REMARKS, &c.
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REMARKS,
&c.
Bay of Islands.
IN 1838, New Zealand appeared to begin its existence, as a British Colony, under the most favourable auspices. No spot in the world afforded so wide a field for enterprise, or offered the same combination of advantages to the English settler. And although there was no local authority to direct our proceedings, the population began to concentrate itself-- townships were laid out, and communities formed, at the Bay of Islands, and at Port Nicholson--society was in some measure established, and trade seemed starting into life. Upwards of seventy merchant vessels and whalers might be seen, at the same time, anchored off the township of Kororarika. The exports, from the Bay of Islands to New South Wales, amounted annually to 140,000l. All the settlers were active, contented, and sanguine, and every thing held out the fairest prospect of success. It is true there was a British resident in the person of Mr. Busby, but his authority and duties were of a very
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limited kind; yet, without the aid of any established government, or even any protective force, greater tranquillity prevailed, and a better understanding existed, between the settlers and the aborigines, than has been known at any subsequent period. Robbery was almost unknown, and crime 1 of any kind seldom heard of.
The Colony was now ripe for the establishment of a local government; and had men of intelligence, and some experience in the administration of civil affairs, been placed in official situations, it cannot be doubted for a moment that our hopes would have been fully realised; whereas now, at the end of five years, after an enormous expenditure of money, every thing is in confusion. Agriculture has been put a stop to; the non-settlement of the land-claims has caused the greatest anxiety and difficulties to the settlers, and has so far disturbed the peaceable relations between them and the natives, that the latter have been led into acts of outrage and violence, and even murder; in short, the Colony has been brought to the brink of ruin by the singular and lamentable incapacity of the men under whose government we have been placed.
To describe fully and accurately the origin and extent of all the mischief they have caused, and to expose their absolute ignorance of colonial affairs,
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and the weakness which characterised all their measures, would be to record the whole of their proceedings from their first arrival in the Colony up to the present time. Such a history would exhibit the most extraordinary combination of imbecility and ignorance, of political dishonesty and selfish cupidity, that has ever been manifested by any set of public men. Their conduct, in every instance, has been marked either by the most profound ignorance, or by the utmost contempt of all the principles of general and colonial policy, as well as by a total neglect of all the minor duties of office. One object, and one only-- their own interests--engrossed all their attention. Compared with that, the prosperity of the Colony, and the interests of the public, were esteemed as nothing, and entirely disregarded.
My observations will tend to demonstrate the evils resulting to the affairs of the Colony, from--
1. The appointment of Mr. Shortland.
2. The settlement at Russell Town.
3. The bad policy of the Local Government towards the Aborigines.
4. The non-settlement of the Land-claims.
I shall then show the value and capabilities of the Colony, in an account of its "Indigenous Exports," and conclude by offering some remarks on the subject of "Emigration."
