HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE. [From the Spectator, Jan. 4.]

New Zealander, Volume I, Issue 10, 9 August 1845, Page 4

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMITTEE. [From the Spectator, Jan. 4.]

On the evening of the 26th April, 1844, the day when the proposal made by the Directors in their ] 2th Report to appeal to the Legislature, was approved of by the shareholders of the New Zealand Company. —Mr. Aglionby moved in the House of Commons for a Committee " to " inquire into the state of the Colony of New " Zealand, and into the proceedings of the New " Zealand Company; and to report their opinion " theieupon to the House " This motion passed without opposition. I. Composition or the Committee.— The Committee was composed of fifteen Members ; Lord Francis Egerton, Mr. George Wm. Hope,* Mr. Cardwell, Mr. IlobeitClive, Sir Ri Inglis, Mr. Cbarteris, Sir John Hanmer, Mr. M. Milnes, Viscount Jocelyn, Mr. Wilson Patten, Mr. Roebuck, Viscount Howick, Mr. Hawes, "Viscount Ebrington, and Mr. Aglionby. The only Member of Committee connected with the New Zealand Company was the last. Mr. Hope, the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, represented the Colonial Office; along with Mi. Cardwell, substituted at his request for Mr. Lascelles, an independent MinUteualist. The first ten on the list are habitual supporters of the present ministry. Mr. Roebuck had, not long before the appointment of the Committee, expressed in the House of Commons opinions unfavourable to all colonizing companies. Lord Howick had taken a part in the transactions between the New Zealand Association and Ministers in 1838, on which the Association, thinking they bad reason to complain, had often animadverted severely. The Committee held their first sitting on the 21st May, their last on the 23rd July. During that time they examined thirteen witnesses, —the notes of evidence appended to their report, occupy 252 pages. The) had also received a mass of documents, which form a closely printed Appendix of 746 pages. This was not all: from refeiences m the Report —and indeed from the incomplete and supplementary character of some classes of the documents laid before the Committee—it appears that the whole of the Parliamentaiy papers relative to New Zealand since 1838 were regarded as forming part of the evidence. 11. The Witnessks.-*- The gentlemen orally examined m ere,— 1. Lieutenant M'Donnel, the most extensive cultivator on the Hokiangaj'a representative of Hie old settlers, before the prospect of New Zealand being recognized as a British colony attracted the flood of land-sharks which afterwards set in from Sidney. 2 Mr Walter Brodie, an intelligent and enterprising se/tler at the Bay of Islands; a representative of the same class as Lieutenant M'Donnel. 3. Mr. Fiedeiick Alonzo Carrington, a gentleman who went to New Zealand as sutve^or to the New Plymouth Company, and, when it merged into the New Zealand Company, passed into the sei vice of the latter body j was discharged vi hen the Company found it necessary to nariow its operations j and thinks he has reason to complain of the treatment he has received at the hands of the Company. 4. Mr. George Butler Earp, member of a Liverpool commercial house, which has establishments at Wellington and Valparaiso ; who has resided in the colony, was at onetime 1 a member of Governor Hobson's Council, and is! manager of a line of packets to New Zealand.! 5. Mr. James Coutls Crawford, son in law of j Admiial Dundas : a claimant of land in Cook's Sttaits ; who resided some time in New Zealand, ami returned thither about a month ago. 6. Mr. Charleb Henry Kettle, who went to New Zealand as clerk to a commercial house ; was extensively employed as u surveyor by the New Zealand Company; was discharged at the same time as Mr. Carrington, on account of the reduction of the Compaq's establishment; and was attached to the INew Edinburgh colon}, until that enteiprise was superseded. 7. Mr. Francis Alexander Molesworth, brother of Sir William Molosworth; an extensive proprietor, and the most enterprising and successful cultivator at Wellington. 8. Captain John Robertson, master of a merchant vessel, who has made many voyages to New Zealand. 9. Captain John Henry Wilson, on the East India Company's retired list; who visited New Zealand with the intention oi settling, but found the country did not suit him 1. 10. Mr. Theophilus Heale, a settler at Auckland. 11. Lieutenant James Sedgv\ick Lean, R.N., Supeiintendent of Emigration under the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners. 12 & 13. Mr. Theophilus Child and Lieutenant Wood, gentlemen who have pur-i chased land from the Company, and after going out to New Zealand, have returned dissatisfied w Hh the Company. Mr. Gordon Gardner, of the Colonial Office, also appeared before the Committee, but only to produce papeis. 1. The evidence of Lieutenant M'Donnell relates exclusively to the character of the harbours of Hokiungu and Khipara, and the surrounding country, and the condition of the settlers bel'oie and since the establishment of a British government in New Zealand. He gave a striking account of the delay and expense of the Court of Land Claims, and the unjust and exorbitant claims suggested to the natives by its proceedings. Lieut. M'Donnell summed up his opinion of the past and present state of the district with which he is connected, in the emphatic words,—" Since it became annexed to tiie British Crown, it has retrogaded most miserably." 2. Mr. Brodie pui chased land at the Bay of Islands in 1^39 ; but his range of peisonal observation has been mote extensive than that of Lieut. M'Donnell : he is well acquainted both! with Auckland and Wellington. A great deal of information respecting the natuial capabilities of the North Island was elicited from him. Mr. Brodies object in pin chasing land was to obtain posses&ion of a copper mine on it. Mr. Brodie is of opinion that in the Northern Island not one acre in a thousand is cultivated. Heatttibutes the wat and bloodshed in the North to the injudicious course pursued by the Protector of Aborigines. He stated, that even in the cas>es of landclaiins decided by the Commissioners, no grants had yet been issued; and that consequently no one la\s out capital on land. He attributed the misgovernment of the colon) to Mr, Shot Hand,

detailed the land jobbing practices of that gen- j tleman ; and explained the transaction in which Mr. Clendon disposed of the site of Russell to Governor Hobson. Mr. Brodie brought forward j some strong examples of the levity with which the natives violate their engagements when they believe they can benefit themselves by so doing, and of the partiality towards the natives evinced by the Commissioners. The natives, he says, were on excellent terms with the settleis before Governor Hobson's arrival } but their relations to them has since been quite altered. The Crown could have obtained the cession of waste lands for a trifle, at first ; but the policy adopted by the Local Government appears to Mr. Brodie to have rendered that impracticable now. 3. From Mnt Carriugton a great deal of information was obtained relative to the natuial capabilities of the New Plymouth district, the efforts of the settlers, and the state of affairs in that settlement. He too believes that Government could at one time have settled the land-claims at a trifling expense; now, from the protraction of the dispute, he thinks the prices required would be enormous. Mr Carriugton approves of the plan of giving an interim title to the Company, the plan which Lord Stanley promised should be adopted, but which Governor Filztoy has> refused to act upon. Great part of Mr. Car- 1 ringtou's evidence was taken up with eliminations of the Company ; but the effect of his statements on this hf ad were entirely inodifieil and shaken by cross-examination. He admitted that i he " felt sore" on account of his dismissal ; and that after applying to the Directors in vain, he went and gave information to the Land and Emigration Commissioners — " not with any ill-feeling or wish to injure the Company, it was sunpl) with the purpose of getting an appointment." 4. The examination of Mr. George B. Earp, lasted three dajs. The first was devoted almost exclusively to an exposition of the agricultural and mineral resources of New Zealand, and the commercial advantages of its position. Mr. Earp's statement on tuese topics ate characterized at once by largeness of comprehension and minuteness of detail ; they are obviousl) the evidence of a man who has enjoyed a libe/al education, had some practical experience of trade, and turned his opportuuities ot observation in New Zealand to the best account. The second da}'s examination bore on the temper of the natives, the state and prospects of the settlers, and the policy of the Local Government. To these points Mr. Harp spoke as one who had shared in the early stiuggles of the Port Nicholson settlers; aiid had learned from his position at Auckland, as a member of the Governor's Council to look at the affairs of the colony from a commanding point of view, and to appreciate the policy of Government from opportunities of personal observation. Mr. Earp concuts with j Messrs. M'Donnell and Brodie, as to the effect I produced by the expense and delays of the Court of Claims, in parading the efforts of thesetllers, j and awaking a hostile and exacting disposition towards them among the natives ; as to the large share which the injudcious policy of the Piotector of Aborigines has had in Stirling up native wais; and us 10 the deep implication of the leading officers of Government in land jobbing. More information was obtained from Mr. Ea»p [ than from any other witness respecting the disputes of the Wellington settlers with Rauparha, Rangihaeta, and other chiefs, and the agency of Mr. Clarke in originating those disputes. 5. Mr. Crawford purchased land from the natives, and some from a purchaser from the Company. His> claim of purchase from the natives has been a year before the Commissioner; it is unopposed, but no decision has been yet pronounced on it. Mr. Crawford gave the Committee much information respecting the numbers of the natives, their views of land -rights and transfers of land, and the titles acquired from natives previous to the establishment of British authority. He was at Port Nicholson when the first body of emigrants arrived, and also when Mr. Shorthand arrived Before the latter arrived the most perfect harmony and good fueling ex isted between the two races; the natives were principally employed in building houses for the whites, for remuneration. But " they ran about the beach when Lieutenant Shortland came down, crying out that the Queen was coming to drive the Company's white men into the hills " " There was a feeling of hostility towards the settlers on the part of Mr. Shortland, and followed up by the subordinates who were with him : this taught the natives to treat the set tiers with contempt." " The natives of New Zealand are, like all semi -harbai fans, an exceeding greedy race ; and if they nit; persuaded they can get more payment for any thing, they Mill try to get it. They soon got persuaded in this instance, they could get more pa\menf ; and in several instances when a white man tried to settle upon the land, they insisted upon a fresh payme/ii.-" 6. Mr. Kettle has travelled over much of the North Island, has learned the language, and has ( had much intercouise with the natives. There is about all his descriptions of the countr>, and its aboriginal inhabitants, the freshness of impressions derived from recent intercourse. His information respecting the extensive agricultural plains in the upper Manawatu, the Ruamahanga and the Wairarapa, in the Wellington district, is entirely new, and >cry valuable. Mr. Kettle described the aggressions of Kangihaeta and | Rauperaha, and of natives instigated by them, on I the settlers; the opening of the Couit of Land Claims, and its immediate effect of inducing the natives to advance claims unheard of before. 7. The most valuable part of the evidence of Mr. Molesworth, is his account of the capabilities of the soil, and of his own successful efforts to bring it into cultivation, At the close of his first da) *s examination, (30th June,) the following resolution was moved hj Mr. Koebnck, and j adopted, nem. con. — "That the Committee does not consider it necessary to receive any further evidence as to the natural lesouices of the Islands of New Zealand:" 8. Mr. Robertson said, " Port Nicholson, I think, from its central position in the islands, has a decided superiority over most of the harbouis in New Zealand: independent of its po- . sition, a belter could not be found." The voyage from Port Nicholson to Auckland is only a few hours shorter than from Poit Nicholson to

the Bay of Islands. The 1 average voyage from Port Nicholson to Auckland is twelve days. The communication between Port Nicholson and all harbours in Cook's Straits may be made in a few days or hours. Wellington is more convenient than any harbour in New Zealand for vessels < allmg at on their way from Sydney to England. The Straits are a little out of the way of vessels, from Sydney to England, but vessels from Hob ut Town and Port Philip would find a decided advantage in passing through them. Capt. Robertson does not think much of the harbours of the Bay of Inlands* 9. Captain Wilson contributes some valuable information respecting the collision at the Wairau. He was on board the Government brig which conveyed the ill- fated expedition from Nelson to Cloudy Bay. His evidence leaves not the shadow of a doubt that the murder of Captain Wakefield had been premeditated by Rauperaha and RangihaeaU; and that the quarrel at tlie Wairau was only made the pretext for effecting it. 10. Mr. Heale's evidence related to the views of the natives about Auckland respecting propert) in land. He admitted that his information was second-hand, from his partner, Mr. White, formerly a Wesleyan Missionary, discharged by the Mission for land sharking. Speaking on his own observation, Mr. Heale states, that the effect of the Waitangi treaty- has been to prevent Government from getting a good title to lands, to excite exaggerated expectations of gain in the minds of the natives, and to make them discontented. 11. Lieutenant Lean was appointed by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, in London, to superintend the emigration conducted by the New Zealand Company. Of the Company he said, — " On all occasions they have attended to every suggestion I have offered, and I have been "happy to co-operate with them in the way I have done. 1 ' And again, "I cannot speak too highly of the manner in which the ships hav 1 been fitted ; and I have been perfectly satisfied with the provisions supplied to them, and with their conduct and arrangements iii every respect." 12. Mr. Child resides at Halifax ; he thought he could give information to the Committee which they could not procure from others. He sent a statement to a friend, which was communicated to the Colonial Office: he was sent for to the Colonial Office, and shown the evidence of Messrs. Earp and Kettle, on which he made notes. He differs in opinion from those gentlemen on many points. Mr. Child states, that the proceedings in the Court of Laud claims, at Port Nicholson have instigated the natives to make fresh demands, — demands so exorbitant that the Commissioner was obliged to control them ; that the constitution of the Court is bad, its proceedings dilatory, and encumbeted with judicial forms not understood by the natives ; and that the proceedings were not calculaied to produce harmony between the English and 4he natives. 12 Lieutenaut Wood re-asserted statements he had published in a pamphlet on New Zealand a year ago. He is of opinion that the conduct of Government in regard to the native question, has hindered the prosperity of the Colony. 111. Documents. —. A great proportion of the documents printed in the Appendix to the Committee's Reports consists of supplementary additions to the official correspondence, and financial accounts relating to New Zealand, published by order of Parliament at intervals, during the last four or five years. The Twelfth Repoi t of the Directors of the New Zealand Company is leprinted entire, with liberal selections from the documents contained in its Appendix. The first document presented to the Committee from the Colonial Office was a "Memorandum" on this Report, exculpatoiy of the Office and inculpatory of the Company. (Appendix, No 1.) In reply to this,a Counter -Memorandum (Appendix No. X.) was lodged by the Directors: and towards tne close of the Committee's investigation, a "Statement" (Appendix, No. XII.) was submitted on behalf of the Company. Appendix No. XIV. consists of the New Zealand Company* Accounts ; Nos. XV. and XXIII. of letters from Messis. Earp and Carrington, explanatory of their evidence; and No. XVI. a of a correspondence 1 between Mr. Somes, and Lord John Russell, in which Lord John explains the view he entei tains of his agreement of November, 1340. IV. The Decision of the Committee. The lesolutions adopted by the Committee, after carefully sciutinizing this 'enormous mass of evidence, speak for themselves : they are nineteen 'in number : of the nineteen originally proposed by the Chairman, twelve were adopted without modification ; two with slight modifications suggested by Lord Frances Egerton, which in nowise diminished their strength; and one with the omission of the name of the New Zealand Company to please Mr. Cdidwell. Three were' omitted ; and the only one remaining to be accounted for, was left out where first proposed to be inserted, and subsequently, on the motion of Lord Egerton, substituted in another place for one which was allowed to drop as unnecessary. Of the three resolutions moved by members of Committee, and adopted, which make up the original number of nineteen, one (proposed by Mr. Chaiteris) approves of the principles on which the New Zealand Company have acted ; and another, (by Lord F. Egerton; vindicates the 1 memory of Captain Aitlmr Wakefield, and his companions. Of the 25 counter resolutions proposed by Mr. Cardwell, not one was adopted ; not one of the alterations on the Chairman's resolutions proposed In Mr. Hupc was adopted; on one of them he stood alone, nine members of jthe Committee, even Mr. Cai dwell, voting against him. Though the majority of the Committee refused to adopt a lesofntinn proposed by the Clitiirm'dn, and a si : ilm resolution proposed subsequently by Mr. Millies, condemning the selection of Auckland as the site of Government, they also refused to adopt the substitute proposed by Nr. Hope, approving it.