SOUTHERN NEWS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2607, 25 November 1865, Page 5

SOUTHERN NEWS.

Elsewhere we reprint important intelligence from Poverty Bay, by way of Napier, Let us' hope that the next arrival from that district will bring us news of the complete defeat of tlio Haubaus. The Poverty Bay district will then be open for settlement, and profitable occupation, which it never has been since white men first let foot in New Zealand. From the West Coast we have no news of a warlike character. The Taranaki News, of the 23rd instant, states that on thej 22ud, a dray ladon with spirits wa< seized on the Carrington Road, coming intotowu. Two men havo been'arrested. It would seem, therefore, that illicit distillation hat become gener*l throughout tbe oolouy. From Duuedin we le»ru that Mr. Reynolds, M.G.A., is to be entertained at a public banquet by bis fellow oitizens, as a mark ot their appreciation of his oonduofc in the Assembly. Thu Baily Times remarks : — "The banquet to be giveu*Jto"|Mr.^Reynolds this evening is a gratifying proof of the interest which ii being awakened in Otago in public affairs. Hitherto, the one great bar to the provinces exerting that amount oE political influence in the councils of tho colony tbat its importance entitled it to wa« the apathy displayed by its inhabitants. Wo are glad to think that a different state of affairs is dawuiug, and that as Otago has now been allowed a larger representation, its people will feel that the responsibility devolves on them of worthily exercuing their power. He tluew himself heartily into the alliance with Auckland, and worked with the members of that province to secure the objects common to it and to Otago, and to resist the combination entered into by tho°smjiller provinces against them." Nearly all the Canterbury members have addressed their constituents. Mr. Walker has received the approval of the electors of Akaroa : he is a unionist. Mr. Moorhouso it opposed for tho Snporintendenoy of Canterbury by Mr. Lance, of Christchurch, who is opposed to Separation. Mr. Crosbie Ward and Mr. FitzGerald are fighting out the battle in their respective papers, which begau in the General Assembly on Mr. Russell's resolution!?, and will never end until Separation triumphs. <As might be expected, Mr. Ward hai the best of the argument. Mr. FitzGeruld makes up for hi* logical deficiency by strong assertion, and itill stronger language. We question it there is any print in the colony which approaches the Canterbury Press in reckless assertion, and offensive aud vulgar peisonalities. Refening to the inhabitants of Auckland it Sfty3 : — "Even at the present moment th« real political weight of the North is against Separation ; and before a very long time will have elapsed it may be confidently predicted that the numerical weight of the North will bo against it a* well. * * * But we are told, as another argument, the government of these native concerns 'the North alone.' They say they can manage it : why should we interfere ? Now whom does this native question most coucern ? Most certainly [not Auckland. Whatever may nave been the cue before the Waikato war, Auckland has now, in its unoccupied parts South of Auckland, hurdly more natives than Canterbury. To the north of Auckland the natives and Europeans are closely intermingled, but the J*tter so greatly outnumber the foimer that no danger ought ever to be folt. But south of Auckland the natives are now driven beyond the pale " The italics are copied from the Press. Wo shall take an early occasion of re-printing tho article in full, from which tho deep-rooted hoitility of the writer to Auckland will be appareut, as well as his ignorance of the condition of the North Island, and his readiness to go any length to gain his end. It is a humiliating thing for " the gentlemen of Canterbury" to follow such a leader, but it is far more humiliating to be " found out " in the use of suoh weapons. The Press makes *. fierce personal attack on Mr. Whitaker, for his hustings speech. The following extract from the Lytldton Times of the 14th proves that Separation is an active principle in Canterbury politics :— " Middle Island Association. — A numerous and influential meeting was held yeiterduy for the purpose of arranging preliminaries for the formation of an association, having for its end the protection of Middle Island interests in the present political and financial crisis of the colony. About twenty-five gentlemen, infl uentially representing the commercial and other interests of the provicce, assembled about noon iv offices in Colombo-street, which have been set apart for the u«es of the association. Mr. R. Wilkin, M.G.A., was in the chair. The following resolution was carried :—: — "That it is desirable to form a society, to bo called tbe Middle Island Association, with a view to furnishing information upon tbe various matters affecting tho question of Separation of the Middle from the North Island, and for tho adoption of all necessary meaus towards protecting the interests of the former." Those present then formed themselves into a committee to promote tbe objects of the association, and to extend its numbers among all persons of all classes of the community, who desire to aid the cause, by whatever means may bo found expedient. A subscription was opened, »ud numeroui donations were nt once received in aid of the Association's objects. A sub-committee, consisting of tbe chairman and eight members, was appointed to draw up the prospectus of the association ; and a further meeting of the general committee was ordered for Friday uext, at 4 o'clock." The Otago Provincial Council was opened on the 15tb. A summary of the Supeiiutendent's speech was forwarded by telegraph to Christchurch, where it appeared on the 16th. We extract the following : — "First in importance, I may rank the position of the province with respect to the General Government. Tho last session of the Assembly has sufficiently shown that it is incumbent upon us to anticipate and endeavour to provide against a course of procedure which would render the province powerless to help itself, and at the same time leave it with many responsibilities to fulfil. Our present position is most unsatisfactory. On the provincial authorities rest the onus and responsibility of advancing all the material interests of the province, and of preserving peace and good order within its bounds, while we are disabled from promptly appropriating as emergencies arise tbe great resources which would otherwise be at our disposal. A change in this respect is inevitable, aud to the mean* for effecting this change I have to request your serioiui deliberation, for it i* impossible that the province can advance as it ought under a system of double government, whereby the authority and the responsibility are placed in different hands ; and whereby the supreme Government, powerless to aid in tiroes of difficulty, is powerful only in its ability to prevent | our helping ourselves, and in casting upon us heavy burdens incurred for objects with which we have no direct concern. Resolutions will bo brought before you on this subject at an early period of the session, in order that it may leceive the attention its importance deserves." Dr. Featherston and Mr. Waring Taylor publicly announce that they will not become candidates for seals in the General Assembly next election. Mr. G. Hunter and Mr. Borlase are talked of as likely succesiors ; and Mr. J. Johnston, it is hoped, will resign his seat in the Legislative Couucil and come forward. Seats are going a-begging in Wellington, and they have no man worthy to succeed Dr. Featberiton. Mr. Bunny has been addressinc; hi« constituents, and received votes of approval at each meeting ; a gentle condemnation of the Weld Government for resigning being added to the resolutions. Of course the Independent is furious.