THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, December 30, 1843.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 95, 30 December 1843, Page 378

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, December 30, 1843.

Les journaux deviennent plus ne'cesiairei a meiure que les hommei sont plus fegaux, et 1' mdividualisme plui a craindre. Cc aerait diminuer lour importance que de croire ?[u' ill ne lervent qu' a garantir la liberty : ill maintienoent a cmluation.

De TocauiviLLE. De la Democratic en Amerique, tome 4, p. 220. Journals become more neceuary v men become more equal, and individualwm more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to mppoie that they lerre only to secure liberty : they maintain civilization. Db ToCftUEVJLLE. Of Democracy in America, vol . 4, p. 309.

The expediency of the inhabitants of this settlement being prepared, on the arrival of the new Governor, to lay before him a statement of their wants, wishes, and opinions, was urged upon the readers of the Examiner so far back as April last. If at that period it was felt that the misgovern* ment or rather the no-government which had hitherto prevailed required from the community the deliberate preparation of a document which should firmly yet temperately express its sentiments on all matters affecting its interests, subsequent events have rendered such a measure an imperative duty. That Captain Fitzroy is already in Auckland, there can scarcely be a doubt. If, then, we would not be taken unprepared, something should be immediately done in the matter. The Wellington peog^e, more strongly impressed than ourselves with the truth of the adage, that " God helps those •who help themselves," have been actively engaged for some weeks in arranging and discussing the subjects which it may appear desirable to press upon the consideration of

the Governor when he shall visit their set-

tlement. Arrangements are also being made "to receive his Excellency in such a manner

as shall at once convince him that whatever feuds have existed between them and the individual displaced by his arrival, the in-

habitants of Wellington are disposed to place the fullest confidence in his wisdom and justice.

From an article in the New Zealand Gazette, we gather the following particulars of the preliminary steps which have been taken by our neighbours. A meeting had been held at the Exchange, at which several gentlemen submitted their views, and the business was concluded by appointing two of their number to prepare the draft of a memorial, to be submitted at an early period for public consideration. By this means it is hoped that something approaching to a unanimous expression of public opinion may be obtained, which cannot fail to have its effect. We subjoin a list of the subjects which have been suggested as worthy of a place in the memorial, and which are quite as important to us as to our friends on the other side of the Straits :—: — I. The Land Question. 11. The Extent to which New Zealand is a BaiTisH Colony. 111. Executive. 1. The appointment of a Resident. 2. The power and position of the unpaid Magistracy. 3. The necessity of the' Police Magistrate being poesessed of competent legal knowledge. 4. The justice of bestowing appointments on residents in preference to strangers. IV. The Revenue of Cook's Straits. 1. Mode of raising it. 2. Place where and objects upon which it should be expended. V. Agriculture and Stock. 1. The formation and maintenance of .roads. 2. An Impounding Act. 3. A Fencing Act. 4. A Diseases in Sheep and Cattle Act. 5. The present Distillation Act. VI. Commerce. 1. The bay whale fisheries. 2. Lights and beacons. 3. Insolvent Debtors Act. VII. The recent Alteration in the British Post Office Regulations. VIII. Legislative. 1. No bill affecting the interests of settlers in Cook's Straits to be introduced into the Council until it has been published a sufficient time to allow of its provisions being known.

The most important item in this list is unquestionably the Land Claims. Although the inconveniences we suffer from their non -settlement are not precisely the same as those which affect our fellow colonists of "Wellington, they nevertheless are very serious evils. Until the Land Claims are settled we shall be without a jury ; and the knowledge that crime goes unpunished cannot but tend to promote its increase. Another evil arising from the same cause is the opportunity afforded to dishonest tenants of avoiding the payment of rent. Nor should it be forgotten that to the same fruitful source of mischief may be attributed the irreparable loss we sustained at the Wairau^»[atiy of the other subjects enu-merated-wfee but little less important ; and it should Be borne in. mind that so favourable an opportunity 'of presenting them to the notice of the Governor may not again occur.

Aa will be a quarterly meeting of the members of the Institution on Monday next, we would suggest that the subject should then be considered. In the mean time, we call the attention of our readers to the following remarks, which they will no doubt recognise as an extract from our own columns : —

" It will not be very long before a new Governor will arrive in this colony, and upon his arrival it will be fitting — as under all circumstances it would, with us, be essential — to present some address, showing the state of feeling or opinion amongst us as regards many matters nearly concerning our interests. Until very lately, there have not been, unquestionably, the most friendly relations existing between the inhabitants of the New Zealand Company's settlements and the Colonial Government. It is to be hoped, however, that all this has already ceased ; that it will not be renewed ; that there will be no occasion for its renewal. Far be it from us to recommend any sacrifice of principle — to advise any half-and-half course. No : we Bbould wish to see a clear and decided tone adopted by our fellow-settlers with regard to all matters supposed to be at issue between themselves and too Government. That many things have been allowed to go wrong — that much has been mismanaged—that little, if anything, has been well managed, few, we think, will be hardy enough to deny; but all this, it is to be hoped, is passed ; and let us at least set the example of

showing that we" consider so. It is bad policy to begin by expressing doubt. It is wise to endeavour after a confidence in good faith until experience shall have set forth some probability of its non-existence. At the same time, the experience of the past is not to be rendered useless. Forgetfulness, in such matters, is not all a virtue, however benevolent. Looking at our position here, at that of the New Zealand Company at home in relation to the Government, it appears necessary that we should make up our minds to something, as to the tone to be adopted. Servile we do not expect our fellow-settlers to be; nor do we see any reason to expect a boldness which would pass the bounds of discretion : but it is desirable that in any address presented to the newly-arrived representative of Royalty, there should be found more worthy of remark than a due limitation to the neutral ground between insolence and servility. There are many things — and who is there so little interested to whom they do not present themselves? —on which it becomes us to express an opinion. Little as some may suppose any such communication would affect the actions or the policy of any Colonial Governor, still it is due to ourselves, as we entertain opinions, to express them openly and honestly ; and it is to be hoped that with an open and honest mind they will have their due weight, and will at least draw attention to the subject, and induce consideration of the matters to which they may relate. Prevented, by the circumstance of our so recent settlement, from being a body regularly represented in the Legislature, which nevertheless enacts for us laws, which, as good subjects and good men, we feel ourselves bound to obey, it is not to be believed but that some weight will be attached to a firm, decided, and respectful expression of opinion by us. And in conclusion — throwing out these, the vaguest hints* upon which it appears to us it would become others to act — we would remind all that anything in the shape of ' Company' partisanship should be especially avoided. Whatever views we may entertain as to the sparring between the Directors of a Company and a Secretary of State for the Colonies, and the pettinesses which may creep into such when injudiciously made an ' encounter of wits/ rather than a discussion of merits, it does not become us to allow these things of a day to interfere with our exercise of what judgment we have, in matters that so nearly concern us, with the legitimate and constitutional expression of our wants, our wishes, and our opinions. It is as a community of British subjects that we shall have to address his Excellency when he does arrive; and it is as such that we would have our fellow settlers prepared to speak and to act."