[CONTENTS]
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CONTENTS.
I. Object of the Petition . . . . . 7
II. The Company's motives for engaging in the Colonisation of New Zealand............7
III. The means of Colonisation originally proposed by the Company............7
The mode of acquiring the Sovereignty and Proprietorship of the Soil, on behalf of the Crown, originally proposed by the Company............8
IV. The exclusion of pecuniary speculation an essential principle of the Company's plan; Joint-Stock Association first proposed by Lord Glenelg............8
The Company's desire to act always in concert with Her Majesty's Government rejected by Successive Colonial Ministers............8
The Company's proceedings in accordance with the Government's declaration of New Zealand Independence; both for acquiring lands, and for maintaining order............9
Departure of the Company's Principal Agent in May, 1839; and of first Emigrants to Cook's Strait, in September, 1839............9
V. Results of the first proceedings of the Company; Appointment of Captain Hobson; Defeat of the intended French Penal Settlement............9
Successful proceedings of the Company's Agent............9
Provision for reservation of land for the exclusive benefit of the Natives............9
VI. First Agreement between the Company and the Government, (Lord John Russell's) in November, 1840............10
The Company's Charter of Incorporation, February, 1841............10
Further Special Contracts of the Company, for the purchase of Crown Lands: with Lord John Russell, June, 1841; and Lord Stanley, August, 1842............10
Awards of the Government Accountant in favor of the Company; Title-deeds withheld............10
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VII. Conditions of Lord John Russell's Agreement; intention of that Agreement; contingent on Expenditure only............11
Heads of Expenditure admitted............11
VIII. Information of the proposed General Policy of the Government, and of the intention to institute a Court of Claims, communicated for the first time on 2d December, 1840............12
Lord John Russell's order to assign land to the Company, 20th May, 1841............12
IX. Captain Hobson's refusal to issue grants, without a reference to the Court of Claims............12
Confirmed by Lord Stanley in October, 1842, (condemned by Lord John Russell and the Committee of 1844)............3
No exception made of lands purchased by the Company under Special Contracts with the Crown, and not within the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims............13
Consequent suspension of the Company's land-sales and colonising operations in January, 1843............14
X. Second Agreement of the Company with the Government (Lord Stanley's) in May, 1843............14
Private Correspondence between Lord Stanley and Governor Fitzroy, respecting the Second Agreement not communicated to the Company until February, 1844............14
The Company's Appeal to Parliament in April, 1844............15
XI. Impropriety of the Private Instructions given as above mentioned: and their inconsistency with the public Agreement............15
Governor Fitzroy's proceedings under those Instructions; non-issue of Grants at Wellington; and at New Plymouth............15
XII. Lord Stanley's Despatches of 13th August and 30th November, 1844, on the Report of the Parliamentary Committee of 1844............16
His refusal to fulfil the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee of 1844............10
XIII. Opposition to the Company, on the part of the Colonial Office and the Missionary Societies............17
XIV. The opinions of the Missionary Societies erroneous............17
The New Zealanders without ideas of Civil Government; or of individual property in Land; and a prey to the System of Land-sharking; instances............17
The Missionary plan injurious in its effects............18
The Missionary plan impracticable............18
XV. The opinions of the Church Missionary Society not unbiassed by the personal interest of its Missionaries............18
Missionary land-dealings............19
XVI. The practical effect of the Missionary views to render British Interests subordinate to those of the Aborigines, as seen through the Missionary medium............19
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Hence the repudiation of the Sovereignty; and various illusive Acts, unworthy of this Country, including the "Treaty of Waitangi"............19
XVII. Cause of the indirectness in the Government measures with regard to Land............20
XVIII, Cause of the continued hostility of the Colonial Department, and the Local Government, towards the Company and the Cook's Strait Colonists............20
Effects of this upon the minds of the Natives............20
XIX. Cause also of rivalry and improper selection of the Seat of Government............20
Land-jobbing of the Government, and of the Civil Officers, at Auckland; its effects............21
Other expedients for sustaining Auckland, by Captain Hobson, Governor Fitzroy, and the Colonial Department............22
XX. The Court of the Commission of Land-Claims unsuited to the Country, and injurious in its operation............22
The Massacre of Wairoa caused by the proceedings of the Court of Claims, and the Government's disparagement of the Cook's Strait Colonists............23
The Middle Island not within the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims............23
XXI. Vindication of the Sufferers at Wairoa, by the Parliamentary Committee of 1844............23
Insulting and oppressive proceedings of the Local Government after the Massacre............23
The Company have no wish for retaliation; their views of the duty of Europeans towards the Natives............24
XXII. Neglect of the Natives by the Government............24
The Company's plan of Native Reserves discountenanced............25
The effect of Military Discipline in inducing habits of order not tried; the Chiefs degraded, and rendered dissatisfied............25
In the lavish Colonial Estimates very small provision made for the benefit of the Aborigines............25
Parkhurst Convict Boys introduced into the Colony, and pardoned, to evade Lord Normanby's pledge............25
XXIII. Mode of raising and expending Revenue; constitution of the Legislative Council............25
Financial measures of Captain Hobson, Lieutenant Shortland, and Captain Fitzroy............26
XXIV. Revenue and Expenditure of the old British Colonies; and of the present Colonies, having Representative Institutions, in North America............26
Evils of lavish Colonial Expenditure............27
XXV. Comparison of the two Systems of Colonisation pursued respectively, by the Government and the Company............27
The Company's procedure with regard to land............28
The Government procedure with regard to land............28
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The Comparative land-sales............28
The Comparative Colonisation............28
The successful results of the Company's System of Colonisation............29
Friendliness of the intercourse between the Cook's Strait Colonists and the Natives; remarkable considerateness of even the ruder class of Settlers............29
XXVI. Disastrous results of the Policy pursued by the Government............30
Its effects upon the Company and its proceedings............30
Upon the Cook's Strait Colonists............30
Upon the Natives............31
Upon the Settlers and Natives at Auckland, and the Bay of Islands............31
And upon the Government itself, and its position............31
XXVII. Condensed Statement of the Company's Case; and of the course now open............32
XXVIII. Suggestions on behalf of the Natives............33
XXIX. Prayer on behalf of the Company............34
XXX. Prayer on behalf of the Colony............34
And on behalf of the Cook's Strait Colonists............35
The PETITION of the MERCHANTS, BANKERS, and TRADERS of the CITY OF LONDON.............37
