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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

[Abridged from the Report and Comments of the Auckland Timer.'] Thursday, April 10. The Governor opened the business by giving the most positive assurances, brought by Mr. Meurant from the chiefs of the Waikato tribe, of their firm friendship and alliance in case of an affray. " Their sensitive minds had been much' grieved at our supposing the possibility of their infidelity to our bonds of friendship!" His Ex-, cellericy said all his information and correspondence was highly satisfactory. There were reports and rumours going about which it was a degradation to contradict He attached no importance to one in ten of them. All the natives in the neighbourhood were not only exceedingly quiet, but zealous in their friendship : the land arrangements had satisfied every murmur amongst them.

Mr. Heale was desirous of putting a question to his Excellency concerning the recently constructed fortifications. They would be perfectly useless and untenable if they were not provisioned. Much public anxiety prevailed on this subject.

The -Governor said there were " three months' provisions for two hundred and fifty men," and therefore quite sufficient for any temporary emergency ; there was abundance of water, or, if not, it was only necessary to dig for it.

[Nothing was said about firewood, of which, we are told, there is about as much in the Barracks as would make a moderate bundle of matches. — Ed.] His Excellency compared himself to a spider in his web, where he sat perpetually on the watch, with his susceptible lines of information spread out on every side in such a manner that it was impossible for any movement to escape his notice. [In reference to this splendid simile, we would ask his Excellency, while he thus dances securely on the tight "ropes" of his own weaving, whether he may not be deceived in the nature of some of the indications from his outposts ? Jndgiug from past experience, it is a position in which. " Bight and wrong so much resemble, That what lie takes for matchless skill Is only the first downward tremble Of judgment's balance into ill!" — Ed.] Martial law (he continued) could be called into operation in five minutes upon the Governor's command, at any time, and the resources of town and country pressed into the public service ; but he was sure that ample notice would arrive before any serious movement could take place.

Mr. Heale thanked the Governor for his explanation. The assurance that there were three months' provisions in the Barracks would tend greatly to allay those apprehensions which had prompted the inquiry. The Governor could not see any present danger ; and any extraordinary bustle of preparation was only calculated to excite alarm. Besides, a store of provisions was not to be bought without money, and he saw no present necessity for putting the Government to expense.

Mr. Whitaker could not agree with his Excellency, that instant preparation was calculated to excite alarm. On the contrary, he thought it the best means of allaying it.

The Attornby-Genkrax said that the outlay of money might be averted by building a store in the Barracks, and inviting the merchants who were holders of provisions to place them there for safe keeping in case of emergency.

The Governor saw no necessity for such a course. It would take fourteen days at least to build such a place.

Mr. Heale said that the time required for such a purpose was just the reason why it should not be delayed. It would always be useful hereafter, except indeed that the Barracks had been built where they were quite out of place. They ought to cover the town and cut it off from the country. In their present position they were quite as likely to injure the town as to protect it.

The Governor agreed with the latter remark, and said that ground in a proper position had been reserved for future fortifications.

The Colonial Treasurer thought the Attor-ney-General's suggestion worthy of consideration, in case of an insidious attempt to fire the town. The provisions would thus be secure.

The Governor said salt pork and flour were not very combustible, and he did not attach much value to the argument.

Mr. Heale rejoined, it was not the combustibility of the pork, but the wooden buildings that contained it, that were to be thought of. If the houses were to be burnt, even though the goods be metal instead of pork it would destroy them.

Mr. Whitakbr had yet another question to ask, if his Excellency would give him leave. It ■was generally understood that the North Star was ordered for China. If their security was so complete as his Excellency represented it to be, why did Sir Everard Home linger here ? Was he detained by his Excellency's desire ? ' Would their security be complete in his absence ?

The Governor said the North Star was in these seas for the general protection of British life and interests. Sir Everard Home would stay or depart as the Governor of this or any other colony might represent the necessity. " I am sure," he added, •• he would not leave here till I cordially consent. We have a strong force here now, and a reinforcement it expected ; but if the ships of war are sent away now, I shall not have that confidence, in our safety which I have so boldly expressed."

The subject was dropped here, and the Council proceeded to a discussion upon the new debentures, as suggested by Lord Stanley.

[The Council adopted, of course, at the suggestion of the Governor, all the commands of Lord Stanley's despatch, which we have already published and remarked upon, the result of which is to charge upon the colony a funded debt, bearing 8 per cent, interest, and making this demand the earliest and most imperative upon the colonial funds. We cannot, however, for the life of us, conceive what, in the present state of the colony, the happy holders of £50 debentures will be able to do with them. They are not to be a legal tender in the colony, they are not to be payable at home; and the precise period of their redemption ii not of course anything lets than perfectly indefinite in the present state of New Zealand. They will therefore be only serviceable to such usurers

in the colony as hare the means and inclination to buy them up at their own price ; for of course they will not be available as a means of remittance or foreign payment. Alas ! alas ! what bewilderment we are surrounded by 1 Domestic safety — escape from starvation — the establishnent of peaceful law— redemption from enormous taxation ; all these, and a thousand other blessings which a well conducted Government affords, are locked up from our possession. In the meanwhile we are called upon to turn soldiers — all and every one, and sacrifice our lives ior the name and fame — for the laws and logic — of the everlasting fools in the House of Commons and elsewhere, who dabble in our affairs only to disfigure them with their filthy and foolish troubled watefs. This is strong language ; but there is not a soul in the place, except Captain Fitzßoy and his Dragoman, that does not (some loudly, some sotto voce) utter it. Mr. Heale had the merit of standing alone upon the division of the Council upon the subject of these diaphanous debentures — these shapeless and shadowless securities. A very Kttle time will serve to show his forethought and the reckless inconsideration of the rest of the Council. The Council then amused themselves with the folly of playing at legislation about Turnpike Bills, the appropriation of fines in assault cases, and other absurdities.—Ed.] The Council then adjourned. Saturday, AfcßtL 12. His Excellency explained a mistake he had made, about the provisions in the Barracks, on Thursday last. There were no provisions ! When he wrote for the troops he desired they might bring down three months' supplies with them, and he thought of course they had done so ; but it appeared, for some reason which he could not explain, they had not come. [Probably Sir George Gipps generously thought it might serve the trade of the place to have to supply the troops. — Ed.] His Excellency continued — He would set about erecting a storehouse and creating a supply in the Barracks forthwith. Thus reversing every word he said two days before.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NENZC18450607.2.15

Bibliographic details

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 170, 7 June 1845, Page 56

Word Count
1,399

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 170, 7 June 1845, Page 56

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 170, 7 June 1845, Page 56