THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 13, 14 May 1845, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Wednesday, May 14, 1845

In accordance with the promised visit, Te Rauparaha arrived in Wellington on Monday evening, in company with Bishop Selwyn. Every effort was made by RangiIvaeata, upon Rauparaha's arrival at Porirua, to prevent his proceeding to this place, but without effect. This chief maintained his reputation for irresistible influence over his fellow men, when superior intellect can have its influence. All Rangihaeata's arts were powerless,and he acknowledged Rauparaha's power before they parted, by the savage modes of submission. Te Rauparaha has come to Wellington for the first time, we believe, since the settlement was formed, aud he has come to complete an engagement into which he entered with the Government some time since. He engaged then, that the Hutt intruding natives should depart on the first of March last past. They have not departed, but in the meantime have offered him insult through his relation, and he proceeds to the Hutt this day to prove he is the great Chief we believe him to be, or to show that he is powerless ; at all events, he is acting in good faith, and has placed himself in a position that many a stout hearted Englishman would have quailed at. We saw symptoms yesterday of inclinations to insult Te Rauparaha. Need we say, that to insult him would be a proof of cowardice. He is in the white mans power, and he is here in consequence of his believing the white mans word to be his bond. He need not have come here, but he is bound to complete his contract, and believes in the honor of Englishmen. Let that be kept in mind, and Te Rauparaha will, we believe ; be remarkably useful to Port Nicholson. Act with wisdom and honor towards him and we feel confident he will settle the land question; and Wellington will be pointed to not only as the geographical centre of New Zealand, but as the direction in which immigration should proceed. Care should be taken to distinguish between Te Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. There is no evidence to show that the former ever drew the blood of a white man, and the opinion of those best acquainted with the Wairau Massacre, is that had it remained with him all those we now lament, so far as he had power, would be alive. He was the principal chief, but it was beyond his power to control the fury of his followers on the

occasion. Many evidently feel that Te Rauparaha was a dirtroyer at Wairau, but a careful perusal of the evidence will show they are unjustified in this belief. We believe him to be innocent—there is no proof of his guilt. We do not however intend to argue the point. Englishmen fortunately are not allowed to take the law into their own hands, and we will conclude by declaring our conviction, that the man who insults Te Rauparaha, (an old man of seventy years of age,) is not only a bad member of society but ought to be handed over to be dealt with by law and prosecuted to the utmost extent. We ask for r.o display of feeling in favour of this chief, but as he may be the cause of preventing much bloodshed and misery, we suggest the propriety of giving him at least all the encouragement, to do his work, which, abstaining from every offensive proceeding will afford. Let the people of this place act justly and with temperance, and they may yet admit hereafter, that more is due this chief for our progress and prosperity, than to any other individual now in or who may come to New Zealand,

Of the many curses which afflict an Englishman, the greatest is surely that of the paws of the Mother-country heing laid upon him, wherever he may go. The conduct pursued towards New Zealand, by the Home authorities, leads us to make this remark. We need not remind our readers that a few years back, the English Government proclaimed this country an independent state, the power of which was vested in the hands of the sovereign chiefs. Acting on this acknowledgment, a body of 1200 Englishmen, left the shores of their father-land, and settled in Port Nicholson, during the earlier part of 1840. This body, taking for granted the validity of the law made public by the British rulers, agreed to a kind of Federal Republic, which obtained the sanction of the chiefs in this neighbourhood. Affairs were wearing a cheering aspect, things were flourishing, and all parties were contented with their new home, when the colonists found out that their watchful and tender parent would not allow them to expatriate themselves. In defiance of public recognition, New Zealand was then proclaimed a dependency of the British Crown. We cannot say that the settlers were displeased at this announcement, it was rather the contrary, fully anticipating that since the Government had evinced so much zeal for their presumed welfare, they would receive, in case of need that protection, to which in any other place under the Crown, they would have been entitled. But things soon wore a different aspect. The natives around Port Nicholson, previous to the arrival of the British authorities, had been peaceable and quiet, good friends with the settlers ; and the residents themselves were happy. Had England never interfered with us, we should have had no quarrels ; no disputes about land ; and no villains to stir up the aborigines against their white brethren. But Government officials were soon appointed ; Police Magistrates, and Protectors—Land Commissioners, and Clergymen—and the settlers, to whose sturdy and persevering efforts New Zealand owes its colonization, soon reaped the fruits of the boasted privilege of being Britons. The Maories, seeing the efforts that were made by interested Government parties to create a disturbance with the colonists, commenced that career of violence, which has at length ended, in the violent and brutal deaths of many of our countrymen. If it had not been for the malicious interference of Government, amicable arrangements would have been maintained, and one soldier would not have been required, throughout the breadth and length of the land. New Zealand would now be flourishing, and would have been pointed out by the friends of freedom in every part of the world, as an example of what might be effected by sound policy. But the whole thing was blasted, and a fair and fertile country prostrated, by the venom of England's rulers, The Home Government spit their spite at the settlers; directed their hired sycophants to work their will; and the thing was accomplished—our misery. But has it fallen on us alone ? Look at the

North! View the blessed effects of their policy ; the evils resulting from which can only be swept away by rivers of blood. And had the colonists resisted the encroachment of the Home Government, with arms in their hands, they would have been styled rebels. Rebels—forsooth! because they daiedto vindicate, by their own strength, that which they had obtained by their own arduous struggles. If the same system had been carried on by the English Government, towards her older colonies, as that which she has pursued towards this unfortunate land, they would have appeared in arms, to assert their rights, and obtain their station amongst the nations of the world. We can only curse the hour when England interfered, and blasted our progresss and our prospects. The Colonial Office, dastardlike, presumes upon a giants childhood.

We call attention to our correspondent " Clinker's " communication. He supports us in the absolute necessity we have already asserted of causing Captain Fitzroy's retiring from the Government of New Zealand. Since we asserted this necessity, we have seen more of his speeches in Council, which add to our conviction that the course he will pursue at the Bay of Islands, will be of the same mischievous character as those proceedings which have heretofore been the consequence of his unhappy state of mind. We urge upon the people of Wellington forthwith meeting and publicly expressing their opinion respecting his insane state of mind. We feel assured the proceeding will be adopted by every settlement in New Zealand.

A letter will be found under our original correspondence from Mr. Fox. We certainly did feel that the comparison was invidious and unjust, but we are now confident we were misled by the grave manner in which a jocose speech was reported.

Terms of the Wellington Land Agents. —At a a general meeting of the Land Agents held this day, at the Wellington Tavern, C. Alsdorf, Esq., in the Chair, it was unanimously resolved— That in consideration of the trouble and expense to which the Agents of Ahsentee Proprietors are subjected, not only from having frequently to attend and poiut out on the spot, the boundaries of the town allotments and country sections, the latter being at a considerable distance from Wellington, and difficult of access, but having in many instances to do so repeatedly before a tenant is procured, and the country sections being generally let at a peppercorn for some years. That the following rate of charges be adopted as a reasonable and just remuneration for the average duties and trouble of superintending estates and property in the Colony :— For general superintendence. —£l annually for each country section until let, and £2 after letting, until the expiration of the peppercorn rent. £10 percent, oa all receipts from rent or other profits arising from land. For Letting.— Where the rent received is under £10, £1. Where the rent is progressive, £10 per cent, on the amount of one year's average rent of the term for which the property is let. For Selling.—£lo per cent, on amount of purchase money. The above rate of charges to include the general correspondence between Principal and Agent, and a yearly statement shewing the condition and progress of the property. That in consequence of the difficulty of access to several districts, it be recomtnened to the Absentee Proprietors to authorize their Agents to draw, not exceeding £5 per section, towards any subscription that may be proposed, on equal terms with the proprietors or tenants of adjoining lands, for the formation and maintaining of roads in such districts, until relieved by a legislative enactment. Resolved—That the foregoing resolutions be printed as a circular to send to Principals in England.

We copy the following letter from the Sydney Morning Herald, of the 14th April. We have some colonists here who have been in the Militia in the West Indies, who fully concur in the sentiments expressed therein and we think the Governor would do well to follow the example set upwards of a century ago by the different Governors of the West India Colonies. We shall have a few remarks to make, with regard to a Militia, in our next number. To the Editors of the Sydney Morning Herald. Gentlemen,—ln reply to a letter which appeared in yesterday's Morning Herald, signed " Late Lieut.-Col. Royal D a Militia,' and in which it is stated that the militia in the West Indies was perfectly absurd, I beg leave to trespass on your valuable time, by requesting you

to inform the above gentleman that he must be totally unacquainted with the West India militia, in making such a statement. Having belonged to the militia of Jamaica, I can personally disprove the assertion, and at the same time refer him to the praise bestowed on the said militia, by (he late gallant LieutenantGeneral Sir John Keane, then Commander of the Forces in Jamaica, for their brave and soldier-like behaviour during the Rebellion of 1832—33. Ido not wish to occupy much space in your valuable paper regarding the manner hi which a militia should be formed; but in my opinion New Zealand cannot have more difficulties to contend with in that respect than the West Indies, where the average is only one white to fifty blacks; and where, generally speaking, there is not above one officer in any regiment who has served in the army. I am, &c, An ex-West Indian Mimtia-man,