ring them a legal tender in that colony,
the taxes proposed in the legislative council, the outrages recently
committed by the natives in the Bay of Islands, and a proclamation
issued by the governor of New Zealand, allowing the sale of land by the
natives at a less price than that fixed by the act of the 5th and 6th
Victoria. This motion was seconded by Mr. Aglionby, who asked whether
government was not aware that in that colony inconvertible paper
had been made by the governor a legal tender for sums as low as two
shillings? whether the governor had previously received authority by
warrant from the colonial department to issue such debentures to the
amount of L15,000? whether it was true that in a colony that was to
flourish by its agriculture a tax of 10s. had been levied on every sheep
imported, and a similar tax on every dog imported to herd them? what
the house thought of a governor who placed a tax of L1 on every house in
which more than three rooms were inhabited? and whether the governor had
vindicated the character of this country by protecting the whites from
the outrages of the natives? Nine of our countrymen, he continued, had
been tomahawked after they had given up their arms: had the governor
made inquiry into the circumstances of this massacre? or had he gone, as
was reported, to the murderous tribes, and declared himself satisfied?
He also wanted to know in what manner the honour of the British flag
had been vindicated, after it had been cut down at the custom-house;
and made several inquiries respecting the sale of lands in New Zealand,
observing that when he had obtained an answer to his questions, he
should bring forward a distinct motion on the subject, and should
call for further information. Mr. Hope, the under-secretary, protested
against the course pursued by Mr. Aglionby, demanding why he did not
boldly come forward, make his charge against government, and endeavour
to substantiate it. He proceeded, however, to answer the questions
put by Mr. Aglionby. The government, he said, had disapproved of the
debentures issued by the local governor, ami they had been withdrawn.
Respecting the taxes imposed in New Zealand he knew nothing, as
government had been an unusually long time without intelligence from
that colony. With respect to the outrages at the Bay of Islands, troops
had been sent for their repression; and the governor, he thought had
sufficiently vindicated the honour of the British flag. On t