THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, April 16, 1863.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 7, Issue 339, 16 April 1863, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, April 16, 1863.

A report of the meeting on Thursday last will be found elsewhere. The result will no doubt be benficial as our representatives now know the special improvements wanted by tho inhabitants. We regret that none of the Turakina and Rangitikei settlers were present.

By way of Auckland and Wellington there is news from. Taranaki to the 2nd inst. The troops were to occupy Tatar aimaka on the 4th.

On Saturday last we had the intelligence through the natives, that Tataraimaka had been occupied, without opposition But the Ngatiruanui intend hostilities, and have sent messengers down the coast and up the Wanganui River asking assistance. It is not likely, however, that they will do anything at least till after a large, meeting of natives from all parts, to be held this month at Taiporuanui (Manawoupo) to deliberate on the present state of affairs and resolve on the course to be pursued. Mr. Gorst has gone in to Auckland.

It is reported in Melbourne that New Zealand is to be the head-quarters of the troops in Australasia.

The critique of the Times ou the Memorial of the General Assembly to her Majesty is not flattering, but we fear it is not unjust. Had the first address drawn up by the present Ministry been adopted and sent, it would have bec-n a pitiful specimen of the brain power of New Zealand statesmen. The address which was sent manifested as remarkably their timidity. The Government of the whole island was handed over by the Home. Government to the New Zealand people. The army was offered to them for two years and a half. After 20 years of bungling and misgovernment, at the end of which the natives are in a worse condition than they were at the beginning, the Home Government, weary of its thankless and hopeless work—hopeless because it was hot omniscient—thankless because its interference gave no reason for giatitude—handed oyer the power of governing the natives as well as themselves to the colonists : and -they, not taking at the flood this tide which would have led into a quiet and secure haven, let themselves again drift out to the cross' waves of Downing St. sovereignty, Grey dictatorship, Selwyn promaoriism, and constitutional Government. What can come of such a dire confusiou but difficulty and possibly disgrace ? Had the offer of the Home Government been accepted, an able and responsible ministry placed in power, and a hearty, co operation lent by the Colonists, the native, difficulty would have been met boldly and resolutely ; and with a little patience and firmness it might already have been

peaceably removed. lr is pitiful to see the progress of this fine country so loug stopped by the bravadoes of probably not more than 10,000 men. Had the colonists taken into their own hands the power of dealing with these malcontents, order would soon have been established. But the timidity of their representatives prevented this. They feared two things. They were afraid of the expence of the experiment which the Home Government gave them the opportunity of making.' s' They forgot that the country had already been saddled—most unjustly—with a large^share of the expence, and •would be obliged to continue its contribution towards the support, of the troops. T hey forgot that the whole policy of the Home Government had burdened the Colonists really, if not formally, with the charge of civilising and governing the Maoris. They forgot that Sir Geo. Grey’s plans, so far as they were known, could only be carried out at their own expence. They forgot that the troops have in effect been kept here all along for the protection of the Maories rather than of the Europeans. They forgot that if the power were in tlieir hands, they could compel'the Maoris to pay their j ust share of the taxation, resulting from their misconduct and necessary for their controul. They forgo’, all this, and were frightened from accepting the responsibility of government by an exaggerated idea of Maori power, and of the expence which would be entailed on the colonists did they assume the reins.

The other bugbear- was the notion that the offer of the Home Government was a mere sham—an attempt to throw the expence on the colonists, while it retained the power. Was not Sir George Grey here, the man who in former days suspended the Constitution ; and who had now a carte Nemche in his hand from the British Government, as being the only man that could be relied on for coping, with the native difficulty '? What use of accepting responsibility in native affairs with such a man at their head ? But it was well known by that time that Sir George Grey had not the unlimited power, with with which the colonists on his first arrival had accredited him. The Duke of Newcastle had nor given to him the powers which he was willing to put. into the hands of a responsible ministry. Further, it might have been suspected, that Sir George would not have been unwilling to withdraw, on such a feasible pretence, from the task he had undertaken. He had found that the Come See, and Conquer idea, with which he had landed in Auckland, had been very far from being realised ; and, averse as he is to drawing the sword, but yet not sure but that no settlement can be got without doing so, he might have been very glad to have had removed from, his shoulders a responsibility which was not likely to bring him the honour which he more particularly desires. But then it was said—admitting all that, the Secretaiy for the Colonies has given us no power over the army • and is it not out of the question to undertake the settlement of this question without having the control of the troops % There are two answers to this objection. It would have been time enough to have made it when it was found that the Governor would not work with a responsible ministry. The Crown carries on war and makes peace. But the Crown must be guided by the Cabinet, and the Cabinet must consult the people. It would never do to hand over the control of the army at home to the people and its representatives. These checks on absolute power being lodged in any one’s hands are the glory and the safety of the British constitution. So here ; it would have been time enough to make the objection when it was found that Sir G Grey had reso 1 ved to act, not as a constitutional governor, but as an irresponsible despot. 'I hen the state of affairs might well have been the subject of a Memorial to her Majesty, containing a request for Sir George Grey’s removal, and the appointment of a Governor who understood the nature and working of constitutional government. And the other answer is ; if things should come to that pass, that an army is necessary, but that the British army is withheld from the task of establishing her Majesty’s supremacy, then by all means let the colonists rather organise a body of effective troops than throw away the opportunity of internal control offered to them. The ! old policy in such a case would not only have been the best, but the cheapest. For the colonists could have made the disturbers of the peace pay for the armed police necessary to control them ; whereas, according to the course chosen, of that there is no hope ; the poor settlers must pay for all—pay for all. The only feasible objection was never brought forward, namely, that we have no statesmen capable of forming and carrying out an independent and comprehensive policy. If we accept the men at present in power as specimens of our representative men, this may be true. But we believe that the time generally brings the man, and' the most intelligent body of colonists in the world have surely men among them capable of being-leaders.

■''Meantime we are taunted, and not unjustly, for our pusillanimity. What answer can the British Cabinet have sent to the document from which occasion is taken thus still further to . humiliate us ? Undignified and inexpedient as we at the time considered the Memorial to be, we trust that the answer is such as will justify the Memorial’s having been sent.