THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 37, 6 August 1845, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Wednesoay, August 6, 1845,

The Parliamentary discussions on the affairs of New Zealand, evincing as they do so much good feeling towards this misused and worse governed colon)', must be productive of the most beneficial and lasting consequences to the settlers located in these islands. There is one feature, in the affair, which we fain hope will not be overlooked. It has been acknowledged by all parties, both interested and disinterested,'that the principal measure of our ills has resulted from the extremely faulty colonial policy of Great Britain. England's vast colonial possessions are ruled by one man—the Colonial Secretary of the day—and he is appointed without regard to his fitness, and merely for home political purposes. The appointments to the several-governments, all emanate from this one source, and are characteristic of the mind of the individual who wields this immense power. Thus according to feelings of the Colonial Minister, are the colonies governed, and till a blow is struck

at the very root of the %yil, but little permanent good can be anticipated by the various countries o-vning the sway of England. The attention which will be drawn to this subject, by the New Zealand ques-tion,-may possibly open the eyes of the public to the impropriety, if not danger, of permitting such a system to continue, and probably tend to a desire to put matters on in accordance with some sound principle. Then will really .arise the question as to the mode of properly and profitably governing the colonies of Great Britain.

•We, on lhe -spot, feel we could easily ■solve the difficulty, but not so in the mothercountry. Representation of the most ample nature is the real cure; but plan after plan will probably be proposed at home, each probably better than the present, and out of the many ideas, one may be adopted, which ■will prevent a repetition of the grievances ■under which we in New Zealand, and no doubt our fellow countrymen in the sister colonies, so grievously labour. The only

right and proper method seems to us to be to allow the colonies to select, not only representatives, but their rulers. The colonists are, generally speaking, acquainted with that which would prove most desirable to themselves, Aware of the danger of selecting an incompetent person to fill the onerous office of Governor, they would select one qualified by experience with men and things, and who would uphold the dignity of the British name. Can any reasoning man believe for one moment, that New Zealand would be in its present position, had the settlers enjoyed the privilege of nominating the Representative of the Crown ? Does any one suppose that a person so essentially deficient in all the qualifications for the office as Capt. Fitzroy really is, would have been selected by the settlers, or that missioDaryism would Have been permitted to so completely swamp the energies -of the colonists, if the settlers had the power they ought to possess ? All will admit that the present war, which is likely to prove one of extermination, never would have sprung into being, had the Governor been to the settlers, for his "several acts. The plea may be offered that election to the extent we propose, -is open to mis-use. It might prove so in one or two instances, but it never could be attended with the evils resulting from the present colonial policy of Great Britain. We- do not say that the different Governors should be elected unqualifidedly; since, as a matter of course, the Minister would expect to wield the. power of being enabled to sanction, or refuse to ratify, the selection of the colonial Governors, and this would prove an ample check, if any be required. But if some plan like the one we have proposed, were adopted, we are convinced that England would be the gainer, the colonists more happy and prosperous, and that no such cases of glaring incompetency and mis-go-vernment would arise, like those of which this colony has for five years been the victim. That, however, which FSmament may refuse ? to accede at present, it may -nevertheless be wise'to assert to be necessary for the progress of this far distant dependency of Great Britain. And we think it would be advisable to procure signatures to a petition to ; the House of Commons, respectfully requesting that the residents in these islands may be allowed to elect their Governor, subject to the sanction ofUhe Colonial Department.

Some time back, we reported in our columns, that the Hutt question was finally and amicably settled. When we did. so, there was every likelihood of this harassing affair being terminated. By the persevering efforts of Major Richmond, a body of the intruders, originally from Wanganui, retired to their own country, whilst a still larger number placed their potatoes in Thorndon Fort for sale, and also agreed* to abandon the land they had seized upon. So far the - matter was in a fair way of being settled, and the entire Hutt District laid open for the wants and uses of the Port Nicholson settlers, so far as the numerous absentee holdings would permit of this. But we are sorry to be obliged now to state that the natives have exhibited their visual

craft and fraud, and that this protracted affair, which has weighed SQ'iCsgvily on the energies of the colonists, is as v far from being settled as ever. In fact, no further hopes can ever be entertained of the affair being settled, without the'resort to the use of force.

Last week, Rangihaeata, the Wairau butcher, began staking a line across the Valley, through Mr. Boulcott's section; beyond which line the murderer will not allow the settlers to locate themselves. Thus stands the matter at present, and this ruffian must be properly dealt with if twe are te secure peace. Rangihaeata is a quarrelsome, meddling, ferocious brute, and nothing seems to satisfy him but blood, and we may yet live to see him properly punished, though pardoned by the Maori Destroyer, for his share in the Wairau Tragedy.

Our.attention has been called to persons driving their 'horses and carts along the

foot-way, in Willis-street. We remind such' that they can be taken before the Police Magistrate, who we trust will teach them better behaviour than cutting up the only respectable or decent path in the town. We trust that Messrs. Hunter, 'Rae, &c.—who had the public spirit to make the road in question, will endeavour to prevent it from becoming like a* majority of roads in this district, a sea of mud.

If we find the parties in question do not take this hint, we shall publish their names in the paper, and call upon Mr. St. Hill to make the constables look after them.

We still go to press without any authentic news of the " Maeri Destroyer," or the affairs in the North. It is now ten weeks since the Palmyra arrived, and the last intelligence we have of the movements of the troops is 52 days old. We presume Nelson is in the same predicament, for our worthy Governor forgets, in the frenzied Maori enthusiasm of his nature, that any number of his countrymen have located themselves in Cook's Straits. We wish we could say that Captain Fitzroy forgot to impose and collect taxes from us. The worthy man remembers that Welliagton, Nelson, and New Plymouth are on the map of New Zealand, when he is in want of money.

To our Subscribers and Friends.— In answer to many questions "Do we intend to discontinue the insertion of interesting tales, &c. ? " We beg to say that we have no idea of discontinuing the Tales, but have merely left them out owing to the heavy press of English intelligence. In our Saturday's paper we shall again begin the system, which seems to have given such general satisfaction.