NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1842. OUR DEPENDENT MEMBERS.

New Zealand Herald and Auckland Gazette, Volume I, Issue 53, 19 February 1842, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND HERALD, AND AUCKLAND GAZETTE. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1842. OUR DEPENDENT MEMBERS.

Having treated at considerable length in our last number of the public or political character of our Independent Members of Council, it is but fair and just towardsYheir brethren, the Government or Dependent Members, that we should give them a similar benefit, and exhibit them also in their true colours before the public. In discharging this part of our duty to them and to the public, we must confess that we have much less pleasure than we have had in the former article,—in so much as, though we had some things to condemn in the conduct of our independent members, we had still a very great deal to commend, anti it is at all time a much more agreeable task to speak of the good qualities of men, whether in public or private Hfe, than to be compelled to draw all the dark and dismal lines by which vice and folly mar the fine features of our race.—lt is pleasant to dwell upon the high and noble moral beauties of mankind, the heart lingers after and loves to re t upon the recollection of the deeds of the wise, the generous, and the good ; bat unfortunately the roses are only to be found in the bush of thorns, and the honey must be separated from the poison which is mixed with it—pain • and pleasure follow and too frequently accompany one another; - and if we have at times the delightful occupation of praising our fellow men, we have too often the painful and distressing labour of taking soundings in dark and dismal pools, and placing beacons on hidden rocks and reefs, on which all are in danger of being wrecked, though many have neither the time, the prudence nor sagacity to discover them or to avoid them without such lights* Many people we doubt not have imagined that we mixed too much of the vinegar of censure with the wine of approbation in the cup which we dealt to our estimable and highly valued members, Mr. Earp and Mr, Porter, but j

such persons were entirely ignorant of our motives and object, as well as of the character of our honourable friends themselves. We ate persuaded that Mr. Earp himself knows too much

of human nature not to acquit us of any ungenerous feelings in telling, candidly and openly, what opinions not only we ourselves, but many others in Sydney, entertained regarding him and his connexion with the New Zealand Government. On one point we disagreed with Mr. Porter ; some of our friends.thought it was a thing immaterial in itself, but we reviwed it in a far different light, and believing that it struck at the very root of what Mr. Porter and ourselves had Keen all along contending for, we did not hesitate to declare our sentiments on the subject. We knew it was not a scheme of Mr, Porter’s, but a cunningly devised plan on the part of others to create dissensions in our ranks, and to separate us from one of our best and ablest friends and supporters. Their aim is now happily lost, and we are convinced that Mr. Porter will be found still, as heretofore, on the side of justice, and advocating the rights of the original settlers. Notwithstanding all the censure which we are supposed to have bestowed upon our two independent members, we wish seriously and trulywe could speak in equal terms, or in any way approaching it, of all or any of the Executive. Here, unfortunately, all is desert without one Oasis, or single spot of green, to rest the wearied eye upon. As a whole, with the exception of the Governor, we cannot perceive that they are actuated by a single feeling but that of the most dogged, sullen, and headstrong determination of ruining the whole colony—they may not ,perhaps, and we hope they do not, in their minds intend or wish to do so, but their public measures will most assuredly have that effect. Their misrule has now existed for upwards of two years ; if it continue for twelve months longer, they will effectually succeed in converting this highly favoured and promising laud into a howling wilderness, where they and all “ the other beasts of prey ” may roam at large and alone. We do fee! for the people whom |hey rule over, and for the Governor who is obliged to rule by means of them. We had great hopes of the Governor from the first time he came amongst us—we knew him to be a man of taient, of high and independent principles, possessed of a great sense of justice; and though, from his education and habits, owing to a life the greater part of which was spent at sea, we could not expect that he would be all at once fully competent to manage a colony, we still cherished the idea that in the end he would succeed. We were sorry for his connection with the New South Wales Government —we attributed all the mistakes that had been made to the known incompetency of the officers whom Sir Geo. Gipps had given him—we imagined that these men were shipped by Sir George to throw discredit upon their Captain and Commander, and believed that whenever Captain Hobson had obtained the full command of his own gallant ship, he would, as a matter of course, order them all over board, and ship good landsmen in their place, Had he done so, all would have been right—but unfortunately for New Zealand, though she is no longer under the controul of the Botany Bay Admiral, and made the first at a new station, the incompetent officers and crew are still left aboard ; and we care not who is commander, for with such a set of men the best built ship is sure, in any thing of a sea, to founder and to be lost. It is much to be regretted, that Captaiu Hob son should have ever been connected with those men, and it is matter of astonishment, that he, and he only, should still continue blind to the discredit that these incapables bring upon his own name. The future historian of New Zealand, will, to a certainty remember, and make mention of the name of Hobson, and fasten, we fear upon his character, all the tyranny, the ille-

gal oppression and blundering incompetence of Shortland, Swainson, Cooper, and Co, They will be forgotten, and their dust will mingle with that of the common herd of men, even the Maori himself shall forget them in the place of their oppression. But Hobson will be spoken of as the person who has founded a mighty empire, or perhaps as a person, despite whose burthens and oppressions, an adventurous band of Englishmen have established themselves in a barbarous and foreign country, and have become a great and a powerful people. We would take the liberty of recommending to Captain Hobson, the consideration of the history and character of two of the early Governors of the neighbouring colony of New South Wales. We mean, Bligh and Macquarie, while the one is and ever will be spoken of by every man and child, with detestation and horror for his imbecility and tyranny; the name of our countryman, Lachlan Macquarie is handed down from father to son, as “ the good Governor Macquarie,” and his government is remembered and ever will be, as the golden age of New South Wales. Would that our Governor would follow, as he might, quch an example, and allow us to remember his name through acts liberality and justice, as that of the good Governor Hobson.

We can scarcely tell in what light to regard the other, or the “ dependent’’ members of Council. We feel indignant at seeing the measures which our excellent Governor frequently concedes, both in and out of Council, thwarted by the combination of these men. Whatever His Excellency may promise for the general good, is certain to be refused after it has come under the consideration of his precious Executive; thus placing His Excellency in the very disagreeable light of ■having broken his promises. They appear to have so entwined themselves about him that, struggle how he may, he cannot set himself free. With the highest principles of honour and integrity, he is made to appear in a far different light; thwarted and misled in every thing he does. We should very much like to see Shortlanb. & Co. in the hands of Sir Geo. Gipps for one month only—in less than that time, if they dared to usurp the command of the ship, he would make them glad to fly out of the hawse hole. But they have no business whatever to hold their present command; they do not know their duty, and cannot be expected to do it. Shortland ought to have been Boatswain —and in that capacity there is no doubt he would have been a valuable officer—but to make him First Lieutenant, without any knowledge of the management of ship affairs, was an oversight which we should scarcely have thought Captain Hobson would have been guilty of. The Attorney General is no doubt actuated by good motives in the despotic measures which he introduces and defends so pertinaciously ; perhaps he thinks that the Colonists ought te be kept in check by the Government, lest they should do tnemselves mischief. We are disposed to give the hon. gentleman credit for some good on some questions, perhaps as much as conld be expected from so recent a barrister. But we want a man of long standing and experience in Colonial matters. There is no blame, however, attributable to Captain Hobson for this—he would, no doubt, have willingly retained our worthy friend, Mr. Fisher, as Attorney General ; but then as Mr. Swainson had been of some service to the delunct Whig government in Eng~ land, he must forsooth be gazetted as Attorney General in New Zealand. Formerly, it was the practice to place only lawyers of great and long standing in such offices, See the following extract from a high law authority in this case : Sergeant Buzfuz,--“ Mr. Phunky! I do not recollect ever to have heard of him before.” Mr, Perker, —** Oh no, Sir, he is only of vesterdav, lie has not been called to the bar more than ten years!”

Sergeant Buzfuz “ I thought so.” But things, honest Pickwick, are much chailged since thou didst sustain in thy arms the fat widow, from which arose the concatenation of circumstances which brought thee into the Fleet, and Mr. Phunky his first brief. We do not state this in disparagement of Mr. Swainson, we say it to the disgrace of the Whig Government. No man ought to be gazetted as Attorney-General in the Colonies, who has not served at least twenty years as a practitioner in one or other of them, and who thoroughly knows the requirements of a new colony* We have been told that the Attorney-General in Council, on the vile Corporation Bill, stated, as one of its merits, that it had been framed partly at home and partly on the passage out!!! Did the Hon. Gentleman think that the rising commerce of a New Colony

required the same mode of treatment as the town of Little Pedlington at home. It is only a proof in one instance, and many others are not wanting, that the Attorney-General knew no more of the wants of a Colony, for which he was thus lating before he had seen it, than the ship which carried him.

Of Mr. Cooper we shall only say, that we believe him in his private life to be a very worthy man, and in his public character he is Collector of Customs, Colonial Treasurer, and Member of the Executive and Legislative Council.

Our article has this week extended to a considerable length, or we had intended in it to expatiate on the beauties of land-jobbing, as practised by the Government Officers. But as there is too much to be said on the subject, to be comprised in a small space, we shall devote a whole leader to it in our next. Till then, we wish each and every of the firm of Shortland and Co., three good night’s rest.