EARL GRANVTLLE'S DESPATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 925, 21 August 1869, Page 8

EARL GRANVTLLE'S DESPATCH.

The following protest against Earl Granville's despatch of the 2Ui March last, is published as a supplement to the European Mail of the 38th June :—: — We, the undersigned persons who have been officially connected with the Legislature and Government of the Colony of New Zealand, venture to take this public notice of a despatch froni Karl Gramnl'e to the Governor of New Zealand, dated the 21«t March ultimo, in reference to an application made on hehalf of tbit colony, for assistance in its present dangers. We feel justified in taking this Btep, because we personally had a share in the transactions to which the despatch relates, and because the colony has no authorised political organ in this country. That department of Government (tbe Colonial Office) to which the colony would naturally look for protection becomes itself the instrument of wrong. In making this public protest we disclaim a'l intention of reflecting on Earl Granville. We have regretted to see that for some time past each suooesuve Secretary of State, on assuming the seals of the Colonial Department, has been led by wrong information to attach his name to some despatch, the allegations of whioh being erroneous, aud the ton* irritating, if not insulting, the Colonial Government his been foroed into a position of hostility with the Colonial Minister ; whilst it hat always been the earnest desire of the colonist*, in the most friendly and loyal spirit, to aid that high officer in the dischage of bis onerous and difficult duties. We regard the allegation!, expressod and implied in Lord Granville't despatoh, as calculated deeply to injure th«t European population of New Zealand in the estimation of their follow-oountrymen in Great Britain, to inflame tho passions of natives already in arms against the Government, to produce di«affootion among those who are friendly, to drive those who aro neutral or wavering into the hostile ranks, and at the tame time to create a bitter feeling of hostility on the part or the colonists towards the Government of th« mother oountry, which it is to bo iearod may bcoom« a national tradition. Tho publication in England *t the presont timo was unjust, because the oolonists, not having had timo to reply to it, aw thai oondoomed unheard,* and nuflfor prejudice, which it may bo difficult if not impossible to remove, from gronndloos obarges of the gravest kind, oircuUtcd without refutation. Wo declare, from our personal knowledge, that the allegations so oonvoyod or implied •gainst the Colonial Government are without foundation. Equally groundless is the imputation impliod in the despatch that tho oolonUt* am not exerting themselves to the utmost in their own defrnoe. Wo regard the aotion thus taken by kho Imperial Government, aooompanisd by *n absolut* refusal of »id to tho oniony under any ciroomatanoM, as In tho highest done* uagtiMtvaj. It it the firtt tin* ia British

hSttoiry that Great BriWnba* insultingly rfefat<ed' MsistaiiM to her countrymen in danger which" she Herself has been inatrumental in erectinsr, /J, ■ '• < ' ' We declare that the repudiation of the plain obligation entered, into by treaty on Her Majesty's behalt with the natives of New Zealand, upon the faith of which they permitted us to colonise the country, x« inconsistent' with British honour, that it is our belief that such repudiation will be subversive in the natire mind of all confidence in the good faith of the European race. We protest that the statement made in the despatch to the effect tbat all responsibility arising out of those obligations was trans* ferred to the colonists at their own demand, is at variance with the circumstances. We fe^el surprised that such a statement should be made, in disregard of the formal Memorial of the General Assembly of New Zealand in 1862, expressly declining to accept such responsibility. We regard the despatch itself as fraught with danger to the colony. The moment it becomes known in the colony it will be interpreted by natives, and circulated amongst their fellow-countrymen. This will ocour simultaneously with the removal of the last'raglment. Our friendly native allies will thus be told thatthe Qaeenhaswithdrawn the protection to which they have been accustomed to look in the last resort in the part they have taken in support of the Queen's Government against their own countrymen, whilst tbe whole body of the natives will be taught to regard the colonists of New Zealand as their oppressors, who have brought their present danger on themselves by neglect of their obligations aud wrongful usurpation of native land; and they will learn to regard, under the sanction of Imperial authority, the massacre of missionaries, women, and children as mere acts of reprisal. Lastly, we declare with sorrow our oonviction that the policy which is being pursued towards New Zealand will have the effect of alienating the affections of Her Majesty's loyal subjects in that country, and is calculated to drive the Colony out of the Empire. G. Grey, late Governor 'of New Zealand. Chas. Clifford, late Speaker of the Hcuse of Representatives. Henry Sewkll, formeriv Colonial Secretary, aud late Attorney General of New Zealand. TLA A.W., late Minister of Defonce. J. Logatt Campbell, late Member of the Executive Council, and Superintendent of the Province of Auokland.