TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1868.

Press, Volume XIII, Issue 1729, 22 September 1868, Page 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1868.

The disaster —it may be the first instalment only of the disasters— which we have been expecting for some weeks past has come at last. Our forces have been led. into an ambuscade, and, as is usual in such cases, all the best and bravest have fallen. It is the result of rashness, impolicy, anarchy. What may be the result of these "successive defeats on the East and West Coasts, it is impossible confidently to predict; but it is very easy to fear. That it will be accepted by a people turning in their rage and despair to every childish and superstitious omen, as evidence that the God of the pakeha has deserted him, and that the Hauhau deity has awoke like a giant refreshed with blood—all this is naturally to be anticipated. That these successive triumphs will fall dead on the minds of a hostile race thirsting for revenge, is almost impossible to believe. A general and terrible outbreak of all the now quiet but dissatisfied tribes, will surprise no one whose mind is open to perceive the ordinary motives which instigate human actions. We are the last in the colony who can be charged with croaking or predicting evil. Again and again, when rumors of coming attack have spread through the colony, we have discredited the reports. When, then, we now say that our minds are filled with the gloomiest anticipations of the future; when, many weeks ago, we pointed in no doubtful language to coming disaster, our readers will believe it was not without due reason. And why did we do this ? Because we knew that the feeliDg of disaffec? tion was rapidly spreading amongst the natives—not only amongst our enemies, but amongst Qur friends, Because we looked at head quarters in vain for any sense of the danger or any administrative capacity capable of meeting it. Because we saw the colony in the hands of the same Minister under whom it once before drifted into war; who blindly shut his eyes to all consequences, and thought that he was going to crush one feeble tribe, when all who kqew imyv thing of the true state of the native mind, knew that he was eliciting the hostility ■ of almost the whole race. Because we saw anarchy on all sides — anarchy in finance —the wealth of the" much-enduring taxpayer a prey to factions and parties in the. Assembly, and to Bank shareholders and Bank debtors. Anarchy in the coloiiial forces j worse than anarchy in our dealings with the natives ; the civil powers saying one to them, the military power saying another; until the faith of the Crown and honour of the British name was trampled in the dirt by the rivalries and jealousies of the public servants.---- - - - There is but one subject uppermost hi the~native mind, at present • we hear the same from all quarters—talk to whom you will—w<3 Jiear from reliable qujartersr-it is the same ..tale—broken promises on the part of the Government. The story..,of the Chatham Islanders is but one instance out of one hundred. There is not the -slightest' dbubfc that those prisoners fully believed that they had been promised by the Government that if. they behavefi well ./or they would be set-free. There is too much reason to believe that such a promise was' actually-made by the Government. I± is certain that language .was used which raised in the minds of the prisoners the belief that such was. the intention of the Government. prisoners did behave well. The Europeans on the island are unanimous in their testimony on this point. About tne end of two years the Government sent down a eteamer with seed potatoes, corn, maize, and so on, and the prisoners were told that when, they had got in the crop the Government would issue no more rations-fthey must henceforth feed themaelyes. Tius;Tsra§ aa< much as to say that they were never to: return to their "tomes..-. They, yrej-e to stay in the island and cultivate. Prom that moment they resolved to seize the first ship and get away ; and they began to prepare. They had not long to wait. .■ ■■> ' I?ow it is just this sprt of misunderstanding, if misunderstanding it breach of faith and honor, if breach of faith and honor it were—witieh renders all government of native, races utterly impossible except by the sword; that is to say except by the. extermination of one race and ".the pecuniary ruin of the other. It is the same on the East Coast. It is the same on" the West. On the : East, at the yery moment when Mr. McLean had been laboring hard to settle matters after the war, his exertions were all suspended and the stfli unsettled district given up to the operations of land sharks. ; On,, the W 4 egt, no sooner bad the Crown pledged its faith

that it would send no more military expeditions, and a Land Commissioner has been appointed to settle the land question, than a series of petty military .raids commenced on friend and foe alike, which have alienated almost every lingering friend w;e had in that country, and has driven all alike into arms. And now there is but one alternative. — The Stafford Government and war. —The defeat of the Government and peace. Have we not paid enough to keep this Government in office ? We paid some three or four hundred thousand pounds for that great honor last year. We r are about to pay some two hundred thousand pounds this year for the same dignity. Mr. Stafford wears the gold lace, and trumpets out his pompous and sonorous inanities from the Treasury bench, at the cost of so many hundreds; of thousands, pf pounds nually out of our pockets. Could we not give him an annuity to go ? There are some men who are born to drag down their friends and their country to their ;own level, and with such an evil influence is New Zealand afflicted at present. Government in this colony at present is reduced to one art —the art of manipulating a parliament and keeping in office.

High School Lectttbbs. —MrDobsonwill deliver hia second lecture on Physical Geography in the Literary Institute this evening. Nr-w Wobk.—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of a volume of poems by Chas. W. Purnell, a review of which will appear in a future issue. Conpibmatkhj IK Lyttelton.—The Eev. F. Knowlea notified on Sunday laet that his Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch would, hold a confirmation at Trinity Church early I in November next. NOBTHEBN AGEICOXTUBAIi ASSOCIATIOX— A well attended meeting of this Association is expected to take place to-day at the Pier Hotel, Kaiapoi, to make arrangements for the usual annual exhibition of stock. VOLtTNTBEBS FOB THE NOBTH.—Wβ beiieve a telegram was received 'from Major Eeader yesterday, inquiring whether a body of 200 Volunteers can be obtained in Canterbury, to proceed to the front. Cbickkt.—Efforts for the revival of the Kaiapoi Cricket Club are being made. A match has been arranged to take place on October 10th, between, scratch sides, after wjhich a meeting of the club for appointing officers, &c, will be held. ; Yeomanby Cavalby Citp.—The firing for this cup was continued yesterday, resulting as follows : — Cornet Slee, 22 j Sergeant Coombs, 30; Bandmaster, 29 ; Trooper Judge, 30; Trooper Preece, 27 ; Bandmaster Hundely, 13;; The cup ihae beexnwpn; once by Cooniba, Slee and Judge. It must be won twice. THB FIKANCIAi PbOPOSAIS OP THB Govebnmenx. —A public meeting has been held in Hokitika, at which the following resolution was carried:—" That this meeting begs to protest against th&. consolidation of the .provincial debtSjUnlees thesatneeirtbodies an Suitable adjustment of the debts between the different provinces and the county of Westland." :Thb Mayob's Cirp.—On Saturday this cup was fired for by the various companies at the Hillsborough range, and re.sulted.in. its being won, by No. 6 Company who; have , thus sue-, ceeded in gaming possession of both Mr Wilson's and Mr Bishop's cups. Aβ the scores shpw there was a very close contest and some very good shooting. The total score of the Artillery was 271 ; Engineers, 254 ; No. 2 Company, 271; and No. 6,272. Supbbme Coitbt. —His Honour Mr.Justice Q-resson will sit in Court Chambers at eleven o'clock this morning. The following is the public; lief;:.— JTearpn and otliers, creditora v v. Symington• and Wnofcheiy 'Special cabe for argument (Mr Hanmer) ; in re Or. W. Smith, deceased, and of Real Estate Administration Act, 1860, for an order declaring father of deceased to be the heir at law (Mr Hanmer) ; in re estate Thomas Hassall, deceased/for; an, order of probate to widow (Mr Macfarlan)7 Waitt and others v. Miles and others, for a rule nisi (Mr Duncan) j Crawford y. LeCren, argument on demurrer (Mr Cottrell)., , , -{ ~. Hobtictxltube.—-A. publio meeting of about forty gentlemen took place in the Colonists , Hall, Lyttelton, on Saturday last, to take steps' for holding an exhibition during the ensuing season;;.!. J?r Koueeoccupied the chair* After some discussion, it was resolved that a " Lyttelton and Port Victoria Horticultural Society" phould» be eetabliehed-j--&ttd"th»fc tlie r «xhibi-. tions should include, besides horticultural productions, specimens of dressed flax, of native wood, coal, or other minerals. A committee was'appointed to-carry-out the objects of-the meeting, consisting of Dγ, Bouse (chairman), Dr Donald, Messrs. Chalmers, Ellisdon, T. Merson, Webb, Willoox; Woledge (treasurer), and Carder (lion secretary), the committee to meet on Wednesday evening.next. Abiei Boating Clvb.— A meeting of this club took .place at the. XaiapbL Hotel, on Friday evening last; most of the members were present, and some new members were admitted. The following officers. r were appointed:—President;/Dr. Dudley; secretary and treasurer, Mr J.Craig; captain ofthe Ariel, Mrj C. E. Dudley. Accounts amounting to ijlQ 7a were passed/forrepairs "to'boat, &c. The. subscription for working..members was fixed at a guinea, and for. ' honorary imenrbßrs, at ten shillings and sixpence."' It resolved j to forward a challenge-to-ihe-Railway-^Rowing- 1 Club, to pull a four-oared race a distance of three miles on the Waimakuriri. It was also resolved that the Ariel should be ' entered -to compete for Mr' Oram's prire. - Mr Burnip kindiy placed the leis at the; dieposal of the ! club, for practice; The meetiffg then adjourned till the next fortnightly meeting cm Octobers. Qvxx BrvEit Coas CoscFAirr.-—A- meeting of the 1 directors was held at ■ the~ company's ofEces-yeaterday-Afternoon— Ben t—Messrs Murray-Aynsley, ? Nathan, Rhodes, Biohardeon, Olivier, an<i WiUen. Mr J. D. Macpherson was appointed secretary of the company in the place , of Mr Wylde. A from the- eogineer , ai' Greymouth was read; giving' β^tiefaclorj-ioibrma> tion as to the progress of the works 4here, and stating that a clearing one .chain in width has been made in the bush along the proposed line of railway. Coal is now" coming down from the drives in larger quantiaee thatt'fche accommodation at therpprt is for. Sixty tons have been, chipped on board the Spray for Kajapoi. have been made, in conjunction with the chairman of theCounty Council, fpr..improving the wharf accpnimor, dation at <sreymoufb, and - the , "''difficulties' whieli appeared hkely to hinder the construction, of the line have been removed. The CASTBEBiTBr Kowrere Club.—This Club held a general meeting of its members on Saturday last, at half past three, pm, at the I boat-house, when the following members were present; Messrs .W. H.. Ghurton,; R.. D. i Thomas, A. H. Westerns, J.ff. Herdson, C. B. Gricraon, T. S. Moore, G* BE; Nalder, J. Knps, T. Grierson, H. Thompson", H. W. Ijee, and A. E. Cooper. Mr G. B/Grierson preeided. The minutes of the previous meeting were reed and confirmed." The following new members were elected:' Messrs JV Palmer, R. Waitt, W. L. Muller, Malcolm Macpherson, W. B. Buller, David Craig, Ji A. Bird, and A. Strachey. Tlje then proceeded to the.business for which it had been more particularly coriveneS,' : viz., ■ the election of a captain" of the club, when MF J. H&&1----ings Herdaen TtasruaaiiiißOßfiij elaetedi o.Tfaifl gentleman acknowledged the high compliment

conferred upon him in neat and appropriate terms, and eolicited'the kind co-operation of the members in enabling him to fulfil the duties of office. We learn that the universal satisfaction of all the members of the club has been felt at this appointment. The working committee reported thatthe order for the new foar-bar had been despatched to Sydney, and gave the meeting a detailed account of the dimensions and style of build of the boat ordered. The chairman reported that Mr H. Slater, a;memb»r of the dub, had very kindly offered the club the use of a pair-oared Bkiff pending the arrival of the new pair-oar at present on-ihe way out from-Mr Salter of Oxford, which was accepted, and a vote of I thanks unanimously passed to Mr Slater for his kind offer. A few matters of minor importance, relating to the repairs to bo done to certain boats, were then dieposed of, and a vote of thanks terminated the proceedings. Most of the members then proceeded down the river in the different boats belonging to the club. Wβ are glad to learn that this club is determined to make a good show this season. We are informed that it numbers already nearly sixty Tnembere.of which nearly thirty

new members have joined the club since the season opened, and we are informed that a good number will be proposed for election at the next meeting. Heathcotb Road Boabd. —The visual fortnightly meeting of the Board was held yesterday at the Board office. Present — Fisher, Kennaway, and Garland. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed., Letters were reed from F.=Wakefield, Esq., C.E., relative to the overflow of the Courtney river, and proposing a plan to utilise the said overflow, so as to improve the navigation at Sumner, and requesting that a section and plan be furnished him of the canal reserve from the estuary to the Avon near the; Stanmore bridge, and from thence in as direct a line as can be made to the point of the Courtney near Mr Templar's, and where he assumes the overflow occurs. Mr Wakefleld further states that he will, on the receipt of the above plan and section, furnish the Board gratuitously with the full details and particulars of his proposal. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Gas Company, drawing the attention of the Board to the state of the drainage near the gas works, and also enclosing copy of a letter on the same subject which he had sent to the Borough Council. A letter from the Clerk to Borough Council, etatirfg that the above letter had been received, and that as the drain from the gas - works passed through a part of the borough, a committee had been appointed, and wished to know whether the Board would also appoint one to confer On the subject. A memorial from residents in the valley relative to the condition of the Hills road- - A letter from Mr Mofllewas also read, requesting the Board to appoint some one to see Dγ Haast relative to the making the road from Armagh street east to the Stanmore road, and stating that Dr Haasfc would bear the expense: himself. The Surveyor was directed to {acknowledge the receipt of Mr Wakefield's letter and memoranda, and give Jrim any information that lays in his power from existing surveys. It was resolved. ..that.the letters .from, the -Borough Council and from the Secretary to the Gas Company, be .acknowledged, and Mr Kennaway be requested to meet the committee of the Council on the subject of the drainage near the gas works. The Surveyor was instructed to- - reporfc~;"upoir j the ~condition" of rthe Hills road, to see Mr Moule on the tmbject of his letter, and inform him that if the expense of making the road referred to is met by Dγ Haast, the Board would undertake the superintendence of the work. The Surveyor reported upon the various works which were being done under his-supervision in the districts -The Board, after:.passing accounts for work done, adjourned until Monday, the sth October next.

, ■ CoNEijaaiiTiOH.—A confirmation was held at St. Luke's Church on Sunday last by the Bishop of the diocese. There were some thirty candidates, two-thirds, of whom were females.- Ai&er the evening "servip,e and a portion of the confirmation service had been gone through, his Lordship, preparatory to administering the rite, addressed the candirlnfccsy reminding them that they had come there for the purpose of making a formal profession that they were Christians. It would not only be an avowal of Aheir belief, but also a solemn promisV to God, and would receive His blessing if made in faith ; whether it were so made or not they alone could tell ; but if they as of mustard seed," it would be sufficient in God's sight. His Lordship then addressed the very large congregation, and 'said he hoped they were not present out of mere curiosity, but had come the purpose-of joining their prayers with those-of the candidates, and he would ask them to do so. The whole congregation then engaged in silent prayer for a short time ; and fcberßishop: afterwardsrproceeded :to ask' usunl' question and to the imposition of hands. When the candidates had.returned to their seats, his Lordship ad-

dressed them upon the subject of the new relations they had entered into with God. When" they Wore atftflftted-" to tfce'rite of baptism, God implanted His blessing in their hearts, to be afterwards developed, and they had i nb = to which God's blessing wae equally attached. Confirmation -was the outward seal of -that blessing. They had arrived at a period of life new duties and temptations:, surrounded them, and when they especially needed Divine assistance. '■ to enable r them : .to.-: live; up to Gad's Jaw,, It was. easy enough >to; lire up to the world's law,, which only: extends to some outward observances, but God's law. searched the hearts.; Many persons weref a little-moral, a little religious,' because they were afraid that God would puniah them,, if not in this world, at any rate in the next; but this: priociple of i teat was not BufScient.to enable, any one to live up tothe high.standard set before? us by God a. standard. very different ; from that set np by the worlds ; The world's standard of justice and honesty wae/rerylow-,: as it was ea*y tosee by observing how constantly persona ran reokr I lessly into debt. The only principle which would j enable them to serve Goo* properly was the principle of love towards Him wlio had, from the time $1 their bap watched over therri as a Father.fiis:liordship then pointed oat the individual application of this and said they could foster this spirit by constant reading ofthe Word of;G-od, by and I partaking of the Holy Communion. A collection was medo at r the close of the service in aid of the Maori mission.