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Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 42, 17 December 1845, Page 3

The result of the New Zealand debate, if not eltogether euih as was due te the perverse blunders of Lord Stanley, is far from being a triumph to him, or a defeat either of the settlers or the Company. New Zealand has, in fact, been promoted to the parliamentary honours, too often barren, wa admit, of Irland. Its wrorige command a three da|a debate. Its mismanagement threaten* a duration of cabinets. New Zealand, like IreianH, has forded the Cabinet, in the persons of Sir Jarms Graham 1 and Sir Robert Peel, to make the g?n>e humble move, and come forward, in pemteat a ttlitude, with promises of better conduct.

The Home Secretary has, indeed, turned Head Pacificator—a new character for the ones provocative and bitter partizan. As he itemed his finality denunciation about Ireland, co, last night. he admitted that his friend .Lord fetanley might have been wrong with tegard to New ZesUnd. Instead of the defiant, unyielding, and coldly-im-pertinent tone of Mr Hope, we bad bir Jameji Graham all sauvity and conciliation. Instead of defending Captain Fitzroy, and declaring, with I,ord Stanley, tnat if he was recalled it was {or no fnuit, Sir James flung the gallant captain overboard altogether, disclaiming on behalf of the Government, (he responsibility of his acts, and alleged be hdd most palpably disobeyed the orders and counteracted the aims of the Cabinet. Iα fiae, the Home Secretary cried Peccavi.

This could not but disarm the House ; and from his open confession of past errors, the M.niiter parsed to a statement ot future intentijr.*. tne very foes and victims of tha Coloniel Diprfitment. however they might mistrust, could scarcely puraue a foe so palpably and avowedly in retreat.

There was but one exception to Si' Jitnee Graham's blandness, and it proved an unfoit'icF.te one for him Whilst succumbing to or retreating from Iris enemies, the right honourable baronet thought fit to indulge in one bit of habitual inveteracy, and to make a kick at what he thought a point. In the midst of bis admission of Lord Stanley's blunders and embarrassments, be said that the greater-part of these were owing to Lord John Russell's conduct, in concluding two coaventioas co incompatible as the treaty of Waitari£i and the agreement with the New Zealand Company.

The at ack afforded Lord John Russell an opportunity for one of tne most triumphant replies ever heard in the House- It at the stme tione enabled his lordship o give the. clear, and true, and rational view of the trenty of Waitaogi. The misconception —and we think the wilful misconception—of which has proved the means for Lnrd Stanley* gratifying his malice against the New Ztaland Company and settlers.

Most clearly did Lord John Rassell prove from his written instructions aad from the words of the charter itself, that his view of the treaty ol Waitangi never implied the acknowledgement of native title to was cor unoccupied linds. Nothing bur. perveiseiies-. s-eif-intereet, or stupii fanaticism could have so construed it.

The quarrel, however, is at an er>d—at le*st if there he such a thi ■■? as sincerity in Lord Stanley, or Lord Stanley's alter ego in the House of Commons. For Sir James Graham declarfd himself a convert to the recomtnendntian of the committee, that waste lands in New Zealand should bs considered Crown property. The purpose of the Government he declared to be, to make people foiwith put in all cla'ni' to laud, which cinims were to be registered forthwith, and form the basis of Unded property in Ne*- Zealand, the Crowa i self tdking all unregiS;ertd lauUs.

It is a wise corollary to such c determination to send a regiment to carry it out; since the last of making Heki and Rauperaha contented with less than unlimited proprietorship will niw, thanks to the mismanagement of Lord Stanley *s agents be an achievement of bayonets. We.are well aware.too. how long such registry may be deterred, enrt howmany difficulties may be throwu in the w<y of accomplishing what is now, for the lisud or fourth time, promised—the location of ths settlers on spots of ground which they can call their own. Bat the best guarantee of this beint, accomp iahsd was in the tone and temper of the House, whicn evidently would come to a second discussion or consideration of the question,jif spoiled or unsettled, or adjourned. in a temptr which not all Sir Jaisies Graham's, newly-born power of conciliation could appease.

The condeminati n of Captain Fitzroy in full Parliament by the Home Minister, who so far in« deed ably answered Captain Rous, cannot but Drove, moreover, a very useful portion of the new governor's instructions. He must *cc that the eye of Parliament is on the colony, and that Downing-street is neither uncontrolled ocr omnipotent. Without sunn lesson, such control, we own that Captain Gray's appointment was not satisfactory. The gtand fault of all officials, who have meddled wi h New Zaalaad, has beea that they were theoretic not pratical, admiaistraton, Mr. Dandeson Coafces. and Lord Stanley, and Captain Fitaroy built a kind of philosophy amongst them, to. which they sacrificed reality justice, and common sense. Captain Grey has theorized too on the subjtct of the aborigines. And thie quality of mind is precisely that for which there i» tue least necessity at present.—Evening Chronicle, June 17.