THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON, MAY 4, 1844.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, 4 May 1844, Page 34

THE NELSON EXAMINER. NELSON, MAY 4, 1844.

Lea jouraaiifc deviennent plus n&esuires & meture que lea hommea aont plus igaux, et 1' isdividualiune plua a craindre. Cc terait diminuer leur importance que de croire qu* ili ne urrent qu' a garantir la liberty : Ua maintiennent la civilisation.

Di TocaucviLU. De la Democratic en Amerique, tome 4, p. 220. Journals become more neceiitry m men become more equal, and indiridoaliim more to be feared. It would lie to underrate their importance to inppoie that they aerre only to secure liberty : they maintain civilization. Da TocaußyiLLK. Of Democracy m America, vol . 4, p. 203.

We are happy to inform our readers that a Petition to the British House of Commons, complaining of the manner in which his Excellency Captain Fitz Roy has disposed of the Wairau Massacre, is now in the course of signature in this settlement.

The petition commences with, a brief statement of what passed at Waikanai between the Governor and the natives, as detailed in the official narrative of the transaction. It then adverts to the impropriety of his Excellency's single opinion being put in the place of a regular investigation and decision of a court of law. It points out a remarkable discrepancy between Lord John Russell's view of the application of British law to the natives and the opinion on that subject avowed by Captain Fitz Roy. It states the conviction of the petitioners that bis Excellency's mind was made up before he went to Waikanai or had heard both aides ; and it protests against his conference with Rauparaha being regarded as a solemn investigation by a competent tribunal. It also adverts to Mr. Shortland's written promise " that the matter should not be prejudged, that impartial justice should be done^ and that the penalties of the law, should overtake the guilty ;" which promise it alleges has not been fulfilled. It disclaims any revengeful feelings against the natives — repels the insidious and wicked charge of the settlers having brought on the calamity by ill treatment of the natives — and, Anally, it prays thf House to move ber Majesty to express her disapprobation of the course pursued by his Excellency.

"We confidently anticipate that this petition will be very numerously and respectably signed. When the news of bis Excellency *• f^bceedings at Waikanai reached NelaoßtJre tieard but one opinion on the

subject expressed by all classes, and that was an opinion of strong disapprobation. Those who felt most strongly on the subject proposed that a public meeting should be immediately held, for the purpose of preparing a petition to the effect of that now before us ; but a fear lest the indignation of some should give vent to expressions of passion suggested a more prudential course ; and the ardent, yielding "to the entreaty of the cautious, agreed to the petition being' prepared in private, confident that it would, express the public sentiment, and be adopted by the public when laid before it.

The petition has been so moderately and cautiously worded, that not the most timid can object to it on the score of violence, nor the most devoted worshipper of constituted authorities on the score of disrespect. We have, however, heard regret expressed by one settler that a petition should have been resorted to, on the ground that it tends to keep up excitement on the subject without much real hope of redress. What hope of redress there may be we cannot undertake to say ; but, as far as our own feelings are concerned, the petition will do more to quiet our mind than to excite it. If we allowed his Excellency's decision to pass unnoticed, our silence might fairly be interpreted as acquiescence in its justice, and we should never cease to feel that we had been traitors to the memory of our friends. But when we have petitioned Parliament, we have discharged our last duty towards those friends — we have done all we can do — we leave the result to Him who holds the balance of eternal justice — and with that honest consciousness we can afford to let the matter rest for the future.

There is also an opinion (a feeling perhaps we should rather say) entertained by some, that any expression of dissatisfaction with the acts of his Excellency will stimulate him to the destruction, or at least to the injury or neglect, of the settlement. The idea is little complimentary to the integrity of his Excellency, and little indicative of any confidence in him tin the part of those who are affected by it. If his Excellency have a spark of the generosity of the English sailor about him, he will be the foremost to respect a manly opposition to himself on a point of touching interest to his opponents ; and nothing would be less likely to win his paternal regard for our settlement than an obsequious acquiescence in a course which he must be well aware not one independent man in the settlement approves.

" But if his Excellency should not have the generosity of an English sailor about him- — if he should resent our expression of disapprobation, and injure or neglect our settlement; here we are 15,000 miles from horne — what will become of our wives and children ?" A grave truly. But, if you put it upon that ground, ask your wife ; and, if she be a wife worth having, she will tell you to speak your mind like a MAN, and neither to fear governors nor consequences; for the women universally hate timidity in men. And as to your children, remember that the day will come when they will be asking you by the fireside about this Wairau matter; and when you have told them all about it, and how the Governor consigned the memory of your friends to disgrace, perhaps some little fellow, with native couvage (derived from his mother, and as yet unquenched by paternal policy), will ask you — " And what did you do, father, when the Governor acted so ?" You will have to tell him, " Fitz Rot frowned, and we were — silent 1"

Such of our settlers as belong to the Church of Scotland will be pleased to learn that the New Zealand Company has granted a stipend of £150 a-year for three years, for a clergyman for this district. This pleaskg intelligence is communicated by the Rev. J. Macfarlane in a letter to the editor of die New Zealand Gazette.

Our Catholic fellow settlers will be delighted to hear of the arrival in this settle-

ment of their respected Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Pompallier. His lordship and suite arrived here this morning from Akaroa, and has announced his attention of celebrating divine service to-morrow, at eleven o'clock, in the house lately occupied by Mr. Beit, Bridge Street. We have omitted hitherto to state that the Agent 'of the New Zealand Company has placed 'at the disposal of the Catholics of this settlement a small sum towards the erection of a school and chapel. _