New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 8, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 220, 8 September 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 8, 1847.

In a number of the Sydney Herald recently received, are some observations on a pamphlet as to the future treatment of the New Zealanders, which we have re-printed for the purpose of offering a few remarks. These can only be of a general nature, as we can only form a general and vague idea of the piau wnicn fiaa attractod our cnntomporary's notice, from the observations refer! Ed to. The impression they convey, however, is that the author in question is one of those amiable philanthropists who with the best intentions offers his advice on a subject on which he is profoundly ignorant ; the title of his brochure bespeaks a reasonable degree of modest assurance ; it assumes that the New Zealanders vmust be destroyed unless this plan be adopted. But that this catastrophe (if imminent) is likely to be averted by pageantry and barbaric splendour, by appealing to the external senses rather than to the intelligence and reason of the natives, by making New Zealanders of the present generation members of the legislature, magistrates, officers of customs and the like, those who have lived some years among them and may be allowed to have some experience and knowledge of the subject, will be very much disposed to deny. The scheme is an absurdity of the Fitz roy school, with exaggerations that heighten its absurdity : the machinery of functionaries zealous in winning the confidence and good will of all the leading native minds would be a return to the Protectorate system now happily abolished, the cause of so much mischief and misunderstanding to both races. The advancement of the natives in civilization is to be secured by no royal road, by no silly tampering and petting ; it must be the result of a wise and humane policy, the main object of which must be to teach them gradually to abandon their former barbarous habits and customs, and to adopt those of civilized life. The first and great end, to which all others must be subservient, must be the supremacy of the law, so that every native as well as every settler may be assured of protection from outrage and violence, and tranquillity be established throughout the island ; to this consummation we believe we are fast approaching, and though occasional disturbances may occur, it may be affirmed that the majority of the native population are disposed to l»e peaceable and repose confidence in the Government.. > i The appointment of natives as magistrates to administer British laws is too great an

absurdity to be seriously argued. But our philanthropist will object why are they then to be subject to laws they do not understand ? The answer is obvious : the majority of the natives have a sufficient general knowledge of the nature and operation of our laws to perceive the great advantage of yielding obedience to them, and that the more extended their influence the greater will be the individual security. An experiment has lately been made in the Resident Magistrates' Ordinance to allow the natives a share in administering the law by appointing some of the chiefs, and other intelligent natives, as Assessors to act with the Magistrate in deciding disputes among their own race, which is likely to be successful ; others among them have been appointed to the Police Force, and- this perhaps is as much as can at present be safely attempted. The making of good roads "through the districts will increase the facilites for trade and bring the natives more in communication with the settlers, and will be another powerful means of civilization ; they also offer this additional advantage that by employing the natives in their formation they become Normal schools of labour in which the natives are instructed in the use of European implements, and are accustomed to habits of continued exertion, and are thus more likely to be useful labourers, and to be employed by the settlers in that capacity. Improvement in their clothing, in their food and in their houses, so as to conform in these particulars to European habits will also be found greatly conducive to their health and arrest any tendency to a diminution of the native population. A more extended cultivation of wheat, and the practice of keeping stock, particularly cows, will be another means of improvement, since the property they accumulate becomes a pledge on their part for the peace of the country. Above all, any effort on an extended scale to teach the rising generation the English language, and the arts of civilized life, will be found to conduce more than any other single cause to the improvement and social advancement of the race. It will break down the barriers which oppose their progress, — the difference of language and the division of tribes, — with all their attendant evils. The New Zealander of the rising generation who is educated, will be led to consider himself rather a native of the country thaD the member of a tribe, and with enlarged ideas former feuds and jealousies will disappear. These causes, some of which are now actively at work, and the others we may hope will shortly be in operation, will most powerfully conduce to the advancement of the native race ; these are the arts by which civilization may be promoted and the destruction of the native race prevented — " These honours Peace to happy Britain brings ; These are Imperial works, and worthy Kings." In fine, we may assure our philanthropist, that the settlers have at least equal reason with himself to desire the advancement in civilization of the native race, and somewhat more practical experience on, the subject; as memlers of the same community, their interests must be sensibly affected by every improvement, and we may remind him that the cause he professes to advocate is more likely to be injured than promoted by officious interference.

Thb Comet put into this Port on Saturday from stress of weather, bound to Port Cooper with sheep for Messrs. Deans' station. She is twelve days from Newcastle, and has been very fortunate with her stock, having only lost sixteen out of six hundred sheep.

Thb Cheviot whaler, of Hobart Town, arrived on Saturday from Banks' Peninsula. The Flying Childers, Pride, Highlander, Wallaby, and Eliza, all Hobart Town whalers, left Port Cooper, where they had been hing, within the last fortnight, for the whalinggrounds. The Cheviot has experienced very bad weather to the southward, in which she has lost some of her boats and sails ; ' she has 340 barrels of black oil. •

Yesterday, Charles N. Wright, who' \yas found guilty at the recent' sittings' 1 or" the Criminal Court, of uttering a, certificate

purporting to be signed by Capt. Stanley, with intent to defraud Messrs. J.Smith&Co., was sentenced by his Honor to twelve months' imprisonment. The Court was then adjourned to Monday, the 13th instant.

On Monday, owing to the late heavy rains, there was a flood in the Hutt ; but we have not heard that it has occasioned any damage.

It will be observed from our Sydney extracts that a manufactory on a large scale for preserved meats, has been recently opened there and is now in active operation. Mr. Israel Joseph, the spirited projector of this establishment, was formerly of this-'Set-tlement, which he left a few years since for London.

Programme of this day's Performance bythe Band of the 65th Regiment : — 1. Overture — Due d'Olonne.. Aubcf. 2. Aria— Meco tv vienes, O misera — "LjonizeWiV La Straniera J 3. Quadrille — Semiramide Rossini.' 4. Coro c Aria — Ah si, Tremendb An- "1 j) on j ze ttf t nunzio — Belizario J 5. Elfin Waltz Lahitzky. 6. Aria— Ecco, II Pegno ch'io le porsi 1 Donizettim — Gemmy de Vergy J 7. Weippert's set of Gallops — Le os -\^ams, tillon de Lonjumeau J 8. Polka Linter.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. T. W. Hoggard, Mr. J. Hoggard, Major A. Hornbrook, and Mr. St. Hill, R.M., the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 11th September 1847; and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock, on Monday forenoon, the 13th September.