Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealander, Volume XXI, Issue 2222, 13 September 1864, Page 2

THE « NEW-ZEALANDER” NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED DAILY. FROM the “imprint” at the end of this sheet it will be observed that the management of the Nbw-Zealandkr newspaper has passed into the hands of new owners. The late proprietor has reserved to himself no share in the property, but we, hope to merit from him, and from his numerous friends, a continuance of their confidence and friendly furtherance. Our friends and the public will reasonably expect from us, at such a juncture, some special exposition of our plans and principles. As to the latter, we have no palinode to pronounce, no recantation to record. We are not, nor shall we be, advocates of extreme views either on one side or another. As our sentiments are, so our policy and practice shall be, those of Moderation. But let us not be misunderstood. We do not admire, nor would we seek to adopt, a position of frigid neutrality. When rights are to be asserted, or wrongs to be redressed, the cause of truth and honor will find from us no cold-hearted standing aloof, but a cordial sympathy and advocacy. To whatever may seem really calculated to advance the interests of New Zealand, and especially of Auckland, we shall not be, we could not in the nature of things be, otherwise than keenly alive. The depression of Auckland would be our own depression ; its progress and improvement, which we fully anticipate, will be, we trust, a source of prosperity to ourselves. But still there is room and need for the abundant exercise of moderation. Even a good principle—and there are good principles on all sides of us—must not be pushed too far. An exclusive homage to one truth is found to be, in the actual constitution of human affairs, a virtual transgression of some others. It would be easy to derive, from existent relations in New Zealand, illustrations of the fact, that it is not a seemingly logical deduction from some one or two self-evident maxims, that elicits the most equitable and most eligible solution of a difficulty, but rather the effort of a practical sagacity, combined with an honest purpose. There is also an unceasing need for moderation in our feelings towards our fellow-citizens. It is human to err, says an old proverb; and in our estimation it is a golden rule, first, to remember that exaggerated opinions may spring from tolerably pure motives, and further, that however we may be inclined to deplore, in others or in ourselves, the waywardness of human infirmity, still it is idle to regard with intolerance the inevitable influences of prejudice We shall consider il our duty to exclude, as much as possible, from these columns the va.vasnt of biting personalities. Yerv rare are instances in which directly, personal denunciajns can subserve the public interest As to the politics of the past, it would be worse than useless to dwell upon unpractical subjects of difference. The present is manifestly a period ■of unexampled transition. Since the foundation of the Colony there has been no era so eventful, or so pregnant of momentous consequences, as have been the last two years. The great and unique diif.cully of New Zealand, that of our relations to the Maoris, has assumed a new phasis. We have avowed our opinion, that the responsibility of Native affairs, the onus of fully civilizing and legalizing the Native population, is still strictly an Imperial concern. The authorities at home are reluctant to recognize this explicitly, and we regret that they are so. The Imperial Government assumed the sovereignty of the Native race, and retained the sole management for more than twenty years. Not until the war with the insurgent tribes had actually commenced, did the Colony obtain or accept any control over our relations to the Maoris.' When a few thousands of Englishmen migrated hither, allured to “fresh fields and pastures new,” and attracted by the unmatched geniality and salubrity of this climate, it would have been idle to suppose that on these devolved the vast burden of the Native difficulty. As the Colony has increased and increases, these considerations have certainly a diminished application; but it ought always to be distinctly remembered, that until the commencement of this war,' the uncontrolled management of Native affairs was vested in ,the hands of the.lmperial Government and its local nominees and representatives. We do think that it would be only befitting the greatness of the British name, and in accordance with the peculiar history of this Colony, that the Native race should be thoroughly tranquillized apd organized before the withdrawal of the Imperial responsibility and control. When the due season shall arrive for this portion of the Imperial control and ; responsibility being withdrawn, we shall, by that time be prepared for the change. In the interest alike.of the colonists and the aborigines, and for the benefit ultimately of the United Kingdom itself, we cannot but think it desirable that these considerations should be kept in view. ' We have the utmost confidence, however, in the equity and magnanimity of the British nation and the Imperial Government; and we should always be disposed to cherish, not only a loyal allegiance to the Crown, but also a sincere deference to tbe national sentiments of Britain. We are all, of course, agreed in.grateful recognition of the liberal promptitude with which the Horae Government has succoured and sustained the Colony; nor is our gratitude the less because of our deeming it a duty incumbent on Britain to restrain, as well as protect, the Maori. It is a matter to be regretted, that so much misapprehension prevails, in the mother country, as to the feelings and motives of the colonists. The European population of New Zealand are not less reasonable arid liberal than any other British community whatsoever, —and the British, character Is happily noted for moderation and love of fair play; but by many at home we are supposed to be a people peculiarly violent and selfish. This undesirable misapprehension has partly, no doubt, been produced by calumnious misstatement ; it has partly arisen from a want of acquaintance with colonial affairs ; and it has been also occasioned, in no slight degree, by the circumstance that the voice of a clamorous few among ourselves has been taken to represent the many. It has been and it will be, our aim to co-operate in removing this misapprehension. The inter-provincial relations of New Zealand are by no means devoid of difficulty. The tvro impending questions that are in this respect the most important, are those of the seat of government and the adjustment of the representation in the Legislature. For some considerable time to come it must be exceedingly impolitic, if not impracticable, for the Governor and his Ministers io be far removed from the centre of the Maori population ; and this, among other considerations, points to Auckland as the fitting residence of his Excellency and his responsible advisers. We do not, however, attribute to this question the supreme importance that some seem inclined to attach to it. The Legislature of New Zealand does not pass many months of the year in session, and it has already been convoked in other parts of the Colony. The residence of his Excellency and his Ministers in Auckland is a distinction which we Aucklanders duly appreciate, but which is certainly not indispensable to our welfare and advancement. Assuredly we should not, for