162

Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

(14c.)

Auckland, 16th March, 1876.

To Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., M.G.A.,
Wellington.

It is good of you to give me credit for feeling deeply on some of the subjects I brought under your notice, which are of a nature which must oppress any person charged with the government of a Province exposed to the circumstances of which I complained; but your remarks induce me again earnestly to request your attention to the points of the purchase of Native Lands at the Thames, and the payments of public money to persons connected with the disclosures made before the Tairua and Ohinemuri Miners’ Rights Committees. These are really grievances which require immediate attention.

I propose again to communicate with you by letter regarding the breach of the agreement concluded last session between the Colonial and Provincial Treasurers.

I thank you for now admitting that the people and Legislature provide the funds for the public service. I can assure you that, left to ourselves, with our own revenues, and the power of expending them, we should be a rich people, and that you are mistaken in thinking we should be in want even now, if we had our own, as was distinctly promised. Pray give us that, leave us alone, and cease to trouble yourself with such anxious consideration for us.

I cordially agree with you, that, abolition being lawfully and constitutionally carried out, many causes of discontent will be removed, for the parts of the Colony of New Zealand will then have the real management of their own affairs, and will be set free from that interference and unconstitutional extravagance which has been so embarrassing, whilst the energetic and enterprising people of the Northern part of New Zealand, restored to freedom and the enjoyment of the revenues which have been so long withheld from them, will again at once take their proper place in the onward march of progress and commerce, and will show that they have citizens amongst themselves capable of discharging the highest functions of Government, skilful in promoting the prosperity of their State, and in providing that what is the property of all, is open on equal terms to all; and that it is not, either under the sanction of all law, or, worse still, against the whole to be appropriated to the enrichment of the few—a proceeding which injures all, rendering the depressed class hopeless, and, consequently, apathetic and careless, whilst the favoured class become reliant upon their command of power, and upon their monopoly of public funds and lands, until they with jealousy and anger resist all interference with that monopoly, or even any allusion to it.

An end being put to such a system must infuse new life and vigour into the whole community. Their intellects will be fostered, their expenditure will be largely diminished and justly distributed, their productions and revenues will increase, whilst their self-respect, self-reliance, happiness, and comfort will be largely augmented.

G. GREY.

(15c.)

Wanganui, March 18, 1876.

To His Honor Sir George Grey,
Auckland.

I am glad to acknowledge that your Honor’s last telegram is more respectful to the Legislature and the Government than those that preceded it, and therefore I think more fitting. The latter part of the telegram I am unable to comprehend in connection with the correspondence. Possibly the telegraphist has failed to make clear that it is a quotation from some work on political economy. I am delighted to notice your Honor at length recognises the benefit of abolition. I presume we may now anticipate aid from you in taking over the Provinces. Touching Auckland having its own revenue, it seems to me it is in your Honor’s mind that Auckland should have the money collected within its limits, without paying anything for the cost of the services which yield the revenue, or contributing towards the interest on the Colonial debt. This would no doubt be profitable to Auckland, but the other Provinces would proportionately suffer. What your Honor desires, does, to a great extent, take place. That is to say that, taking into consideration the special aids out of revenue given to Auckland, the balance raised within it is not anything like a fair proportion of the cost of the services and of the public debt. Your Honor’s complaint is, that the Province does not get all, and pay nothing. I will send your Honor some figures next week that will help you to understand the position of the Province. I cannot recognise your Honor’s right to tell me to leave Auckland alone. I was lately one of its representatives, and probably would still be so but for my recent absence. The result at the Thames shows what might have been expected had I been present, and able to explain away misconceptions. Two years since I was as popular in Auckland as your Honor was six months since, whilst I have never been so unpopular there as your Honor was a few years ago; and I certainly have never had any but friendly feelings towards the Province, and a desire to serve it. I do not like in a correspondence which will be published to indulge in such lavish praises as your Honor gratefully does, although I have a great admiration and esteem for the people of Auckland. That they are forgiving, generous and impulsive your Honor has had proof, and when facts are before them I do not doubt they will also evidence their sagacity. Certainly, nothing in the past or the present entitles your Honor to reject for the Province of Auckland the friendship of those who desire to serve it. Detention by stormy weather at Wanganui has enabled me to find time to address your Honor at this length.

JULIUS VOGEL.

(16c.)

Auckland, 20th March, 1876.

To Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., M.G.A.,
Wellington.

I venture to think that the latter part of my telegram of the 16th flowed as a natural consequence from the latter part of yours of the 13th, as showing there was another alternative to the abolition of all really representative institutions and the centralization of all power in the hands of your Government. I beg that you will not anticipate any aid from me in carrying out the last-named alternative, or in accepting it, if it be sought to accomplish it by unlawful and unconstitutional means.

Touching Auckland revenue, you really do me a wrong. It was in my mind that a fair financial arrangement might be made, which might avoid giving vast advantages to one or more parts of the