Address of the Emigrants To His Excellency Captain R. Fitzroy, R.N., Governor of New Zealand, &c., &c.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 38, 6 January 1844, Page 3

Address of the Emigrants To His Excellency Captain R. Fitzroy, R.N., Governor of New Zealand, &c., &c.

Sir—We the undersigned Government Emigrants hail with feelings of joy and gratitude the arrival of Your Excellency as Governor of this colony, feeling assured that under Your Excellency's auspices, hopes, which we have fondly cherished, but in which we have hitherto been disappointed, may now be fully realized From the statements made by the Government Agents at Home, together with the opinions expressed iv the public prints of the day, we gladly accepted of the bounty of Government, and emigrated to this country, under the full conviction, that in this colony labourers were scarce, and wagea remunerating, and that the means of placing ourselves and families in c more comfortable condition, would* be amply within the reach of every industrious irfdividual. In these expectations, however, we have been disappointed. On our arrival in this colony, only a very few of our number found employment at their own Trades or j Handicrafts ; others procured work from Government (at a rate of wages, however, far below any that had i been offered in the Colony prior to our arrival) but even this.failed, and since that time, a period of upwards of nine months, the greatest number have had little or no employment whatever. Many cases amongst us has been particularly distressing, -yet, borne with patience and resignation ; education, the encumbent duty of every parent to his children, we have been unable to obtain. Clothing has altogether ! been out of the question ; indeed, it has only been by parting with articles of this description that many of us were enabled to keep ourselves and families from utter want. We therefore, hail with pleasure the arrival of Your Excellency in the Colony, fondly hoping that the course of policy which Your Excellency will pursue, shall be at once sound, vigorous, and enlightened, that under your fostering care the many and valuable resources of the Colony will be ably and judiciously called forth ; that the means of comfort and happineßs will be placed within the reach of every sober and iudustrious individual in the community, and that among the many momentous subjects which roust necessarily claim the attention of Your Excellency, the distressed and destitute condition of many of the Emigrants will not be the last on which you will exercise your judgement. Wishing Your Excellency and Family long life, health, and Happiness in this your adopted country. We remain, Your Excellency* mo'»t obedient aervanti

Colonial Secretary. — We understand that Mr. Shortland has resigned the office of Colonial Secretary. His Resignation has been accepted by His Excellency. Mr. Shortland and Mrs. Shortland intend going to England by the Bangalore. The office is now vacant, and we trust much care will be taken in filling it up. Legislative Council. — The. Council will sit on Tuesday. Mr. Busby is to take Mr. Earp's place. The other two non-official official Members will as formerly take their places. We have so frequently written of the Qualifications of these gentlemen, that we need only refer our readers to former articles for our opinion. Not one of them would be elected by the people of Nevr Zealand. The Bank is at least well represented in this Council — what ever may be the case with the Colony. — His Excellency could not help himself, the Council has been called on an emergency, and he could only go by the old list of Magistrates, the three first of whom arc of necessity Members of Council, until a new list could be made out, and there has been no time for His Excellency to make a change.