MR. HUGH CARLETON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5329, 26 April 1878, Page 6

MR. HUGH CARLETON.

“ Friend after friend departs.” (.From the New Zealand Herald.)

The old politicians whose names are identified with, aud whose , actions have helped to form part of the history of New Zealand, are leaving us one after the other. Some have gone on the long, inevitable journey ; others, like Mr. E. \V7 Stafford and Mr. Hugh Carleton, are leaving the colony to return to Old England, there, probably, to spend their last years free from the turmoil and worry, the pettiness, aud the disappointments which mark the expeiienoe of most of those who have engaged largely in the game of colonial politics. A man who, like Mr. Carleton, has, until a few 3’ears ago, occupied such a prominent -.figure in the history of this province, and of the Legislature of the country, meiits something more than a mere passing notice on the eve of his severing his connection with the colony. As he is departing, not intending to return, we purpose giving that notice now, as a few facts we have learned will be interesting to our readers.

Mr. Carleton, though born iu England, is of Irish descent, being the son of Francis Carleton, of Clare, County of Tipperary. He was sent to Eton College, which he left’with high reputation for classical acquirements. Thence to Cambridge University, where he got a term’s rustication for what he is pleased to call “an affair of honor with the long carpenter,” which we presume to be, in plainer English, a town and gown fight. i'Toin Cambridge he went to the Middle Temple, where he kept his terms, studying under Sir John Bailey ; but, taking a dislike to the profession, he did not have himself called to the Bar, but took to studying high art in Italy, roaming up aud down for about three years. In 1815 ho came to New Zealand. There, instead of settling, he took to importing stock from Sydney, always a hazardous speculation. Three bad voyages, in the last of which ship and all were lost (the Orwell, upon what has since been called the Orwell Bank, Mauukau harbor), put a atop to this. During this time he had, at intervals, edited the New Zealander newspaper, with the object of advocating the cause of the preemption land claimants and Governor Fitzroy’s grantees. To this he now returned, having suffered severely iu purse by the series of mishaps already mentioned 1 in a more professional point of view. After carrying on the New Zealander .for a further period, he started a newspaper on his own account, entitled the Anylo-Maori Warder. He had now to learn that something more than brilliant leading articles are required towards the success of newspaper enterprise. There is a commercial element involved, of which he had ho experience ; also, -tact in catering for the taste of the general public, instead of for the editor’s own particular taste. In the Anylo-Maori ]]'order he entered upon a course of open opposition to tile Government of the day. The paper paid its expenses, but nothing more, and was therefore abandoned after a six months’ career.

Always of an erratic disposition, he left the colony for a while, cruising among the South Sea Islands, where .he made acquaintance with Fiji in in its primitive state of cannibalism. Shortly afterwards the discovery ©f gold in California was made. Mr. William Brown, who was sending out the Noble, offered him a cabin there and back. Mr. C. wont on shore at Pitcairn’s Island, where the ship had stopped to water ; and tire captain, pretending to be blown away, which was not the case, sailed away without him. Left behind, he beguiled the time by teaching the islanders to sing in parts, an accomplishment which they still retain in high perfection at Norfolk Island. In about three weeks’ time the Colonist, Captain Marshall, touched at Pitcairn’s Island, also for water. She was crowded, but in the captain Mr. C. found an old acquaintance, having chartered a former vessel commanded by him, the Haidee, for stock. Accordingly he obtained a passage. Now, the Noble was a dull sailer, and the Colonist.actually reached San Francisco four weeks before the Noble, and Mr, C. found himself in California in the plight in which he had gone ashore at Pitcairn’s Island. Many strange stories were current in Auckland of the straits to which he was driven. How he took a contract to unload a coal barge, &c., &c., the real fact being that he went on board a ship belonging to our townsman, Mr, James Mackie, and remained there quietly till his own tardy ship, the Noble, arrived. Returning to New Zealand, he obtained a seat in the first House of Hepresentatives as member for the 13a} 7, of Islands. Owing to the early date fixed for the nomination, and to the fact of his being elected without opposition, ho at once became “ Father of the House.” There he commenced by taking an active part in the obtaining of responsible government, in his own opinion a political mistake, and the only one that he confesses to. This, of course, is only an expression of his own opinion. Some will think this no mistake at all, and supply its place by others —each critic according to his own peculiar views.

In 1350, having long been a contributor to the Southern Crvsr, he took formal charge of that newspaper as editor, conducting it for some years, until the connection was severed, du account of his views about the Waitara war, which were most unpopular at the time. Public opinion came round to him at last, as indeed upon other questions ; but throughout his political career he and the public have seldom been of the same opinion at the same time. When Mr. Brown was elected Superintendent of the province of Auckland, Mr. (Jarleton became Provincial Secretary, a position which he subsequently occupied under Superintendents Campbell, Graham, and Whitaker. , But notwithstanding his close connection with provincial affairs, he was from the first a determined enemy to what is called provincialism, which he never ceased to attack until its final extinction in 1875. In this likewise, after incurring much unpopularity, he finally found himself in accord with public opinion.

It will be remembered that for years after the concession of responsible government, parties were so evenly divided, that the fate of Ministers was invariably decided by a majority of one. This, of course, afforded much opportunity to an active member. After turning out the Sewell Ministry in 1856, he supported the Fox Ministry for the sake of their waste lauds policy, namely, the provinces to sell the land at what price they pleased, high or low, hut to pay a fixed sum, half-a-crowu an acre, to the General Government. When the Fox Ministry was turned out, ho gave his support to tho Stafford Ministry, and voted for what is usually called “the compact,” under which the Laud Fund was given to the provinces. Opinions must bo allowed to differ about that famous vote. It was certainly in accordance with public opinion at tho time, and the Superintendent of the Auckland province supported it. But tho enormous advantage which it conferred on the Southern provinces was not then perceived by the North. Mr. Oarletou has always maintained that the vote was right in principle; that so long as the provinces had the management of immigration and public works, they had a right to the Land Fund ; and that, on the same principle, when that charge was undertaken by the General Government, under tho Public Works Act, the Land Fund ought to he restored and made colonial. In ISSS, he suggested the New Provinces Act, with a view to destroy the provinces by subdivision ; and the suggestion was adopted and advocated by loading members ■who were opposed to provincialism, but under this Act professed to bo so enamored of it as to advocate their extension, while plotting their downfall.

In 1860 all political alliances wero broken up by tlie Waitara war. Mr. Carletou declared strongly against it. But when a motion, tantamount to a vote of want of confidence, was moved, he gave a casting vote to the Stafford Government, on the ground that before the session he had incautiously committed himself to a promise of general support, and would not go back from his word. In the following session, however, ho considered himself free, and gave the vote, again a casting vote, that turned tho Stafford Ministry out. Tho war, ho alleged, was his solo point of disagreement, and ho gave the vote with regret.

In another of tho groat colonial questions ho received a fair measure of public support, though even this was not unalloyed with strenuous opposition. This was tho question of tho Crown’s right of pre-emption over native lands, originally devised in favor of the New Zealand Company. He held that the Maori had a right to tho market value of his land, which could only be obtained by throwing tho land into open market, and destroying tho Government monopoly of purchase. For fourteen years, taking advantage of his connection with the Press, he agitated for “direct purchase,” under reasonable restrictions and Crown titles to natives, until both wore granted by tho Legislature in 1802. This being brought to a successful issue, ho paid a visit to tho ; old country, whence he returned in lime for the

s3sslon of 1804, in which Mr. Weld took office. In 1865, the Weld Ministry were driven out a*lia by a casting vote, and ]NXr. Stafford returned to office. To him Mr. Carleton gave steady support throughout, until in turn that Government had to give way to the 1' oxVogel Government. He then remained in opposition to the close of his parliamentary career, strongly opposing the borrowing policy, until the House was irretrievably committed to it. Then he sought to make the best of it, votin" for the second reading of tho Public Works Bill, which he considered to be a deathblow to Provincialism. In the general election of ISrl he lost the seat which ho had held continuously for seventeen years. This result was attributable, not to the defection of old friends, who stood beside him as staunchly as ever, but firstly to tho incorporation of the Mangonui electoral district (which had formerly returned _ a separate member) with the Bay of Islands district ; and, secondly, to the large number of Maoris, who, now being entitled to votes in virtue of their newly-acquired Crown grants, had been placed upon the roll, and were turned against him. He thought it hard that these Crown grants, which he had been so largely instrumental in obtaining, should cause his defeat ; but gratitude is a word winch Mr. Carleton thinks has no equivalent in the Maori language. At the election for the present Parliament he was nominated for the Bdcn district. He was told that his scat was secure if he would declare himself a follower of Sir George Grey. He said that ho would cheerfully support Sir George Grey in anything for tho good of the North ; but that as to following any man blindfold, a seat was not worth having at the price. He slxould exercise his own judgment as to what would really be for the good of the North. This declaration was considered not enough, and he accordingly withdrew in favor of Mr. Alan Taylor, whose votes he would otherwise have split, but who did not benefit by the retirement. Considering that Parliament was now finally closed to him, unless through abandonment of his conservative principles, Mr. Carleton resolved to return to the mother country, where he hoped that a fastidious disposition that finds no countenance in a colony might be indulged without reproach. Mr. Carleton was one of the scholarly men of the colony; he was always a bold and uncompromising opponent, and though many deemed him crochety, yet in departing from a colony where he has dwelt for nearly three and thirty years, he will carry with him the good wishes of both men of the old school and men of the new, who arc now steadily supplanting the earlier generation of New Zealand politicians.