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Correspondence.

(O^Our Coiictpondenoo columns being impartially open, wo arc not to 1)0 identified with any opinions c\prc3bed tlieiem.

To the Editor of the Soutliern Cross. Sm, — By the last mail I informed you of the report current here of General Eobert Wyneyard being likely to succeed Governor Browne as Governor of New Zealand. Mr. Walter Brodie, -who reported Wynyard's political proceedings to the Home Government in 1853 (July 26), has again written to the Colonial Office relative to the above appointment, a copy oE which I enclose. " To the Right Hon. Secretary of Slate for the Colonies. " Sm, — As a New Zealand Colonist of long standing, having resided in that Colony from 1839 to 1859, possessing an intimate knowledge of the Colony, of the native inhabitants as well as of the settlers ; having always taken an active part in public affairs, and being connected in the welfare of the country, from interest as well as from inclination — I feel it a duty which I owe to that country, to myself, as well as towards H. M. Government to address you concerning a statement which has been the round of the public print?, during the last few days, and from private parties, to the effect that the present Governor in that Colony, Colonel Gore Browne, is to be recalled, and General Robt, H. Wynyard, now at the Cape of Good Hope, formerly commander of the foices in New Zealand, (15 years) to be appointed Governor of that Colony in place of Governor Gore Browne. Under the present disturbed and very critical state of New Zealand, I can well suppose that that appointment must be a subject of great difficulty and anxiety to H.M. Government, and that their only wish and desire must be to appoint — m the expressive phrase of the day — the right man in the right place. Believing that H. M. Ministers are most earnestly sincere in this — I have no hesitation in saying in the most absolute language I can use, that General Wynyard is not only deficient in the necessary qualifications for such an office, but, by his former conduct in the Colony, has positively disqualified himself. I go so far as to say that his appointment at the piesent time would prove a most senous evil to the Colony, and I warn H.M. Government of it. I hope in good time — to save any such calamity, I send an accompanying letter addressed by me on July 27th, 1853, to the Colonial Office, and to Lord Harding, then commanding in chief on the occasion of the General— then Colonel Wynyard, while commanding the troops in New Zealand, and as being likely to become Governor of the Colony. Certainly a popular election for the Supenntendency of the province of Auckland at £800 a year, with one of the citizens, a Mr. W. Brown, of which paper the Colonial Office was furnished with at the time. That paper describes the origin and occasion of these political differences, which placed General Wynyard in complete antagonism with a very large number of its colonists, in fact divided the whole of the Northern Province into two parts. The election was carried on, on General Wynyard's side with a bitterness of spirit, and unscrupulousness of conduct un j paralleled in electioneering contests. The whole of that community weie for the first time called upon to take sides in the contest, and so complete was the division, that it exists but with little diminution to the present day. I think it unnecessary to allude more particularly to the old matters than to say that the bitter hostility and party feeling engendeied by that contest, have not even yet subsided , and it meiely requires his i piesence in a Situation of power, to make it break out afiesh as strongly as ever. Geneial Wynyard then him&elf so utterly and entirely fell into the hands of the most reckless and unscrupulous partizans, and not merely during the preceding weeks, and for accomplishment of his election, but maintained the same conduct throughout the period of his residence in the Colony, this not, of course, to the tame active extent as during the heat of the election. He not only made no effort to conciliate those opposed to him, but refused or neglected to avail himself of proferred opportunities of reconciliation In a. woid, the same bitter party spirit was as gieat at the end of his caicer in 1858 as in ] 853 when it was commenced. To send Geneial Wynyaid out with these feelings &till rankling, and at a critical time like the present, when the best Governor will require the most coidial cooperation and assistance of all paities — indeed of every individual — could not but be most prejudicial, if not positively disasteious. It would be so with a Governor of undoubted tact and ability • but General Wynyard is not known to possess any such ; on the contrary, he is known to the colonists as completely wanting in any such mental qualifications, and as a Civil Governor, wholly deficient. I am safe enough in saying that a more objectionable appointment could haidly be made. I wish to say nothing against General Wynyard as a private individual, nor as to his military capacity, regarding which I do not profess to be a judge, at the same time under this critical juncture when military capacity is also of vast importance, I will not seek to avoid the conclusion that my other remarks point to, viz., that smce General Wynyard is so deficient as a Civil Governor, so neither in my opinion, can theie be expected from him much military tact ar.d sagacity. lie had been long in New Zealand, yet however, never showed that he possessed any knowledge of the natives, and of the peculiar treatment and management which they require. He was never known to have any ideas of his own on the subject In respect oE the natives, as of every thing else wheio knowledge of Government was required, he thiew himself entiiely into the hands of subordinates, nor had he the happy judgment of selecting these either from among the best informed or most leliable in the community. General Wynyard was interim Governor of New Zealand in 1854, when Eesponsible Government was discussed and attempted to be inaugurated, and the Colonial Office have documents in their possession showing his management on that occasion. He then put himself into the hands of Mr. Edwaid Gibbon Wakefield, which gave the gieatest offence, and the result was most disasterous ; a dispatch connected with these pioceedings was ■written by the Colonial Minister, commenting in terms of great disapprobation on Geneial Wynyaid's conduct. Without going into further partioulai3, I may only say geneially that a worse appointment could not be made. If so made, it will give great offence to a large portion of the colonists, particularly m the piovince of Auckland, where General Wynyard is more particularly known. I may add my belief that many of the colonists, (now hi London) will corroborate the assertions I have expressed, but on the othei hand theie are also several of General Wynyard's warmest partizans here, who may be expected generally to say something hi his favor, tho' I hardly think any one of them will go so far as to maintain that General Wynyard is the proper man for the occasion. There aie seveial here I feel suie, who would if necessary, give equally strong testimony against General Wynyard's fitness. At the same time, lam well aware that it i 3 so unpleasant a matter to oppose the appointment of any one by urging objections to it ; and so few havo the moral courage and inclination to do it, that 1 can well suppose it may be much easier to find settlers here willing to give a general assent to the appointment — bad as it may be — than it will be to find others inclined to come forward with the objections I have now made. Knowing them to be founded on tiuth however, I hesitate not to make them, and I have only to express my anxious hope that the appointment will not be made without due enquiry concerning them, and j without affording an opportunity — if need be — of substantiating them by other names and evidence, I may venture heie the name of one gentleman, who will, I have no doubt, corroborate these remarks, as he must bo known from the recordß of the Colonial Office. — I mean Mr. Win. Brown, the gentleman referred to in the enclosed printed letter, and subsequently elected Superintendent for the piwince of Auckland, after General Wynyard had been ordered to lesign that appointment. Mr. Brown had been toimeily a. member of the Legislative Council, appointed by Governor Fitzroy, subsequently by Governor Grey ; he was also a member of the House of Eepiesentatives under the present Constitution of the Colony. "1 have the honor to be, •'Sir, "Yourobdt. servt,, "Walter Brodie, " Late Member House of Representatives. " 15 Delamere Tenace, "Hyde Park, "Nov. 6, 1860." I cannot give you the printed letter, as I suppose you have many of them. Theie was a party heie proposing Wynyard, but Mr. Brodie hearing what was going on, wiote the above, which has completely token tho wind out of Wynyaid's friends bj.il heje, it is now all up with Governor Wynyavd, foi Governor for New Zealand. Our uavy will soon bd as strong, as tho navy of the whole woild. The Enipic i ot tho Tiench passed tlnough London two dayj ago for Scotland, on a long visit to tho Duke ot Hamilton. 'J ha Queon has ofteied fio limpiess of Austria her yacht, tho Victoria aid Albert, and the Oibouie, sciou, to convoy hoi iq

Madeira for her health. The former for the Empreu and her suite, the latter for her baggage. She will embark to-morrow. Napoleon 111 can not have an opinion that our itrengtheuing our nary, is for aggression to France, or why truit us with his wife ? we are even now powerful in our navy and no mittake. Palmerston and the "Times" are England's hope and security. Your obedient Servant,

To die Editor of ike Souffiern Cross. Sib, — T understand that a special service will be held on Sunday next, at 3 p m , at St Paul's Church for ihe consecration of a Bishop, and that, by orders of the Bishop of New Zealand, the audience are to be admitted by Tickets, issuable only to communicants of the Church of England. As a Member of that Church, and as a communicant, I must publicly express my *stoniskment at such a restriction being mode, and request to be informed whence his Lordship derives his power of making it. What right has Dr. Selwyn to dictate who shall, or shall not witness the ceremony of Consecration more than that of Ordination, Confirmation, or Baptism ' The baptism of an infant is, in the sight of God, a more important scene than the consecration of a Bishop, and if, in the case of the latter, a Bishop is to decide ■who shall witness it, what principle is to prevent him applying the same course to the former. If Dr. Selwyn were to perform on his own behalf in St. Paul's Church, the case would be different, but I must respectfully and firmly deny his right as a Bishop of the Church of England, to open a Church for one of its services, and, at the same time arbitiarily decide what shall be the test which qualifies a member of the Church to attend that service. At such a service, I emphatically deny the competence of the Bishop to decide who shall sit on his right hand, or on his left. I remain, Sir, yours, &c, A Member op the Church of England. Auckland, Feb. 20th, 1861.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18610222.2.12

Bibliographic details

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 22 February 1861, Page 3

Word Count
1,976

Correspondence. Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 22 February 1861, Page 3

Correspondence. Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 22 February 1861, Page 3

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