THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 118, 28 November 1846, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT

Saturday, Novkmher 28, 1846.

THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY.

In our observations addressed to the Directors of the New Zealand Company, we quoted a portion of a letter referring to " the petition of the colonists," under an erroneous impression that ihe petition had been signed by settlers in tho colony. It appears, however, to have been prepared for settlers sojourning in London, and signed by such only, and is printed in the appendix to the corrected report of debate in the House of Commons, of June, 1845. The following passages are exi/aottd to shew how much people who leave this colony assume, when they follow the leaders of Broad Street Buildings, wjmse hands are clearly traceable in the petition.

The real colonists of New Zealand are those whom your Peticioners virtually represent—the settlers on the shores of Cook's Straits, about the centre of New Zealand ; who number at least 12,000 souls, including 2,000 persons qualified to sit as Common Jurors; who have carried with them a capital estimated at not lesj than .£2,000,000 ; aud on whose behalf the New Zealand CompHny has besides expended nearly .£600,000 in the work of Colonisation.

That although a great variety in the Elective Franchise enjoyed under Charters of Government in English Colonies produced similiar differences in the forms of Colonial Government, yet that it was always certain Inhabitants of the Colany, and not strangers, who made and chiefly executed the Laws. And that in praying your Honourable House to devise some means of bestowing Representative Government on New Zealand, your Petitioners wish to express their opinion, that on account of the ignorance both of the inferior order of Natives, asd of the poorer immigrants who fly from pauperism in this country, it is desirable that the Local Constitution of the Colony should be far from Democratic ; the grand point being, that Colonists of whatever class, and not strangers—that is, persons having interests in common with the permanent Inhabitants, and not persons coming from a distance merely to enjoy place and salary—should have a real voice in the management of the Colony.

Had we before read this petition, we should have earlier noticed it, for the purpose of pointing out the extreme injustice of classing the working men and small landholders of these settlements with the inferior order of natives. And the false and unfounded impression of them which the words « poorer immigrants, who fly from pauperism in this country," is calculated to convey. We maintain ihat the working men of this settlement are fully competent toexercise the elective franchise, are more so in general than the small householders in iingland, and have on various occasions shewed themselves fully ahve to the true interests of the colony. The world has surely grown old enough to have ascertained the right of every man who contributes to taxation, unless criminal or insane, to have a voice in the appoint ment of the Representatives who impose taxes. The evils which may arise from the supposed ignorance of the* poorer dectors, can not be greater than those which have been inflited by Representatives chosen under a restricted franchise. To what other source were the corn laws due. Would they hnve existed ten years in England, had the pe-.ple been fully and fairly represented? Wiih very few exceptions, all the settler* here are well qualified to exercise the right of voting. To deprive any considerate number of this privilege would, from the connected interests of the less poorer electors, be (ho means of creating an oligarchy, the most dangerous form of tyranny. New Zealand Company should have given us the names of the good colonists who, assuming virtually to represent the settlers, offer to give away their ri°ht to vote. And, though rather late, it U but right that we should thank the Company for this additional proof of the interest it has taken in the affairs of the colony.

Wo have witnessed with the most perfect satisfaction the late arrangements sanctioned by our most gracious sovereign for the fomation of a new ministry, sir Robert Peel retires as a triumphant champion- and his successors take the reins of government with his best wishes for their success in office. This chanoe was necessary, after so arduous a etroggle, both for the repose of the party going out, and

for tho concentration of ih e cnf>r<ri eß that which aocoiles to power. f , romoved from the scene of thoee of lions, we necessarily view them tliroi? 1 ' pec.ilinr medium, but-we cannot rofiv from concluding that the<e remarkable 1 temntions will have the offeoi of bonofiii" the colonies generally, We luivo c reason for believing that the great pica which ought to form iho ba*ie of o°'" lonial government are beginning , 0 ?" thoroughly understood, and we fancy tU? we see tho commencement of an off manifested to adopt them faithful?! These principles being contained i n th desires and wishes of the people, 8 o far a they can bo olenrly perceived, or have been openly expressed, are easily adopted whe honeuiy of purpose id the rule. Assuming that tin. includes the abrogate interest! and suffrages of the Population" taken at the ox'ent to which it ia applicable with reference to economical government and the public safety, no difficulty need ari ß o' 111 /raining and propelling the machinery of society; and it ia only when deviations from this fitness <f purposo take place thai disruptions and accidents occur. We believe we may safely conclude, however that the welfare of these settlements will besuffi -iently borne in mind by the statesmen now brought into power; and may infer that circumstances will impel them to set forth some plan calculated for ihe final adjustment of New Zealand interestsat least that the welfare of the inhabitants of these islands will reciveall thate-rioos consideration to which ihe topography and geographical position of their" native or adopied country entitle it. In making these remarks wo do so without any, even the slightest, reference to those concociions which have recently emanated from the New Zealand Company, and from their individual adherents'. All these we treat as so much impotence -as absolute crudity—calculated only to perturb and agitate. We trust that ihe colonists here know how 10 advocate their own cauie; and we are quite sure (hat an amount of intelligence exists in the mass, both in quality and degree, quite ample enough to do this f»r themselves, without having recourse to the very doubtful pretensions and protestations of any body of individuals whose inter, sts absolutely foreign to their own. We are led to hope greatly from the appointment of Earl Grey to the colonial department, not only from the fact of hi, being an acknowledged constitutional statesman, but we hailliij accession to office as an earnest of a most perfect emancipation from one of the greatest evil? that could bef .11 any new community, viz., that of a canonical ascendency. Asa former advocate of the New Zealand Company, we admire the zeal of the elected minister, but we feel persuaded that on this subject his ardour will cool by the influence of subsequent information ; and those undeniable facts to which we allude will by this period have arrived in England to correct and rectify his judgment. We cannot for a moment hesiiaiein our approbation of choice between the present arid the lale Colonial Minister, so far as regards his trustworthiness in general matters of policy. It is a most fortunate circumstance for mankind that some loaven of good always accompanies evil fortunes. The principles of liarl Grey are so opposite to those of his brief predecessor in office, on points affecting the best interests of society,—more especially the moral emancipation of the human mind from superstition and big,try, that his appointment is to usmostconsolatary. The support which the present Colonial* Minister has heretofore rendered the Company, lias been given to that Corporation as representing the interests of a body of Englishmen whose well-being that company has professed to have at heart. When, however, he comes to be informed that the settlers here desire to be relieved from the dead weight of this ariarchial body, and tliat they hope to derive much grente'r benefit from its removal, than they possibly could from iis eternal pressure; and would be in no position.to recover from their prostration either by its dissipation or disintegration; then, with this conviction combined with his general enlightened views and liberal principles, we may indeed congratulate oure.'lves upon his assumption of office in tho administration of colonial affairs.

Provision Tradr The salt pork and bacon shipped in the •♦ Star of China," for Sydney, by Capt. Taylor, and one or two other pttriice, realized remunerative prices. The pork fetched 4<l. per ft, and the bacon G£d. The articles, especially the pork, were highly prnised by competent judges in Sydney. An immense market is here open to us, and it is our own fault if we do not avail ourselves of it.

TI I( > Mhoonor Comkt, Cork, mister, arrived in t from Sydney, on I'hurßiUy last. • Ska hid v V vo'urable run of 12 day*, nud lost 10 head of •attle out of 3-i. Thu rest h»ve b«en landed in f,,e condition, and will be Hold, together with tho sheep imp" l ' tc,, her, th ' H (lliy ' h y Mr, Wuilt *

Thebrigaptinc " Star of Chine," Wood, muster' arr ived in p ort on Thursday, from Sydney. Bhe had v fitvournble run of 13 days. She shipped beween 70 and 80 sheep in Sydney, and lost twelve on the pnes-ige. The rest were landed in fine condition and will be sold to-duy by Messrs. James Smith & Co.

We have to thank Captain Cork, MrPeacock, and Mr. M'Canhy for the ban o f Sydney papers to (he 14th met., cxiic rl s from which will be Jound in our columns.

The Theatre closed on Wednesday last f,,r the season. ' Mr. Marriott , * acting in the Tempter, \vw exceedingly jjood, and the piece Went off very well. During the recess several alterations are contemplated in the Sai'HHi, so as to give additi-mal C'invenienci to the public.