " ' REPORT OF THK SECRET COMMITTEE APPOINTED B* THE COURT'S RESOLUTION OF MAY 1, 1845. " ' Immediately on our appointment, we were apprised by Mr. Buller of the circumstances [ which had induced him to recommend that J measure to the court We found that in consequence of Sir James Graham having, in the third we«k of March last, suggested to him that the disputes between the company and the government had better be settled amicably, he had been in personal communication with that minister on the subject; had at his suggestion submitted his views, in writing) to Lord Stanley ;

had held an interview, at which thqie views had been discussed, jointly, by Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, and himself; had, as then agreed upon, renewed hi« proposal in the form of a second letter io Lord Stanley, with the view of removing the objections which had at first presented themselves; and had subsequently been informed by Sir James Graham, that Lord Stanley had no insuperable objection to the plan, but was ready, under two conditions, to entertain it as the basis of a negotiation, and to give ft a full and fair consideration. These conditions were that the plan 3hould be proposed officially by the company, and that, as a preliminary step, the motion upon the affairs of New Zealand, of which Mr.Buller had given notice in the House of Commons, should be withdrawn or disposed of, as the government could not enter into any negociation under an appearance of pressure, or of a wish to shrink from discussion. "The plan itself was an endeavour, by a change of system, to render needless any direct decision on the precise points of previous controversy, and, by means of a large and bold colicy, to reconcile satisfactorily the interests of the natives, the colonists, the missionaries, and the company ; and to put matters on an entirely new and sound footing, without compromising the honour of the government. The mode in which it proposed to effect this was by erecting a new province, comprising the Middle and a portion of the Northern Island, and conferring the government of it upon a new company (in which the present company should merge), on the model on which, down to a recent period, all the colonies of England have been founded, and maintained without expense to the parent state. " ' Of this plan some of the details were not exactly such as we should ourselves have felt at liberty to originate: but its general principles.were in strict accordance with those of the company; it provided largely for the company's main objects: and, by the confidence it implied, it was manifestly so honorable to the company itself, that, subject to two or three minor modifications, ■we could not hesitate as to its adoption. We at once, therefore, requested Mr. Buller to with • draw his notice of motion ; which, after arranging with Sir James Graham as to the proper mode, was accordingly done the same evening. And, on the sth of the month, we addressed an official letter to Lord Stanley, enclosing the plan, almost in the words of Mr. Buller's second communication to his Lordship, and requesting that Mr. Buller mi^ht conduct on behalf of the company, the further negociation and discussion of details which would doubtless be found necessary. " ' On the 19th it was intimated through Mr. Buller, and on the 23d officially to ourselves, that her Majesty's government, having maturely examined the project, found that the difficulties of proceeding on the basis suggested were insuperable. " ' At the same time Lord Stanley added, that if the company should have any other proposition to ofler, founded upon a wholly different principle, for relieving themselves, the colony, and the government, from the embarrassment consequent upon the present state of their affairs, her Majesty's government were ready to give their best attention to such proposition, and to enter upon a discussion with an earnest desire to find a satisfactory solution of the existing difficulties, by an amicable arrangement with the company. Through Mr. Buller, we understood that the proposition specifically contemplated by his lordship was that of treating on the basis either of attempting to settle the question at issue, leaving the powers of the company and the government on then present footing, or of the government buying up the interest of the company, and dissolving that body. " ' The former of these suggestions appeared to us at once to be so thoroughly indefinite as to hold out no hope of any satisfactory result; the latter demanded and obtained our most serious consideration. '* ' Had it contained any specific proposal on the part of the Government, providing for the due fulfilment of the engagements into which the company has entered, and especially affording a satisfactory guarantee for the welfare of the Cook's Strait colonists and natives, we should indeed have felt reluctant, even on such terms, to relinquish the objects for which this company has been established, but we should not, under existing circumstances, have felt justified in dissuading the court from the acceptance of those terms. But we found, on the contrary, that the proposal for our dissolution was to be submitted as emanating from ourselves ; that the interests of the colonists had not been adverted to until called to mind by Mr. Buller ; and that the natives had not been mentioned at all. That portion of the parliamentary session which is most valuable for the dispatch of business was rapidly passing away; much time had already been required for the consideration of apian previously discussed with two cabinet ministers, and the questions still left open were such that the time to be consumed in their discussion would evidently render impossible (if ultimately found necessary) that appeal to parliament which the shareholders had sanctioned, and were entitled to demand. With these facts we could not but couple the proofs afforded by successive communications of the fixed intention of the present Governor to break up the Cook's Strait settlements; and the conviction, with which we were strongly and unanimously impressed, that, by appearing to grasp at a pecuniary indemnity for the shareholders, while abandoning the colonists, and all the great objects which the company has hitherto upheld, we should injure every interest that had been intrusted to us, including that of the shareholders themselves, and cast a stain upon the honour of the company which no pecuniary indemnity could ever compensate. " ' Under these convictions, we have deemed ii our duty not to reject the suggestions of Lord Stanley, but to represent to his lordship (on the 26th instant) that it does not appear to us that any advantage could result from out originating any fresh proposals ; but that we shall be happy to give the most cordial consideration to any plan which his lordship may do us the honour to suggest, with a view of carrying his intentions into effect, if accompanied by guarantees for the good government of tbe colonists, and the welfare of the natiye race. " ' We have also deemed it due to Lord Stanl»y to apprise his lordship, that time is of such

Importance to us that unless assured that we renewed the negociation with this fundamental requisite clearly and satisfactorily before us, we could not consent to any further delay of the motion which Mr. Bullerhas undertaken to bringbefore the House of Commons. We have, therefore, requested Mr. Buller to take the earliest opportunity of bringing that motion forward. 11 ' For fuller particulars of the several matters herein alluded to, and of the steps which we have successively taken, we beg to refer the court to the documents and minutes of our proceedings which are appended to this report. " 'Committee-room, May 28, 1845.' " On this report we have but few remarks to offer. You will doubtless have observed that the first suggestion of an amicable settlement of disputes was made (between the IBth and 21st of March) by Lord Stanley's colleague, Sir James Graham ; that the amended plan of such settlement, which was eventually submitted by Mr. Buller (on the 26th of April), and which proposed to confer on the company the proprietary government of a new province, was in effect the result of a joint discussion in which both of those ministers had taken part ; that it was by Lord Stanley's desire that this plan was afterwards transmitted to his lordship officially, as a proposal emanating altogether from the company ; that, when it was ultimately rejected (on the 19th of May), a period had elapsed of several weeks, during which it was entertained by the ministers as a government — of two entire months from the first communication with Sir James Graham ; and that, in the suggestion by which that rejection was accompanied, there was a distinct recognition, on the part of the government, that your claims were such as would justify ministers in 'buying up the interests of the company,' and, of course, in applying to parliament for a sum of money sufficient for that purpose. " You will doubtless have observed also that the question really involved in that suggestion is a question of profit against honour; and when we add that, with our committee, we have resolved, in your name, to abide by the latter — to forego rather the certain prospect of immediate pecuniary advantage, than to purchase that advantage by the sacrifice of the colonists whom you have been the means of planting in New Zealand, and by whose instrumentality your early successes were attained — we feel confident that we shall receive your cordial approbation and support. " Not less confident are we that in this step we shall have earned for you the esteem of everyone to whom the particulars of the late negociation and of its conclusion shall become known; or that the result will be that, when after it you again come before the parliament and the public, you will, in consequence, occupy a position yet higher and more honourable than you did when Mr. Buller's motion was withdrawn, or than you would have done had this negociation never taken place, " Of the claims which your colonists possess to sympathy and admiration, and of the cruel treatment which they experience at the hands of the local government, we grieve to say that additional instances are supplied by every successive arrival. Their fortitude under trials, their patient endurance of reiterated, wrongs, and the tranquil courage with which they have encountered the difficulties that surround them, exceed all praise, Of their continued kindness and consideration to their aboriginal neighbours, and their forbearance towards the natives, under the very painful and discouraging circum - stances in which they have been placed, through the non-settlement of the land question, you will find in the Appendix the unexceptionable testimony of the Rev. Samuel Ironside, the per. •on qualified, perhaps above all others, to estimate the strength of these feelings and the degree to which they have been tested ; for you will remember it was this gentleman who performed the last sad office of collecting and interring the remains of those who fell at Wairau. " It is distressing to see colonists of such a character returning to England, day by day, compelled to abandon the country of their adoption, with their property lost and their hopes blasted. And it i 9 mortifying beyond measure to recollect that by the exertions of such men, if simply unobstructed, large portions of that country might ere now have been reclaimed from virtual desolation , that the capital which has been sunk, and the energies which have been wasted, through the aimless animositiy of others, might have opened fresh outlets of industry to our countrymen, have afforded employment to thousands of our labouring poor, and nave diffused happiness and prosperity where all h now despondency and ruin. " Nor are the effects less injurious which have been produced by the measures of the local government upon the minds of the aborigines. Not to multiply instances, or speak exclusively of Cook's Strait, it may suffice to revert to a case which is alluded to in your petition. It is there stated that, 'in the Bay of Islands, in the very centre of missionary influence, the natives have been encouraged to an insolent bearing by the unworthy concessions of the government, until, from denying the validity of land sales, they have advanced to impugning the treaty, and from aggressions upon our settlers to a deliberate insult on her Majesty's flag.' Within these two days intelligence has been received that in January last this insult was deliberately repeated by the same party as before, and the flagstaff cut down, which had been erected by the governor after that concession and compromise, which are matters of humiliating notoriety. " We purposely forbear from entering further into the particular acts by which these fatal results have been brought about. You are aware that the author of them was recalled by her Majesty's government on the 30th of last month. Of the cause of that recall, the name of the intended successor (if yet selected), the probable time of his appointment and departure, the nature of the instructions under which he is to act, or of the principles and policy which he is to uphold, we are altogether uninformed. We are apprised only that, in announcing the fact of the recall of the present governor, the Under Secretary of State took pains to declare, in a, marked manner, that this had not been occasioned by any complaint or any representation of this company. We know not, therefore, what to anticipate. It is impossible entirety to exclude, apprehension. But as our reliance. h*» !

not been heretofore on the government, so neither by the government can that reliance now be destroyed. It rests upon the goodness of our cause, the magnitude of the interests which are at stake, and the sense of justice of the parliament and the country. In these our trust is still unshaken. " Before concluding this report, it is necessary to advert to the matters which recur statedly with the close of your financial year. The usual annual accounts will now be read; and in continuation of the particulars which are there detailed, it is proper to mention that, since the date to which they extend, we have effected a further arrangement with the 'Union Bank of Australia, by means of which the whole of the bills drawn by your principal agent, and remaining in the possesion of that institution, have been met by debentures, issued to the additional extent of £23,000, under the sanction of your resolution of August, 1843.