THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, November 20, 1860.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 20 November 1860, Page 2

THE SOUTHERN CROSS. Tuesday, November 20, 1860.

LUCEO NOlt UKO. " If I lime been extinguished, yet thcie u.c A thousand beacons ftoin the spaik I boie."

The defenceless state of our out-settlements has been now for some time a source of anxiety to those most interested in the subject, namely the outsettlers themselves, and, as our readers are aware, several meetings have been held by them for the purpose af placing themselves in communication with the Government, and devising means for guarding, in time, against any dangers which may arise. The result of a late interview with His Excellency on the subject was published in our issue of Friday, and it is gratifying to find that the importance — nay even necessity — of extending our lines of defence to such a distance beyond the town as may enable even distant outsettlers to remain in comparative safety on their farms, is appreciated in quarters where we have a right to look for guidance and protection. As usual, however, whenever anything is to be done in a free country, the ways and means are one of the first things to be considered, and who is to pay is the first question asked. It has been asked in this case; and, it appears, answered not over satisfactorily to the settlers. Three hundred pounds, it seems, is all the money in the hands of Government available for the purpose of erecting stockades at Drury

and Papakura, and this the Government is ■willing to expend upon them. The amount is, however, evidently inadequate to meet the requirements of the case, and it is intimated that the settlers must supply any deficiency, eifjier by subscription amongst themselves, ov by furnishing materials and labour. At first sight this would appear just and fair ; that those who have to reap the immediate benefit should bear the burden ; but in this case there would be great injustice in throwing it entirely on the shoulders of those living in the threatened districts. In our opinion the expenses oi erecting stockades at Drury and Papakura is more fairly a charge against the Province than against the district, and still more fairly against the Colony than against the Province. It is hardly worth discussing whether the Imperial Government should not assist in erecting purely military works, for they- will do as they like about that matter, and it has been already intimated by men likely to be v informed, that a little bill is being made out against the colony for sundry expenses attending the war, and that we shall be expected to pay for all military works of anything like a permanent character. There is but little doubt, therefore, that somebody in the colony will have to pay for them, and the question is — who is to do it ? We gave as our opinion, above, that it would be unfair to let the burden fall entirely on the outsettler^j.Certainly he has been agitating for defence^gjlpus own account ; and, undoubtedly, in caslFany unfortunate collision with the natives should occur in this province, he will be the immediate gainer by the erection of a defensible place of refuge in his immediate neighbourhood. His own life, and those of his wife and children, may depend, on his having one ; but at the same time there are others, who will reap almost equal benefit from the projected defences. We have always endeavoured to point out how the interests of town and country, in this Province, are interwoven, and how impossible it is for the former to flourish if the interests of the latter are neglected. ' We urged it in the days of money and roads, and debentures and wharves, and we now Urge it in the days of jtfar and fortifications. Let the outsettlers once be obliged to leave then* fanns, and the effects will soon be seen in Queen Street. Auckland is certainly never likely to share the fate of Kororareka, nor do we expect to see St. Paul's >the centre of an entrenched camp, but the desertion of the Drury and Papakura plains, even if we were able to hold them afterwards by military ocmipation, and so allow settlers to return, would be a gloomy era in the history of the Province, and the date of the ruin of many both in town and country. One week of guerilla warfare in those districts would throw back the progress of the Province many a long year. The settlers — and we hope the Government likewise — see this, and consider that the defensive works in contemglation will be of more real service to the Province, should they have the effect of 'deterring marauders, than even if they were to become the centres of a series of successful military operations. The great evil to be avoided, under present circumstances, is the extension of the war to this Province, and the interests of all are equally involved in this matter. The outsettlers form the outer line of defence of the community, and they have shown themselves to be men not likely to desert their posts. They know that they would have to bear the brunt of any attack, and are willing to do so, but they know likewise that if they succeed in defending their own lives and properties, many others besides themselves will reap the benefit, and they not unnaturally look to such for assistance in rendering their position defensible. They are willing to accept the post of honour in the van, where they find themselves placed by circumstances, but consider that, in holding their ground, they will be fighting not only their own but the battle of those behind them. The settlers of the districts we are speaking of have expressed their willingness to give their contributions of labour and materials towards the erection of stockades. This is a great deal, and as much as can be expected from them — even more — but they see the absolute necessity of doing something and are not inclined to waste time in discussing the question of payment^ when such important interests are at stake. They feel that if the Government had refused to do anything at all, it would still be wise for them to do something for themselves ; arid they are not the sort of men who would rather see their own properties destroyed than take steps to defend them, lest in so doing they might benefit others who were unwilling to incur either labour or expence themselves. For a community, however, to be ready to take advantage of the necessity which obliges any of its members to do what is a great common benefit, and to refuse to reimburse them for it, because they must have done it at all events, is certainly not just ; we'll say nothing of its being generous. We stated above that we considered that the whole expense of these military works should be a charge on the general, rather than any local revenue ; and, of course, the three hundred pounds granted comes out of the general chest : no more, however, is forthcoming, it appears. We will not dwell on the question whether the money already expended on simPar works in the province has been laid out or not, and whether Papakura and Drury, and even Maungatiwhiri, were not places which, considered strategetically, ought to have been put in a state of defence first, even though the Domain had had to go without a blockhouse in consequence ; but will merely ask whether the Commissariat chest is available at all in Auckland, as it was in Taranaki We heard something, not long back, of moneys advanced, and guarantees given by the Colonial Government to the Commissariat for war expenses in that province, which the military authorities could not defray on their own authority. Now the stockades wanted for our out-districts are simply military works. If they are required— and we believe that no military man denies that fact — the military authorities should erect them at once, and leave the question of payment to be adjusted between the uwo Governments, and if they are not wanted, except to stop the settlers' mouths witfi, for goodness' sake don't let us waste even three hundred pounds upon them. At all events our militarj men are the legitimate judges in this matter : if they consider them necessary they ought tc build them at once, and put the price down at the bottom of that little bill which we Bhal) some day have to look over with the Imperial Government. The bill, we believe, is gaining in dimensions, and the sum total is beginning to look formidable, so a few hundreds more or less will scarcely make much difference.