Correspondence.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 10, 5 December 1863, Page 3

Correspondence.

« To the Editor ot tho New Zexlxsd Hrim:;. Sir,—Tho people of this Northern Island .-;" th.-: New Zealand group have again to ackuov. .'• ;.;.■, I. think with some little thautfulncss, the unmi:!;•..'.•able display of the ambition, vanity, and sehidin.-TS displayed on the part of some of tile gentlemen v.',r> have favoured our city by their attendance in tho General Assembly, instructing us in, and (::•.;.•..,' u ; leave yet a little while to manage our own nti-ihv for our own interests. These gentlemen emigrated from Grea: '})■;'< !a:':i under the auspices of' British formed co!;)!':m:..'-;, hoping no doubt like the American pioneers. ''■> f.':-.n for themselves not only A Home, but a separat .• S.:r.e. to be governed and managed for their ova ; ■■.,-. ri:.; benefit by themselves. No one can he surprised that they shoul '. fe'■' a disappointment when the Home Governm. ::•. iu :■■'■ cording to them the protection requisite < i v'u-ii-undertaking of forming n real power and stat*-. °> e:i.' found it necessary to retain the supreme pow. .-. 'I:,. pursuance of the necessary ascendency and . e.-u.i'y of the British Austral power in these sens inn i n.-.vi-sarily cause their settlements to become depe'i: 1. :.. .E.i under tho charge of the Government original.;,deputed to form the nucleus of such dominant po-.-...-r, which would choose therefore the mosteligibiep -.-it;.-:! for securing hoth the supremacy over the :•.;•:..: people and the occupation of those positions which should be the most desirable for its solid and permanent security. These companies having no local obstacles to i:\-i fercwitlitlieii-pursuKs.aiiaMidcdbyilioramWnedc::'..:-: ; of their influential co-partners in' Kujdand, could r. ' otherwise but obtain a very considerable advancen r. -, at an early period of local prosperity. Nevtrlhi.'...--, these advantages and the consequent immediate .-. •■ quirement of uulimited extent of land—which h;>hitherto been denied to (he northern setllemen: ; ,>> this North Island of government formation, •; >.. ever satisfactory to themselves, as also to •very ui :..■>■ settlement, in New Zealand—could in no w.-v V<■'!:■.•■- • ■ the priority of claim for government pr •-.-■ *--ii.-_-. ..:-.! for the continued maintenance in tho S. .:•■. ■•( ; h.i'. power which tho British governinen:, ha -1 i.i -.-;•■.e. i ..J to perfect which they invited and c::-/o:,:-.':' i i;...migrants to settle under the immedisr.c :u:.-: ■•■-..- ;.-.-i protection of the British Crown on those l'i:-.l- v.!i.> -h the government itself had purchased from th. aborigines, and which have been doled out iu\.'.. ;■ :-.- strictions and limitations preventing combin•■d .-..p. • panics or private persons acquiring in any <;- i. .';. such as might produce either monopoly or ,-n..! .1- .:: and unequal accumulations inimical to the obi--,;- .■;' the government for producingil condensed pop.il:'.i .-.i and a consequent agricultural reduction tov, :.;-.i; eventually consolidating the means of local proto i = -_• 11 from either internal or external aggression. The preseut state of this province is showing i!.;". without any disparaging conduct on the part of ;!.■• settlers who have been induced to accept the im..., diate protection of government subject to the est::.. lishcd rule of settling, that those internal clist'-.:•■ bauccs which are now developed has thrown up.ii them, and not upon the Southern Island people, ; j risk their lives and property, and thus become th..fighting element for establishing the superiority of th • British Crown—which it must be hoped will ».■•. delegate that power to the control of persons of thSouthern settlements jealous of our progress, and hi (heir own estimation alone Jit to become our rider:. It is preposterous that these gentlemen should sit :•', home unscathed, and though ill informed on every particular of local character and importance should dictate to us what we must do and fuller to sermv th - integrity of (heir safely and that of these H:\ml < from foreign aggression, aud for which as a sutlieich'. equivalent the people of Auckland are to be denude.! of that local protection and supervision which they fairly (and as it has proved) dearly bought when they embarked their lives and properties under the :cgis J: the British Crown. These gentlemen of the South are very fond of hearing each other talk, lakii.g elaborate pains l.> extol their talents, their fine voices, line speakin<*, \-j complement each other on their grammatical con struetion, forgetting that vain professedly grc-<. speakers are seldom real statesmen of leading talent, but more often visionary enthusiasts lost in the se'.fadmirationandthe tlattered subservient tools ot a mo:-,: | cunning fox. Before examining tho question of the politic-! position of this Auckland province it might be weli :.. ask why these Southern gentlemen (now that th resettlements have become able to support their o-.n government) do not apply at once to tile ho::.: authorities to place them in the position th, -y originally looked forward to, of governing themselves, and say to the North, wo being too insignificant. ami having no facilities for security of possession to iadu.vs uny foreign power (0 covet our pastures, acknov/led;;ing jour e-mburrassments hitherto, and the nativ: diiiicultv «;;![ .ih.vh we have nothing to do, we desii-.. to spare the atu-'iiti. ■•• ..-'jvitr Governor to ouraffahvUit to jtoT. 1 yuu li.f.v .«vmpat'>j"so in your 'i....M.;-i v.-.> »•!! "•>(. i;eraussioii to l vu in our settle j.'.i ,";ts i" -v.' yon ili-.v s-Triees. This would iiieiiiC.l V ; •ioiiiT; ns service; as •no d*-übf <'very j.-iMliiv:;.' ;•'.•:! :;■•:■ • know oiirjirogrcss must I'.: iv!:,rii> -,j ?o l',n» .'- ■<', ill .-ontiinie tiie incubus of an a!.-e:;t.-.- w» er.',focr»t, tot it is equally true neither island »-.U e'l- c->.u .'";ive! satisfactieu in governing tho other. A very largo portion of the peo;?: of this province would prefer immediate separation with the war and all its conscqucncu, to the continued disorder and depression resulting f rom tho conii-o! and interference of a Southern government. If it was possible thojjomc Government should be so weak as to listen to Ui c friends ot the Southern companies, and ignore tin acts and juJgmeut of all previous authorities, and remove the seal of gove.v.i----1 ment, many would instantly quit in disiui l ' <■■'- '';'■'■ j faithlessness of Crown pledge?, under wlv h :'!..,■ made their purchases. But, say (lie South..-;.: ■-.-■.■.:: jmen, oh no, we do not wish the maritime res. ; :-.-.:.: .-;' Auckland denuded of Imperial protection. \\\. would keep the tlag flying so that no foreign cne.ay could successfully'plant itself without drawing forth the claim for Imperial protection absolutely requisi'e for our own safety as well as yours. Producing the' absurd conclusion that checking the progress of European settlement, and weakening the vital point.: of ft province is a rational means of lessening the risk of the permanent, lodgement of a hostile power. It is now time to consider the political position in which this province was viewed when Captain llobsou was sent to take possession in these islands. The British Government, foreseeing the natural extension of the Australian settlements, and their claim made to the whole coast and its continent, were compelled to an early actual occupation, and were fully aware that these" islands presented the most important point which the enemies of the Anglo-Saxon race would endeavour by any means to possess themselves of ; and of these parts because of tho numerous available harbours and other resources of tho North Island, both for maintaining a powerful maritime power, and a dense population superior to any other position in these islands. Captain Hobson, armed with a double commission, sought the advantages of an early good understand* ing through the effects of anterior settlors to etfeet till amicable acquirement of sovereignty by voluntary treaty, which wa3 circulated by the best amicable means to receive adhesion throughout the occupied parts of both islands, in virtue of which tho British tlag was displayed on both North and Middle Islauds notifying sovereign possession. Captain Hobson, in his intercourse with the settlers, discussing the difficulty of an entire concurrence, said, "We shall obtaiu the concurrence of a large majority of the chiefs, and perhaps some of all the tribes which can be distinguished, forming a full and sufficient ground in their disorganized condition to justify the acknowledged supremacy of the British Crown," and he added, " had such not been the case it must be admitted that possession must be taken by force of arms." Thus confirming the motives and views which the British Government had o, the necessity of this occupation. Captain Hobson bought a possession for the primary location of the representative authorities in the Bay of Islands ; but not until after a careful examination, which a former visitto these islands made more perfect, did Captain Hobson ik on the locality of Auckland, the position combining most advantages ; the absolute necessary one of a Rood and convenient harbour, readily aeees.io e occupation of .he Auekland province.

Is this (o be disturbed, and the requisite organization of a permanent government retarded to suit the caprice or convenience of a few gentlemen who have | obtained a temporary increase of population in the i -Jnnds chosen for their pastoral pursuits? a country 1 totallv with ready communication j with the aboriginal population, or with the miner- I able points wliich in themselves by their effective | occupancy or non-occupancy the actual maintenance ; or -non-maintenance of British power in the whole j Islands depends. i Shall we ask the aboriginal inhabitant if he will make : iv treatv offensive and defensive with the British Crown for the independence of these Issauds and the Sea . hoard of the Australian colonies in integrity ? will any . o:ic be so abusrd as to suppose that the whole body of natives combined could prevent the occupation ot any single harbour us a maritime depot, or for the resorf of a single American pirate. Are ivc so sillv as to believe the false pretensions ot the evil disposed, leading the native to suppose that ; I lie introduction of another power would necessarily : expel the British, give them back their lauds, and establish their own savage imaginary sovereignty. and , that such new friends would for them and their sake : onlv expend large sums of money to preserve their ; cast fromanv future occupants, or from internal ctis- . rirbances? Are these Southern gentlemen so pulled , v.p Willi their own vaine oneeits for the gratifying their j greed for temporary power, Riul an increased value To their temporary possessions, that the natural advantages, and most available position for the preservation of the whole gnmo is to iie abandoned to gratiiy these same few gentlemen, quietly eating their own mutton in some -.emote corner of their mountain pasturage ; which would Mien soon become their only resource for cover from that power, which ever it may be holdiiv the command ill the .Northern portion ot | this Northern Island. The presence of a single man-of-war in the roadstead of cither of their ports would compel at any time subjection and the payment of revenue for the privileges of commerce. Hut, say these Southern gentlemen, both you and wc are salrst'in our minatory stale, without defences, and the long'line to South, about brings The niiddleofitsomewhere about Cook's Straits. Have thev considered the breadth of their plateau to the Kast coast or their plateau on the "West of their mountains adapted onlv for the lama and the goat — with their West Coast harbour bettor adapted for the sealer and the smuggler than the busy occupancy of civil commerce. Now let us tool; as the Northern Islands. Is there not a peninsula North of Auckland, a peninsula with richer vallevs andgreater maritimeresourccsthan in the whole middle island ? Is there not South of Auckland (itself a marine emporium) a central position with | little less lireadth than its length from Auckland to i ■Wellington ; with approximating water communica- , tion to the south coast by Wangimui river, to east j and west coast by other navigable rivers connected : with the interior lakes, and the"north coast of Bay of | Plenty by extensive low lauds, comprising the greatest j quantity and of the best agricultural land, thus, pre- j senting'a focus of almost equal radius from every : : important district or foreign outlet of communion- j tion. . ) At the present it is universally admitted that the : Scat of Government cannot be removed. And why ■ for the same reason which for half a century must ; still exist, the necessity of immediate and local government of the native people as well as the Euro- j pean, and the fact wliich will be soon established of j that portion of New Zealand supporting from its | agricultural capabilities the most numerous and dense ! population. "Whv has the Northern Island a numer- j ous native people'white the Middle Island is tenanted , but partly bv a few expelled people? The fact ; answers itself." j But it is not to be said, that when the vulnerable j find important points of the sen hoard arc sufficiently | secure;! and the interior properly and fully occupied . bv a civilized community that its common and general connexion with its circumference will not draw | out its availability for the seat of central administra- j tion. Not that "we in Auckland contemplate even j then the assuming the Government of the Middle I Island—admitting as we do the probability of the | continuance of their commerce with Tasmania and I the South Australian Governments, and the necessity of each having its own immediate and central operating Government; which will supply all municipal requirements to better thau provincial councils, cou- j plod with minor corporations forjevery locality, having i thus the superior advantage of saving of revenue, j with that of instant communion with the superior ' powers. _ I Had the patronage formerly accompanying colo- | nial governments remained with the Home authori- : ties there can be no doubt the Middle Island would ! long ago have had its own Governor and Government. I When the day comes (now not far distant) when | England will shake oil' many of her colonies, it will be the confederation with New South Wales, much more than with the Middle Island, that this Northern Island will look to for countenance and support to .{"(■ serve the integrity of the surrounding seas. ■im not altogether sin-prising that these Southern -people should dwell so strongly on their share of expenses ; \>ui they being as deeply, '"vrl'v'ed in the consequences of its success as the people of the Norlh (who are the greater e-iuercrs,) it ia but reasonable that they should pay their Bhare of the consequences, aii for.-dGj cost in the' settlement of the Auckland .Province, that province knows very well, the whole will eventually be borne by itself; uud that an immediate separation would be cheaply bought by undertaking all its natural consequents. But the South do not want separation, theyean do more harm and retard the progress of this 'stand better by dividing its interests -n the Genera' Assembly, and linking into their dominant clique die similarly ambitious and greedy members of isoatcd settlements which their Jiumberof votes in thrGeneral Assembly enabled them to preserve ; not th- opinions of the people, who have no voice any mor< than any general interest correct- I ing thpm in muf.ially beneficial administration. But nevertheless we may safely abide the dismemberment of the Province of Auckland, for the first European outbreak after such occurrence would supply as certainly new masters to the Middle Island. j Much more might be urged on this subject were j there any ground for apprehending through'the igno- j ranee of the British Government at present any other I catastrophe than these peripatetic statesmen making i themselves ridiculous by running up and down the ! country with their pedlar government for the purpose j of pocketing the salaries they feel it needful to give to j each other to meet the contingencies of their squab- I Wing conflicts in kicking each other in and out of ! office. Not envying them the carrying home all their I vanity at the supposed success of their dirty tricks, I i abstain for the present from further comment upon : their able statesmanship. 1 I am, Sec, | Ax Old Acstiui. Colonist. ! December 1, 1803. To the Editor of the New Zealand Herald. a T insider the Militia and Volunteers of • Auckland are much indebted to yon for your able i advocacy of their claims for sonic compensation in the grant of land sought for in their petition pre- I sented to the House of Representatives. The mem- I bersi ot the House who opposed the petition cannot ; oe lully aware of the great losses that have been i borne by the settlers of this Province who have taken \ up arms m defence of this their adopted country ; many ol whom, who are engaged in business, have I ocen obliged to close their stores, and virtually sus- : pond business. Were it not that they felt it' their I bouuden duty to respond to the call of the country ! .many would have left the colony and sought a home '■ m some other land. Surely, after all the sacrifices I they have made, any little land that may be given : them for their services will not be grudged by the j residents of other provinces who, although they have ' to pay their proportion of the cost of the war, have ! not had to leave thou- daily avocations and suil'er i .pecuniary losses. ! I am, your obedient servant, ! A Second Class Militia Man. I

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