✨ Governor's Appeal on Maori Unrest
Numb. 4.
17
The New Zealand Gazette.
Published by Authority.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1861.
-
The Governor has reason to believe that
the disaffection, which is spreading through
the Maori Population, is everywhere encour-
aged, and has, in some instances, been created
by speeches and writings circulated through
the country by means of the press, -
The publication of opinions (especially
when emanating from persons of high author-
ity) impugning the justice and legality of the
course pursued by Her Majesty's Government,
has a most injurious effect on the minds of the
Native race. -
The motives of the authors of such pub-
lications may be most conscientious; but the
Natives, in their present state of civilization,
cannot be expected to discriminate between
the right of opposition by lawful means and of
resistance by force of arms to that which they
are taught to believe by persons holding in-
fluential positions is unjust and illegal. -
The Governor fully recognises the right
of every British subject freely to discuss,
criticise, and censure the acts of the Govern-
ment, and, when the danger now threatening
has passed away, he does not desire to see that
right restricted. -
There are, however, occasions when the
unrestrained use of such a right becomes mani-
festly dangerous to the community, and he
feels it his duty to state that such an occasion
now exists in this Colony. -
The Governor, therefore, appeals to every
loyal subject of Her Majesty to refrain from
an agitation which tends to prolong a san-
guinary resistance to Her Majesty's authority,
is fraught with danger to the lives and pro-
perty of the Colonists, and imperils the very
existence of the Native race.
Government House,
Auckland, 24th January, 1861,
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NZ Gazette 1861, No 4
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🏛️ Governor's Appeal Regarding Press Influence on Maori Disaffection
🏛️ Governance & Central Administration24 January 1861
Governor, Maori, disaffection, press influence, public safety, loyalty