CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 192, 24 May 1860, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle . May 16, 1860.

Sir, — As neither the meeting held last Thursday, nor the letters which appeared in your issue of that day, appear to me- to have touched on the strongest, or what I would call the most objectionable part of Mr, Fox’s letter, which appeared in your issue of the 3rd, if you could spare me a little room I should like to . make a few- remarks. Of course your ! readers ‘ all - know that Mr. Fox’s letter was ! written in explanation of his (Mr. Fox) having

, refused to.sign,a memorial, warmly approving- . of the policy pursued by. his Excellency t.h<*. Governor in. the native disturbances at 7’aranaki.. The motive Mr. Fox assigns for this- : refusal would be very proper if it was only correct. He-says, “My desire is, to preserve : my mind entirely unbiassed in these matters, i that I may come to their consideration in tho house of Representatives free from prejudice, and with a determination to see justice done whore the right may he,” as “ I shall probably have to adjudicate in the house-of Representatives, by expressing my belief that this war is either a just ora necessary war,” #c. Now, let us see how he. applies the-above : sentiment. He says, “By the expression in the memorial, ‘ that the grounds on which his Excellency has taken up arms are just and, necessary,’ I presume it .is,;-meant, that tho war which he has commenced is a just and, ■ .necessary war;” W’hethcr it be so or not do--pends, in my opinion, on the question, whethei* the purchase of- the debateab.le land from IT Teira was a complete' and .valid purchase or' ■ not.” “In my opiuion” !! Mow cautious !: But what an opinion for a lawyer to hold:. ; The validity of tho title, or the completeness of the purchase, has nothing to do with tmv matter. No subject is allowed to arm and levy war on any supposed or even real injury,, he *mav receive. Were it otherwise, it is easy- ; to imagine what a fearful state- of confusionand murder would be the result. But anyone receiving even an imaginary wrong has the right of appeal. Did W. Kingi appeal? With only ono exception to the contrary that I have ever heard of, all agree that W... Kingi, although "lie forbade the sale Teira’s land, laid no claim to it either on behalf of himself or others. That exception isMr. Fox, wl o now, long after war has begun, 1 tells us, for the first time, that several natives protested against the sale, and'that W. Kingi, on his own behalf and' on behalf of certain absentees, protested, by rising abruptly and, leaving the meeting. Mr. Fox might haveadded —and refused ever after to let any on a except perhaps Mr. Fox’s informant, know onwhat grounds or what claim he laid to the land. Surely I need not inform Mr. Fox, for he cannot be unaware of it, that his Excellency himself, the representative of her Majesty, actually came from Auckland to Taranaki to receive the protest of this puny Maori chief, so careful was he that there should be no misunderstanding or room for complaint. But we know that this ‘ gentleman savage ’ proved of too exalted a rank to. condescend even to see his Excellency, much less,to protest or complain to him. From whom, I ask,, did Mr. Fox receive information of tueso Maori protests ?■—for. he has not thought proper to- inform, hs, unless he . oificers of the Land Purchase and Amative departments, and the three iiiistijiiaries, each oftwenty years’ experience among the natives, with whom he tells us he had an opportunity of discussing this matter. If from these—>(and the way in which he has put it in his letter would lead one to think so, as I. can see no other purpose for which they can be mentioned there) —surely, on their shoulders will be the blame of the war. Surely, neither they, nor even the Maories themselves, can be ignorant, that on no occasion will the Governor purchase any land from any native, who, having a claim to the land, objects to sell for his Excellency has published it through the length and breadth of the land ou all occasions. This rule he has always strictlyadhered to, much to tho annoyance of many people, who think that a majority .of the owners of a common, ought always, to be able to sell. Surely, these officers ought to he inquired after, and be held responsible if they if they have held back information which they must have known would prevent war and murder. And if the same is true of the three missionaries of twenty years’ experience, who profess to be the servants of our blessed Lord; whose commandments are peace and love, what language would he strong enough to express our reprobation of such conduct. Well might we think that Ezekiel had. them in his eye when he says (xxii. 5), “ There is a conspiracy after property in the midst thereof ; .... they have devoured souls, they have taken the treasure and precious things.; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.” Also Jeremiah in his Lamentations (i. 2), “ All her friends have- dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.” Who these three missionaries are I daresay some of your readers may be ablo to guess at; I fancy I have a tolerable idea myself who one of them may be. I have reason to know.that he is one who, professing to advise the Maories for their good, has always persuaded them never to sell any of their land on. any account; yet this same missionary has received large sums of money from the government for the purpose of promoting instruction and.education among the natives; but when the government appointed a commission to investigate amt report the results of the expenditure, refused all information—no doubt for the good of the natives also.

Mr. Fox tells us,.“ The responsibility which rests upon the Governor for appealing to the sword for the settlement of this land difficulty, without apparently having attempted any milder method of adjustment, is great.” Does Mr. Fox really consider that his Excellency did not do all . in his power, consonant with his position, to settle this difficulty without appealing to. the sword? Doe 3 he consider that anything short of yielding tile whole matter in dispute would have prevented'that appeal ? Does he believe that even that would have -prevented it ? If he does, few other , people do. bio, sir, no I the natives have been petted and yielded to through our pity for what we consider to be their ignorance, until that which is due only to our forbearance

is imputed to our fear. No, sir, he did not! commence his letter with an unbiassed mind ;| so need not talk of keeping his mind free from prejudice until he has adjudicated on the Governor’s policy in the house of Representatives. No, sir, he will never adjud.cate on the Governor’s policy at aIL lie may, perhaps —it is barely possible—be present at an adj udication upon E Teira's sale;- but even in that case I think it much more likely, that in place.o/ being on the judgment-seat he will bo found in the witness box.

A Fellow-Settler.

To the Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle, May 3, 1860.

Sib, —Some time since a committee was appointed here, by the congregation of the Church of England, for the purpose of raising a stipend for their minister, when a sum of money much higher than could probab’y be realised was promised by some of the more ardent supporters of that establishment. Now, may I ask if anything has been done toward carrying out‘their intentions, or has fai’ure followed the attempt to raise the amount expected ? Allow me to suggest, if the whole sum cannot he raised, perhaps a considerable part of it may be deemed suffioient for a 'clergyman without other callings, and really anxious to do the work he is sent for; and should our congregation increase in numbers and wealth, more might reasonably be expected and obtained.

Much as our temporal welfare requires our attention just now, we must remember there is a future which ought to be still more regarded; therefore, I hope the committee I allude to, in the hurry of the present moment, will not forget the purpose for which they were appointed. Yours obediently, A-C'hurchman.