New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 21,1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 72, 21 February 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAITS GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 21,1846 .

At length the intruding natives have left the district of the Hutt. They were peremptorily told to go away or they would be driven off, anJ being fully informed of the recent reverses of Heki and Kawiti, seeing also that resistance to the force brought against them was hopeless, and being convinced that the Government' is now in earnest, they have abandoned the district without an effort and, as ye are informed, have expressed their readiness to submit their claims to the arbitration of the Governor. We have always predicted this result ; the natives have been shrewd observers, and as long as their encroachments were winked at they have not been slow in taking advantage of it ; — but as soon as a vigorous and determined policy is adopted, they yield without a murmur. The apologists for the present local authorities will be disposed to attribute every thing to the presence of the large force now in this settlement, and doubtless it has not been without its effect in the speedy settlement of the Hutt question ; but we consider the decided course adopted by our present Governor to have been mainly instrumental in producing this result. These natives have for the present abandoned the Hutt, but we have no security that we are at length entirely relieved from their aggressions unless a vigorous policy is persisted in. The natives have been so accustomed to indecision, to a dread of responsibility on the part of the local authorities, that they will hardly imagine a total change is contemplated^ in the policy hitherto pursued. Let us recal for « moment a few of the measures of the local authorities connected with this very question. When the troops took possession of the block-house on the Hutt,, and by this vigorous movement almqst determined these natives to go away, we remember how carefully a protector was sent to them to explain away the good effect of this measure. Rauparaha's visit to this district at the invitation of the Superintendent to settle this question for the Government will not be speedily forgotten, nor his Honor's invocation of the barbarous custom of tapuing the land by this wily chief to assist his feeble efforts to expel the intruders. The mockery of the ticket system and, while affecting to put a stop to any trading between the settlers and the natives, how the natives were permitted to encroach on the public highway by building a small pa on the beach at Jackiwai for the purpose of trading with the settlers, — and when the Police Magistrate was about to remove this encroachment as a public nuisance, how he was officially prevented from interfering, — all this is still fresh in our recollection. But it is immaterial whether we refer to the Hutt question^ or "to any other 'difficulty ■ that has occurred. — The dread of responsibility on the part of the Local Executive is, so great as to amount to a morbid feeling, — the reference of every difficulty to Auckland so habitual as to have become a second nature. An instance of this dread of responsibility is within our knowledge, which would appear almost incredible. The facts are shortly these. Some time since Capt. Smith, formerly Principal Surveyor to the New Zealand Company, and now an extensive owner of stock at.Wairarapa, offered to make a complete .survey of the country between the Pakaratabai and the Wairarapa, with reference to ascertaining the best possible line for a road to connect the latter district with that of the Hutt, which would become the great high road into the interior, and to place the information thus obtained

at the disposal of tlifc Government, if his . Honxnfwould only defraythe expense of the . two labourers to be employed ; and with a view of reducing the expense to the smallest .possible amount, Capt. Smith limited the sum to be advanced by Government to three pounds. — So valuable an opportunity for acquiring information, it might be supposed, would not be permitted to escape," but his Honor could not think of going to such an expense on his own responsibility, and the offer was consequently declined. And yet in one of those considerable intervals which usually occur between the visits of the Government Brig, his Honor was on the point of issuing debentures on his own account (in imitation of Capt. Fitzroy) for the payment of the militia, had he not been prevented by timely counsel. So often do extremes meet in the same person ! — so often do indecision and rashness go together ! "We are most ready to admit the many estimable qualities and private virtues of our present Superintendent ; of these there never has been any question. We are merely discussing on public grounds the way in • which the duties of the office have been hitherto discharged, and we do think it is of the greatest importance to the Southern Settlements, as long as the seat of Government is so far removed from the great body of the colonists, that the person filling the office of Superintendent should be capable of relying on his own judgment in a case of emergency, without constant reference to Auckland — and capable of inspiring the settlers with confidence in his judgment and energy.

The time has now arrived when we may entertain a reasonable expectation that the great question, upon which hinges the prosperity of New Zealand, will be decided. However gratifying to all classes Captain Grey's conduct and demeanour have been, and however convinced we may be of his desire to promote the prosperity of these settlements, we must express our deliberate conviction that this end canuot be effectually attained as long as the Legislature continues 600 miles distant from the bulk of the population. Until the Government is removed from a spot misuited for it equally on physical and moral grounds, we cannot indulge the hope that New Zealand will become a strong, united, and prosperous colony. The establishment of Aucklaud has, from the first, been the source of the neakness of the Government, and the bane of the other settlements. We have been drained of our revenue, and deprived of the presence and protection of a Government in the vain attempt to fix a floating and migratory population trt the North.- -Much? of the distress we have lately suffered no doubt arose from the errors of Captain Grey's predecessor — but it would be unjust to attribute the whole of it to that source. We are no apologists of Captain Fitzroy — but we are bound to say that many of the inconveniences of his position arose, not so much from his own acts, as from the original blunder of Captain Hobson, in the selection of his capital. Necessarily ignorant of our circumstances, position, or wants, the Government bas hitherto legislated solely for the benefit of the North — and in not a few instances its. acts have been diametrically opposed to the interests of the Southern settlements. No community of feeling links Auckland with the rest of New Zealand, hardly any intercourse exists between them ; and, indeed, for- all practical purposes Sydney is nearer to us, and far more convenient than Auckland. In the recent debates in the House of Commons a strong feeling was expressed on all sides, that this colony was fitted for a representative Government. What we ask would be the effect of 'such a measure ? No, one can doubt that the first act of a Representative Assembly would be to change the place of its deliberations for one mere central and convenient — and it is probable that this idea on reflection occurred to Sir Robert Peel himself, and suggested the modification of his first- views into the plan for granting us municipal corporations " with extended powers of taxation." It is quite clear that as long as" the Government is determined to uphold Auckland, so long must the settlers be deprived of the right of Representation. The one is hi compatible with the other. This subject has been repeatedly discussed both in our own columns, and in those of our able contemporary the Nelson Examiner. In our journal of the 15th Nov. last, we shewed from official returns the immense superiority of the southern settlements, in wealth, population, agriculture and trade. In our 61st number we pointed out from similar authority the erroneousness of Captain Hobson's choice, apparent even at the time it was made. The experience of five years' has amply vindicated the distrust with which we then regarded it — ami t c experience of every succeeding year, as new settlements are formed to the South, will bring fresh evidence of the magnitude of the blunder then committed. We confess we

look with gfre*t t&xtety fdr bis Excellency's views, on this point. \ ~

No time should be lost in bringing Under the notice of his Excellency the great absurdity of some of the exceptional laws in favor of the natives. A glaring instance of it exists in our town^fraught not only with positive injustice but very great danger to the settlers. The Police Magistrate is strictly enforcing the provisions of the Raupo Ordinance, and a poor man, whose cottage is not merely detached, but at some distance from other buildings,'is compelled, under a yearly penalty of £20, to expend money in altering his roof fiom thatch to shingle and, in many instances, to stint his family in the necessaries of life by so doing; but the native warres, composed wholly of tohi tohi, reed, and other inflammable materials in the pahs of Pipitea, Kumu Toto, and Te-aro, surrounded by our largest buildings and stores in three different parts of the town, aie allowed to remain in their original state of filth and danger.

At length we may congratulate our fellow colonists on the disputes about land in the Hutt District being fairly settled. The intruding natives who have so long annoyed the settlers there, have given up the land without any opposition, and have either left or are preparing to leave, so that in a few days we m y hope their settlement will be entirely broken up. No time should be lost in pulling down their Pa, so as to leave them no excuse for returning, and we would suggest the expediency of increasing the amount of the military force stationed here, and of having at least one ship of war for the protection of the Cook's Strait Settlements, as the on'y way to insure a faithfulness to their engagements on the part of the natives is to convince them of the hopelessness of any attempt at resistance.

A Deputation from the Britannia Lodge of Odd Fellows wailed on his Excellency on Saturday last with an address of congratulation, to which his Excellency returned a gracious answer. A Deputation waited on his Excellency on the same day with an address on the subject of the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, when his Excellency stated in reply that he would take an early opportunity of communicating on the subject with the Police Magistrate, and would enJeavour to make such regulations as would meet the wishes of all parties.

On Thursday evening a Ball was given at the Assembly Rooms, Barrett's Hotel, by the gentlemen of Wellington, to which his Excellency the Governor and Mrs. Grey, and the military and naval officers now in V\ ellington were invited as guests, and which was the gayest and most numerously attended of any that has taken place since the formation of the settlement. His Excellency and Mrs. Grey arrived about ten o'clock, when dancing immediately commenced, and was kept up until one, when the supper room was thrown open. After supper the dancing was resumed with great spirit, and the party did not break up until nearly six o'clock in the morning. The arrangements were most excellent, and the supper reflected the greatest credit on Mr. Suisted's taste and good management.

We understaud that his Excellency proceeds on Tuesday next in H.M. Steamer Driver to Wanganui, for the purpose of settling with the natives of that district all questions and disputes connected with the land claims, and of putting the settlers in possessionof their land. The natives will have their reserves pointed out to them, and after the necessary arrangements are all completed, the compensation money will be forwarded to Wanganui for distribution among them. His Excellency will then visit Nelson, and New Plymouth to settle all questions connected with the land claims in those districts, and will afterwards return to Wellington. It is supposed his Excellency's visit to the other settlements in Cook's Strait's, will occupy about three weeks. We believe Mrs. Grey will not accompany his Excellency.

We would wish to draw the attention of those members of the Horticultural Society who were not present at last ..annual meeting, to the report of the proceedings, which will be found in to-day's paper, and to inform them that the next exhibition is fixed for Saturday the 14th March.

THOMPSOK(Rauparabat's son} and his wife>and Mdrtin, his wife (Rauparaha's daughter), and three children, proceed to Auckland by the Victoria, to be educated in the Bishop's school. Rauparaha and Rangihaeata, it is said, are peaceably disposed.

We are concerned to learn from the Auckland papers the death, on the 24th January last, of Mr. Henry Falwasser, late editor of the Auckland Times. Mr. Falwasser, in bis conduct of the Times, evinced considerable independence and ability, and was superior in talent to his contemporaries at Auckland.