NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1842.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 42, 12 January 1842, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1842.

We have had much pleasure in perusing two documents forwarded by the natives of the Bay of Islands, and surrounding districts, to His Excellency the Governor, on the subject of the late murder of Mrs. Roberton and family bv the native Makatu. The seizure of this individual, allied as he is to al most all the principal chiefs of the Ngapuhi tribes, and his removal to Auckland, caused much excitement ; and our correspondence from Kororarika led us to believe that the excitement might terminate in some act of a seriuu character, as large bodies of the natives had assembled armed, and had assumed a very menacing attitude. „ That the anticipated danger was exaggerated there can be now no doubt, and we shrewdly suspect that the consternation exhibited by the people of Kororarika must have been imparted to the natives, and that their assemblage was more a measure of self defence, than purposed aggression. The act of carrying off Makatu, a young chief of high connexion, in very defiance of their most cherished observances, must have startled them, and roused their indignation ; and this was doubtless increased by the conversation and taunts of low Europeans: but it speaks volumes for their good sense and forbearance, when upon berng convened at Pahiha, and reasoned with by the Rev. Henry Williams, they could listen to his explanations, and conclude by agreeing to such resolutions, and by inditing such a letter as these alluded .to. It seems almost incredible that a body of men who, a few years since, were ferocious and blood thirsty cannibals, could have, been so humanized as to have calmly listened to reason, and to have actually assented to the justice of an act against which must have been arrayed the;/ strong-

est prejudices; similar assemblages in England seldom separate without riot and bloodshed. The Natives of New Zealand have been called “ intellectual savages ” for savages they must still be called as regards their conception of the machinery of civilized life, but they will daily lose a titie to that appellation by the labours of the Missionaries and by the knowledge of our customs their quick perceptions enable them to gain. A Newspaper entitled “ the New Zealand Messenger’’ about to be published in the Native language under the auspices of Government, will certainly have a greater influence in civilizing them, using the word in its broadest sense, than any other means that could have been devised, it is proposed to print it monthly, and for the present to distribute it gratis, and it is to contain a digest of the Ordinances of His Excellency the Go vernor —of the Laws of England—of the manner of jurisdiction—-of crimes punishable by law, and explanations of and remarks on many of the customs of Europeans. The natives are to be invited to make Known (heir greivances to the Governor and their opinion of his acts through the medium of its Columns.

A publication of this nature will be a source of great interest to an inquisitive race like the natives, but of course its contents must be simplified to their comprehension, particularly the explanation of the laws and of the crimes punishable by law, for on these points their usuges are so opposite to ours, that much tact will be required to prevent their thinking us inconsistant and unjust; much interesting information on general subjects may be also given, as tending to elevate them in the social scale, and the Press may be thus made a powerful engine ot good, even in the wilds of New Zealand.

Since we have entered their country as friends and protectors, under solemn treaty, we are bound in honour to act as such, and it is gratifying to see the Governor overstepping the meagre boundaty of duty and extending to this interesting people, that paternal care which their situation demands.