The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1951, 17 October 1863, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCKO NON URO. "If I lmve be«n •xUiißmshed, yet thort r\n« A tliousnml beacons from the sp.irk J bore."

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1863.

Now that tlic action taken by the Provincial Council of this province in the matter of the Drury railway lias rendered the early accomplishment of that great vrork a matter of almost entire certainty, it may l>c -worth while to enquire what further works will be necessary to open up effectually the great valley of the "Waikato to European enterprize, and to provide speedy and efficient means of communication between the Capital of the province, and what must at no distant period become the great agricultural district of it. There are few, we suppose, in, the community who seriously suppose that the ■present state of active warfare can last very long between tho Waikato population and the force that will shortly be brought to bear upon it for its subjugation. Some have, indeed, talked and written of a three, a five, or a seven years' war, but we question whether, except nndor the influence of a very strong desire to twist facts for party purposes, any one looking stea-dily at the circumstances of the natives amd at those of ourselves, could entertain such an idea seriously for a moment. It may, indeed it probably will prove that a, perfect state of peace and safety may not easily or at once be attained in the districts which are. wrested from the Southern natives in punishment for their unprovoked rebellion, and in this sense of insecurity and epjbrced care and watchfulnesss, the embers of yrrce may be said to be not entirely trampled out for- several years to come, but there can be no ground for believing that more than another year can elapse before the men who have already joined, or who may hereafter join any of our regiments of Waikato military settlers, wilL find themselves located on those lands which. «re meant to reward them for their exertions on behalf of this colony. For the occupationand efi'c ctual keeping in check and forcing by contact intc> civilization of the Maoris, it is perfectly clear that a population of from twenty to forty thousand Europeans in tho districts commonly known as the Waikato districts, would be requisite, and we have no doubt that any wise colonial Government will recognize this fact, and endeavour m some way to secure this population. If this is secured within the next three^or four years it is evident that a vast traffic must necessarily come down the Waikato and seek an outlet to Auckland. According to the views expressed in the Provincial Council, by members both opposing and supporting the Drury Bailway Bill, it is manifest that they do not look for the completion of that line as far as the village of Drury under three or even four years. We should not, for our own part, have been inclined to make quite so liberal an allowance of time for it, but perhaps it is wise to allow more rather than less time than is necessary for such undertakings, especially in new and undeveloped countries like this. Druiy, it must bo remembered, lies at a considerable distance from the Waikato valley, and the road that connects them is far from being of a very easily travelled description. The question then arises, suppose a large population numbering a good many thousands (which it probably will do within eighteen months from this date), to be settled on tho Waikato, how are they to obtain an easy communication with Auckland P How are the numberless things which they will require, both in food and other articles of commerce to be conveyed to them P and how are the crops which they can so easily raise in the fertile plains of Waikato, to be brought to an Auckland market ? The questions are by no means unimportant, nor, wo may add, will they be easily answered. At present the number of men whom we have on the Waikato may be reckoned at perhaps one fifth of the number of inhabitants wo may hope to see there in two years' time; and now the expense of carriage to supply these men is absolutely enormous, owing to the itate of the roads and tho distance from

Auckland. The Imperial Commissariat may for a great end be able to expend the grant sums of money necessary, to convey goods in thia way, bufc even on its resources a continuance of this •would prove a heavy drain ; to a population 'of military settlers and their families the thing would be a simple impossibility. A little consideration will, we feel sure, bo enough to convince most persons that, until railway communication can be had with Waikato, it is plain that water communication must be employed as largely as possible. The Waikato, although shallow in^ places, can, as we know, be navigated for pui'poses of trade by small steamers- built on purpose for the service. Tlftse steamors, then, could of coxirse keep opon the communication between the whole valley and the end of the south road, or any other point on the river's bank at which a road, railway, or tramway might best strike it. The really difficult question is how the goods are to be conveyed to and from Auckland to the banks of the Waikato ? Even to Drury, it is said, at least three years will be required to extend the railroad ; and as yet it seems more than doubtful whether any very direct line can be found from thence to the Waikato valley, without a large expenditure both of time and money, in overcoming natural obstacles. A tramway would be almost equally difficult to make, and at that place would probably bo of but very temporary utility, as the railway, striking the river a little higher up, would leave the tramway but little to do. Again, if the tramway were made, as it could only be at a large cost, it would bring the goods no farther than to the Papakura Creek, where they must be, of course, shipped for Onehunga, whence they could be conveyed by rail to Auckland.

Ou the other hand, it is certain that steamers adapted for the river service of the Waikato, would he utterly inefficient for the service of crossing tho bars of the Waikato and Manukau. and so bringing goods direct to, or taking them direct from, Onehunga without trans-shipment. It is comparatively of little moment whether a steamer runs a few miles further up or down a river ; but it completely alters all the conditions at once if a steamer is required to go from a river into a heavy and, in many states of the weather, a most dangerous sea Ifc is tlien. clear, that by steamer direct cannot be the way by which goods must be conveyed between Waikato and Onehunga, previous to the construction of a railway. Were there no range of high hills between Drury and Pokeno, it would be tolerably evident that a tramway between these two places would, under the circumstances we are now supposing, be the very best and most profitable plan. That ridge, however, exists, and virtually forbids tho idea. It is unnecessary now, neither would our space permit us, to go into the question of the advantages possessed by a tramway over a metalled road ; it may suffice, therefore, to take it for granted that all our readers are aware of the fact that at a far less cost an infinitely greater amount of goods can be conveyed along a good tramway than along the best and most expensive metalled road ; while a tramway costs but little in comparison to make and keep in repair through a country abounding in forest such as the belt of land along the northern bank of the Waikato river. Pending, then, the construction of a raihva}', we say a tramway is the proper means of conveying produce between tho waters of the Waikato and those of the Manukau ; and the General Government will find that when it undertakes to find a year's rations for several thousands of men, the existence of such a means of transit will bo of untold value to them. Where and how this may best be made we will endeavour to point out on an early occasion, as our limited space will not allow of our doing so to-day.

It is now some considerable time since we made any reference to the vexed question of Friendly Natives. When we did so it may bo remembered that General Cameron had just written the despatch calling attention in flattering terms to the services and good will of the natives of Te Wheoro and Waata Kukutai. We were not prevented then, by this declaration on the General's part, from expressing most freel} r our own opinion that the Maoris calling themselves friendly might easily be too much made of, and too greatly trusted for our own good. While acknowledging that the General might, and probably was, perfectly right in giving expression to his approbation of thenpast conduct, we made no secret of our conviction that he would do well not to trust them too implicitly for the future, and we endeavoured to show that iiii all they had done, they had never over-stepped the bounds of what the most unfriendly native imaginable might with perfect consistency have done ; they had never, in a word, committed themselves with their rebellious brethren. To not a few persons, we believe, our remarks then appeared needlessly harsh and offensive, when wo had received nothing but service fiom the natives referred to. Many persons , thought and, as Englishmen, naturally thought that until something was proved against these men they should bo trusted. We were content to await the verdict of time upon our opinions. That verdict successive events have, it seems to us, definitely pronounced ; and in this verdict we can only road that our suspicions and fears were right ; that those who judged in a moro trustful and confiding manner were ■svrong. There even now Jiangs some degree of mystery about the circumstances attending the murder, for such it was, of Mr. Armitage. The first talo brought by the natives who accompanied, and who ought to have fought for him, was so palpably false that we are forced to the conclusion that they felt the truth to bo either disgraceful or dangerous to them. The twentythree natives who fell gallantly fighting against overwhelming numbers in the defence of the Europeans and of the goods committed to them, turnedout very soon to bo wholly mythical persons : and the impression left upon all minds from the General to tho most Maori-sympathzing civilian amongst us, must undoubtedly have been an utter loss of confidence in the fidelity of these men, and darker suspicions an to their probable treachery in the case of Mr. Armitage's death, and the loss of the valuable stores committed to their care. In this world it is common to judge of men just as we find their actions, and to a great extent to ignore their professions. The professions of these friendly Maoris have always been excellent ; on tho first occasion on which treachery was possible we find that results such as should spring from treachery alone, followed. We now learn, on apparently good authority, that the same party of friendly natives which accompanied and did not defend Mr. Armitage have left their place of residence, and to all appearance openly joined the rebel forces. We are heartily glad to hoar it, and we think

every settler in the province would now rejoice to hear that suoh a phenomenon as a friendly Maori did not exist or was not counterfeited within our lines on the southern frontier. We are tired of asserting that friendly Maoris are an absurdity when taken from tribes the main body of which is at open war with us. We now say that friendly Maoris of the Waikato tribes are more than absurdities ; they are to all intents and purposes, so far as wo can toll, impossibilities. As a rule they would bo worse men and more contemptible as friendly than as unfriendly Maoris, as things at present stand : and we venture to say that not one Maori out of a thousand professes friendliness for any other purpose than either treachery or inability to fight on his people's side. At this moment we know that there is a small, a very small population of Maoris professedly friendly at Waiuku. These men are, with scarcely an exception, old and infirm men, who would be nothing but a burden in time of war to the rebels ; they wisely remain and accept our rations of flour and tobacco. The question arisos is this all they do ? We think not. We imagine, it stands to reason, that they have a lingering regard for their sons and brothers, who, being able to fight, have disappeared from Waiuku, although not in all cases from the district. It may be said, " yes, but wo learn a great deal from these men of the movements of the rebels." We are fully aware of this, and it is the main strength of our argument against these same pensioners of our bounty. How are they able to give us information ? When do they hold communication witli their rebel friends ? These are questions which no settler or Government officer can answer ; but they are surely very pertinent questions after all. One, and but one, answer can possibly be given ; they are in constant and secret communication with the rebels. We are willing to admit that even such a state of things as this may be from motives of policy, endurable, when the information to be gained is of so valuablo a character as to make it needful for in to have it. In the present case it is not so. Scraps of information have been occasionally received, all referring to something past ; a general warning was once given that large bodies of natives were in the bush, a thing that | was known by observation as soon as 6\ivJ"f!cn(ls communicated it; broad hints were given that we should avoid the forest because the enemy was in force, which had a suspicious coincidence with the time when settlers horses were being stolen, and a forced march in retreat across tho Waikato was in contemplation. These have been the services wo have gained in return for our forbearance and our rations ; what have our enemies gained from the ties of blood and sympathy ? We have heard of ambushes after their failure ; we have known of the presence of Maoris after they have taken their departure; did tho enemy know of the chance of success to his ambush, or any of tho threatened scouring of tho forest in his neighbourhood, from the friends whom we find in rations.

More Murders ijvthe Rebels.— Tt willhavobeen seen by a telegram fiom Drury, which wo published in an extra, yesterday, and which we rejmblish in our issue of to day, that two more settlers have been shot by the rebels ; and that the victims are Mr. and Mrs. Fahey, of Rama Rama, near Drnry. The particulars wo have received are but scant, but we have sufficient to inform us of the horrible fate these poor people have met with. Fahoy, we should say, was not dead wheu our correspondent wrote, but there was little hope entertained of his recovery. What value can be now put upon William Thomson's declaration that women and children should be spared. This is the fiiot female who has become ci I victim since the picsent war commenced ; and the extent of Maoii compasbion seems to be that sho has not beeu tomahawked. Smely the lecnirence of such murders will be a caution to the settlers not to veuture in the proximity of danger. ■The 'PncEßE.'—lt is the 'Phoebe,' not the 'Airedale,' that is due to-day from the South. The 1 Airedale' was to proceed to Sydney. The Provincial Council. —Yesterday's sitting was the last prior to the adjournment. Amongit the preliminary business was the adoption of a , motion by Mr. J. O'Neill for an address to his honor the Supeiintendeufc, calling his atteution to the repeated expression of opinion by the Council as to the desirability of retaining the block of land in Queen-street, used for the law courts and jail as a site for public buildings. The second interim leport of the Lam's Regulations and Immigration Committee w.is adopted. Some discussion took place upon, the leport of the Manukau Haibour Committee, and its fmther discussion was adjourned until the Council lesumed its sittings. In pursuance of a message fiom his honor the Supeiintendent} the Council authorised the expenditure of £450 for a temporary w.vter supply to the city, by the construction of four additional wells. A long discussion ensued upon the steam communication with Napier question, and the motion of Mr. Daldy, that the amount for that purpose bo authorised, was negatived by twelve votes to five. On the conclusion of tho business, tho Council adjourned to the 28th of uext month.

TnE Gunboat.—Tho gunboat ' Pioneer,'late the ' Waikato,' steamed up to the Onehunga beach on Thursday and took in tho two forty-pound Armstrong guns without accident. The weight of each gun was 36 cwt.

Great 2?outh Road.—Persons interested in the improvement of this road aro requested to attend a public meetiug, to be held at Mr. Edgecombo's, Northern Hotel, on Wednesday, the 21st inst., at 3 p.m.

Masonic—The monthly meeting of the Lodge Waitemata will be held on Monday evening at the Masonic Hotel Princes-street, commencing at seven o'clock.

Second Cl\ss Mjlxtja —The second class militia will parade in the Albert Barracks on Tuesday morning uext at six o'clock.

Auckland Saw Mill, Company.— A meeting of tho shareholders of this company will bo held on Monday next at tin cc o'clock at tho office of tho company Queen-street, for the purpose of conliiming the proceedings of the meetiug held on the 22nd ultimo.

Unitarian Ckhistianity.—Mr. F. Bradley is to deliver a course of lectures in tho Odd Fellows' Hall, commencing to-morrow. The morning service will be hold at eleven and the evening at half-past six o'clock.

Nkw Musical Sooietv.—Tho prograinmo of a new musical society, established in Auckland, and to which wo recently alluded, will be found in our advertising columns. Ladies and gentlemen wishing to join the tociety are requested to communicate with the hou. secretary, Mr. Charles Sanderson.

Auckland Rifle Volunteers.—The battalion will parade on Monday morning next, and on each successive morning until further orders, in the Albert Barracks at half-past six o'clock.

Tiirkk Children at a Birth.—On Wednesday morning the wife of a labourer named Chailos Looncy was delivered of thice children (two boys and a ccirl), at 15, Edward-street, Dockhead, Bermondsey. Sho was attended by Mis. Mini head, a nurse from the Surrey Dispensary, and the children are all living and in good health. Loonoy, who is employed on Fenuing's wharf, London-bridge, is in very poor circumstances. -—Times, July 20.