Member-what was the whole gravamen your power, any exorbitant or extortionate of his charge against his noble Friend? It demands on the Company on this bead.” was that he had not read to the deputation Now, it so happened that the word "exe certain parts of the instructions given to orbitant" had been accidentally misprinted the Governor of New Zealand. This he

“ exhorbitant," and when the passage was (Mr. Hope) most distinctly denied. His read, his noble Friend pointed out the abnoble Friend positively stated that the parts surdity of the blunder. The circumstance of the instructions referred to-those of was a slight one; but it was amply suffithe 27th of June, had been read to the de- cient to prove that the note had been duly putation. Now it was said that his noble read to the deputation. Yet upon such Friend should have adopted some means to grounds, were charges brought against his guard himself against any such misunder- noble Friend-upon such grounds had

1 standing. Why, what course could he charges of deceit been levelled against have adopted but that actually taken? him. [Mr. C. Buller: I did not accuse The noble Lord met gentlemen of high him of deceit.] So it was, at least, that honour, for confidential communication, in he understood the hon. Gentleman ; but private: a discussion took place; it was he must be allowed to state, that whatever agreed that the result of that discussion might be the view taken of the natter by should be recorded in minutes, and the the hon. Gentleman, his noble Friend feit minutes were agreed to by both parties. that such had been the real nature of the Those tinutes distinctly stated that the charge urged against him. He bad recairncts to which the hon. and learned ceived a statement, accusing him of having Member for Liskeard had referred were intentionally kept the Company in the communicated to the deputation, and that dark on this point; and it was his (Mr. a certain despatch was given to them in Hope's) duty to show how slight were the extenso; and yet in the face of that minute: grounds upon which such accusations were an hon. Member charged the noble Lord brought forward. If the noble Lord had with acting in bad faith, as having kept erred at all, he considered it to have been back the very documents which it is in the confidence and frankness with there recorded were produced and read. which he had received and communicated The minutes stated that Lord Stanley with those who had made him the object promised to send to the deputation, in a of their attacks. He would now pass course of a few days, copies or extracts of from this part of the subject. The hon. his despatches to Governor Grey; and and learned Gentleman had dwelt upon that, till they were forwarded to the depu- the inconsistency of Lord Stanley's adminlation, the communication of their con.

istration with respect to New Zealand. tents made that day should be considered The hon. and learned Gentleman comconfidential. The documents sent were plained that the promises held out to then read. He (Mr. Hope) believed the Company by the right hon. Baronet there was only one hon. Gentleman in the near him had not been fulfilled. It was House who was a member of that depu- not for him to attempt to defend his right tation ; and he certainly should be sur: hon. Friend; but he might point with prised if that hon. Gentleman contradicted confidence to the spirit of the instructions the assertion he now made. He thought laid before that House and communicated the House would be of opinion that he to the Company, as evincing a real sincere had satisfactorily disposed of the charge. bona fide desire on the part of the GovernBut he might mention a circumstance ment to nieet the demands of the New which enabled Lord Stanley to state with Zealand Company, so far as they could do more confidence that the extract to which so consistently with their duty to the the hon. and learned Member opposite bad country, and their obligation to maintain referred, was shown to the deputation. It the honour of the Crown. The hon. and would be found, on referring to the end learned Gentleman had not read the inof the extract, that it contained the follow-structions to which he had urged objecing passage :

tions; but he (Mr. Hope) might be al“I can only repeat to you (Captain Grey) lowed to read some portions of them. the instructions which I have already given to Let him turn to the following passage in Captain Fitzroy, to endeavour by amicable the despatch of the noble Lord, dated the co-operation with Colone: Wakefield, to re- 27th of June :move obstacles arising from unsatisfied native claims, and to discourage, as far as lies in “In my despatch of the 13th instant, I ad.

a

verted shortly to the relations between Her, it was his duty to negotiate with the natives Majesty's Government and the New Zealand for the arrangement of unsatisfied claims. Company. The early settlement of the pend- | In some cases awards of further compensaing questions respecting the Company's tion had been made by the Commissioner chiims to land is of paramount importance towards the adjustnient of the affairs of the to natives whose claims had remained unColony; and it is far more necessary to take satisfied. But these awards were not made effectual steps for bringing these discussions by the Commissioner judicially ; they were to a final and, if possible, a satisfactory con made by him in the character of a mediator clusion, than to re-open questions of strict between the two parties; and it depended right, or carry on an unprofitable contro- upon the natives whether or not they would versy.”

accept the compensation that might be Now, he would appeal to the House whe- tendered to them. In a letter of the 8th ther this passage evinced any hostile or

of May, 1843, from the New Zealand unfriendly spirit on the part of the Go - Company, it is requested that the Governor vernment towards the New Zealand Com- and Council of New Zealand may be inpany. Notwithstanding the attacks which structed had been made upon Lord Stanley, in con- "As soon as practicable, to establish some nexion with this subject, he received a de- general rule for defining native titles, and putation from the Company; he did not settling the claims to land, and to do their hesitate to produce his despatches to them, best to aid the agents of the Company in efand to communicate their purport; he fecting the necessary arrangements with the courted their remarks, and yet it was said longing to them, but unimproved, or for mak

natives, either for the purchase of lands bethat he had shown no disposition to con- ing, on the part of the Company, equitable sult them, or to carry out promises which compensation for the original value of land were supposed to have been made with re- which may have been occupied by themselves ference to the establishment of an improved or their settlers, without sufficient title, but on state of public affairs in New Zealand. which they may have effected improvements." The hon. and learned Member for Liskeard in pursuance of these directions the Comhad complained that the Company were missioner acted, and he acted upon them as placed in a worse position than they would mediator in Wellington, and almost every otherwise have been in, because an unheard- other settlement. The award of the Comof condition had been imposed upon them missioner, in a judicial capacity, might -the acceptance of the Commissioner's have been against the Company; but, as a award by the natives. From the manner mediator, his suggestions might be admitted in which the hon. and learned Gentleman's and accepted by the natives.

This meastatement on this point was made, he sure, therefore, so far from being inconcould see that it had had some effect upon sistent with the rights of the Company, was the House; and he might be allowed to in his opinion, the very course of all others afford an explanation of the matter, though most calculated to effect their objects, and such an explanation would scarcely be ne- to lead to the peaceful, the immediate, and cessary to hon. Gentlemen who had read final settlement of the questions at issue in the despatch of the 6th of July. It would the Colony. But he would now turn to the be remembered that early in July, 1843, more general questions to which the hon. the Company applied to Lord Stanley to and learned Gentleman had alluded. That direct his officers to co-operate with their hon. Member had begged that Lord Stanley agents in compensating the natives of New would not shift from himself to the GóZealand who might have sold their lands, vernor of New Zealand any responsibility or who complained that they had not re- which properly belonged to him. It was ceived sufficient compensation for land unnecessary for him to defend the noble sold. Lord Stanley consented to issue | Lord from the suspicions of any desire to such instructions, and he did issue them. commit so discreditable an act; but on the Governor Fitzroy delegated to Mr. Spain, other hand he (Mr. Hope) must ask that the Commissioner, the duty of conducting his noble Friend should not be made rethese negotiations between the natives and sponsible for consequences which could not the Company's agents ; and the Commis- be attributed to his proceedings. The hon. sioner had consequently a double duty to and learned Gentleman had referred at perform. In the one case he had to adju- some length to the present condition of the dicate judicially on the question of sale settlement of Auckland, and had thought

sale; in the other, in confor- proper to quote the account given by Mr. mity with the request of the Company, Cormack, without alluding to any other VOL. LXXXII. {Services

2 E

or

no

Third

ment for the increase of establishments there were 1,600 more men there now, came with very bad grace from the hon. than there had been in 1841. Instead of Gentleman, who considered these very es- 2,400, the number then stationed there, tablishments as being excessive. The first there were now upwards of 4,000. It explicit demand for reinforcements was re- would be evident, therefore, that there ceived on the 29th of March or May last- was a large available force stationed in at the moment he did not recollect which those Colonies, and, as the distance be-and the statement of Captain Fitzroy tween Auckland and Sydney was not above to his Council was made on the 26th of ten days' sail, that force would be enabled March. But as he was upon the subject to be employed in the defence either of the of military and naval protection to New one Colony or the other. Not, however, Zealand, it might be satisfactory to the that he entertained any great dread that a House, and to those who were inter- large military force would be necessary for ested in the Colonies, were he to state the purposes of New Zealand. He would what, in respect to this matter, had remark, that there existed there no conbeen the course already taken, and that federation of natives against Europeans. which was proposed in future to be adopt- Indeed, the safety of British power had ed. In the first place, then, the noble always been considered to lie in the disLord opposite (Lord John Russell) had union of the aboriginal tribes; and there decided, that 100 men was to be the were no grounds for supposing that the total force allotted to New Zealand. A natives would now unite against us, unless force of that amount was accordingly sent some act were committed which should out. Remonstrances were, however, made give them what they never yet possessed as to its insufficiency, and the noble Lord -common sympathies and a common obreplied that he was sorry for it, but that ject. "But," said the hon. Gentleman, he had no stronger force, and that they "the recent disturbances had arisen from must be content with the 100 men allotted our policy in New Zealand ;" and in the to them. The next correspondence which same breath he contended that these distook place upon the subject was one which putes had not their origin in any cause had been printed and laid before the connected with land. The hon. GentleHouse; and it appeared from the docu- man had referred to Mr. Busby's view of ments contained in it, that from 150 to the matter. Mr. Busby's view was that the 250 men and a ship of war were all that dissatisfaction of the natives arose from a the military authorities in the island con- limitation being imposed upon them as to sidered to be required. A reinforce their power of selling their land to whomment was accordingly sent, and a vessel soever they pleased. Why, there was no witof war ordered to be constantly stationed ness the hon. Gentleman could call, who near New Zealand. In addition to this, was more completely opposed to his views, his noble Friend had directed the im- than was Mr. Busby. But, then, in the mediate enrolment of a militia. His in- opinion of Mr. Cormack, the late riots had tention was, however, not carried into their origin in the natives having been effect, and he might state distinctly, that cheated. Where had they been cheated? disregard of the instructions sent from How had they been cheated? By whom home in this respect, was one of the had they been cheated? The hon. Memreasons which had led to the dismissal ber answered none of these questions. But, of Captain Fitzroy. But what had been they were told by others, that the nathe course lately pursued as to the defence tives became disaffected, because, they of the Colony? His noble Friend had found greater restrictions upon their prodirected a regiment to be sent out to New ceedings in the way of selling land than Zealand, and had caused application to be they anticipated. They urged, that we made to the admiral on the Indian station undertook to buy their lands from them, for a steamer, while measures had been but that, if we did not so buy them, adopted for relieving the vessel of war by they had a right to sell to somebody another as efficient, if not more so than else. They said, "When we gave you herself. They must not, however, forget, a right of pre-emption, we did not mean in considering this question, the amount to imply that you should be the only of force in the Australian Colonies; that purchasers, but simply that you should consideration had a very important bearing have the first offer." In fact, the disupon the question. What, then were the turbances arose from dissatisfaction against facts as to the force in Australia? Why, the regular Government, from dissatis

faction with the impediments placed sidered competent to preside over the goupon the sale of lands; and also they vernment of New Zealand, to appoint him arose, he believed, from the desire on to one of the minor presidencies of a West the part of the native chief who had led India Island. The hon. and learned Geathem to win for himself a reputation, to gain tleman then came to the question of the a character for warlike achievements, and policy on which the government of New to raise himself in the estimation of his Zealand should be conducted. To this countrymen, by denying the authority part of the subject the hon. Gentleman's of the Queen of England. But then it Resolution was pointed in as vague a manwas said that his noble Friend had suponer as possible with the view of catching ported Captain Fitzroy almost at all hazards, the votes of those who did not agree with that never had a Governor been so backed, his views. When the hon. and learned that almost his every action had been rati- Gentleman came to particulars, a strong fied and approved of. Now, he would like ground of attack seemed with him to be, to know on what authority such statements that Auckland was made the capital instead were made. It was very true, that his of Wellington. Now the instructions issued noble Friend had said, so long as the by the noble Lord (Lord J. Russell) in charges were but one-sided accusations, April 1841, specially provided that Capthat he would not on such ex-parte state- tain Hobson, who was sent out by him, ments recall the late Governor; he would should see that the New Zealand Comwait, in the first place, for Captain Fitz-pany had no portion of the capital, and that roy's own statement and defence. That it should be reserved to the Government statement was made, and he was recalled. alone. The words were—“Lands to be So far from approving of almost all Cap- assigned to them, should not embrace tain Fitzroy's proceedings, his noble Friend any part of the future capital. It is indisapproved of it on almost all important dispensable to reserve to the Crown the points. He disapproved of his financial po- command over all lands in the capital sicy, of his proceedings as to the sale of land, town, as well as any that may be embraced of his doing away with custom-house restric- in the suburbs.” It was, therefore, clear tions in the Bay of Islands. He disapproved that Captain Hobson went out with disof his proceedings in regard to the mi- tinct instructions from Lord John Russell litia, and of the unusually rapid, hasty, not to place the capital in the lands of and inconsiderate course which he adopted the Company. But he did not defend in passing, in a Council sitting at one end of the selection on that ground alone. Every the island, without allowing sufficient impartial person from the Colony he time for communication with the other, had spoken to, testified that Auckland laws by which the whole was to be go- was the best selection that could have verned. But, then, said the hon. Mem- been made. The hon. and learned Gentleber, what was the course now proposed man had next taunted his noble Friend to be adopted ? And here he must remark with the promise of " municipal governon the attack which the hon. Gentleman ment,” and ridiculed the idea of granting had seen fit to make upon Mr. Shortland. institutions which only gave

the He was sorry that the hon. Gentleman had paving and lighting. Now, he asked the thought it necessary to do anything of the House, was this reading his noble Friend's kind. Mr. Shortland had been Secretary instructions in their spirit? His noble to the Colonial Government, but his ap- Friend stated what he gave them as a subpointment was not the work of his noble stitute for representative governmentFriend. He had served with credit as a that he included large districts to obviate lieutenant in the navy; it was true that the unequal pressure of taxation ; and yet complaints of malversation had been made the hon. and learned Gentleman would against him, but the charges were not sup- give the House to understand that the ported, and he was acquitted ; and the rea- powers granted by his noble Friend were son of his resigning his office was in conse- restricted to the narrow limits of “paving quence of Captain Fitzroy making it ma- and lighting;" limits which, according to nifest that he reposed no confidence in him. thehon. and learned Gentleman's own stateIt was considered most unjust and cruel to ment, would be perfectly inapplicable to the condemn a man for life because an un- state of New Zealand. But then the hon. founded charge was brought against him. and learned Gentleman said the instrucIt was his noble Friend's intention, there- tions deceived the Company. [Mr. Bul. fore, though this gentleman was not con- ler : No, that they were misled by them:]