The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian, Saturday, April 17, 1847

Original correspondence.
Facts for the factious.

Sir,—

Please to introduce in your next paper the following facts for the Factious:

When Governor Grey arrived in New Zealand in Nov. 1845, the whole colony was in a state of disorganization. Its finances had been tampered with by his foolish predecessor until we were all bankrupt,—the staple currency was in dirty bits of paper, which every one felt disgraced in handling. We had played at hop, skip, and jump from customs duties to free trade, and back again with the celerity of mountebanks; and, as a natural result of such insane freaks of Government, the colony was saddled with a debt of some £75,000!!

The Maories, the pets of the late Governor, kicked at his misplaced fondness for them. Numbers in all parts of the islands were suspicious, disaffected and on the verge of rebellion. Many were openly at war. Three times had they defeated and laughed to scorn the attempts of the soldiers and settlers to reduce them to obedience, and scores of our brave defenders lay dead on the field, a sad monument of the incapacity of him who held the reins of Government.

Scarcely seventeen months have elapsed since Captain Grey made his appearance, and behold the difference! Peace re-established on a firm basis; the Maori learning again to respect the Pakeha; confidence and hope taking the place of distrust and anxious uncertainty; the coffers of the Treasury regularly replenished through the increased and increasing amount of customs duties, which a revived trade enables the colonists to pay—for if I mistake not, Wellington alone is now paying as much into the Treasury as the whole colony did some eighteen months back; roads opening up the country in every direction, adding to the security and future advancement of the colony; and all but the idle and improvident appear to prosper.

Look on that picture and on this! And all owing to our good Governor Grey! Why, Sir, none but the most pigheaded (pardon me, it is their own simile) would cavil at such a Governor, and try to thwart him. But shall we allow this miserable tail of a faction to influence us? By no means! Toss up your caps, fellow settlers,—hurrah for Governor Grey! Three times three, and one cheer more! Hurrah!