New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 20, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 328, 20 September 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, September 20, 1848.

It is with sentiments of profound regret that we have to announce the death of Colonel William Wakefield, the Principal Agent of the New Zealand Company. Colonel Wakefield visited the Wellington Baths in the afternoon of Friday last, at about a quarter to five o'clock for the purpose of taking a warm bath. After the bath, he was observed by one of the attendants to stagger forward from the doorway opening into the court yard, as if he were ill ; assistance was immediately procured, when it was found that he had been seized with a severe apoplectic fit. He had experienced a short time previously a similar attack, from the effects of which, by the judicious treatment of his medical attendant he had recovered, but on the present occasion the attack was of a much more serious and alarming nature. He was immediately removed to a bed-room in the Wellington Tavern, where, during his last illness every care and attention was shewn him. Mr. Miurhead, assistant surgeon of H.M.S. Dido, and Dr. Featherston, both of whom happened to be near, were in immediate attendance, and did all that it was possible for medical skill to effect, but from- the frequent and repeated recurrence of. the fits all human .aid proved

unavailing, and he expired yesterday morning the 19th, at a quarter to 9 o'clock. This event has created a feeling of deep and universal sorrow ; not only among the colo--nists but also among the aboriginal inhabitants of the settlement. It is not necessary for us to trace the principal events of Colonel Wakefield's career in this Colony, since they are well known to most of our readers. As the Principal Agent ia New Zealand of. a powerful and influential Company, his name will be identified with the early history of • their settlements, and his reputation, as a public man, intimately connected with the stirring events, and various struggles and vicissitudes through which these settlements have passed. Placed often in circumstances of peculiar difficulty and embarrassment, it is hardly a matter of surprise that he should have failed to please all parties. But that he acted on all occasions from a sincere conviction of what he believed to be his duty, few will now be disposed to deny. We do not, however, on this occasion desire to recall any unpleasant recollections of political differences. Let them be buried with him in his tomb ! His friends may securely trust to "Time, the beautifier of the dead," to correct any hasty impressions which may have been formed of parts of his conduct, as a public man, arising from misconception or imperfect information. We deeply regret that he has been snatched, by a sudden death, from an active career of usefulness, when he had just succeeded in healing the foimer divisions, and in reconciling the differences which had unfortunately existed between the Company and their settlers. To restore harmony between them was the last, the crowning act of his life ; and whatever anticipations might have been indulged in as to the future, and the prominent share he might have taken in advancing the prosperity of this country, in which he had founded the first and most important settlement, — it has seemed good to an all wise Providence that to the individual these anticipations were not to be realized. In private life Colonel Wakefield was universally liked as a man of gentlemanly manners and kindliness of disposition, and one who had seen much of the world, and his memory will be cherished by those who knew him best, and had the most frequent opportunities of forming a correct estimate of his character. The maories of this settlement, particularly Epuni and those belonging to Petoni, feel that in Wideawake they have lost a sincere and active friend and protector, and their grief may be received as the genuine and undisguised expression of the regard which they entertained for him. Colonel Wakefield was in the full vigour of life, having but recently - completed his forty-seventh year. " Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit." ~

In another part of this journal will be found the reply of his Excellency the Governorin- Chief to the memorial requesting him to confer Representative Institutions- on the Southern settlements, adopted at. the public meeting on the 12th inst. This' very able document, we think, cannot but afford very general satisfaction to the inhabitants of this settlement. His Excellency, in reply to the memorialists, declares his intention very | shortly to establish a Legislative Council in [the Southern Province, and his desire, from time to time, to modify its constitution, should it prove unacceptable v to the colonists; so as to render, "it suitable to the advancing circumstances of the colony. He frankly declares that the caution which he finds it necessary to exercise in the introduction of those gradual ichanges to be made in the Government of the colony, proceeJs from his deep anxiety to maintain that security to life and property which has been so recently established, and which it is on every account so important to preserve, and appeals to the colonists to continue that confidence which they have hitherto reposed in him, by attributing his caution in making these changes to the true motives. Thip appeal will not be made in vain — " the heart leaps kindly back to kindness," and the general feeling of confidence in Captain Grey's administration, and the grateful appreciation by the colonists , of the benefits which his Excellency has conferred upon this settlement will be . strengthened and confirmed by this expression of his good will .and of his anxious desire to promote their interests and consult ;sheir«wishe/j. A

The chief objection advanced to the proposed plan of his Excellency is, that the non- official members of the Council to be constituted for this province, will be nominated by the Governor and not elected by the colonists. But it is more than probable that, from the jntimate knowledge which his Excellency possesses of the inhabitants of this settlement, his nomination of the nonofficial members of the Legislative Council would be confirmed by the result of an election. At all events, we may show our confidence in his Excellency's good intentions, by agreeing to proceed with him step by step, slowly it may be, but still assured that each step is in the right direction, to advancing with inconsiderate -haste in a course where one mistake may entail consequences, the effects of which may be felt for years. The first step,. and it is a v.cry .important one, is already decided upon, the Southern Province is immediately to have a Legislative Council. To Captain Grey is committed the care of the important and complicated interests connected with this colony ; the most eminent statesmen of the British empire, the leading men of all parties unite in commending his prudence, his discretion, his ability. On him devolves the responsibility of promoting the common welfare of both races, of preserving the aboriginal natives of New Zealand, and of bringing them within the pale of civilization. After a sufficient experience of his measures the natives repose the utmost confidence in his prudence and integrity of purpose. The colonists may be well content to continue their confidence in his careful and matured experience, and in his anxiety to promote the common good of the colony, and cordially to unite with him in those measures which he deems best calculated to attain these important objects.

On Monday morning last a deputation of the inhabitants of Wellington waited upon his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief with the Memorial adopted at a Public Meeting in the previous week, requesting him to confer Representative Institutions on the Southern settlements. The deputation which was very numerous, was courteously received by his Excellency ; the Memorial, which was signed by three hundred and sixteen persons, (being about 100 signatures more than were appended to the first Address) was read by Dr. Dorset, the Chairman of the Meeting, and his Excellency was pleased to give the following reply :—: — Gentlemen, — I have' so recently delivered a reply to a memorial of the same purport as that which you have now placed in my hands, that I trust I shall be excused, if I do not upon the present occasion address you at any great length. It may suffice for me to say thai, in as far as depends upon me, the Southern Province of New Zealand shall, in the shortest practicable period of time, be in possession of a Legislative Council, and that, should the constitution of that Council prove unacceptable to the colonists, it will afford me much pleasure from time to time to modify it so as to render it suitable to the advancing circumstances of the colony. At the present moment there is probably no portion of the world in which life and property are more secure than in New Zealand, nor is there any other country which holds out greater promise of prosperity and happiness to intending emigrants. The safety of yourselves and of your families, and of the numerous British population so widely and thinly scattered throughout the country, as also the maintenance of the now rapidly increasing value of property, are necessarily to me objects of such near and deep concern that I weigh with the greatest care and anxiety every step I take which might disturb or interrupt the present happy state of things. I thus, perhaps, may move more slowly and cautiously than some would desire ; all I however ask of )rou isj to attribute my caution to the true motives, and not to any desire upon ray part to thwart those- very natural wishes, which you have expressed in language for- which I feel grateful, and which gives you a new claim to every exertion upon my part to promote your welfare and happiness, and in so far as my duty permits, to consult your wishes. , - G. Gee?. Government House, Wellington^ September 18th, 1848. After receiving his Excellency's reply the deputation retired.

Wb are Informed that the Funeral of the late Colonel Wakefield will take place on Friday next, the 22nd instant, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. We believe that it is the intention of the natives to attend in great numbers on the melancholy occasion, and we have no doubt that the colonists will be equally anxious by their attendance to pay the lust tribute of respect to his memory, 5

Errata. — In the 3d page of our last number, the Ist column, 6th line from the end of the first paragraph, for would ought, read what ought. In the 3rd column of the same page, 9th line from the bottom, for hindrance to us, read hindrance from us.