ROBERT FITZROY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 1 (Supplement)

ROBERT FITZROY

THE GOVERNOR'S BURDEN

BY S

Without committing himself to any decision in regard to the Wairau tragedy, Captain Fitzßoy sailed from Nelson to Waikanae early in February, accompanied by Sir Everard Home, the captain of H.M.S. North Star, Major Richmond, Mr. Commissioner Spain, the Governor's' secretary, Sir. Hamilton, and the officers of the warship. On landing within .sight of the Maori stronghold, His Excellency and his companions were welcomed by the Rev. Octavius Hadfield, Mr. Symonds, Mr. George Clarke and a number of natives, who extended appropriate welcomes of a somewhat stirring character to tho newcomers.

Tho Governor's speech, interpreted by Mr. George Clarke, was an appropriate address of no great length which seemed to meet with the approval of tho great mass of tho Maoris after he had been very happily polished by Mr. Clarke, who, it was stated at tho time, shaped it even more carefully than did its author. "The bad news I have had about killing tho white men so cruelly at tho Wairau, after they had ceased fighting and trusted to your honour," ho said with moving emphasis and tone, "has made my heart very dark; has filled my mind with gloom. Tell me your story, that I may compare it with the other and learn tho whole truth." Rauparaha rose with tho dignity of his race, gained by achievement rather than by birth, and was urged by some of his people to speak out that they might all hear his words and measure his mind. "There was," he said, "no evil intended in the commencement of the affray. Land is the foundation of all our troubles. Tho Europeans say that it is theirs, but who says so beside themselves ? The Tory came to Port Nicholson and that was the commencement of tho evil. Wo heard of tho sale of that place by Warepori and Puni. * Warepori was smoking his tobacco and wearing his blankets alone. We never agreed to it. Payment was made, but we never received it. Thus grew the seeds of evil. Who authorised Warepori to receive his payment? Why did he not call the people together and pay them all?" There was the base of the whole trouble that ultimately led to distrust'and war. The Native Problem

Captain Fitzßoy, having asked for a short timo to consider further the gravity of the position, returned at the end of half-an-hour to tell Rauparaha that he had come to the conclusion that there should be peace between the two peoples. The Maoris, he said, had not been blameless, but they were not the worst offenders, and the object of all should be to live in peace and harmony under the sovereignty of the Queens There, for the time being, concord between the two races was established.

Needless to say, Captain Fitzßoy's decision not to givo effect to the proposal of the Nelson deputation, that Rauparaha and Rangihaeata should be brought before a Court of Justice, did "not meet with the approval of the eager land purchasers who were waiting for tho development of their investments and acquisitions. Quito the reverse. Very shortly after tho determination of the Governor was made known the following passage from the pen of a budding politician appeared in tho local newspaper:

If His Excellency should not havo the generosity of an English sailor about him —if he Bhould resent our expression of disapprobation and injure or neglect the settlement, whero we are 15,000 miles from Home —what will become of our wjves and children? A great question truly. But if you put it upon .that ground, ask your wife, and if sho is a wife worth having she will tell you to speak your mind like a man, and neither to fear the Governor nor consequences; for tho women universally hate timidity in men. And as to your children, remember that the day will come when they will be asking you by the fireside about the Wairau matter; and when you have told them all about it, and how the Governor consigned the memory of your friendsi to disgrace, perhaps some little fellow, with native courage (derived from his mother and yet unquenched by paternal policy), will ask you, "And what did you do, father, when the Governor acted bo? " You will have to tell him "Fitzßoy frowned and wo were—silent." Erroneous Comment A few days after the appearance of these outrageous innuendoes there figured in two successive issues of the same publication letters, purporting to come from London, which evidently were intended to belittle the Maoris, and, ono might have thought, to irritate and anger them. "Had the labourers been disciplined as militia, or even stood their ground," said the first authority, referring to the Wairau tragedy, "I feel confident from the accounts and what I myself know of the natives that the latter would not have dared to attack them. To quiet the apprehensions of persons who have friends in New Zealand I may state that I do not anticipate tho slightest danger to the settlements themselves from an attack of tho natives, nor do I think they have the courage to venture upon such an attempt." The second writer seems to have been but a geminate of his predecessor. "Instead of being a race of men of native courage," 110 proclaimed to his readers, "they are tho very antipodes of this, being, in truth,- most cowardly whftn opposed by the least firmness of spirit, vindictive, crafty and cunning in tho extreme, and in their dealings as expert in chicanery as the most accomplished cheat." These statements concerning, tho Maoris need not bo taken seriously to-day, our brown brethren being as punctilious and as daring as we claim to bo ourselves. " Remarks on New Zealand "

It may not be inappropriate to cioso this abbreviated story with an extract or two from "Remarks 011 New Zealand," a little work, long out of print, which was written by the gallant sailor during his return voyage to England early in 1846.

Tho principal objects of the Governor's visit to Wellington and Nelson were to check and endeavour to delay the hostile feelings which were rapidly increasing betweon tho whito and the coloured races, and to effect, if possible, an amicable settlement of tho Now Zedland company's claims to land near Port Nicholson. . . No ono appeared disposed to give tho natives credit for couruf;o or skill in warfare; 110 ono seemed to doubt that they would fly before a very small detachment of military: tho prevailing feeling uppeared to be an anxiety for a collision. . . By their own showing the English party who caused the Wairau conflict wero in, tho wrong. Strict justico must have decided against them. Captain Fitzßoy, being a halo and active young man with a cheery address, quickly won the approval of tho Maoris about Auckland, and soon found their attentions a little embarrassing.

During March and April (1844) largo bodies of natives were successively visiting Auckland to see the new Governor, and talk over affairs. . . The largest room at Government "House was often filled with natives during the most valuable hours of the day; but ns these people had travelled a long distance they could not be uncivilly received, although their presence always put a stop to ordinary business and caused other annoyance.

Captain Fitzßoy did not dwell upon Maori wars; but while ho insisted upon the natives observing; law and order he claimed for them the full rights and privileges of British subjects.