The New Zealand Herald AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1864.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 324, 25 November 1864, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald

AUCKLAND, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1864.

BPECTEMUP- AfIEXDO. f " Glre erery man thine ear, but few thy voico: Take each man's censure, hut thy i This above all.—To thine ownsolf ho true; j And it must follow, a* the night tho day. Thou canst not then bir false to any m«n."

Since the summoning: of the Assembly ilhto is no point to which speculation has boon more directed than as to what would be the nature and character of (lie opening .speech. The formation of a Ministry by .M r. Weld, relieved the Governor of the necessity of making the speech literally his own. and (hat delivered, which we now republish, is therefore the composition of the new Premier, Mr. Weld. Honoiublp. Gi:ntlk.\u:.\ ok tiik Li:c; isi.ati vi: Coin j cir,. j Gknti.kmen' of the ITocse (if Tf r.i'i:Ksi:NTATivi:.s, I " The state of the colony mid the resignation i.i'inv i late Responsible Adviiers have rendi red it impera- ; tive upon me to call you together at an tiiinstiul > season, and I have to thank you for'the readiness ' with which you have answered that suinm 'ns. " nh the least possible < 1 ■ lay, I h-ivo appointed i gentlemen of boili housed of the Legislature ua unconstitutional advisers. ' : " The thanks of the colony arc clue to Lieutenant- ! General Sir Duncan Cameron and ('ommodore Sir • "William Wi-eman, and to the officers and men of I her Majesty's army and navy and of the colonial j forces, who, by a series of irnllant and sueces--fhl I operations, have driven the insurgent natives from I districts hitherto the head-quarters of disaffection. 1 I very deeply regret that tin- aecotnpiislina-nt. of this! object has involved the loss of so many lives valuable i to this colony and to their country. j " Steps will be taken with the least possible delay j to secure the future pence of the country by sitting I apart defined portions of the In>-il of rebel natives for j the purpose of suti lying the engagements with mi!itary and other permanent set Hern, aud in indemnifying the eoiony to a reasonable extent. by (lie sale of j portions thereof, for expenditure incurred in the sup- j pression of the present rebellion. ! "Acting on my individual responsibility, I have i offered certain terms of pardon to Na ives now in j arms against Ilcr Majesty's authority. They will be ! laid before you. " ' ' "X regret that the Province of Taranaki and the ' Ngatiruanui country still remain in a state of di.-tur- I banco, and it is my intention promptly and energeti- j calty to take such steps as may appear best cah-u- I lated to restore order in those districts, and to place ! the settlement of Taranaki on a firm and secure footing. " To forward tSis end a bill will be laid before you, to enable tho Government to acqui e land for tho construction of main lines of road through these districts and others in the Northern Island. " Her Majesty having seen fit to entrust to me lar"e i and discretionary power so long as the Colony accepts i the aid of British troops for the suppression of inter- ! nal disturbances, it will be your duty to consider whether the time has ar.ived when the Colony mav depend upon its own resources for its internal defence —and the Governor be thereby enabled to be guided entirely by the recommendations of bis constitutional advisers in Native as well as ordinary matters, excepting only in .--.itch as may directly concern Imperial interests and the prerogative of th • i town. ' " In accordance with tho decision of Commission- i nrs acting under resolutions of both Houses of the I Legislature, I propose immediately to remove the | seat of Government to Wellington." ' ( Gentlemen of tub 11ou.sk ok IvepkksintiTIVES, The financial position of the colony will require i your most serious consideration. Iler Majesty's j Home Government has offered to guarantee one mil- t lion of tho loan authorized by your Act of last ses- < sion, but a due regard to the just rights of former creditors, and to the engagements entered into with c the Provinces may, without detriment to any ju~t claims preferred by the Home ! ■oyoriiim nt. pro'babh I prevent your acceptance of the offer. Nevertheless, f I entertain a confident belief that the steadily in- ( creasing wealth and revenue of this colony will euu- l

tile it to provide-tha moans required for restoring and maintaining its prospority. HoN'oßAnr.i; Gentlemen oi' the Legislative C'OVNCIL. AND GENTLEMEN 'IV TIIK iIotJSK 1)1' H E I' It B 9 E ST AT V KS, " A contract having been Mil rood into bv an accredited agent "t the Colony with uti company, for the ertablishm-lit of u postal service bv wuv of Panama, it will p obably appear lo vnu that the credit ofllie Colony rei|iiires that such contract sboul l • bo confirmed, aubjeel to reasonable modifications in , points of detail. Tho contract Avill bo laid before you. '• It will be my duty during the next recess to collect such information as may afi'ord materials for a re-::djuslmont of the icprcs- ntation of the Colonv. " The discovery of new gohl-fiehls io the Southern Island, the satisfactory j»fcis-j>ectP of the older one.", the progress of commercial, agri ultuml, and pastoral enter; rise in those ji. irticms of the Ci-lony which ham not been subject to native disturbances, an evidences of its substantial progress. " Hearing in mind the especial circumstances ol this si ssion, and the condition of the Colony at. tin present moment, ii is i robable that the consideration of many impoiliml subjects nin.-l be deferred until another, not distant, meeting of the Assembly. 1 doubt not, however, that wiih the blessing of l.'iviiu lVovi-ienct , your deliberations n ay tend to rescue the I'olony from its dillicnllics. and to conduce to the ultimate prosperity of both races ol its inhabit tints." Tho Ministry of which Mr. "Wold is I ho head, is thoroughly n Southern .Ministry, ami appeals to tho Assembly for support on grounds which must render Auckland members suspicious of. if not indeed hostile to il. Fortunately lor Auckland, the condition of ail'airs is such tlmt tho Ministry eamiol withold from them due regard ami attention. liexeri iiiri the t/ne.i----tion «J' the xrtt/kJ' (icrrriiiiirit/. —all that. Auckland requires is a fair Held and no favour —the fultillnient of engagements made with the military and other sottlors—the confiscation of rebel lands, and such steps, as leading to (lie final pacification oftlie country, shall allow the same line developeiuent of her resources, thai in their cases tin; Provinces of the M iddle Islam! l'lie opening speech entirely ignores (lie existences and claims of Auckland. We do not. however, propose, just iit. present, to enter on one side or the other—for or against, the Ministry. We wait the full statement of his policy by Mr. Weld, for we cannot vet dives! ourselves of the idea, that that policy will lie more vigorous, masculine, and more worthy, we may sav. of that gentleman's political antecedents, than the opening speech of tile Assembly would lead us to suppose. The first two paragraphs of the speech demand 110 notice. Tn the third wo have the usual fulsome praise to the commanders, ollicers, and men of either arm of her Majesty's service. We are heartily sick of the subject, and would ask for w hat are these thanks specially due? and whether all that has been done might not have been accomplished in one-half the lime? Ten thousand brave troops have been kept positively irlie in winter (|iiartors. since .lime last, while up to that period their time was taken up in sitting down before fortified pahs, for weeks and months, when the builders of these pahs should had our men been well handled, never havi been allowed lo construct and fortify them at all. 15y the third paragraph we understand that the .Ministry proposes to confiscate the lands o| | tlie rebels in Tanmaki. in AA'aikato and Tailranga in the same manner, and prolmbly to i greater extent than the late Ministry proposed It. would seem, indeed, that what his Kxecllenev refused to assent to w hen proposed by his latt Ministry in their memorandum of the Nth Sep teniber. he is willing lo concede to the Ministn of Mr. A\ eld. namely. " that the proposed ces " sion of territory shall be to the extent contour " plated by the Secretary of Stale, and incltnh lauds to be disposed of in sale, to aid in do fraying tlie expenses of the war. as well a; " lands devoted to the purposes of military set " tlement." AN hat tho Governor. when ho issued the late Proclamation, refused to do, Ik w ill, it now appears, concede. Lik ■> the promist in the flth paragraph, which has been so oftei made, we trust that this too will not lie broken AVo must say that we cannot comprehend tin meaning of the 7111 paragraph of the Speech Does Mr. AVohl mean that he will settle the disturbances existing in Ihe Taranaki and Ngal iruarui country by a bill drawn by Mr. Sewell; AA'hal nonsense is this—to talk of framing bills to acquire lands for forming roads through territories, through Ihe territories, indeed, of the ( most stubbornly rebellious, oftlie most murder- | ous and savage of any of the Native tribes r j J'nunc bills for such a purpose, indeed, are not j tho clauses oftlie New Zealand Settlements Act, j and the bayonets of Cameron .suflieient for such I a purpose? The Nth paragraph is an important one. Jlere | we have it plainly stated that the curse of the . Northern Island, the double Covorument the | secret of Sir George Grey's power--is to j-emaiu: | and this wretched system of Government is still j to burden and alllict both races in the Northern I Island. A\ e thought that the Colony already : pos.-esseil the right of exercising full responsi- ; liility in Native ati'airs. The Duke of Newcastle j forced il on us. Ihe late Ministry battled with : Sir George Grey for it. Tho present speech. however, concedes the question in favor of (he ! < > ovens or. Clearly and (list i net I v we are I old that. ! only on the w ilhdraw al of the Imperial troons. j will his I'.xcollcncv recommend the permission j to the Colony ol the enjoyment of that full j responsibility which has been already legal!-. ' adjudged to il. ; On the question contained in the IHh para- | graph — the immediate removal of the seat of j Government to A\ ellinglon, we do not nropose i .i Nsl now to enter. That is a barlle to be fought | in which, when the proper time arrives, we | pledge ourselves lo take an active share. \Ve j have a firm and unalterable determination on j this subject, and we do nut hesitate to say that, j completely as the existence and claims nf'Auck- | land are now literally ignored, this Province | wilh in the end, be mistress of the position, j The next paragraph which calls for our passing i attention is (he lltli paragraph, relating to the | I auama contract. A\ e regret, that any ministry | should make this absurd contract, a ministerial j question, as we understand it. was to be. To do si), fhows ;i want, ol wisdom which argues ill for the future working of the Ministry. '".It shows a w ant of wisdom, for there was no necessity to do it. and above all il shows a want of wisdom and knowledge, looking to tho -present financial condition of the Colonv. AV'e shot:!,! uot be surprised, however, if a few week's in oiliee will undeceive those who now seek to fasten this absurd contract on this countrv. The remainder of the speech calls for no special comment.. [Late last night, and since writing the above, the following copy ol the conditions upon which Mr. AVohl accepted oiliee was handed to us for publication. We reserve our comments upon it ■ lor another occasion.] ' ! CONDITIONS. 1. Weld having reer-ivd the Governor's 0„m----mar.ds to undertake tin; formation of a Ministry, and having at an interview .stated the grounds upon u-hi- b al.inn hn should feel justified in placing- his service? at tho Governor's disposal, nrov submits in writine the following propositions for his Kxcelleney's consideration. -•Mr. "V. eld is of opinion that tho system o! d'.uhi.j government by Governor and Ministers Ii e resulted in ovd to both races of Her Majesty's sub- ' jects in iSew Zealand lie recognises toe right oi i the Homo Government to insist upon the maintenance Ot this M-stem so long as tho Colony is receiving the aid oi V.ritish troops fur the suppression el' internal disturbances-: ho is prepared to accept the alternative, iinl will recommend the Assembly to request the Home Government to withdraw the whole of its land lone trom the Colony, and t'i issue such instructions to th; G<vornor as may c table him to bo guided entirely by i ha recommei.da ion of his coxistitutiouul

utlvisoTs, excepting only upon sucli TnattoTS aa may directly concern Imperial interests and tho prerogatives of tho Crown. 3. Mr. Weld in iiwnro tint Iho Oovomor, before lakinw notion upon a proposition which would change tho whole nspoct of the i - ehtti»»ns hetvvron the mother country and the Colony, mnv prohaMy fctd it his duty to ascertain the views o*f Tier I\lajo>ty\s Homo Oovornmout; ho would, tiieruforo, pending their decision, m-onmuMid to tho Coloiial Parliani?nt that tho Colony should undertake a reasonable liability lov the services of troops actively on paired in the field, at the especial icc»iuiinendation of liis Kxcclleney's Mitt's(ers» and for sueh troops only. ■I. Air. Weld would rcc-onmicnd that a small .standing colonial force ho kept on foot, armed and trained wi(]i special reference to the nature of the sorvieo iv(|uired. 5. It would be liis duty to advise that nt least one stronir military post should bo occupied about the centre of Iho const lino of the Ngatinmnui country, with such force us the Lieutenant (Jeneral may doom requisite ; and that a road l»o made from Wang.mui to the northern part of the Tarannki province. 0. Tho Colony having entered into arrangement« with a numb.n- o(' military snttlers, Mr. Weld would propose tlsat stillicicnt land, bein«r part of tlie territory belonging to the ijisurirents and now in military occupation, should he taken to fulfil those engagements, and that tho description of such confiscated land:'', nnd proper plans thereof should be made public without, dojav. 7. In the last session the General Assembly resolved that. thereat of Government should he removed to some place in Cook's Straits, to ho determined by a Com" ivdou ofliciallv appointed for that purpose. In accordance with tie; recommendation of th:tt Commission, Mr. Weld would propose that the seat of *ho General Government be at one; removed to Wellington. S. Air. Weld thinks it right to state frankly that iT the Governor should feel it. his duty to ditfer onnnv material point with his constitutional advisers, Air. W.-ld \v/,uld, without lie-it,ition, jdace his fesiirnation in bis l-'xcelh-nev's hands ; ho therefore considers it essential tint iti such a ease, the Assembly should ••it once lx» called, or other advisers summoned. \K ShouKl the (lovnnor lie plea-?o<l to Concur in the above proposaN, and authorise Mr. Weld t.o make that cimeuivnc--* known, Mr. Weld would f«:id i»ii fjt*l in attempting to fulfil tho task imposed upon him by his Kxcejlencv. Fi:iii>, A. AVklu. Auckland, November 22, In refcn-iMM' to the propositiors Hubrnitted bv "Air. Weld tor tho (Jovernor's con-ider;it ion, lie would sav that il a maiority of the (h-neral Assemblv concurs in th'-m, it, will bo hi-! duty to aid, to the be.-t of his ability, in currying them out. a. Gi:i;y. Xovcmb r '-'2, lSf>|-.