New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1842.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 5, 16 August 1842, Page 2

New Zealand Colonist. TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1842.

The news from both Nelson and Taranaki is of a favourable character. In the former settlement, which lias now been established about ten months, not merely has the town been surveyed and given out, but 25,000 acres of accommodation land, or 500 sections of 50 acres each, has been surveyed, and are offered for selection. A hopeful spirit of activity appears to prevail in this younger community, which, by inspiring the settlers with confidence, and stimulating them by example, cannot fail to lead to the happiest results. In the latter settlement, also, the work of colonisation appears to be proceeding rapidly and prosperously, under the auspices of Mr Wicksteed ; who certainly seems to have amply justified the Company’s Principal Agent in appointing him to the office he now fills. We have the more pleasure in making this acknowledgment, because, at the time of his appointment, we were not without some doubts as to its expediency. It is, however, no more than justice to say, that, so far as we have yet heard, those doubts arc altogether removed.

We. perceive that there had been some disturbances with the natives in that place, which, however, by a prompt attention, and by a display of firmness, mingled' with timely concessions, have been so far quieted. This is no more than might have been anticipated, both as regards the conduct of the natives, and the facility of quieting them. The New Zealanders, with much natural intelligence; with many admirable characteristics ; and with a great capacity for improvement; arc still savages in all the essentials of their character. They are ignorant of our laws; ignorant of the extent, and

uninformed, as to the means, of enforcing' tlieir rights; they cannot look forward to the results of the mighty, and to them inexplicable.move-, ments, in which they arc of necessity involved; and, consequently, it must be expected that they should occasionally transgress the rules by which wc arc bound, and attempt to enforce unfounded pretensions by irregular and illegal methods, ftut this, as it can excite no suspicion, ought to awaken no resentment. Aggressions should be repressed ; injuries to persons and property should he punished; hut not indiscriminately, nor in a spirit of revenge. On the contrary, every effort should be made to convince them, by the practical results of our proceedings, that their advantage is sought, and will be secured; that their rights are recognised, and will be respected ; that the laws which punish will also protect them ; and that in every particular they are viewed as possessing rights as well defined and as sacred as those of the English settlers. They have intellect to understand, and moral sense to appreciate, such conduct. And the ultimate interests of both races will he best promoted by a spirit of forbearance ; which ought not to he difficult under the peculiar circumstances of our relative position.

Wc remember a quotation in one of the first publications of the New Zealand Company, in reference to this subject, which is so applicable, and embodies a philosophy so profound, and at the same time so practical, that we shall make no apology for introducing it here. It has often appeared to us, that some of those undcr'whose auspices it was first published, have occasionally forgotten, or at least departed from, its precepts. “ The path of ancient ordinance, though it winds, Is yet no devious way. Straight forward goes The lightning’s path, and straight the fearful-path Of the cannon ball; direct it flies, and rapid, Shattering that it may reach, and shattering what it reaches. My son, the road the human being travels, That on which blessing comes and goes, doth follow The river’s course, the valley’s playful windings, Comes round the corn-field and the hill of vines, Honoring the holy bounds of property ! And thus secure, though late, leads to its end.”

Our object, that of the peaceful and prosperous colonisation of this country, will not only be attained more securely, but even more rapidly, by the forbearance for which wc plead. Tempered with firmness, it has never yet failed; and wc have no apprehension that it ever will.

On Friday last, according to a notice which appeared in our last number, the Bishop of New Zealand landed at the Exchange, where he was received by a numerous and respectable body of the inhabitants of this place. The address, which had been agreed to at the public meeting was presented to him by Mr. Murphy, as the chairman and on behalf of the meeting. It was received and replied to by the right reverend prelate with much cordiality and courtesy, though he avowed temperately, but decidedly, his dissent from the principles which it embodied. We feel convinced, however, that his lordship would be the last person in New Zealand to violate consciously the principles of religious freedom, or to seek to introduce into the government of this Colony any law inconsistent with the freest exercise of the right of private judgment in matters of religion. As the address in question was agreed to and was designed to embody the sentiments of all persons in the community, to whatever Church they might belong, the members of the Church of England met on Saturday for the purpose of agreeing to an address which was presented to his lordship in the course of that day, and a copy of which will be found in our columns. This is as it should be. Those who are members of the Episcopal Establishment, by virtue of their union with it, hold certain peculiar principles, winch it is fitting that they should express upon a 1! appropriate occasions. Those beyond the pale of that Church, seeing in the arrangements made for its settlement and endowment in this Colony, the means of supplying the religious wants, and providing for the moral improvement of the community, came forward for the purpose of welcoming its introduction to this place, and of paying a tribute of respect to the distinguished individual who has been appointed its spiritual, head. It was to be anticipated that Dr. Selwyn could not fully concur in the principles which they avowed, any more than have concurred in an address to which members

of the Chuvch of England could leave unhesitatingly agreed. We respect his lordship for the manly and courteous avowal of his sentiments ; and we are equally assured that he must have been pleased with the cordial readiness manifested by all denominations, to hail his advent among them.

. Wc congratulate all persons in this Colony upon the pledge thus given for the maintenance of that spirit of mutual forbearance and of Christian charity which has hitherto existed among us.