PETITION OF THE SETTLERS OF NELSON,TO PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue VIII, 21 April 1849, Page 31

PETITION OF THE SETTLERS OF NELSON, TO PARLIAMENT.

The Petition of the undersigned inhabitants yernment, and the expediency of its immediate as unofficial nominees, they neither possess the of Nelson, New Zealand, showeth, introduction :— - public confidence in such capacity, nor do your That Your petitioners having, by a series of " I am not aware of any circumstances which petitioners believe that more than a very small , i ««.i«»;i« «,a*f montc n f thfl British Parliament j. eed then that "' Bfter dete r minin g foe electoral minority of them would have been elected to Jf^^y^^^^S^iq^MTmd districts and other matters of detail] prevent the sit as legislators under any form of Repreienby Letters Patent under the Royal Sign Manual immediate introduction of Representative Institu- tative Institutions, issued in pursuance thereof, and by several tions into that colony which would comprise the That his Excellency has intimated publicly published instructions from Ler Majesty's Prin. V***™**™ Cook '» Straits and the Middle in his Provincial Council, his intention of endpal Secretary of State for the Colonies to the ggj 2^%?^J?<ffE£^ deavouring to persuade her Majesty's adviser. Governor.in.Chief of New Zealand, had their recording it as my' opinion, that there never was J°A rin ? b ? fo re your honourable house a bill just and reasonable expectations excited, that a body of settlers to whom the power of local Rpnrfliientative Institutions were about to be at self-government could be more wisely and judi- f. 0 / 00 ? at tbe remote date of tour yean hence Representative insutuuona were aoous ro oe at cioUßly cntm!|ted( tbm the inhabitants of the set- [ lf . no unforeseen difficulties should occur), once introduced into the Southern Province of tlements to which lam alluding." beinf? the termination of that period during New Zealand, are now equally surprised and And even in the Northern settlements, he which the Constitution devised under the endisappointed to find that, notwithstanding the stated that he did not contemplate the post- actmentß of tbe Acfc of Parliament of 1846 is various pledges of the British Government and ponement of Representative Government for flUß P«nded, and during which period, as above tbeGovLorof the colony on the subject, the «^^^^^°^ "JJ. TntltZ^tl^ IJ^STSSSfS introduction of such institutions has been de- .yj^^^^^^^fjtf^' State for the Coloniea to be brought into operaferred by the latter for a period of several years ft "*?£?.; SSnl iSSJS Tmfc i^ P a ! f tion - B«*B «* considering the facility with which attheleast. That he has created in the Jean- K^SffiXJ^^^ time a set of Councils for the colony, consisting his Excellency Governor Grey selected three co' *".? '?". of J Gov ? nNatr t G l cy \ and 7 L?v solely of his own nominees, a form of govern- lonists well known for their advocacy of Repre- 7^}L^JT 2n A«T«r^t?l ment most repugnant to the feelings and B entative Institutions, and appointed them to 3T^^7^^^l.^w!l?2T opinions of your petitioners, and proved by all high offices, which involved their direct support ooff f the Secretary of State on Jfoe robje >„ o [the experience in New Zealand and elsewhere to be of his Government, by which act the public (and intermedli ? te form of Government to be adopted, eniirely inefficient for good government; and ?here is little reason to doubt, th&e officers 9^ that he proposes to obtain a legislative enactment also), were induced to believe that his Excel- even the solemn sanction of an Act of Parhaof Parliament, the effect of which will be the lency was about immediately to introduce mm * nt ' t i a^^JiS^^S^ establishment, for some years, of that inefficient Representative Institutions, if not in entire S7* -f ???- tXS2rISJS?in!E^ form of Government, and the postponement, conformity with the forms devised by the T^ti during that period, of Relative Institu. jg~—|«~^^ 'That your petitioners respectfully request the *E«Wl« InstituUons would be deferred attention of your honourable house to the fol- P Hi 8 Excellency also declined at the same time f or four year B at the least. Your petitioaere are Inwinrr facts which they conceive amount at • excellency aiso declined at tne same^time un able to feel the least confidence that they S^V&^^^S^thTffidih n intr ? dace n in j.° the Auckland Legislative might not§ at the termination of that period. Government that Rewesematfo InstituUons Councd any Ordinance for the appropriation of ar J on the suggestion of Governor Grey, or laovernraem, mac nepresentauve institutions tne R evenue , O n the express ground that as the an y RiirePßsor ha nostnoned for any indefinite should be immediately bestowed on your peti- Southern Settlements would have Councils of term They are dcS,u of express ?t£? tioners, and to an incontrovertible authority for their own before the exniratinn of th« finanrini • . Ibe y* re aeßiroua 9/ expressing tneir helievinff that the Southern nrovince of New ° i !? v c ?? lT! rlonr 10n °* l " 8 nnanciaj conviction, that only under Representative ZeXnd is rioe for B uch SitE" year { lt - vrou i d S Ot c fa ,! r .towardßih^.. towardB i h^. And institutions can any other than a me* epheZ^^riW6rS£?S by the %?ZT l^S^'S^'hwS P-alproeperity be attained by the colony, or its British Parliament by which her Maiesiv tha ? ? • uniorseen emergency, it was mdependence on the pecuniary aid of the parent **^<>™*™ on which that Council would eounV be hoped for? and they cannot but feel Npw Zealand into nrovinpPß nnfl to rrpat* V ■, .i i « • «. . , tna ' m t" e COUrse pursued by UOVenor htey ihJeiv rtntadn SJS^iSißm^i • border to enable the Governor-in. Chief to towardß them, their best feeling" have been ReSesentatvea ABBeiDbhe ' 1 and HH ° ÜBeS ° f introduce such modified Representative In B ti. trifled with, the B olemn pledges of tho British Intheßamevear her Maieitv in nursuance Mh l t ad r e I commended » the Act of Government been treated with levity, and the of thaabovTlc 3 ; 6 of vlSenl'i^TuZt Icf jTisT^dSl for right \ Of yy ° Ur P f tiOnCrS diß ; e « arde V ithout Patent under her sign manual, directing ex- gj a v 88 c e U a ; 888 8 2ns?\he^GoLnofwaS2 n s ?\he^GoLnofwaS tCehv e S even the excuse of any ground of expediency. nr«88lv that a House of Renresentativea should y j ' ? Governor was tnereby em- Your petitioners earnestly implore your forthwith b^^S^Medi^h^vtoS P^r^mthemeantimetointroduceProvmcia honourable house to interfere! and save them thJ^colonv (the sanS^ haSn^been dr r ected Cou " clIs ' iT I ?^,^ e f or in P art > of from that destruction of their liberties vhich is to be divided into tvso Drovinc? B > and in Sns members elected by lhe colomsts. threatened. And they make this appeal with S^^^rffaSe^S. Got n That at the time when his Excellsncy the confidence, because th> X know that their comwrnop in-fihief her M^f^rPrincinai Sprre Governor recommended the immediate intro- plaints are just. For it is undeniable that the Jar? of s2? for the^ EdSL^uSSftedTto duction of Representative Institutions, and form of Government they are placed under is, a *^?%^tJ%^y^^J& ?P- Sed hi f Ith 6 fit ? eM °J t the P^fect despotism; that they have no.ote or vene in introducing such Institutions which Southern colonists for them, senouß djstur- voice, or influence whatsoever, direct or ,ndi. material circumstances might not justify and bances were apprehended and dd shortly occur rect, in the framing of the laws or ordinances reauure aiau ™° ""»"■• """ J ul "«y """ among the native population m that part of the they are bound to obey; that they are ruled by On reeeint of ihe ahovfl T PtteM Patent and colony, and which might have afforded a ground the will of one man, and a small body of nomihSZSSS,%TtJ^^Q^S^ for declining a change in the form of govern- nees selected by him, and wholly irresponsible Phiif ?„ a Hemmteh Sd id Mac 1R47 ment » from one dlc tatonal and absolutely to the colonists. They are unconscious indeed by intimate? to tKecreUr^ r of State fcJ the d «P^» to one more popular in its form, what process they have been deprived of all ColoniS his conviction that the form of But these dlßtur bances were soon repressed, those reasonable privUeges, which by the British O^SJTM^Sddi^d^ the^ame a c nd ?no P"! od ha | 4 f ? 'ranquiUity of the Constitution are considered the birthright of tobTfOTthwitb^introduced w?s in some par! Southern province of this colony, and the every Englishman-by what speciea of arguticulan^unfitted for the coloTy! but suited barmon J of the two races mhabiUng the same, mentation they can be shown to have forfeited a modified form of Representative Government, a PP ear « d mo I re 1^ than £ V™™ 1 ' . even tbo . 8e rights which great and unquestioned as harmonizinff with his own views in the Hls ExcelleDc y» in tho montb of November authorities have long ago pronounced to be following words ' * a 8t ' havin £ summoned a Council of Nominees rights in nature, and founded on principles of i.Trt« w*w'.n« n »r. m i,vi,.t,.p».™ ft at Auckland, in the Northern province, con- natural and civil liberty. p^fiTSwKS^^of^^Sra -tmg solelyof Goverment officials and others y our pctitioD ers therefore pray, that your u\wS Ambers; the uaoSl members being resident m that place, propoaed for their con- Honourable House will be pleased to interfere in elected by the inhabitants of the colony, would wderaUon an ordinance, enabling him to create whatever way may be necessary to protect the viewing the peculiar circumstances of the colony, Provincial Legislative Councils, consisting ri gntß and liberties of your petitioners ;— to of New Zealand, particularly in .reference to the entirely of Government nominees. Such ordi- withhold your assent from any Bifr\introduced Native population, have beea that form of Go- nance was passed in much haste, and against into your honourable house which may have the vernment which for the present was best suited to the votes of the non-official nominees, and has effect of postponing the enjoyment of Reprethe: wants of the people, while I do think it would become law, subject to the disallowance of her Bentative Institutions by your petitioners, under not in any respect have been repugnant to their Majesty in council. t h e gu } 8e o f bestowing them at a remote period ; feelings." That his Excellency in attempting to obtain and to sanction no measure which may not In the^ month of October in the previous non-official nominees in this province, met provide for the immediate introduction of Reyear, in a despatch' addressed to Mr. Secretary with great difficulty in doing so, and though presentative Government into the Southern Gladstone, he thus spoke of the fitness of the he finally succeeded in obtaining six gentlemen Settlements of New Zealand. And your petiSouthern Settlements for Representative Go- in Wellington, and three at Nelson, to serve tioners, &c.

E. W. Stafford, J.P. Francis Jollie, J.P. W. Congreve, Bart. D. Sclandera.'J.P. F. Otterson, J.P. John W. Soxton, J.P. Samuel Sttpbens, J.P. C. B. Wither, J. P. Jarne* Mackay, J.P. Thomas Renwick, M.D. George White, J.P. John Nixon, J.P. Charles Empson Charles Christie Thomas Arnold Edward Jollie n. g. Morse G. W. Schroder Henry Bedboroutrh George ATRae A. Le Grand Campbell John Henry Cooper Charles Helling c. Dwhwood Daniel Moore Charles Elliott George F. Bush Richard M'Mahan H. Redwood, jun. James Poppleton Horn William Dickinson Robert Ross Bernard Gapper A. G. Jenkins David White William Jones James Gilford c. F. Watts Thomas Goodman William Burdett George Hooper Thomas Locke James Haycock Thomas Haycock Edward Bolton William Stanton John Fuller John Kerr Thomas Twwers Henry Brown James Randell John M'Artney John M'Artney, jun. Stephen Cloie William M 'Rao John Fowler William Kite John James William Hough James G. Freeman John Brown W. H. Eyes James Coote Andrew Malcolm J»mes Ranger Robert Hunter James G. Freeman, jun. William Small James T. Smith William Deat Thomas J. Thompson John Palmer George Watt John Fraser William Brown Thomas Price Henry Luna William Gordon Bell Thomas Roach Thomas Poole William Dale William Rayner Edward Baigent Alexander Fainter Benjamin Jackson Samuel Eres Thomas Sutton John Kidion Thomas Wilkins John Verry Richard Tutberry Samuel Jeffries John Newman j onn Livingstone Joseph Fisher John M'Donald Thomas Verry Richard Holyoake Jacob Batey Thomas Sutton David Jeffreys Reuben Bird Joseph Bungatc Charles Verry Robert M'Nab Richard Wallis James Kerr William Coppins Matthew Walker Henry Williams William Eves William Douglass , John Sheat David Kerr Henry Coombes J. P. Robinson James Coward Joseph Simmonds Samuel Mertey Samuel Biggs Thomas Price Alexander M'Gee Benjamin Crisp Duncan M'lntosh Thomas Newman Thomas Atkins Thomas Butler George Rutherford Edward Laney Thomas Tomkles Edward Wastney Robert Boddin'gton John Kenny William Holdaway BmanuelDew Charies Best Joseph Webb Edward Green Michael Maher F. Beckimn Samuel Bartlett James Bungate Henry Fowler Richard Sutcliffe John Humphrey Michael Maher, jun. C. H. Cox William O'Dwyer Richard Hammond Henry Hargreaves James Graham Thomas T idd John Curran Thomas Gaukrodger John O'Dwyer Thomas Eden ppeterp e ter Garrick Andrew M'Artney J. Dodson William WGo wan Thomas Doughty Joseph Newport Thomas Chapman Benjamin Powel George Smith Alfred Dodson James Hagan Thomas Berry Stephen Newport John Chapman John Parsons William Harvey William C. Hodgson Edwin Fowler William Brougham Walter Newport George Chapman Robert Turner H. C. Daniell Benjamin O. Hodgson William Higgins William Mew Benjamin Lusty J*<nes Rattan Nathan Harvey Thomas N. Trower Thomas Blanchett Simon Silcox Joseph Duncan Joseph Primmer Charles Walker William Batnett David Goodall J. P. Graham Joseph Morgan William Bear Andrew Paterson Richard Hart Charles Lucas John Ladd William M'Donald Henry Tunnicliffe Thomas Blick Thomas Roil Henry Ford William M'Donald Henry Jasper W. H. Watson Edward Rennell William Blick William Roil Charles Ford Daniel Moulder William Chant Lawrence Lyford Charles White Thomas Wells Isaac Gibbf Alexander Fisher " Alexander Hunter Richard Warner John Lyford Thomas Coleman Ssmuel W«IU John Young William Fisher jjoj ooon o h n Mercer William Hale Charles Lyford Samuel Badman Francis Groaby Thomas Brown Thomas Ovingdon John Scott S. Schumacher George M'Donald Edward Fairhall Francis Grooby, jun. Joseph Alder Michael Buschl Thomas Sullivan James Harper Benjamin Powell Edward Faiihall, jun. Edward Grooby Thomas Kite Henry Midgley EdwsTd Sullivan James Newport Thomas Hopgood John Slow George Grooby Benjamin Dixon William John Herrick William Kite George Bachelor Thomas Newman George Biggs John Clarke George Kiniett -William Andrewi William Taylor J. C. Karsten John Brewerton Edward Baigent, jun. George Clarke Charles Palmer Thomas Andrews Joseph White George Somect George Ratt Charles Gaukrodger Samuel Newport William Songer Thomas Coleman James Spittall William Page David Wooton John Norris Frederick Witherby Richard Lloyd James Hyde Charles Nichol John Coley William Moore John Gibbs Matthew little William Wilkie William Palmer Hugh Young JohnAtwood Richard TomUnson John Norris Samuel Carter Lawrence Devaney Charles Andrews Jabes Packer William Moorehouse Thomas Bachelor George Dodson John Cartw John O'Sollivan James Gibbs John Armstrong Thomas Bright Mark Newth Edward Noon John Thorn John Win Henry PurneU William Harding Henry Bright Mark Newth, jun. Andrew Crowdace Francis M'Donald William Win George Sharp James Winter H. H. Burton Charles Stratford JohnCatet O. Wales Lightband Richard Eden Sydney Higgins William Marsh William Wiggtel William Robinson Henry Garnett M. Wales Lightband James Curren James Spanton John Barnett John Clarke William Jcsiop John Garnett James Eppi William Snow Thomas Wagstaff Robert Burns Robert Newth John Atwood Charles Matthew Thomas Knapp Charles Gaukrodger John Horton John M'Donald William Nesbett John Paterson John Bartlett William Reid George Kemp Richard Seymour Charles Harley Charles Timms Henry Gill James Arnold Joseph Rothwell Andrew Crowdis Stephen Sharp Thomas Berry Jerri* Roughton ' Benjamin Gill James Dove Richard Rothwell Robert Hunter Edward Coleman Joseph Taylor William Ratt John Wastney Richard Hyland William Mushall William Pipe Charles Coleman Enoch Blick Charles Kearns William Gill H. W. Burt John M'lntoih William Lyne William Stallard John Burns George Holland William Thomas George Aikens William Taylor Henry Paap Samuel Alder Joseph White Isaac W. Hebberd John Hargreaves Henry Manisea Thomas Ljford.