PETITIONS TO GOVERNMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, 5 October 1844, Page 2

PETITIONS TO GOVERNMENT.

We understand that the Petitions printed below are in course of signature in this settlement. We hope that all parties con* cerned will hasten to give them the weight of their names. To his Excellency Robert Fitz Rot, Captain in her Majesty's navy, &c. &c. &c, Governor of New Zealand. The humble Petition of the undersigned European settlers in the said colony Sheweth

That your petitioners have been informed that ft few weeks ago an armed body of aboriginal inhabitants of the Northern Island of New Zealand did unlawfully assemble themselves together and tumultuously and riotously did proceed to the town of Russell, in the Bay of Islands, and did there commit divers felonies and breaches of the peace, forcibly breaking into several houses, threatening the lives of the inhabitants, insulting the females, forcibly abstracting the wife of one Mr. Lord* killing the live stock with which they met, and otherwise misconducting themselves, whereby the inhabitants of the said town were greatly injured and kept in fear for their lives and property for a space of about eight and forty hours. That in the course of the said riotous proceed* ings certain of the said armed aborigines did eat down and destroy a certain flag-staff on which the flag of the British Government h»d theretofore been usually hoisted, using at the same tim« many expressions insulting to the honour of the British nation and derogatory to the dignity of her mo«k sacred Majesty the Queen our mistress. That on the inh&bitanU of the said town of Russell appealing to the resident Government officers, namely, a police magistrate and protector of aborigines, for aid, they were informed by those officers that they could not afford it, and that the inhabitants of Russell must bear patiently what was inflicted upon them by the "armed body of aborigines. That on your Excellency being informed of the above transaction your Excellency procured •

troop of soldiers from New South Wales, and, with the assistance of her Majesty's ship Hazard and other forces, did proceed to Russell to inquire into the matter. That the ringleaders of the riot did not make their appearance before your Excellency, but that one of them wrote a letter to your Excellency, stating that " his riotous habits were inherited from his father and mother, And that he had some thoughts of leaving off his b«d conduct towards Europeans." That your Excellency addressed others of the aborigines and pointed out to them the iniquity of their conduct; and in order to impress upon them the heinousness of their crimes in disturbing the peace of society, committing divers felonies, and insulting the British flag, your Excellency did require them to bring to you ten muskets, which they accordingly brought, and" which your Excellency immediately returned to them with expressions of commendation for their docility. That no judicial investigation has taken place, and that the above was all the punishment which your Excellency thought proper to inflict upon the riotous body of armed aborigines who had disturbed the peace of society, committed divers felonies, robbed a man of his wife, and insulted the British flag. That these same armed aborigines expressed great dissatisfaction with the fact of the port of Russell being subject (in common with every other port of New Zealand) to the Customs laws ; on which your Excellency, by way of further marking your" detestation of their recent crimes, did immediately proclaim Russell a free port, and direct that thenceforward it should be exempt from this burden, to which all the other ports of New Zealand are subject. That your petitioners do conscientiously believe that the lenient course pursued by your Excellency is calculated entirely to civilize the native race ; that the less their aggressions are resisted or punished the less frequent they will become ; and that the manner in which your Excellency passed, over the bloody massacre of the Wairau without subjecting its perpetrators to a judicial investigation h&s done much towards insuring the respect of the natives for British power and justice, and had no effect in inducing the aborigines to commit, the riotous acts referred to at Russell, although John Heke, the ringleader, is reported to have asserted the contrary. That your petitioners are weary of the bondage of civilization, its laws, its penalties, and its inexpressibles. That they earnestly covet immunity from punishment, exemption from British law, and the easy drapery of the blanket. That they beliete New Zealand to have been much happier before the face of the white maa was seen in it, and ttyat the sooner it returns to its pristine condition the better it will be for all its inhabitants. That your petitioners feel that they stand much in the way of a consummation so devoutly to be wished, but that they are anxious above all things to stand in its way no longer. That they are satisfied that if

the obstacle opposed by your petitioners were removed, your Excellency could and would in a very time do all that is needful to restore the colony to its original condition. Your petitioners therefore pray that your Excellency will be pleased forthwith to naturalize your petitioners ; and that laws and ordinances may be passed to exempt them from British law, to give them immunity from the penalties attached to their criminal acts, to enable them to participate in the advantages of the Protectorship department, to giveJhem a place in the sympathies of Exeter Hall, and to liberate all their ports from every species of tax and imposition. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c