ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 631, 20 August 1851, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator. Wellington, August 18th, 1851 .Sir, ~The Southern Crott.in its comments on the proceedings in the Legislative Council on the occasion of tie second reading of the Provincial Councils Bill, states that “ the introduction of such a measure afforded Mr. Eyre an opportunity of speaking his mind— not like a Lieutenant Governor certainly— but like an indeK on dent man, declaring his true opinion of it to e, that it was three years behind the time, that it would have been hailed as a great boon in 1848—that an element of it, nomineeism, was £ 10 " r . 8 ,? IjHtefyl —and finally that this measure a"“ s in-timed, if not useless, from Lord John (Russell s own statement that the Imperial Parliament would'this session pass a measure of ■L e .‘ f g » vernment for the whole of New Zealand.” ■lnat Mr,, Eyre-- “not like a Lieutenant Governor certainly’’— said this, is quite true, but a very ■slight analysis of his speech proves that he is ® ndesening even of the damning faint praise bestowed on him by the Southern Crott. On a re■view of that speech it undoubtedly seems that ■Mr. Eyre wished it to be inferred that he had, pome three years ago, submitted for the Go*s consideration, a comprehensive scheme by which Representative Institu®ions based oil the broadest principle, could be introduced into the colony, as also that he had to . ur g«°n the Governor the propriety E, • . introduction of some such mea- ■"/ e ’ tr i lat h e kad taken the first opportunity > publicly.stating what he had done, leaving it Ep SO j l °r l inferred, that if he had been at the K- ad the Government the settlers would, long I® had the control of their own affairs. r ‘ Eyrtf prove that, during any part of She ’ Btated ‘he Governor his opinion on SSiow S /< Jeet .’ ai ? d asked for the introduction of a Kin institution ? Were his thoughts occupied Erriv i e object, or did he think the time had Ifci ‘ „ BUC “ a change in the Constitution i^‘u^ lober - 1848 » he informed the GoBhe Pm • t * lat a te, 7*^ e calamity has overtaken Hhp T;? VW< ?\2 , \S arU ‘9 uak « has occurred, and f her Wellington is in ru ins,” an J fur . EeriL 1 1 a bl° w has been struck at the prosSetnent” r St existence of the setEnyejJjt* jt will not readily yeegislafiw« U:a . no * asK some local t V urtMMf £ y to be B' ven to ‘he settlers : t, touaJiu eofge Grey only who then considered ‘ bin t i, n ! heAttorn ey General’s words, “desira'n Ce , be ? f . local legislation should, at 0 meet n Bta “hshed in the Province, in order ?™ e,, Kency which might arise. n —s did not, at the moment, admit of

the delay consequent upon the preparation of any measure of a permanent character, and the prompt establishment of some legislative authomy .appeared to te more important than the particular form of constitution which such temporary authority should assume.” When Sir George Grey arrived on the 26th November, 1848, at Wellington with the Provincial Councils Bill, it is nowhere recorded that Mr. Eyre offered the slightest objection to tne measure. Indeed he was then so grossly ignorant of the. wishes of the people, and so entirely unacquainted, personally, with the principal, residents in Wellington and the country districts, that he was unable either to state whether the Bill would be acceptable or not, or to name persons eligible for seats in the Council. The Council having been formed, it was opened by Sir George Grey on the 21st December; Mr. Eyre was present on each day of the ??? 81O 7’ ? nd h. a d many opportunities of stating, desired it. his regret that a more liberal measure had not been enacted. When Mr. Bell raised the discussion by moving that the Governor be requested to state his views and plans on the subject of the introduction of a Representative form of Government into the Province, Mr. Eyre had then an excellent opportunity of expressing his own views, after hearing the Governor state that he had recommended a change in the Constitution “at the date when the Act suspending the Constitution uT nt y j C( ? nferred u P on these Islands expires.” Why uid ue not then say, if he thought so, that it was a matter of regret there should be so much delay in the introduction of a liberal measure. Can Mr. Eyre prove that during any part of 1849 he stated his opinion to the Governor, and expressed his regret at the delay in the introduction of Representative Government? •t, O n . ‘he Ist May, 1849, Mr. Eyre opened the Provincial Council, over which he for the first P res, ded. To the Council he said “it affords me much satisfaction to be enabled to call you together for the despatch of public business, and to have it in my power now for the hrst time to resort to the advice and assistance ot a legislature:” he expressed no regret at the non introduction of Representative Government, on the contrary, a reference to the proceedings ot that session shews that Mr. Eyre was satisfied that the Provincial Councils Bill met the requirements of the Province, and no doubt on the termination of the session he stated as much in a despatch to the Governor-in-Chief. If Mr. Byte then held the opinion he expressed on the loth June, 1851, he had an excellent opportunity of publicly stating it when he laid on the table on the last day of the session of 1849, the two despatches of Sir George Grey to Earl j ted res P e ctively the 29th November, 1848, and 2nd February, 1849, stating the system of Government he proposed to adopt for N PtV .ADQlonzl _4? xl • 1 /» —cApirauuii ui Lilt period OT tour or five years. Why did he not then state his regret at the postponement of the introduclion of such a measure ?

ioeni r ' Eyre prove that during any part of loou he stated his opinion to the Governor and expressed his regret at the delay in the introduction of Representative Government? Can lie prove that by his suggestions he in any way assisted in the framing of the mea--8^ re , was passed in the last session, or that he was the cause of its being brought forward at an earlier period than might have been expected?

If Mr. Eyre for the last three years had been zealous for the welfare of the community, if he had been during that period making every effort, by urgent solicitations, to obtain the introduction into the Province of a Representative form of Government, surely then he had a just right to exclaim, as he did on the 18th June last “ the chief feeling which 1 entertain m reference to this Bill is one of regret that it was not enacted in 1848, in the place of the Provincial Councils Ordinance No. 1, Sess. 9.” But Mr. Eyre never earned that right, from him the Governor has never received the slightest assistance m carrying on the administration of the Government. His unwillingness, or incapability to assist, seems almost to amount to an opposition o. ...e worst kind; not that straightforward opposition of a man who unhesitatingly' declares his dislike to measures, and boldly states his determination not to assist in carrying them mto operation, and then resigning; but it seems ‘o be that kind of silent, sulky opposition, the V*. aiuuLiiereu personal ammo* sity to his Chief. Whilst feeling indignant at the ungenerous motives which actuate Mr. Byre in his official bearing towards the Governor, one cannot but admire the great forbearance shewn him. That Mr. Eyre has really P a R? d himself in opposition to the Governorin_Chi.ef must be evident to every one, as also that his aim has been to gain the support of those few who strive to embarrass Sir George Grey m his administration.

The Southern Croat truly says of Mr. Eyre that he has behaved “ not like a Lieutenant Governor certainly.” In Council he echoed the sentiments of the. Faction on the subject of the Provincial Councils Bill. He was prompted by the Wellington Independent when he objected to the clause in the Land Cla mants Bill which provides for the issue of scrip : and again, when he affected to dread, by an Act of -Council, a supposed feeling of hostility on the part of the members towards the Canterbury settlement, he was only repeating in more model ate •anguage w h at he had previously read in the Wellington Independent and Lyttelton Timet. Again, when Mr. n>yre said “ he considered the mission of the Association had ceased on founding the settlement” he only repeated what he had already heard from Mr. Godlev’s mouth. Mr. Eyre s conduct in Council was “ not like a Lieutenant Governor’s certainly”— so far correct —but the assertion that it was that “* of an independent man" is not supported by the above stated facts. On all subjects referred to he opposed the Government, and said just so much as he thought would be acceptable to the Faction. Mr. Eyre knew well that the Governor-in-Chief, in introducing the system of Representative Government, would be conferring a boon on the colony, he must needs therefore oppose it, insinuating that “ the object of the measure may possibly be defeated, though the Bill itself be passed and become law.” Mr. Eyre knew well that the scrip clause in the Land Claimants Bill

j-as e crun » on which the lever to remove all difficulties would rest; it was that, thereore. which he wanted to knock away by insidiously suggesting its weakness. With regard to the Address to the Crown. Mr. F.vre affected settlement SaOW ost ‘hty to the Canterbury -Thus one finds that whilst Mr. Eyre gratified kLtv? eM a na .-. a ”’ mosi ‘y by attempting to embarrass Sir G. Grey in every possible way, he at the same time made every possible effort, at tne expense of his character as Lieutenant Governor, to ingratiate himself with those opposed to the Government. I am. Sir, Your obedient servant, Detector.