THE PETITION TO PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IV, 22 November 1845, Page 150

THE PETITION TO PARLIAMENT.

The Petition for redress of grievances in general and the recal of Captain Fitzßoy in particular, which, from various unavoidable circumstances, has been so long in hand, is at last (thank God for all his mercies !) printed and ready for delivery.

Although at first sight it may seem a work of supererogation to be signing or sending a petition for an object which has in some measure been granted, a little reflection will, we think, show that the wisest course, in spite of all that has taken place, is for our fellow-settlers as unanimously as possible to complete the demonstration they intended to have made of their opinions and wishes on so many subjects affecting their interests. Captain Fitzßoy, it is true, is recalled ; one great evil, the root perhaps of a thousand evils, is thus torn up and thrown away. But it is to be remembered that though we are luckily certain of this fact, we are not quite so certain that the policy with which he has so ignominiously identified his name is to be as effectually eradicated and flung aside. True, from the hints given by the ministerial members of the house in the scraps of their speeches in the debate on New Zealand with which we have been tantalized, from the appointment of Captain Grey, and from his partially known opinions, we may hope the best. But there is no such absolute certainty on this point as precludes all necessity for any further exertion on our part, any expression of an opinion. At all events, while there is a possibility of doubt about the matter, it behoves the settlers not to throw away any part of the results they have been so long labouring for, from a feeling of supineness or indifference at the last moment. An expression of their opinion having been got ready and adopted by them, and no further trouble than the very trifling one of writing each man his name being now required to authenticate and give effect to this expression, it would be very absurd to refuse this small exertion, and let the opportunity go by of recording once for all their thorough condemnation of a policy so ruinous, and some remains of which may possibly yet be left to poison the principles and ruin the proceedings of a future and better Government. Captain Fitzßoy may have been recalled principally because of his absurd financial measures — his abolition and sudden restoration of Customs, his issue of small debentures and making them legal tender ; or because of his mismanagement of public lands, his penny-an-acre proclamation, and waiving^of the Queen's right of pre-emption ; or/ perhaps even because of the foolishness 6f 'iris despatches, and the want of solidity and of. common sense displayed in them:

these or many other..' causes may have operated to produce his fecal, much more actively than his miserable truckling to the Msoii&ai and his utter absorption by their interests and welfare, to the neglect and ruin of the whites. The great power of Exeter Hall is notorious and still existing, and. will be as indefatigable as ever on behalf of the same hateful policy, and in influencing that way the subordinates and hidden puppet-workers of the Colonial Office. And the miscalled philanthropical societies, stretching like some vast centipede from end to end of the land, will be working their hundred limbs in all directions, to stir up all the prejudice and bigotry on which they batten ; till the shoals of sectarian small-fry, spawned in the mudswamps of ignorance and conceit, begin to croak destruction to the Government that has dared to despise their rancour and their clamour, while they slime over with nauseous glorification their apostle and martyr Fitzßoy. Then it will be as well that some su;h record of the true facts of the case, authenticated as much as possible by the unanimous attestations of the inhabitants of the southern settlements of New Zealand, should be in existence and at hand, as one of the weapons, at least, however weak an one, with which this outbreak of malignity and hostility may be met and repelled. And when, as he most likely will, Captain Fitz Roy gets up in his place in the house, backed by the headlong Rouses and enthusiastic Jameses, with a grievous tale of illusage and some ingenious defence or apologetical explanation of his misdeeds and mistakes, it will certainly be as well that the members whose energy and zeal on behalf of the settlers have greatly caused his dismissal, should be provided with more incontrovertible evidence than newspaper reports or private letters of individuals could furnish them with of the truth of the charges they have made against him. He will attempt probably to explain away or put into a new light even those of his proceedings which he had acquainted Government with in his meagre despatches, and on the faith of which they most likely acted in getting rid of him. In any such case it will be of use to have the view taken unanimously by the settlers to answer and confront with his own. And such, it is presumed, is given in the Petition just finished.

But then a document so attested may have other uses not affected by the recal of Governor Fitzßoy. In recounting what we deemed injurious and destructive measures and proceedings, we by necessary inference show in some degree what we deem wholesome and beneficial ones. At any rate the document will show to Captain Grey what we would have avoided, what we think hurtful and unjust. And knowing what is not to be done is half way to knowing what is to be done. This document will let Captain Grey know the opinion of the great body of the settlers on very many points as to the past, and, if he think fit to attach any importance to that opinion, cannot fail to have some influence over him as to the future. It is, at the lowest, the negative part of that of which another address, such as has been proposed, would be the positive — the letting him fully know our wishes and desires. Further it may be useful as enabling him, with comparatively little trouble, to find out what the settlers think the truth respecting many affairs which will very likely be represented to him by interested persons in a very different light. It will tend to counteract false representations, and at least make him aware of both sides of the case.

Among the many things which the mere recal of Captain Fitzßoy leaves untouched, the many evils which that recal is no security for the future abatement of, are the composition and working of the Legislative Council ; the imperfectness and injustice of many of its ordinances ; the unfair expenditure of money as respects the Government settlement and the southern ones ; the dis-

tance of the capital, and the inconvenience thereby occasioned ; the uselessness of the Southern Superintendent, as far as remedying any" of these evils is concerned ; the selection of Government officers generally ; the injustice in respect of the land claims and issue of grants ; the influence of the settlers' arch-enemy Clarke; the absurdity of the Protectorate; and many others, which it has been endeavoured to state in the Petition, and which it is still quite necessary the settlers should record their unanimous protest against and unanimously demand redress of.

It is therefore the opinion of the committee empowered to draw up this Petition here, and of those of Wellington and New Plymouth who adopted it, that it should still be sent, and as numerously signed as possible. At New Plymouth it was adopted and signed after their receipt of the news of Captain Fitzßoy's recal ; and we learn 'from many sources that the opinion of the I Wellington people coincides with that of the Taranakians. In a letter before us, from one of those who fought most indefatigably and heartily in " the cause " (which may now be perhaps pronounced successful), while living at Nelson, the writer urges us "to get the Petition sent by the return of the Government brig, for the opinion here is that it is of as much importance as ever, and we should like the thing closed before Governor Grey's arrival." So all of you who have fought this good fight with us are to put fist to pen, and with name and surname in good round text, or sturdy crosses (quite as expressive), put on record your disapproval of Captain Fitz Roy's government of you, your approbation of the conduct of the Home Government in recalling him, and your own justification in having constantly opposed him.

Sheets of paper for signatures will lie at the following places :: — at the Bank, at the Examiner Office, and at Mr. Moore's, Bridge Street, Nelson ; at Mr. Kite's, Plough Tnn, Richmond ; Mr. Kerr's, Waimea West; and Mr. M'Rae's, Waimea South : and printed copies of the Petition may be had of the Committee, at Mr. Macshane's, at Mr. Mills's, at the office of this paper, and at Mr. Kerr's, Waimea West.