CO885-(1-2) — Page 216

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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REPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT

NEW ZEALAND. tended with equal care; savings' banks have been instituted for the benefit of both races; a considerable number of natives have been employed in the minor offices of the Government establishments; 'pensions have been conferred on those chiefs who, during the first rebellion, were most distinguished by their gallantry, fidelity, and devotion to the British cause. Large numbers of natives have been employed on public works and in the construction of roads, thereby securing to the colony the advantage of excellent lines of communica tion, whilst, from the discipline maintained amongst those employed upon public works, those works formed in fact industrial schools, in which the natives were trained to European habits of order and obedience, were accus- tomed to use European tools instead of their own rude implements, and were The thus gradually trained to become useful labourers for the colonists natives have also been encouraged to pursue improved modes of husbandry, to construct mills, to acquire vessels, to attend to the breeding of cattle and horses, and a newspaper is fortnightly published by the Government, for the purpose of giving them useful information and plain practical directions on all those points to which the Government is anxious they should direct their

attention

25. These various measures may be, however, said to aim only at the present improvement and advancement of the native race, and to make no adequate provision for their continual advancement in the arts of civilized life, and for the education of the native children upon such a system that they might have a prospect of standing on terms of equality with the European race, and of understanding and speaking their language.

one.

26. Fortunately the task of the Government in this respect has been an easy There existed in this country three missions, established by different Christian denominations, amongst whom there is, perhaps, an emulation as to which should achieve the greatest amount of good, and it may reasonably be doubted whether at any period of the world there has existed in one country, amongst so large a number of men who had devoted themselves to the holy. calling of a missionary so many persons who were eminently qualified by piety, ability, and zeal to discharge the functions of the office upon which they had entered: the result has been that these gentlemen, scattered throughout the country, have exercised an influence without which all the measures adopted by the Government would have produced but little effect. Won by their teaching, the untives have almost as an entire race embraced Christianity, and have abandoned the most revolting of their heathen customs. Instructed by the missionaries, probably a greater proportion of the population than in any country in Europe are able to read and write; and encouraged by the precept and example of the same gentlemen, they have, in all parts of the islands, made considerable progress in the rougher branches of civilized life. The Government, therefore, in establishing schools thought it most desirable not to attempt to set up a system of its own which might have required years for its development (during which a generation might have melted away, and an opportunity have been lost which could never be recalled), but rather to join its exertions to those of the missionaries, and to endeavour, whilst it established its own educational institutions, to render the system of the mis- `sionaries more complete and effective than hitherto. It therefore provided considerable funds which should be set apart for educational purposes, but determined that these funds should be applied under the direction of the heads of the different denominations who had missions established in New Zealand; it being provided that the several institutions, which received any portion of these funds should be conducted upon the industrial system; that the English language should be taught there, and that a sound religious education should be imparted to the pupils. Provision was also made for the appointment by the Government of inspectors who will examine into the state of the schools, and will ascertain that the various requirements which are imposed by the laws relating to these institutions are strictly complied

with.

27. All these measures appeared calculated to secure a permanent and constantly increasing, instead of a scanty and superficial civilization for the native population; and in order still further to increase the chances of success, two laws were passed, the first of which prohibited the natives from procuring arms or ammunition, and the second of which debarred them from the use of

STATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.

7

spirituous liquors. These regulations appeared stringent and likely to create NEW ZEALAND. discontent, but it was thought probable that, united with so many other measures of a character which were agreeable to the natives, and clearly calculated to promote their welfare, their strong natural good sense would lead them to see that these more distasteful restrictions had originated in the same care for their welfare, as had suggested the other portions of the system, and the result has justified the anticipations which were formed, as they have, without complaint, acquiesced in these regulations, and generally and cheer- fully acknowledge their beneficial tendency.

28. In the course of the past 18 months the natives have, on several oc- casions, shown in the most striking manner their increasing confidence in our institutions, and their knowledge of the rights they have gained by their incorporation into the British Empire, by carefully considering the effect that proposed measures are likely to have upon their future welfare, and by evincing their gratitude or dissatisfaction by forwarding congratulatory addresses for benefits received, or by transmitting memorials against proposed measures to the Queen, on whose justice and desire to promote their welfare they evidently relied with the most implicit confidence.

29. The most cursory consideration of the large number of objects which the Government proposed to itself, in carrying out the system of policy which has just been detailed, must have shown that it relied upon receiving, at least for some years, considerable monied assistance from some extraneous source, until the improvement which might naturally be looked for in the internal traffic and external commerce of the colony had so far improved the revenue that it would suffice to defray the necessary expenditure of the Government.

30. Such assistance was, in point of fact, most generously supplied by the Imperial Parliament, and it hence became an important object for the local Government so to conduct the financial operations of the colony that it might, at the earliest possible period, dispense with the assistance which was afforded to it, and thus cease to be a burden upon the parent state which had so liberally aided it during its carly struggles. This end may be said to be so far attained, that in the ensuing year the resources of the country will suffice to defray the whole of its expenditure with the exception of 15,000%, if the proposed financial operations are approved of which were detailed in the Despatch named in the margin, whilst, as in each succeeding year, an increase No. 52, April 20. of revenue may be looked for, and no corresponding increase in the expenditure will be requisite, the amount of assistance received from Great Britain can be still further rapidly diminished in each year subsequent to 1850.

31. In order that every guarantee might be afforded that the state of pros- perity to which these colonies were attaining might have a character of permanency, it was still necessary that institutions should be devised which would ultimately constitute a form of government which was likely to be adapted to the circumstances of this country, and to be satisfactory to its mixed and peculiar population. It also appeared to be a matter of great importance, that continual advances should be made towards such institutions, so that their introduction might be gradual, and that they might, as it were, imper- ceptibly grow with the growth of the colony.

32. Such a form of institutions had already in their main outline been sketched by your Lordship, and these in their main features presented a con- stitution than which nothing better could be devised here, although alterations in the details appeared necessary to adapt them to this country, and to the feelings of its inhabitants. These alterations were made, and the form of con- stitution which appeared best adapted to New Zealand was fully reported on

in New Zealand.

1649.

No. 23. Mar. 15,

in the Despatches named in the margin, whilst several steps preparatory to No. 106, Nor, 29, their introduction have already been taken in this country, and in point of fact, 184 with the exception that the assemblies, instead of being elective, are nominated No.4. Feb. 2, 1849. by the Crown; the proposed system may be said already to be in full operation 1699.

The great error which the local Government is in this No 27. Mai. 22, respect thought by one party in the colony to have committed, is too great a IN 19. delay in introducing the elective principle. It may, perhaps upon the other hand be urged that, looking to the peculiar condition and population of this country, it is better to err on the side of prudence, and not to incur the risk of the fearful evils which would ensue from another rebellion for the sake of acquiring one or two years earlier that which must certainly within so short a period be obtained.

DANGAN SEAN MAN