PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 827, 13 October 1860, Page 3

PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE NATIVE INSURRECTION.

Amongst the above documents is one from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Secretary of Statej protesting against a Resolution of the Provincial' Council of Hawke's Bay, passed March 30,1860. We here transcribe the letter; —it is virtually

bishop sewyn's pbotest against the wab.

Auckland, 28th April, 1860. ; Sib.—After reading in the " New Zealand Gazette" of the 23rd April, the Resolution of the Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay, passed on the 30th of March, 1860,1 feel it to be my duty most respectfully to record my deliberate protest against the statements contained therein :

* Because Martial Law was proclaimed at Tafanaki before a single Native was known to hare taken up arms against the Government, and when no offence had been given by the Natives beyond.an unavmed obstruction of the work, of the surveyors": Because the persons described in the Resolution as " disaffected Aborigines" were the faithful and efficient allies of the Government in the War at Port Nicholson, and were always considered aa among the most loyal, peaceable, and. industrious of the New Zealand tribes till they became entangled in the land questions raised by the English settlers at Taranaki: . f Because in entire opposition to the Resolution in question, I claim on behalf of the New Zealanders— 1 -i 1. An investigation of all questions, .relating to their title to land, before a regular Tribunal, witji the usual safeguards against partiality or error, viz.. Evidence on Oath; Arguments of Counsel and a Eight of Appeal: * 2. That Miltary force shall not be employed till the civil power shall have been tried, and shall have been found insufficient to carry out the judgment of the Court: •""■■'."! J 3. That inasmuch as this Colony was avowedly formed, not for the acquisition of territory for the English race, but for the protection of the New Zealanders, this primary object shall not be sacrificed to the aggrandizement of the English Provinces-: Because the willing and prompt surrender by the New Zealand tribes of millions of acres of land, including all the best harbours, for very trifling payments, deserves the respect and gratitude of the whole Colony, and especially of the .-Province of Hawke's Bay, where the extinction of the Native title has been unusually rapid j and where the greater part of the land was offered to Government for sale in 1842, and declined for the want of funds • § Because, finally, I am so far from concurring in the hope," that such policy will for the future be everywhere alike steadily and zealously adhered to," that I believe that the^repetition of any similar policy would be as unwise as it would be unjust, and would lead to the most disastrous consequence! to the English Colony and to the Native face. I have, Ac, " (Signed) G. A. New Zeaiand. Hon. H. J, Tancred, Acting Colonial Secretary. , * Resolution of Provincial Council of' Hawke'u Bay, 80tb March, I860:— . . , . . . ■■■■ v " The Province of Taranaki, at present under Martial Law, owing to the moddling of disaffected aborigine*." t-Ibid. 14 Disaffected aborigines.'' j Ibid. " A policy which this Couucil sincerely believes to h§ botli suited to and beneflci»l for the entire interest* of tha Provinca of Hawke'u Bay." " ;. § Ibid. "' ' , mi^ ..,.. ( ,.> t " It further begs to be allowed to express the hope that such policy will for the future be everywhere alike steadily1 anft zealously adhered to." ; „ .-.j ■