Captain FitzRoy's Reply.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 67, 17 January 1846, Page 4

C aptain Fitzßoy's Reply.

To the Gentlemen who signed the Address. Auckland, December 5, -1845. Gentlemen, — The address with which I am honoured by you gives me much gratification, not only on account of the feelings* 'manifested - towards myself and my family, but; because it affords, me an opportunity of expressing to -you my own opinion of some subjects on which you have commented. I was not aware that the " integrity of my principles, " or the " purity of my motives, ' ' had been impugned by any, excepting a fewunprin-' cipled persons to whom purity of motive seems incomprehensible. • Most of the public prints in this colony are known to be the organs of a few who-have'pur-poses to serve ; but the principal contributors to them and their characters, though notorious here, have yet to be made public in England. The views and opinions of the best informed and ablest men, of unimpeachable habits and character, appear but seldom now in print. You express fears that in " the fervency of my zeal to promote the interests of the aborigines, I should have unconsciously injured the objects of my solicitude, by losing sight of the fundamental principles, that indulgence may be abused and forbearance misconstrued." I am not aware in what manner the aborir gines have been too much indulged by me. I cannot regret any forbearance shown to them by the Local Government. Had I not treated them with consideration, and had not the public authorities been very forbearing, the destruction of Auckland and Wellington would have been matters of history before this period. An overpowering multitude have been restrained hitherto by moral influence. Had physical force been tried in earnest when there were but two small detachments of troops in the island, and no places for either refuge or' defence, the overthrow and ruin of our settlements must have been the inevitable consequence. Published despatches show that additional effective forces were repeatedly refused to the reiterated applications of successive Governors of New Zealand ; and that even a resolution of the Parliamentary Committee, in July 1844, was rendered nugatory by the Secretary of State's subsequent declaration, that the " military forces in New Zealand must still continue limited in amount, and must, as far as possible, be concentrated at the principal settlements. " My objects always was to avoid bringing on a trial of physical strength with those who, in that respect, were overwhelmingly our superiors ; but' gradually to gain the necessary influence and authority by a course of scrupulous justice, truth, and benevolence. I undertook a very difficult task, knowing what was before me. I had previously visited New Zealand, and in another country I had encountered savages much inferior to the wellarmed warrior of New Zealand, and had cause to regret the loss of lives in desperate struggles. I am not aware that any of those who have honoured me by signing the address to which I am replying, have devoted more attention to the subject of dealing with aborigines than I have done during the last twenty years. I am myself thoroughly convinced that strict honesty and common kindness towards the aborigines is not only our duty, as humane and educated men, but, beyond a doubt, the best policy. Respecting any "stigma" that may have been cast on my character as a "financier," lam happy to assue you that the consciousness of having^ saved numbers from ruin and absolute starvation, by my incurring personal blame from theorists, is to myself a source of real satisfaction. What the present condition of Auckland, if not of the other settlements also, would have been without any Government expenditure and without a circulating medium, it is easy, how-ever-painful, to imagine. In conclusion, I beg that you will accept my thanks, on behalf of Mrs. Fitzßoy and my family, for your earnest prayer for our health and safe return to our native country, and tor the motives which prompted your address. I have the honour, &c, Robert Fitrßoy, R. N., Late Governor of New Zealand.