THE NORTH. (FROM THE CANTERBURY "PRESS," NOVEMBER 13.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXI, Issue 2608, 27 November 1865, Page 5

THE NORTH. (FROM THE CANTERBURY "PRESS," NOVEMBER 13.)

Thosk who have devoted themselves to the patriotic task of cutting up the colony into a wisp of small states arc fond of ridiculing the idea that any sense of honour should bind the South to the North in its extremity, by asserting that the North repudiates our aid, and itself demands a Separation. We theiefoie beg oni 1 readers to consider for a foment what this word Noitli means; because it is on the meaning of this alone that any weight which may lie in the argument depends. If the city of Auckland is intended, then the argument may have some little meaning, although a veiy uncertain and confuted one. Auckland has, it is true, often clamoured for Separation, but whenever the question has been definitely put, whether it means to deal wich the Dative question single handed, its answer has been —as in Mr. E. Giaham's resolution in 1864—" Certainly not ; we expect the British troops to remain, and the English Government to undertake the task of conquering and civilizing the Maoiis." But is Auckland the North ? Not only is it nob so, but all the physical features of the Noithern Island are quite sufficient to piove to any man of ordiuary observation and sagacity that in a few yeais hence Auckland will be bj far the least unportaut part of the Northern Island. In point of feitihty of soil, in the power of bearing a large population, and iv the extent of occupiable conutiy, there is no paitof Auckland which will bear one moment's comparison with the magnificent plains of Hawke's Bay, or the rolling garden l.uid stt etching Irom Tarauuki along the whole of the shores of Cook's Stiaits. If our leaders will take a map of the North Island and will dtaw a line across it from Knwhia harbour on the west to Tauianga or Matata on the Bay of Plenty on the east, they will see that about two thirds of the whole is'orth Island lies to the south of that line, and about one-third to thenoithof it. The Euiopean inhabitants of the northern part comprise the whole of the population of the province of Aucklaud, and within thafc line lies, it may be said, every man who desues Separation iv the Northern Islaud. The population, far less numerous, it is true, of the other over two-thirds of the North Island (ire opposed to Separation. In proposing great organic changes iv the Constitution oi any country it is wise to look to the future .ib much a,s, or more than, to the present. In any country whoso condition changes so lapidly as that of New Zealand from year to year, the future is much nearer to us than in States whpre social changes are of slow giowth. Now, when it is consideied by what agencies the pi ogress and colonisation of Auckland have been stimulated, and that, with the cessation of the war, the removal of the sent of Government, and the departuie of the troops, all those adventitious aids to advancement which Auckland has hitherto enjoyed will bo withdrawn, and Auckland will be simply left to get on, as its neighbours have got on, by its own energies and capital, it cannot but be admitted, by those at all events who are quite unprejudiced iv the i matter, that the small peninsula of chiefly light sandy or cold clay soils which lies to the north of the line we have befoie described, is not dt-skined to be that pait of the Northern Island which will be by any means the most important in wealth and population. But there ii another consideration. Owing to a variety of ciuses principally arising out of the native war, the population of Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke's Bay, has increased but little dvrinjr the past few years. The inhabitants of those provinces comprise it large proportion of settlers who have been a long time in the colony, and have a keen regard for its honour and its true interest?. On the other hand a very large proportion of the Auckland settlers have but recently arrived within the colony. The Waikato militia and immigrants introduced by the Loan and Settlements Acts are said to number about 8,000, whilst the artificial expenditure oarried on for joins time has attracted a considerable number of persons to the province. Comparatively speaking, therefore, a very hige part of the inhabitants of Auckland are now coiners, comparatively , ignorant of the politics and true interests of the colony. Even at the pie- 1 scut moment the real political weight of the North is against Separation; and before a very long time will^ have elapsed it may bo confidently predicted that the, numerical . weight of , the North , will l)e against it as well. , Thu Auckland community" is 1 not in a fair state of mind to pronounoe a calm judgment at the present moment. They are so sore at the unexpected removal of the ■eat of Government as to be quite incapable of admitting even what their own true interests are, still, less wbat<.are the interests ,of the cojony at large. This is an additional reason why loss stiess should be placed on their demands to" make so wide au' alteration in the Constitution of the' colony, at all events at the .present time. L No one >is entitled to have his opinion as to permanent changes respected whilst he is himself acting under temporary vexation and excitement. For these reasous it seems to u« thajt those who advocate. Separation now, will find their views meeting with less and less, support iv the Northern Island, and that the argument that "the North demands to'be let alone," is one whioh, being partially true at present, will befoie long fail them altogether. But we are told, iai another argument,) the government of these natives concein/s J'- the North alone." They say they can' manage it:' why •hould we interfere ? Novr whom does this native question most eonoern 1 y Most not Ancklaud.' Whatever, may hare' been the case before the

, *Vaikato,,wjw, Auckland has jiow, in jw unoooupud^ parts south of Auckland, hardly "more, natives than Canterbury. To the north of Auckland the natives' and Europeans are closely • intermingled, but tho Hatter so greatly oufcilumbor • tlio -.former that no danger ought ever to be' felt. But south of Auckland the natives are now driven beyond the pale. The .Thames .Valley and the r .CoromaudeLpeniiwul*. are still' inhabited 1 by 'uuui&ous thW^thfyW; intermingled with very small and insolated nettle* '* ! raenta of ' Europeans, and thatt'only-'omsthe const. Nor, with the presence of th* .friendly Arawas in the B,ayi of. Plenty, and, the, Waikato militia in, the i H Waikafo, isit l likelythaftheThWmes'ohie'f'(Wiflai»iil- >I - tempt an invasion of their remaining land*. At T*ran*ki and Kawke's Bay, 'the, case is entirely different. The , notion taken by, .the natives, in,, the Wntral" districts' 'of "thd^islaWTMs 'bf'tho I'utmijkt' impprjaubV" td'J thoSe 0 pro'viricek interests and safety 'lire fa*r J taore' t dependent o'h'Hfnat is called the native policy 'th r an are the* settlers 'in Auckland. But these provinces' are utterly opposed t(i Separation, and repudiate theidea that, the ■whole [- colony has not an interest in, and a right.to interfere with, the governance of, the native*, j Whst theiibecomes of the argument that; the North' h»s, an exclulive claim to interference] in the native querbion 1 But i« it the fact that the population of Auckland have 'any apecial aptitude' in dealing'with th« nativei .?'•' Set 'aside those' who ''are living amongst i them and ' constantly dealing' with » them — a < very small part of tho whole Auokland community^— and what do the dwellers in the towH of Auckland know of the natives — of their habit*,, ( their Tiews,»thqir „ wants, or their fears,' more than "'the" 'dwellers in ChrUtchu'rch ? ITot one t whit. ( They haye,no more opportunity for arriving 'at such information J than wo have. One distinct and undefeasible claim' the Middle Island has to have a very large voice in the matter; and that is the right /of having .■had, to pay.'t We 'haveulbought the right to interfere, ' and shall be great fools if , ; we do not assert it. But there is one more question ; more than half the province of Auckland is inhabited solely by native* with whom the Europeans have little communication. Are these tribes to be , governed solely; ;for( the benefit of their European r neighbour, because they are included in an artificial boundary called 1 the province of Auckland? The whole colony has surely & common duty and a common interestin seeing that these natives are governed with a view to their own interests, rather than the interests of those ■with' wh6m they 'are accidentally associated; l<! bufc with whom' they have nothing in common.' If theie natives' had 'a voice we are H persuaded'they would say, as the rest of the Northern Island 'says, Save us from Auckland: For the most part they have no voice ; but in one remarkable instance they, have made .themselves heard. The whole of the friendly natives north , of Hawke'o Bay, ,as far as the Ea*t Cape, petitioned ' the Assembly last session to be included in tho province of Hawlre's Bay. This is a most significant fact. The other natives have made no sign So that, in conclusion, when we are told the North is in favour of Separation, let it he clearly understood , that the North means that small narrow neck of land, which lies to the west and north or (the Hauraki gulf, and nothing more— what will, at no distant day, be * perfectly insignificant pait of the great community pread over the whole of these islands. <