NORTHERN ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 346, 21 December 1864, Page 4

NORTHERN ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

The t:rst G i mi::I jMtctii g rf the n-uidus of this At-tc ciat:'cn v«s l.cld ycticiday at 3lr. Coehisne's t-'ale-iotnif- ior Ihe pujote ci no iving il.c hi crt of the l'io\i.-ioi al C< li.ii itlic, to fleet :i icrr.ei] mid officers, to adept a ciiuit of a petition to the Queen and both Houses of Parliament.

Mr. Gkoi.ck AVki stku was c;d\d to the chair. Mr. Ti»;m.-,s 31 actaui ask lead 11-.r- h j 011 uf the Provisional Ccir.miitco, -whicli was follows:

'Hepoit of l ho Provincial Committee appointed at Cm r.eiai Sleeting of the Jnha bitants ot Auckland held at tiie- Oid Ccr rthouse en Oth December' !SUI.

.»v committee, y-strc its aj-j-oir.tji:er.t, has occupied iUelt m pit paring the maehineiy necessary tor cairying en the-1 utir.css of the Asrociaticn about to to ho lojiixtl, Mid it lmsnow to lejcrt iothis- n:utine the lesult ot its labouis.

"1. 'J l:e first thing icquiiii g attention is the constitution or inks l.iy whiiii the- Association thei li he regulated, and vonr committee suggest the following :—

1. the Association shall he called' The Northern Association of New Zealand.' "2. 'J hat the object of the Association shall be to la he steps to seeurc Ihe sepai ution of the province of Auckland irom the southern poitisus of the eohuy of New Zealand. '■ 2. 'I hat .-try }.o>c-n who shall enrol his name rs a n.e mlr r in a hock to be kept fcr that ] nipose, shall he deemed to be a member of the Asscciaticn. Kvcry member who shall annually subsciibe a sum of not less than •t-'I Is fcr the puipcjes of the Association, -hall he eligible to ho placed on the Council of the Association. " 'J hut the ai.'airs of the Association shall ho r, a raged by a council, consisting of u chahir.an, two -vice-cliaiinun, a sceietaiy, tieufuur, and twenty-one members. 'J he chaiimaii and secictaricsof leca'. associations shall also ho ex-otiicio members ot the comicl. Five members to constitute a ijuoium. '• 31. Tour cemmittce v.ould lurther suggest — " X. 'Ill: t a petition to ller Majesty the Utioen should he prepared for signature by the colonists of the Province of Auckland, and your ccinmitteei lias flamed a dratt of a petition for your consideration and approval. "2. I hat local ccinmittees should he organised in all the country districts of the province, tor the puipose of enrolling mem! crs, receiving subscriptions, and getting the petition signed. The chairman and secretary of caeh c:mmittee to he members of the council. A list of these districts is appended. *' 3. Tin t a London committee be appointed, to !;•! eive and disseminate information relating to the province, to correspond with the Association, and to promote its objects, Willi power to appoint a parliamentary agent. Your committee respectfully suggest that the London committee should consist of i.essrs. William Brown, "\V. S. Grahanie, AV. Pro die. AY. C. Balely, .7. T. Bovlan, .lallies Busby, and Stannns Jones. " JII. Your committee has-divided the town of Auckland into districts, m.d appointed two gentlemen for each disliiet to collect frubsoiiptions tCAMilds raising iuuda for the puiposes of the Association. The labours of the collectors arc not yet finished, but from what has already been accomplished, \or.i committee anticipate great success tor the Atsucialion. " It. Kim*, " Chairman of Committee. " December 20, ISGI." Mr. ->lACl".\i'.i.ani: lead the drait of petition to Her Most Givcious Majesty the Uueen and both Houses of 1 aiiiament, as foilows: — " To THE QX-EEX'S HOST Pxcillkxt SIAJB-TV— "'1 lie humble petition ot the undersigned laitlilul and dutil'ul subjects of your Majesty, inhabitants ot' the piovince of Auckland, in the colony ot xicw Zo iland, IllMlll.Y SHLWITU — •' That the colony of New Zealand piincipidly £ 011 " si.-ts of two laige islands, vlureol the Northei" 1 ! island contains about thirty-one millions otyi'ores, and the iSoutheru island about forty-six millions 0 acres. '• That, as appears by the hist census taken in 1858, the coiouv contained an aboriginal population of 50,049, of whom 53,0u(i inhabit the Northoni island, and 2DP3 tile bouthcni island. "That the Northern island is at present diviueJ into four provinces, of which tlic most northern, called the province of Auckland, contains the great bulk of the Native population, about -10, tjoo, and an Kuropean population about equal in number ; am In'.san ana of about seventeen millions ot_ acies, o wliich about fourteen millions still remain in luind- of the Natives, under the Native title. '• JLlmt the circumstances of that portion of the colony which is inhabited by a inrgo Native popu ation difl'er so essentially from those in which t" few Natives reside, that no constituti' n, however cart-fully fiainud, can he equally suitable and :ati=faetorv to both.

" That it has boon recently declared by t.ie unanimous vote of both Houses of the General Assemb.j, that the present system of Government, rencere necessary by the peculiar position of the Northern portion of the colony, as respects its .Native popu-i-------tion, ' has resulted t in divide J. council-,' winch ha*<been productive of great evils to b-jth races ot jour Alajest\''s subjects in this colony, and has entai e heavy and unnecessary expenditure boi.i l 'i loU Great BriUiin and Kcw Zealand. _ . , i " That as regards the Southern portion ot ino colony, no reason exists svhj' its iidi:ij!it«ut.-i "I'ju 1 not enjoy the fuU benefit of representative institutun. and responsible Government, without the inW i i' rente of the Imperial Government in the nunajjeiiuii- oi its own intern:il atlairs ; and this renders the in ' 1 1 tants of that portion impatient ot any hmitatu n i. the jiowers of self-government. _ . " 1 hat, as regards the Northern portion o ! colony, the employment of ycur Majf stv = l' n l ® l 1."1" 1 troops necessary i'cr tho suppression of iatcir..-u uis-

(urIOTCCf, tfcoprcseryation of peace, and the good government of the native race, justify tho Imperial Government in exercising an efficient control over the policy pursued in tbo management of nativo affairs- " That, by engaging to confer upon the natives tho rights imd privileges of British subjects—in guaranteeing them the undisturbed possession of their lands, and by assuming the sovereignty of tho countrv, 'he Imperial Government undertook to establish peace, order, and good government in New Zealand • but the natives have never yet had conferred upon them that which was thus guaranteed by their treaty «;th iiie British Croivn.

" That your Majesty's petitioners aro fully satisfied that the only practicable efficient remedy for the evils I,V which tlie colony is now afflicted—that the only uieaiis by which the British Government niav bo enabled satisfactorily to secure tho fulfilment of its treaty obligations, and provide for the welfare of both pices of your Majesty's subjects,—is by the creation of a fepar.ite colony in the north, which will include within its limits the great bulk of the nativo population-

• That (he ordinary revenue to be collected within the province of Auckland during the current year is at i' , besides a territorial rovenno estimated at £ , —h revenue fullv sufficient alter payment of all liabilities, to maintain a Government competent to provide satisfactorily for the wants of both races of your M ajesty's subjects.

Your 3lajosty's petitioners therefore li in 1 pray that your Majesty, with the aid of vour Majesty's Imperial Parliament, will be plci.scd to take such steps as will secure tho separation of ihe province of Auckland from the Southern portions of the colony of New Zealand bv itself or with such oilier portions of the Northern i>lanil as may bo deemed expedient, with such a constitution as will enable your Majesty's Imperial Government to exerciso such control over native affairs as will enable it to securc the t'ultilment of the treaty obligations undertaken by your Majesty, and promote tho good Government-of your Majesty's subjects, both Native and European."

Mr. Mm i aiu.axk moved that the tq crt of the jVvij-ior.al Committee be received. .Mr. M iKTix seconded tho proposition. Mi. Wi:h>tku was about to put. the question from the el air. wlun Mr. Coolahan protested against the M:l'j< ot Veiny: decided without a debate. Mr. M.us'aulank said thero could be no debate

until the question was put, as there would be 110 pioI e-;::en Veteie the meeting. "When the question *» F ! " W3S " lC l' 1 ' 0 !' 01 ' time <0 enter upon tho disii ot' the topics contained in the resolution.

}11. M .iKTts said that it was perfectly open to "entle--11. t ii:.' di.-etiss the proposition then befoi etlie meeting, lie thought all present were agreed upon tho necessity , ! ,-t; aratien tioui the South. (Hear.) This was not hie the general meeting at which they might be required to enter at great length into the reasons that rrmii-rul such a step desirable. To produce reasons ,11 ihat occasion would be like giving reasons win t)-,ty should have breakfast or dinner every day. '1 he conduct of the Southern members it w : as weli n had been most unjust towards Auckland. 'I hey had banded themselves together all with the ejivrtioti cf two or three, for the express purpose of the Seat of Government from Auckland. Thev e.-.n.e I!] 1 !u re for that purpose, and the moment the\ i'.'i-i >1 that object safe, they went down in the sam'e -learner in wlm-li they came up. 'J hey had heard a treat deal of the power of statesmanship in these southern members. It did not show much statesmanship to stop emigration, which was tho life-blood 0 ti.e Province, and to make the people of Auckland lay ilie whole expense of the war cut of their own j'-eelet. They had succeceded in their object of taking away the teat of Government. He (Mr. Hurt in; did not believe the Government had vei £t:e. lie believed that Government House belonged te the J'revuice, and if the Governor went aivnv they might be excused if they lccked it up and kept liiiu cut of it. The furniture belonged to the Geneial Government. If that were the case no doubt

they would order it to be packed up. A great deal Lt.u 11en said of the present Ministers, amongst other things that a gentleman -vas at its head. It did not matter much whether they were illtreuted by a gentleman or anybody else. The course of the Ministers had been anything but honest, and showed anything but statesmanship in jutting augmented taxes upon goods in the wav that hail been done, without the slightest notice being given. He (Mr. Martin) believed that in England it v.a? customary to give three months' notice, lie ;hi the time was come when Auckland should be ilivuieid, as ii were, from the Southern provinces, she would then he ablo to hold her own, as she had hitherto dene. '1 he meeting would no doubt do tlieii utu.o.-t to succeed in this matter, and if they did so they would succeed.

Mr. Kim; supported the adoption of the report. 'J hi Piovisicnal Cc inmittee had performed their duty, ami It ft to that meeting a most important task, it was to be hoped that the meeting would bo unanimous, for unless ifcey woe so—unless they would sink ;ill difiertnees, and would thsow their hearts into tilt- movement, nothing that wns beneficial in the work would Le accomplished. The Provisional Committee Lad no powers to cxceed the duty imposed bv tliiin at the meeting which appointed them. Thc-y had, indeed, taken a large amount of trouble. They had n-_t leen idle, and ihe response they had met with frcm all sides had been most satisfactory. He-

Ku:g) was one of those- that went round, and t Mil h:iii?e!f and the gentlemen who had accompanied him. hud t. en most coidially received. In fact, they hs-.d net i: i t with a single refusal. Some of the ] arti'-s were hardly in a position to subscribe but their heait desired the m to give and they all gave, ihe Committee had collected £-455, and they purposed to extend the area from which subscriptions might be oiawn. A considerable amount of subscriptions would no doubt be obtained from the country districts. He ielt convinced that the amount of sub-

Mrijjncus in the town would yet reach £1000. ll would show to the whole universe that they deemed the object they had in view a most important one. He hoped that no gentleman would allow his name to be put down as a member of the Council unless hollas lime to give attention to its meetings and proceedings. There is a council of 21 to be elected. 1 he-Association wanted a council of working members, the woik would last not simply for a week or two but perhaps for a year or so. The object to which tl.ey should give their whole attention would be to keep back the mischievous propositions of the ministry jiow in power. The propositions that had eminated irom that ministry were of sucli a chalacterthat it would not be necessary then to consider tliein. The gratifying intelligence brought by the last mail assured them that the Home Government wight be relic-d on. According to the Colonial Treasurer, Otago and Southland were estimated at jess than last year. "Wellington was at a stand still, ihe de-siie wits to shut Auckland up. They came up to despoil the province. The people should speak out their minds on this question. The Southern people had not been ashamed to give utterance to propositions that would be destructive of representative institutions and to the colony. That gentlemen should oomc> up here for the purpose of retarding a sister province deserved the utmost condemnation. He hoped that those who had undertaken this work would go heartily through with it. If they did not the movement would entirely fail. They would have the S3-ni-pathy oi the whole population with them. They would have only to ask the country settlers and they come forward and assist the movement. He (Jir. King) had been a strong advocate for separation tor years. It always occurred to him that the interests oi the various provinces were in many respects conflicting and of such a contradictory character that some must sulfer when the ministry in power were elected from the opposite side. The proceeding was not without precedent. !No injury was found to exist in - few SouthAV ales, because oftheseparationof Victoria, and more recently of Queensland. The fact was that tliery was too much government. One house would be aiiiplv suiiieient for carrying on the public business. Ihe imperial Government should do what they could 0 settle this difficulty. The- Southern members had 'rfj 1 l ' le tausu the war, they had created the great "cultv. The people of Auckland had always been fs°od terms with the natives. Be trusted that the olt being made would result in enabling the Government to take upon itself the auty of confining 'heir attention to tho South, and would leave Auckland self government. All interference of the ooutlicm members would breed mischief. They "light depend oil that. The gentlemen, he believed, whose Haines were on the list of the Council would I'i uemlly assist tho end in view. He had much I'le-jtsure in supporting tho motion. , Report was adopted unanimously. -Mr. 'p. MAci'.uti.Ai>E road a list of 21 names, which he submitted as eligible to form the Council of the Association.

r - said that he was desirous of placing itw names on the list of the Council. He objected ' f |.the mode adopted by Mr. Macfarlane of sub-

eligiblf to Co t undL <shlSlon ° f Othor3 e l uall y tho moinbers^jf'the 8 rv» on ?j uo< *JJ s election of there could onlv be Ibe •xmstitution Ha jd nam ° 3 ° f POrSOnS V ™ done in the usuaYway ' ° h ,n ' ght bo dotted &r Aa^mHv , 'r„ 1 '' 0 !' C t d " That members of tho General wT&ISKS* -d Provincial Council shoS cented >° UloU S llfc tho list might be nca JLm' ? T- 3 competent to tbo meotiu K to ,>u« B Mr Kmd's mot g POWGr t t U<kl to thoir ""mber. ~ Mr JUcfli t T subse l u ? ntly withdrawn, in. iviAciAitLiNE, after some further discussion rf" d f cu % hlld bo ™ "tarted be el^e H rbvTdloF CSt f M ha V be CouncH sho « ld their eSnS, and C ° Uld ° IcCt the cha^tTrird". 8 BeC ° ndCd ' *** *> ut frOTn "T*

Mr. Kidd and Mr. "Webster wero appointed sem IcTudn'vT P ,? Ver ' Up ° n 010 determination of the <W ext' to" t ' t T CtII I SOf tho Council for Thurs. Associatiom chairman and officers of the ■This terminated tlio proceedings.