SEPARATION MOVEMENT—NORTHERN ASSOCIATION. THE AUCKLAND PETITION.

North Otago Times, Volume III, Issue 47, 12 January 1865, Page 3

SEPARATION MOVEMENT— NORTHERN ASSOCIATION. THE AUCKLAND PETITION.

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. The humble petition of the undersigned faithful and dutiful subjects of your Majesty, inhabitants of the province of Auckland, in the colony of New Zealand, ' Humbly Shbweth— % That the colony of New Zealand principally consists of two large islands, whereof the Northern Island contains about thircy-one millions of acre3, and the Southern Island about forty-six millions of acres. That as appears by last census, taken in 1858, the colony contained an aboriginal population of 56,049, of whom 53,056 inhabit the Northern Island and about 2,993 the Southern Island. That the Northern Island is at present divided into four provinces, of which the most northern, called the province of Auckland, contains the great bulk of the nati ve population, about forty thousand, and an European population about equal in number ; and has an area of about seventeen millions of acres, of which about fourteen millions still remain in the hands of the natives, under the ntitive title. That the circumstances of that portion of the colony which is inhabited by a large native population differ so essentially from those in which but a few nativ&j reside, that no Constitution, however carefullj' framed, can be equally suitable and satisfactory to both. That it has been recently declared by the unanimous vote of both Houses of the Genei.il Assembly, that the psesent system of Government, rendered necessary by the peculiar position of the Northern poi-tion of this colony, as respects the native population, "has resulted in divided counsels," which have been productive of great evils to both races of your Majesty's subjects in this colony, and have entailed heavy and xmnecessary expenditure both upon great Britain and New Zealand. That as regards the Southern poition of the colony, no reason exists why its inhabitants should not enjoy the fullbenefit of representative institutions and Responsible Government, without the interference of the Imperial Government in the management of its own internal affairs ; and this renders the inhabitants of that portion impatient to any limitation of the powers of self-govern-ment. That as regards the Northern portion of the colony, the employment of your Majesty's Imperial troops necessary for the suppression of internal disturbances, the preservation of peace, and the good government of the native race, justify the Imperial Government in excercising an efficient control over the policy pursued in the management of native affairs. That the natives have never yet had conferred upon them that which was guaranteed by their treaty with the British Crown. That your Majesty's petitioners are fully satisfied that the only practicable efficient remedy for the evils by which the colony is now afflicted is by the creation of a separate colony in the ls r orth, which will include within its limits the great bulk of the native population. Your Majesty^ petitioners therefore humbly pray that your Majesty, with the aid of your Majesty's Imperial Parliament, will be pleased to take such steps as will secure the separation of the province of Auckland from the Southern portions of the colony of New Zealand by itself or with such other portions of the Northern Island as may be deemed expedient,&c, &c.