I am, Sir, &c, D. MONRO. Auckland, August 7, 18437"

Daily Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 17, 12 August 1843, Page 4

I am, Sir, &c., D. MONRO. Auckland, August 7, 1843.

[.We, publish the above letter, not by any means because we agree with the sentiments contained in it, but just because we with to give every man, party, and question, a fair hearing. From all that we since heard, or read, we have no reason to alter the views and opinions which we formerly expressed on the subject of this letter. We blame the government and lheir agents for the whole affair ; we blame the two chiefs Rauparaha and Rangabaeata for the murder of the European prisoners. That the Natives are either fierce or savage we deny. Considering the advantages they have had, we consider they have made wonderful progress in civilization. The Nelson settlers do not come so much in contact with them as we do at this settlement, else their ideas would be very different from what we are sorry to find they are. With Dr. Monro's proposal of usurping the rights of the Natives, and seizing upon their unlocated lands, we entirely disagree, and solemnly protest in the name of humanity against such an outrage of its laws. We plead in behalf of-jthe Native, and admonish this government for the sake of humanity, for the peace, welfare, and safety of the two races, and the good ot the colony, to remove at once the horrid chain in the links of which the Native is being bound in slavery. Make the Native fiee is our prayer and our wish; give- him the full benefits of English liberty before you impose upon him the penalties of English law. This is the only remedy for our present troubles. The Natives may be overawed, and partly destroyed by a military force, but they never will be subdued ; they have too much intellect to submit to slavery. Dr. Monro blames the Home Government more than the local ; we wonder at this. We blame the local government altogether (except for the appointment of such miserable persons as themselves to manage a colony ; for this we blame the Home Government) but the lecal -government have set all instructions at defiance, and -have withheld all information from the Home Government. Why did not the local government act by the Marquis of Normanby's instructions ? Did he ever wish them to deprive the old settlers of their t quitably purchased lands ? Why have not this government fairly represented the actaal state of things in this colony ? Dr. Monro'B remarks on the treatment of the original settlers, are of course, cot those of a land clrimant, or of one interested in land claims. His ideas regarding justice, would in that case be something different. The only part of our learned friend's able letter, in which we agree with him, is the assertion of the ruin and mischief brought upon the inhabitants of these splendid, and naturally highly favoured Island through the mischievous measures, and imbecile conduct of the government. That the Judge should have refused to issue a warrant againßt Rangihaiata, we are not surprised at, however much at variance with the judgement upon Makatu. We are not lawyer enough to discover how a man may be allowed to commit felony, and be hanged for murder, unless it happen that in the first case the government require to act, and in the second,the people bring the criminal to the bar of judgement, as in the case of Maketu, who, but for that circumstance, would have been still a living man. — Ed.] . o