[From the New Zealand Journal, July 28.]

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume VIII, 12 January 1850, Page 182

[From the New Zealand Journal, July 28.]

Our friends in the Colony will be pleased to receive by the ship now leaving England an account of the colonization banquet which has recently taken place at Greenwich. Men of all parties there united, not merely to express their opinion of the injustice done to the colonies, in withholding from them that voice in their own affairs to which their intelligence and prosperity, in spite of obstacles, entitle them ; but to express a determination that as far as in them lies this injustice shall continue no longer. Many who had intended to have been present at the banquet were prevented from coming by unavoidable engagements. These did not content themselves with the ordinary excuse, but without exception recorded their approbation of the objects of the meeting, thus giving to it the full force of their opinion, though personally absent. This will give the greatest possible encouragement to the settlers in New Zealand to proceed in their endeavours to emancipate themselves from the general thraldom. From the particular thraldom in which Sir George Grey has attempted to involve them, it is hardly worth their while to attempt to extricate themselves; his whole proceeding is regarded at home as petty and almost contemptible, the wonder being that a man who had gnined no slight reputation as a setter-to- rights of small communities, should risk that reputation by a series of little despotic measures which even Capt. Fitzroy would have had the wit to avoid. Let not the settlers, however, mind this. Governor Grey will have bis own battles to fight — they have theirs. If the colonies are true to themselves, emancipation. during the next session is certain, and the duties of a Colonial Governor will then be confined within their ligitimate sphere, that of the preservation of "peace, law, and order." But the colonies must not be idle ; they must themselves make an expression of their complaints and opinions— pointing out how, with reference to their own affairs, those complaints may be best remedied. The complaints of colonies now meet with much attention at home. The justice of their cause, the temperateness with which their opinions are expressed, the ability displayed in their remonstrances, have all at length had their effect A few more efforts of alike nature will end their struggles in a way worthy of their exertions. But these efforts must still be made. There is yet time even for so distant a colony as New Zealand to make its voice heard in the Senate, and of one thing the colonists may be assured, that their voice will be heard both with attention and respect.

If there iri one colonial feeling which pervades the House of Commons more than another, we believe it is that of regret that the ColoWy of New Zealand should have been so miserably deluded with reference to the free institutions which had not only been promised, hut actually given to it by a liberal minister. Without the shadow of a pretext these were withdrawn at the recommendation of Governor Sir George Grey. The Colonial Minister could not do otherwise than adopt his recommendations, ns coming from a man who had gained some 4clat from the energy which he had displayed in his new Government. Had Earl Grey not listened to his subordinate, any blame which might have arisen from the failure of his measures might have been n.ade to fall on his own shoulders. By succumbing to the Governor's dicta, the Colonial Minister has in a great measure divested himself of the responsibility. We will not reiterate the fulsome eulogies of the colonists which were penned by Sir George Grey in despatches intended to meet the public eye. Nor will we allude to the contents of those — penned almost at the same time — which were not intended to meet the public eye. Suffice it to say, that they contain statements diametrically opposed to each other, and which of the two have bfen acted upon is already known to our readers. But what must be Sir George Grey's real opinion of the men whom he thus lauded. What other inference can be drawn than that his judgment of his subjects was something of this nature — " the vain blockheads will be vastly tickled if I puff their intelligence and powers of self-government ; they will be none the wiser if I really recommend the Colonial Minister to act otherwise." We can well remember an instance of this nature, when our old friend Willoughby Shortland wrote a despatch to Lord Stanley, traducing the settlers and settlement of Wellington, at the same time markingMt " private and confidential." The blood of the'theifr Colonial Minister took fire at the insult of being placed in the confidence of a man who could act thus, and he at once published the despatch, the words " private and confidential" not omitted,— thus portraying the mind of the scribe in all its deformity. We cannot but wish that Earl Grey had served his correspondent after the same fashion.