PROPOSED SEPARATION OF THE ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND.
[Image of page 61]
PROPOSED SEPARATION
OF THE
ISLANDS OF NEW ZEALAND.
(From the Daily Times, December 7, 1861.)
MANY persons resident in Otago think the question of the separation of the two Islands is of novel growth; some there are, even, who take credit for being the earliest supporters of the idea. Perhaps they have thought over it upwards of twelve months. Vain pretenders! let us introduce them to the first advocate of separation, the man whose sagacity foresaw, years ago, what has only become apparent to their vision a few months. Sir George Grey is the man; he was the first separationist; he urged it in the most strenuous language the cold form of an official document would permit, whilst the "pilgrim fathers" of Otago were yet on the ocean, wending their way to the unknown land they proposed to colonise. The hills of Dunedin were yet clothed in their native verdure, the wild flowers bloomed in its untrodden streets, when Sir George visited the spot and wrote:-- "have never seen a country better adapted for the reception of immigrants, my only apprehension is the distance of this
[Image of page 62]
point from the Seat of Government, from which cause I fear very serious inconvenience, perhaps disaster, may arise."
Well would it have been for Otago had Sir George's advice then been taken. Out of its yet unveiled resources he recommended that £6000 per annum should be appropriated for the salary of a Governor and the chief Civil officers; "and," he added, "I believe that, with the advantage of possessing from its earliest days the presence of an efficient Local Government, the progress of the settlements formed in this Southern Province would be so rapid that it would shortly yield a large surplus revenue."
We print below in full the despatch from which these are extracts. Any remarks we may make, can but weaken the effects of a document that has preserved its vivid and startling freshness through a lapse of thirteen years, and that speaks with the force of the present from the long-buried and forgotten records of the past. Until the claims of Great Britain to the sovereignty of New Zealand are conceded, the Middle Island will bear its share of the expences. But, the war at an end, it should be allowed to wash its hands of the future struggles that are always likely to arise between Europeans thirsting for territorial acquisitions, and a race of half savages desirous of retaining that which British laws admit they are entitled to. Let the North Island have no wealthy neighbour to fall back upon, to pay the cost of wars that interest itself alone. If the richest mother coun-
[Image of page 63]
try determines to allow its turbulent daughter to run alone, surely she would not be allowed to fasten her troubles and her follies on a younger sister. We believe the Imperial authorities are not far wrong, -- the Northern Island requires to learn the salutary lesson of self-helpfulness.
DESPATCH OF GOVERNOR GREY TO EARL GREY.
The following despatch, although written by Sir George Grey thirteen years ago, is full of interest at the present time:--
"GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
AUCKLAND, March 16, 1848.
"MY LORD,
"I beg to state, for your Lordship's information, that on my recent visit to the Southern Settlement, an opportunity offered of my examining a portion of the country lying in the vicinity of the Port of Otago, at which I understand a Settlement is to be formed; indeed I am informed that the first emigrants are already on their voyage from England for the purpose of occupying this locality.
"I am happy to be able to state that I have never seen any locality that appeared to me to be better adapted for the occupation of Brittish Settlers; and from the fertility of the soil, the unequalled facilities which it offers for the depasturing of sheep and cattle, and its general remarkable advantages, there can be
[Image of page 64]
no doubt that the Southern portion of the Middle Island offers prospects of the most cheering kind to the intending emigrants, of whose ultimate success there can be no doubt.
"The distance of this part of the Middle Island from Wellington, leads me, however, to apprehend that the early settlers at Otago and its vicinity will experience considerable disadvantages from the remoteness of the Seat of Government, which will be situated in the Northern Island. I would, therefore, suggest to your Lordship that, should there be any probability of a large number of settlers proceeding to Otago, it would greatly promote their prosperity, and increase their chance of escaping the difficulties which young and distant settlements have generally to undergo, if Her Majesty would authorise me to proclaim the creation of a Third Province in the New Zealand Islands, embracing in its limits about half the Middle Island, together with Stewart's Island and the dependencies of New Zealand lying to the southward of that Island.
"By the recent charter, Her Majesty is empowered to create such a province, and a provision has been made for reserving from its revenues a civil list of Six thousand Pounds per annum, which, under judicious management, would suffice to pay the salaries of the Lieutenant-Governor and the chief civil officers, together with a considerable portion of the incidental expences of the Government; and I believe that, with the advantage of possessing, from its earliest
[Image of page 65]
days, the presence of an efficient local government, the progress of the settlements formed in this Southern Province would be so rapid that it would shortly yield a large surplus revenue.
"It will be seen from Lieutenant Banbury's Report to Governor Hobson, of the 28th June 1840, that this officer, even at that date, fully reported the apparent advantages of the southern portion of the Middle Island; and my own observations lead me entirely to concur in his views: in fact, I have never seen a country better adapted for the reception of immigrants, and my only apprehension is the distance of this point from the Seat of Government; from which cause, I fear that very serious inconveniences--perhaps disaster--may spring.
"I have stated these views to the New Zealand Company's principal agent, as embodying my only objection to the formation of the proposed new and distant settlement; and I, at the same time, acquainted him that I would bring under your Lordship's notice the subject of forming that portion of New Zealand into a separate Province.
"I ought further to state, for your Lordship's information, that I think the adoption of this measure would be very beneficial to the whole of New Zealand, as there would then be no portion of these Islands which would be removed beyond the efficient reach and constant control of Government; a circumstance which, looking to the nature of the New Zealand coast line, and the facilities which this affords
[Image of page 66]
for smuggling, and at the same time considering the varied and peculiar nature of our population, is, in my belief, a matter of the utmost consequence to the peace and prosperity of all the settlements in these Islands.
"Should your Lordship, upon a review of all these circumstances, determine upon adopting this measure, you may feel quite satisfied that the settlements established in the southern portions of New Zealand, if they are judiciously managed, will be extremely prosperous in themselves, and will tend greatly to promote the interests of the Colonies already established in other portions of these Islands.
"I have, &c.,
(Signed) "G. GREY."
