A SETTLER'S PROTEST.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 827, 13 October 1860, Page 4

A SETTLER'S PROTEST.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —As all the world is protesting I don't see why I should not try to have my say too. So I send you the within to publish, ii'you think it worth the space. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, A SETTLER. TO THE BISHOP OF N2W ZEALAND. My Lord.—After reading in the New Zealand papers your Lordship's letter to the Colonial Secretary of 28th April, 1860. I feel it to be my duty most respectfully to record my deliberate protest against the statements contained therein. Because, when martial law was proclaimed at Taranaki and for many years before, the Maones had been armed and turbulent, committing murder and fighting among themselves up to the suburbs of New Plymouth, to the serious disquiet of tlieir peaceable English fellow subjects and the obstruction of the progress and well being of the Province. Because, "the persons described as natives" areof notoriously idle habits and jealous of the progress made by the industrious English settlers, whom they hoped and still desire to see inferior and subject to themselves; and because, in pursuance of that object, certain of the said natives have entered into an armed league neither to sell nor permit any Maori to sell land which is now worthless and unproductive, and which they neither use nor ever expect to use themselves ; and further, they have openly thrown off their allegiance to the Queen and raised to tne throne a Maori by the style and title of King rotatau in Her Majesty's stead. . , Because, in entire opposition to your Lordship s letter of 28th April, I claim on behalf of the Englwn settlers :— I.—An investigation into the origin of the Km? movement and of the land league—their object «"a design. 2.—That the natives shall not be allowed to enter into armed leagues and conspiracies against tne Queen, her crown and dignity-r-to break the pe»ce by murderous fights among'themselves —nor gei'e" rally be allowed privileges denied to the peaceable English settlers; but that there be one law for all. 3.—That inasmuch as this colony has been adopts as their home by thousands of Englishmen, w >« have been induced to come to it under tne belief that they were settling in a British and not m a Maori colony, it is unjust and unfair to sacrifice them and to make their interests subordinate j° those of tho Maories, and to assert as your Lordship does, that " the primary object of forming the cown) 'was avowedly.for the protection of the New /ea-l»nders"--an avowal they certainly never honra before in the sense in which your lordship nas strangely used it. • Because, the peaceable behaviour and high morn character of the settlers and their perfect good «»" are evidenced by their past conduct and ready t - cognitibn of Maori claims to an equality of political status with themselves. Because, the generoui anu

', protection of the British saved the Maories tl" LroinhiL' a prey either to the worst characters WoTftciflc op the " razzias "of the French. Bee the lands which the Maories now own are caUS,' mrtll y thousand times the exchangeable value Tthe wliole of New Zealand when they had it to i > nselves. Because, the Maories have learnt from in settlers'the arts of commerce, of Agriculture, and 1 ' m extent of civilized life, therefore, the said filers deserve the respect and gratitude of the i ole of the Maoriesv who, before the arrival of the ■'l settlers, were ignorant of even the simple, art Troad making,—made little or no use of their land, 1 were chiefly occupied in killing each other. ""Because, finally,—so far from concurring in the " ent clerical system of teaching the Maories and {"uiinc them up as children, requiring the constant iiervision of papa, while we know them to be able, ? l.Lnigent, and shrewd men ;—and further, of assuming that the settlers and Queen's representative are thirsting for the extinction of the maories nil the possession of their land, while we know that t c former only desire the security and progress of hotli races, and that the latter has proved himself a trenuous opponent to the inconsiderate alienation of Maori land even to the church (vide the Bishop of Wellington's complaint against him): I believe tint a continuation .of this system , is as unwise to both races as it is unjust to the settlers, and will id i, e arafter to the most disastrous consequences to the native race by sowing bitterness between them and the English settlers who are now desirous; of seeing them grow up side by side with themselves on equal terms as part of the future New Zealand Nation. ■ - ; -' ; '