HAWKE'S BAY HERALD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1862. THE RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF SIR GEORGE GREY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 332, 8 November 1862, Page 6

HAWKE'S BAY HERALD SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1862. THE RUMOURED RESIGNATION OF SIR GEORGE GREY.

A report has obtained extensive circulation in the Colony to the effect that Sir George Grey has tendered his resignation of — or, as one version has it, has been recalled from — the arduous post of Governor and pacificator of New Zealand. Like most rumours which fly freely about, it is impossible to trace its origin to any reliable source, and it may perhaps have no other foundation than the probability of such a course being adopted by His Excellency on receipt of the series of harsh despatches from His Grace the Duke of Newcastlejvhich were laid before the General Assembly immediately after the advent of the Domett Ministry, and which created no little sensation in the Colony. At that time we suggested (in commenting on the despatches in question) the possibility of His Excellency tendering his resignation of services so ungraciously received by the Minister for the Colonies, although we could not help being somewhat incredulous as to the bonajide character and intention of the official despatches : an incredulity which we find has been very prevalent — the general impression being that the despatches were intended as a rebuke to the Colonial Ministry and General Assembly rather than to the Governor, designed for the purpose of aiding His Excellency to apply a little pressure to refractory colonists ; in which case of course the key to the mystery would be privately furnished to His Excellency. •But even adopting this interpretation, it is likely that Sir George Grey might disapprove of a censure upon himself and his Government being published to the world, even although he should be privately informed that His Grace the Duke of Newcastle was only in joke ; and if His Excellency Bhould be disappointed with the reception he has met with from the ! Maories, and disheartened by the aspect of affairs and the obstinate disloyalty of a large section of the natives, — what more favorable opportunity of retiring with dignity from his post than that which has been afforded to him by the Duke of Newcastle ? Throughout the Colony the injustice of the Duke's reproof was universally admitted, and we have no doubt that, when the circumstances and despatches are made public at home, the same feeling will be displayed by those who study the subject ; for with whatever intention the despatches may have been written, it will be impossible for the Secretary for the Colonies to justify the very plain threats contained in them of leaving the Colony to take care of itself in a great measure, and get out as best it can of the difficulties in which it has become involved through the clumsy attempts made during a series of years to govern the Natives of New Zealand from Downing-street, which attempts His Grace was reluctantly obliged to confess had utterly failed, and would consequently be abandoned for the future.

But supposing that the rumour of Sir George Grey's resignation should be well founded, what will be the probable effect upon the Native question ? In the first place it will amount, we think, to a formal announcement that [the peace policy has failed ; for we do not believe His Excellency would allow any feeling of personal pique to induce him to abandon his efforts to save the natives from their own folly, and the Colony from the calamities of war, if he still entertained sanguine hopes that his policy would be successful. In the second place, a re-action might be looked for at home, and very likely a pressure might be applied to the Government which would either lead to the continuance of Sir George Grey at the head of the Colony, with a much more cordial support than he appears at present to receive from the Imperial authorities j or, if His Excellency should be permitted to retire, the difficulty of suitably filling his place in the emergency would suggest the necessity of a more liberal co-operation on the part of the Home Government, and the assumption of a more dignified attitude in treating with the natives. Throughout the native difficulty, the combinations among the natives have been less formidable evils than the divisions which have prevailed amongst ourselves, and the constant vacillations in our policy towards them.