CO885-(1-2) — Page 214

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

}

2

REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

NEW ZEALAND. can move their forces with rapidity and secrecy from one point of the country to another; whilst, from the total absence of roads, the impassable nature of the country, and the utter want of supplies, it is impossible to move a European force more than a few miles into the interior from any settlement.

7. The natives, moreover, present no point at which they can be attacked, or against which operations can be carried on. Finding now that we can readily destroy their pas or fortifications, they no longer construct them, but live in scattered villages, round which they have their cultivations, and these they can abandon without difficulty or serious loss, being readily received and fed by any friendly tribe to whom they may repair. They thus present no vulnerable point. Amongst them are large numbers of lawless spirits, who are too ready, for the sake of excitement and the hope of plunder, to follow any predatory chief. To assist in anything which might be regarded as a national war, there can be little doubt that almost every village would pour forth its chiefs and its population.

8. With these characteristics of courage and warlike vagrancy, the Maories present, however, other remarkable traits of character. Nearly the whole nation has now been converted to Christianity. They are fond of agriculture, take great pleasure in cattle and horses; like the sea, and form good sailors; are attached to Europeans, admire their customs and manners; are extremely ambitious of rising in civilization, and of becoming skilled in European arts; they are apt at learning; in many respects extremely conscientious and observant of their word; are ambitious of honours, and are probably the most covetous race in the world. They are also agreeable in manners, and attachments of a lasting character readily and frequently spring up between them and the Europeans.

9. A consideration of these circumstances will, I think, lead to the con- clusion that any attempt to form, in those portions of these islands which are densely peopled by the natives, an ordinary European settlement, the inhabitants of which produced all they required, and were wholly independent of the native race, must end in failure. The natives in the vicinity of such a settle- ment, finding themselves excluded from all community of prosperity with its inhabitants, would soon form lawless bands of borderers, who, if they did not speedily sweep away the settlement, would yet by their constant incursions so harass and impoverish its inhabitants, that they would certainly soon with draw to the neighbouring Australian settlements, where they could lead a life of and freedom from such incursions. Upon the other hand, however,

peace it would appear that a race such as has been described could be easily incor- porated into any British settlement with mutual advantage to both races; the natives supplying agricultural produce, poultry, pigs, and a constant supply of labour (although yet rude and unskilled), whilst, upon the other hand, the Europeans would supply the various manufactured goods required by the natives, and provide for the manifold wants created by their increasing civili- zation. Such a class of settlements might easily grow into prosperous com- munities, into which the natives, with characters softened by Christianity. civilization, and a taste for previously unknown luxuries, would readily be absorbed.

10. The questions to be solved have therefore been, how to induce the native race cordially to assist in the attempt to create so desirable a state of things, and how to provide the funds requisite for governing so many isolated settle- ments, spread over so vast a tract of difficult country, the intervals between which are occupied by so warlike a race, over whom it was necessary to exercise some control? It is worthy of remark here, that the united population of New Zealand is as large as that of New South Wales has, until very recently, been, and that it is a population, from its mixed and peculiar elements, infinitely more difficult to govern than that of New South Wales, whilst the cost of the machine of government is greatly increased from the number of the settle ments and their distance from each other. In point of fact, the several settlements are distinct colonies, and both in the difference of feelings and interests of the Europeans, and of the respective native tribes inhabiting each, differ much more widely from each other than many British colonies do. It appears, therefore, that it would be imprudent and unjust to attempt to draw any parallel in these respects between New Zealand and any other British colonial possession.

STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.

3

11. In carrying out any plan, having for its object the amalgamation of the NEW ZEALAND. two races, the following difficulties have, until recently, presented themselves:— Istly. IIostile encounters had taken place between the settlers and the natives in the south of New Zealaud, and between Her Majesty's forces and the natives in the northern portion of the country, in all of which the number of killed and wounded on our side had comparatively so large, and the loss of the enemy so small, that they had been led to form an exaggerated notion of their own prowess and strength, and a desire of emulating the example of those chiefs who were imagined by their countrymen to have gained great succes-es, had excited a spirit of exultation and dissatisfaction throughout the greater portion of the islands, so that whilst a rebellion was actually raging in one portion of the islands, it was too probable that the natives would speedily break out into similar excesses in other portions of them.

2ndly. Disputes existed between the settlers and the natives in various places regarding their respective rights to certain lands. These disputes, relating to the personal interests of the parties concerned, created between them a feeling of hostility and bitterness which was gradually raising race against race, and which threatened ultimately to become a feeling which could only be put a stop to by the extermination of one party or the other.

3rdly. As a necessary result of the difficulties existing under the two previous heads, the revenue had almost disappeared, and by the issue of paper money, a large debt had been contracted; there was thus an absence of the funds requisite for the re-establishment of order and good government, whilst the settlers had also, to a great extent, lost all confidence in their future prospects, and were in a disheartened and desponding condition.

4thly. A very great difficulty had been created by the Crown's right of pre- emption having been waived in favour of certain individuals over large tracts of land, and by the inordinate demands of other persons to extensive tracts of country having been entertained by the Government, the result of which was, that a party of land claimants had been called into existence who made demands so extravagant and illegal that no Government could accede to them. nor did it appear practicable to make a settlement of these claims, even upon the most liberal basis, without incurring for the Government such a degree of hostility from a large number of persons as would probably exceedingly em- barrass and impede any subsequent administrations.

12. In determining the line of policy the Government should pursue in reference to the first class, of the difficulties above named, that is, in reference to the war which existed in New Zealand, and the rebellion which appeared likely to break out, the following considerations seemed naturally to present themselves :-

13. It appeared to be clearly the duty of the Government, in a firm and decided manner, to crush the existing rebellion, and to put down without delay any disturbances which might afterwards break out; but yet it also seemed clear that its ruling line of policy should be not to embark in any operations in which an absolute certainty did not exist of speedy and complete success, and rather to delay engaging in hostilities which might appear necessary than hurriedly to embark in any contest the result of which could not be foreseen.

14. Indeed, delay in engaging in hostilities was, wherever practicable, obviously the first duty of the Government of this territory. No knowledge of the country of such a nature as to enable an officer to move with certainty a body of troops even to a few miles from any of our settlements, was possessed by the Government.

The number of persons who possessed a competent knowledge of the native language was so few that it was impossible to secure the services of the requisite number of interpreters. The two races had so recently been brought into close contact, that their ignorance of their respective appearance, of their language, customs, and manners, filled them with mutual distrust, whilst their disputes, in relation to land, embittered their feelings of hostility. It appeared very pro- pable that as the two races became more accustomed to each other, as their knowledge of each other's language and customs increased, and as their private differences were adjusted, so would all necessity for war and conflict between hem wear away; whilst, should these anticipations of a delay in military vations rendering a war unnecessary, prove correct, it would clearly have en an uncalled for measure of severity to hurry on a contest with the natives.

33 A 2