SPIRIT OF SOUTHERN JOURNALS.

Auckland Examiner, Volume IV, Issue 271, 9 June 1860, Page 3

SPIRIT OF SOUTHERN JOURNALS.

SUPPRESSING THE PRESS. The first edition of the Taranaki Herald of the 12th instant was suppressed by the Commander of the Forces, in consequence of its remarks on the disposition of some of the pickets arouryl tbe town, being supposed to afford information valuable to the enemy. It appears that, in order to gmu-d against an anticipated night attack, additional outposts were formed, which, in the judgment of the townspeople, were not of that efficient character which the gravity of the circumstances demanded. Most of the townspeople, it should be remembered, are embodied either in the Militia, Mounted Escort, or Rifles, and some, at least, amongst them are not altogether unacquainted with the requisites for a successful attack or defence. To some of these it seemed desirable that a place should be appointed to which the women and children might be able to flee for refuge so soon as the alarm signal should be given. To others the necessity of doubling the sentries and stationing them at shorter distances from each other seemed important; while there were not a few who thought it of the utmost consequence that the race course picket should be placed beyond the possibility of being cut off. These, topics formed the subject of constant talk, and in its “ Journal of Events” the iHeraldgave expression to them in the 'ollowing paragraph.— “A night attack is certainly to be dreaded, for if they got into town tbe confusion would be great, and there is no order issued regarding a place of safety for tbe women and children. Strong pickets should be sent out, and not so far from the centre of the town, and double sentries stationed nearer together than they are now. The race course picket could be cut off to a man, as some of the sentries are 300 yards ssparat d from each other. Some of the beats are surrounded by high fern, through which a native could crawl up and surpiise the sentries. In many places it would be impossible for a sentinel to fall back on his next support, or have time to fire the alarm.”

As soon as these remarks caught Colonel Gold’s eye, he sent a verbal message suppressing the paper, but on the editor engaging to omit them from the second issue, the interdict was removed, and the paper allowed to be published as usual. The plea which Colonel Gold has put forward in justification of the course he felt it his ditty to pursue, will hardly be deemed sufficient to extenuate an act, which in English communities is looked upon as intolerable. The information which the obnoxious paragraph contained could only have been of service to the enemy provided ihe stristures were true. If it Were correct that, on a night attack taking place, great confusion would ensue from the presence, everywhere, of terrified women and children, it would have been far wiser to have at once remedied the neglect than to gag the friendlymouth that made it known! If the race course picket were so posted that'it was liable to bo cut off to a man, it would have been but the exercise of the merest humanity to place it in a position of security immediately the danger came under the notice of the commander’s eye. If some of the sentinels were stationed with such a want of militnly , skill that they could not fall back upon their fiex't support, or have time to fire the alarm, the officer on whom the responsibility rested deserved to be suspended, and the error arising from his want of judgment should have been immediately rectified. If the Herald's comments really gave information to the enemy which could be used to advantage, was it notthe commander’s duty instantly to remedy the defects therein pointed out, rather than silence the Voice which did the state service by calling attention to the danger that was impending? If, on the other hand, the offending paragraph was merely the idle fancy of an ‘ ignorant newspaper scribe,’— if the weaknesses it pointed out did not exist, then there was no need to fear the circulation of information which would only mislead the enemy and perhaps bring them within range of tbe British arms.

When it is remembered what horrible revelations of the state of the Crimean Army were first made patent to the public through the columns of the Times, and the beneficial reforms which Dr. Russell’s newspaper correspondence effected in the conduct of that campaign, the public will view with the utmost jealousy any attempt to check the comments of the Taranaki press, and will scan very closely the conduct of any officer, who takes upon himself such a responsibility. lndependent.

PICKINGS OF MAORI NEWS.

The Maori war has worked the miracle of bringing the Superintendent and Provincial Council of Wellington to act in cordial unison. This unanimity has been shewn in voting £5OO to be at once’ sent for the relief of the Taranaki sufferers and another £5OO so soon as tbe state of the provincial treasury will allow of it. Subscription lists have also been opened at tbe two Banks in Wellington for the relief of the sufferers. From Auckland we have the satisfaction of learning that large portions of that Province, populous with Maories, may be expected to remain quiet. The powerful and energetic chief Tatnati Waka Nene has declared his continued and firm adhesion to the British Government.

The settlers of Raglan have passed resolutions stating that “in their opinion there is no reason to suspect their Maori neighbours of any disaffection towards her Majesty’s Government,” and “that they consider it to be their duty to co-operate with their Maori fellow subjects in the preservation of the peace, good order, and British Law.” His Excellency has published a notice relative to the appointment of Militia Officers, the principal point in which is that no Commissioned Officer shall be appointed to a battalion or company without a certificate of competency. — Canterbury Standard.

PROSPECTS OF AHURTRI.

The census returns have not yet been made up from the schedules. We are enabled, however, to give our readers a few of the totals—although regretting that, especially on the eve of the departure of an English mail, our information should yet be so scanty.

The population, which was expected to he quite 3000, proves to be only 2801 ; but as it is known that in several cases the schedules have either not been left, or not afterwards called for, the probability is that the former number may be nearer to the truth. Assuming 2804, however, to be a correct return, it shews an increase of 1289 over the Census taken by the General Government in December, 1858 —equal to 45 per cent, in the space of 16 months.

The sheep in the Province are set down nt 222, 499. The number in December, 1858 was 182,206, so that the increase in this item is 40,293, or in round numbers 18 per cent.—a great addition to the material wealth of tbe country, although scarcely coming up to our expectations. Under the head of horses, we l#ive 1213 against 732 in the former return, strewing an increase of 481. Cattle, then 4465 are now 6125, or 1660 over the December census.

The number of acres fenced or under cultivation is now found to be 10,927? —the increase in this item being no less than 6886? acres. We trust, is next issue, to be in a position to give these important returns in greater detail. Meanwhile, we may observe that the revenue of tbe pro-

vince, ordinary and territorial, continues to flourish. The land sales for the first quarter of the year amounted to £7605 2s. 6d.; for the month of April to £5146 10s:; and for the present mont'i, so far as it has gone, to between four and five thousand pounds. The three-eights of customs revenue to which the province is entitled reached, during the firs'quarter of the year, the sum of 786/ 6s. lid.; and, during the month of April, 240/. There has also been a considerable revenue from publicans licenses and other sources. There is no reason to believe that, for some time at least, there will be any diminution in the territorial, while a marked increase on the ordinary revenue may securely be calculated upon. The expenditure during the first quarter of the year readied, in round numbers, 13,000/ —a considerable balance having been in hand on the Ist of January. Of this sum, the greater part has been expended upon roads and bridges in the interior—large road parties having been kept at work during the summer months.

The prospects of the province cannot be considered otherwise than encouraging. The land policy of the Superintendent—as regards fresh blocks handed over to the province—is such as to encourage the introduction of a good class of men —that of small agricultural sts. The export of what now constitutes the staple of the province is largely on the increase; while one great drawback to its prosperity, that of- a harbor unfit for the reception o large vessels, is in a fair way of being i emoved by the operations of the new steam dredge. The obverse of the picture is the prospect of being saddled with part of tbe Wellington loan of 100,000, from which the province derived no benefit. Let us, however, hope for the best.— Hawke s Bay Herald.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

We perceive that a circular has been sent to tht members of the General Assembly, to the effect tha the meeting of that body is postponed until August, and possibly to a still later date, the reason assigned for the delay being that the Governor has summoned a numerous gathering of native chiefs at Auckland in July, which will preclude him from meeting the Assembly for a month afterwards, ft appears to us that under the circumstances the Assembly should be convened at once, to meet at Auckland, the more especially if, as is rumored, the cost of the native war is to be defrayed by the colony. Our own opinion is, that the expense of the war ought to be, and will be, borue by the Imperial Government ; at the same time, should there be any intention of saddling it upon the colony, the sooner that the representatives of the people are assembled, and have an opportunity of dealing with the subject, the better. A very brief period of the present military expenditure will suffice to forestal the whole revenue of the colony for years to come ; and if the Governor is wise he will not lose e moment in convening the Assembly, even at Auckland, should fieibe unable to meet it at Wellington. We feci assured that the peculiar exigency of the case would exonerate his Excellency from any charge of breaking faith with the Southern members, and that those members themselves would at any inconvenience proceed to Auckland, it being understood that the first session of the next Assembly should be held at Wellington. If the native disturbances are not quelled, we can scarcely expect the Auckland members to leave their homes to attend a session at Wellington ; and, however much advantage may have been taken in last Assembly of the absence of the . Southern members, we feel assured that the latter would never retaliate by passing measures of importance in the absenee of their colleagues from the northern portion of the colony. As regards the business to come before the Assembly, our readers need not to be told that there are social questions of the most vital importance to New Zealand to be discussed ; such, fur example, as the repeal of the New Province* Act: laws regulating joint stock companies, especially in connection witn the subjects of banking and currency; a simple and cheap inode of registration; the dispensing with* the existing system of conveyancing, a system which involves enormous expense, for no end, that we can see, but to fatten up the lawyers: the rearrangemext or abolition of the Coleman steam job ; and an investigation into the expendi. ture of tbe half million loan. Such are a few of the numerous questions with which the Assembly will be called upon to deal. How far, while the attention of the Legislature is distracted by this n - tive wa»-, these questions can receive that calm, and undistracted' deliberation which they deserve, may be a matter of question. Be this as it may, however, it is clear that his Excellency should summon the representotives of the people at once. We see nothing to be gained by delay ; but, on tbe contrary, much that may be saved by an immediate meeting'. We should fancy also that if the gathering of Maori chiefs is to be really a national'affair, much good might result >rom having both bouses of the legislature in session at Auckland at the same time as the Maori convention ; it would give the meeting nn opportunity of seeing that the whole European population of the colony is interested in their tranquility, and is prepared, if need be, to chastise the refractory. It would show the natives that the- cruelties perpetrated at Taranaki are felt throughout the length and breadth of these islands, and that therefore they will not be passed over with impunity.—Qtago Witness.