UNPUBLISHED MEMORIALS OF EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11986, 7 June 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

UNPUBLISHED MEMORIALS OF EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

» No. Yin. [from the private letter-book of sir g. GKEY.] EARL GREY'S MISTAKEN INSTRUCTIONS. The correspondence between Sir G. Grey and Bishop Selwyn shows the curious relation upon which they stood from first to last. Governor Grey was anxious to keep on good terms with Bishop Selwyn, while the latter," while desirous to afford the Governor all the assistance he could, in regard to the natives, never seems to have quite got rid of a somewhat suspicious feeling. . On September ' 1, 1848, Governor Grey writes 'to the bishop, " My lord, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of August 1, which in compliance with your wishes, I transmitted by H.M.s. Calliope to Earl Grey. In forwarding to him your lordship's letter, I bore the strongest testimony to the friendly assistance and advice you had upon all occasions given me since my. residence in New Zealand, of both of. which I bad in many instances largely availed myself. I also assured Lord Grey that your protest had never been made public in the colony, and that it had in no respect that I was aware of been made the cause of excitement or dissatisfaction amongst the natives. In reference to the appeal made to me by your lordship that I would state ' whether I did Dot find upon my arrival a body of faithful pilies whom the influence of former Governors and the instructions of their missionaries had conciliated to the British interests," I beg to state that I have .frequently made the fullest statements of my obligations in tins* respect..., Amongst: other instances I. may quote the following, extract from , my despatch, No. 20, of .March 17 last. 'It only remains for me to add that the exertions of our most excellent bishop and his clergy, together with those of the numerous, and I may say admirable, body of missionaries of different denominations, have secured to this colony a greater amount of-religious supervision and religious instruction than any other young country has prolnlry over *njoyed, and this circumstance cannot fail ultimately . to produce a very powerful effect upon the future population of this country, whilst at the present day it secures to NewZealand advantages which may be readily imagined, but which it would be difficult to describe in detail, as they enter into the ramifications of the society of the country, of the domestic life, both of the natives and Europeans." [After some further remarks in the same strain, Governor Grey proceeds]: "In compliance with your lordship's wishes, I forwarded also to Lord Grey a copy of the Chief Justice's (Sir W. Martin's), printed statement, although, I confess I forwarded 'that statement with regret, and should much have preferred that the Chief Justice had originally sent his views to Lord Grey in writing. I find that so long ago as the Ist July, an answer to that statement was published in the Nelson Examiner, and that the fact of the existence of that statement, and the general tenor of its contents, were known, to various persons in this portion of New Zealand, and I think that if the natives in any way became aware that a person in the position of Chief Justice Iras printed such views, that they will inclined to view the Government with distrust and suspicion." WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT. Some explanation is necessary here. Earl Grey's instructions, which were really contrary to the Treaty of Waitangi. were resented by those who looked upon themselves as bound to defend the natives, m Bishop selwyn. in the communication referred to in the above letter, recorded " his formal and deliberate protest against the principles" expressed by Earl Grey in his despatch. He said that none of the clergy would have aided Governor Hobson. if Hobson's assurances *' had not been directly contrary to the principles now avowed by the Right Hon. Earl Grey." "It is my "duty" (he added), " also to inform Your Excellency that I am resolved, God being my helper, to use all legal and constitutional measures, befitting my station to inform the natives of New Zealand of their rights and privileges, as British subjects, and to assist them in asserting and maintaining them, whether by petition to the Imperial Parliament, or other loyal and peaceable methods, but that in so doing I shall not forget the respect which I owe to Your Excellency, nor do anything which can be considered likely to add to the difficulties of the colony." Such was the gist of Bishop Selwyn's communication, referred to in the Governor's letter above quoted. The Chief Justice (Sir W. Martin) drew up a statement, also referred to by Sir George Grey, which was printed at the Bishop's College Press, but was not published. The tenor of it. however, seems to have got out. Governor Grey was in a great difficulty, for he also deplored Earl Grey's instructions as much as anyone. The result is curious, and worth stating. A memorial. signed by the Chief Justice and many others, was banded ft the Governor to be transmitted to Earl Grey. The petitioners declared that there was danger in the alteration of policy proposed in Earl Grey's despatch and that though the Governor maintained silence as to the intentions of the local Government, something more was required. They prayed that Earl Grey's instructions might be revoked as derogatory to the Queen's honour, and that the spirit, as well as the letter of the treaty, mi- it be religiously maintained. The Earl replied that, the Queen bad received the petition very graciously, and that he was commanded to refer to the repeated assurances of the Government, that no intention " had ever existed to interfere with any of the rights secured to the natives of New Zealand by the Treaty of Wait.mgi." The Rev. Mr. Maunsell, who had taken a large share in getting the natives to sign the Treaty of Waitangi, was thoroughly aroused. Never having obtained land for himself he declared he was free to shake the dust of New Zealand from his feet if Earl Grey's scheme made honourable stay impossible. Finally, Earl Grey had to yield, and to formally abandon his instructions. He was, however, very greatly displeased at

the part taken in the matter by Bishop Selwyn. In a despatch he denounced the haste and excitement of the Bishop in his "perilous appeal to the feelings of the natives." Sir G. Grey professed to think that he could .work" the instructions of Bail; Grey in conformity with tile Treaty of Waitangi, but as a matter of fact he maintained a position of masterly inactivity till, the instructions were withdrawn. A POOR HOWICK PENSIONER. , Governor Grey cared for many things of public and private interest. In October, 1848, we find him writing to the Bishop of hew Zealand, on behau of a " poor pensioner of Howick." who had served the Royal Artillery for twenty years, and who wished his son to be admitted to the Bishop's College. THE ORDER OF THE BATH. . On November 18. 1840, Sir G. Grey writes to the official rierald, of the Order of the Hath, acknowledging in receipt of a letter, transmitting by, .command of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, Grand Master of the Most Honourable Order, of the Bath, a communication in pursuance of the statutes of that order, and stating that he had been invested by the Chief Justice with the insignia of a Civil Knight Commander. At the investiture, he selected Waka Nene. of Bay of Islands, and Te Puni, of Wellington, as his esouiies. ; LETTER TO REV. G. A. KISSLING. Missionary troubles are not yet concluded. On February 10. 1849. Sir George writes to the Rev. Mr. Kissling : My dear sir,—l beg to enclose for your perusal the copy of an enclosure to a letter which has been forwarded by Archdeacon Henry Williams. This enclosure purports to be an extract of a letter from Archdeacon W. Williams* but it does not state to whom his letter was addressed. I must confess that- I read that portion of this extract, which relates to yourself and Mr. Burrows, with much pain. T have, however, now dismissed the subject from my mind, and only transmit this paperto you that you may be made acquainted with what has taken place." There is.nothing to show how Mr. Kissling and Mr. Bur- . rows had become involved. THE CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT. In the early part of 1849, search is being made for a site for the Canterbury settlement, which was being organised in England. The secretary for the settlement, Mr. ' 11/ V. Alston, had written to Sir George in reference to assisting in this matter. Sir George replies that lie had afforded to Mr. Thomas every aid in his power. Pie adds : " The selection of the site of the intended settlement is. however, a point to -which I could riot venture in any other manner to interfere than by stating the advantages or disadvantages of any proposed site which may present themselves to my mind." He says the association will have the services of "Mr. Fox and Mr. Thomas. A POOR MAN'S COUNTRY. Lord Monteagle had written to Sir G. Grey, sending a letter by a young man in his neighbourhood, addressed to his father, who was supposed to lie at the Bay of Islands. Sir George replies that he has ascertained that the father is still at the Bay, and he says that if he is able to pay his son's passage he (Sir George) will remit the money through his bankers. If he has not the means, Ski- George thinks that the young man could get a, passage through the Immigration Commissioners. Sir George proceeds : "If he is an industrious young mar. he cannot fail to do well, as New Zealand is esenttalty a poor man's country, and 1 am not acquainted with' a single case in which an industrious poor man has failed to gain a competence, such as he could never have hoped to obtain in Europe." [Sir. J. , Gordon has called our attention! to the fact that the Mr. Swaiuson, J.P., of Wellington, to whom one of the letters of Sir G. Grey was addressed, was the well-known naturalist, who had obtained quite a European fame by his elaborate book on zoology. The full title of I the book- was: Zoological Illustrations, or original figures and descriptions of new, rare, or interesting animals, selected chiefly from the "classes of ornithology," entomology, and conchology, and arranged on the principles of Cnvier and modern zoologists. By William Swainsou. F.R.PJ., F.L.S., member of the Wernerian Society of Edinburgh, etc., London, 1820-21." 'The workis illustrated by numerous pictures, all coloured by hand. Mr. Swaiuson resided in New Zealand for several 3-ears, and then returned to England.]