LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 213, 18 October 1860, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

October 15, 1860.

Sir, — -In common with every man who knows., the neighbourhood of his own settlement to be in the course of devastation by murderous rebels, and thinks it not improbable the home of his immediate fellow-settlers, together with his own, may become the arena of similar atrocities, I have the strong desire to do whatever in me lays to facilitate the removal of so unhappy a condition. Believing an “at any price ” peace will be but a means of increasing that influence, which,, com meneiug from its earliest days, lias never ceased to affect injuriously the best interests of the colony, and equally that of the natives ;■ and that a just and energetic retribution on the rebels is the only means by which the entirety of the two races will be enabled to exist in concord and mutual {security, I have from the first applied my humble efforts, to the support of the necessary steps taken by his Excellency in vindication, when rebelled against, of the Queen of England’s sovereignty in this colony. Hence, I took up my pen when “ Watchman,” in his first letter, stated the object he had in addressing you was, to “ endeavour to find out in what way Mr. Fox and Dr. Featherston have forfeited the confidence of any of their constituents. 5 ’ My residence in this town exclusively since September, 1858, has afforded me constant opportunities of leisurely eliciting from most of my fellowsettlers their opinions on Native matters, as well as upon the several subjects which at the present epocli of our existence form the points of interest to us all; and I have no hesitation in asserting, that the result of the new election here, and I think also at Rangitikei, must inevitably prove the great respect which we all have for the course his Excellency so courageously—if we look to the many opposing influences, at home particularly—has pursued in this, the subject paramount amongst our anxieties-

In your last impression there appears two letters, each signed “ Watchman.” In that dated 2nd October. 1860, Watchman, in respect of ten of the facts mentioned in letter of “ the Voice”* states that “ Governor Fitzroy drew his pen, through them that “ under British authority the natives were allowed to return to their former possessions,” and maintains that “ W. Kingi took no licence, but returned on the invitation of Governor Fitzroy immediately after which “ Watchman” acknowledges it to be a truth, that “ Governor Grey told him not to go;” that “,W. Kingi and his tribe entered our river, and remained a fortnight at our mercy inside the bar, whilst we had 500 troops in our garrison and with Lynch like love of order exclaims, “ Surely, if Governor Grey were in earnest, he could have wished for no better opportunity to stop him than when he, his people, and canoes, with all their property, were at our mercy” there. Let us dispose of the latter subject first. I assert that “ Watchman” knows, or if he do not he ought to know, that at the time he says we had 500 troops, we had but 200 men here. But, Mr. Editor, it seems necessary to remind “ Watchman,” that Britons are not in the habit of falling upon voyagers seeking shelter in their waters, and by murder and robbery making them cry for mercy; nor would they, eveu though there had been 5000 troops here ; and that, had numbers, of the same way of think-J ing as “ Watchman,” attempted such an act,) Governor Grey would have been the first man,l by means of our own troops, to set about preventing so greatly disgraceful an enormity.

To revert to the ten facts, through which Governor Fitzroy is by “ Watchman” stated “ to have drawn his pen.” It must be fully admitted, that amongst the catalogue of unwise proceedings of Governor Fitzroy, his conduct during the early history of our connection with the Taranaki block has been markedly productive of various great and deplorable mischiefs. That it wa3 perfectly illegal, and that Governor, Fitzroy overstepped

his authority, there is ,ffio'"'dpubt. But. in respect of the return of 'jiativjfes to this Taranaki land, 1 have in vain sotight for a document by him in which such return is invited. I question if “ Watchman” has been more successful. Z?ut, on the contrary, I find that on the 2nd of July, 1846, being about 18 : months after Governor; Fitzroy’s illegal ex-1 cess, and in a despatch to Sir George Grey, the British Secretary of State, adverting to “ the arrangement entered into by the government with the New Zealand company respecting the purchase of lands at New Plymouth,’ states, “ I cannot but 'express my great surprise and regret at not having been placed, by Captain Fitzroy,. in possession of a full report of tbe course which lie pursued in that case, and of the reasons for that course. I however indulge the hope that you may have found yourself in a condition to give effect to the award bg Air. Spain, and in any case I rely upon your endeavours to gain that end, Unless, indeed, which I canhardly think probable, you may have seen reason to believe, that the reversal'of the Commissioner’s award was a wise and just measure j” and in reply, by despatch dated March 2, 1847, Sir George Grey states, amongst other matters, “ I thought it proper at once to assume a high tone to them, and to acquaint them, that I intended ultimately to carry out the arrangement ” (Mr. Spain’s award); and afterwards goes on to say that lie “ should order the most ample reserves to be made for them, but that the remainder portion of the country, in that district, should be resumed by the Crown for the use of the Europeans.” This Waitara is part of such remainder portion. Thus we may dismiss effort No. 2 ofd “ Watchman’s ” genius.

In respect of “ Watchman’s” letter, of date October 5, 1860, I but express the opinion of every sensible man who has read it, when I say, that it is a production of judgment and argument, filled with untruths and personal abuse—discreditable alike to the heart and the head of its writer; and that I cannot, with any propriety, permit myself further notice of it here. I have the honour to be, sir,

Your obdt. servant, - Joseph Rees.

* I at the time regretted, and continue to

regret, that I was compelled, after in vain seeking documentary evidence, to submit to the necessity of depending on memory for the statement of facts as recorded in “ the Voice,” and thus to throw off that which, had it been aided by correction from printed documents, and which contain ample proof of the principal facts I have in this correspondence adduced, would have been made as convincing as the efforts of a plain writer could have produced it.

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