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Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 11, 4 July 1848, Page 2

We have stumbled all at once into stirring and anxious times. For some while past it has been a dead season, with nothing to say or do

but to [abuse the roads, or to chronicle a stray police report ; whilst now more topics of interest have sprung up than time can be found for commenting upon. Of the debate in the House of Commons, it may be said that "the Ides of March are come, butnotgone:" a single tantalising night's work has reached us, in earnest only of what is yet to follow. It must be allowed that the result was rather disappointing; the speakers contented themselves with little more than repetition of what they had already said in the previous session, the only difference being that the Bishop's friends had taken au offensive, instead of their late defensive position. Still, an attentive perusal of the proceedings leaves an impression behind that the opponents of Lord Grey's policy had reserved their lire, intending to let drive in earnest on the third reading of the bill. Whether Mr. Gladstone's party will have thought fit to speak of all they know—whether disclosures will have been made, is yet to be seen; but, should they not have put some very embarrassing questions, it will not have been for want of tutoring. The commissariat department of Parliamentary warfare—the supplies of facts, at all events, have been properly cared for. And then as suddenly springs up another matter of almost equal interest. A Revolution— France again a Republic; and the chances, in spite of England's prompt acknowledgment, of war. The question is of no small moment to ourselves. It is time to be setting our house in order—to prepare for the chance of a serious diminution of expenditure. For this we may make sure of, that if the troops be wanted at home, they will be sent for, with small regard of risk or consequences to us. If the head or heart be threaten!, this, " the great toe" of the empire, as the worthy Menenius would have called us, must learn to shift for itself, and limp along as well as it can with two new crutches; militia, and a native regiment. Not that we have ever thought that much danger was to be apprehended, since the receipt of Lord Grey's answer to the protest, in which he denies the intentions that had been imputed to him : caustic and sedative at once, like nitrate of silver, it has materially diminished the chances of aggression on the part of the natives. But purses are seriously menaced, and the' general prosperity of the colony, whose main sustenance has hitherto been artificial stimulus. Let us suppose a war to break out, and then seriously ask ourselves whether John Bull,with the income tax raised upon him, will not grumble at the payment of an eight and thirty thousand pounds subvention, given in support of a colony which many at home are now beginning to consider a pet toy of Lord Grey's. It is idle prophecying on such subjects, but the chances of the supposition coming true are quite strong enough to merit attention being drawn to it. Self-support, reliance on our own exertions, either for subsistence or defence, is now, more than ever, a subject for serious consideration. The natural resources of the country, half strangled as they have been, may even yet be made something of, by looking to them in time; still it is painful to think how many broad acres would have been already under cultivation but for the resultless policy that has been pursued.