The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3038, 22 April 1867, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUCBO, NON ÜBO. " If I have^beonjoxtingtusntd, yot th«r» r io A thoiuand beaconi from the ipark I boro."

MONDAY, APRIL 22.

The news from the Thames, which we publish elsewhere, and the letter of our special reporter from Tauranga, tend in the same direction, namely, that the rebel natives are not so much discouraged as they are undecided regarding future operations. They made a strenuous effort to create disturbance in the Thames district ; but thanks to the energetic remonstrances of Mr. Commissioner Mackay, backed by the good sense of a large section of the Thames and Coromandel natives, the danger has been presently averted. Te Hira has consented to remain at peace until he has been attacked by the pakehas, which is equivalent to saying that there shall be peace in the Thames valley, and along the line of the Piako, because the Government would surely not commit such an act of folly, to characterise it by no harsher name, as to provoke hostilities there. We surely have seen enough of war latterly at Tauranga, and in the interior, to be satisfied that, conducted as it has been, it brings with it neither glory nor gain.* Our special correspondent particularly tells us that the result of the Tauranga operations has been to limit that settlement to a small circuit, the out-post J points being the Gate Pa, Judea, and Turner's j house, a little below the last-named place. In short, we have had our out-posts driven j in, and Te Papa is itself occupied by a large body of Ajawas. j We may be told that we defeated the Hauhaus at all points, and destroyed hundreds of tons of their food whilst in the ground, and played the incendiaiy with their whares. All'this is true ; but then we did not catch them. They retreated through the bush ; and as soon as we returned to the camp at Tauranga, they came back to their old ground. This thing cannot last much longer. "We ' cannot conceal from our eyes that there has been a practical defeat. We cannot hold the ground we have conquered more than once, a portion of which has been ceded us. We cannot occupy the ground we purchased and surveyed. It is not safe to go more than three or four miles from the camp at Taurauga,— j the limit being Te Papa an the one side, and 'Judea on the other, At tl*B commencement !

of tliiy wretched str-ugglo with the Pirirakau, we protested against it ;■— only we said tliat, having got into a quarrel, we ought to fight it out and have done with it. But we have bungled Jfrom first to last. The Native Minister, who commanded the operations in person, has effected a masterlyflank movement to Wellington, and instructions from thence are " anxiously expected." What they may be we cannot pretend to imagine. It is reported that he " placed " men of the Ist Waikato Eegiment " on their " land," before leaving for Wellington — that is, some of them balloted for, and were told to occupy, the very land over which the Hauhaus roam uninterruptedly, and which the military authorities at Tauranga do not pretend even to occupy. Perhaps we shall hear that an order has been received from the Defence Office striking the -men off pay, ordering them upon their lands, accompanied by a proclamation from Sir George Grey declaring that all is peace and happiness on the East Coast. More improbable things than this have happened in this island within the last four years ; and indeed, any absurdity the Government of this colony could commit, would not at all surprise us. Meanwhile the attempt to sow sedition in the North has failed; but the authorities must look out, and not protract the war in the South with such paltry results as they have yet shown, or they will not be able to dount upon the peace of the North indefinitely. Their policy ought to be one of decided action ; but if they are unequal to the emergency, let the Government withdraw altogether and delegate the matter to the settlers of the North Island, who will find some means of restoring peace to the country within a reasonable time. With regard to the feeling amongst the Kingites of the Waikato, we may remark that it is very unsettled. They are undoubtedly ready for any enterprise promising success. It is for us to be prepared ; and our preparedness will, in all likelihood, be the means of preserving the peace. The withdrawal, if we ought not to term it the expulsion, of the Waikato refugees from the Thames, where they have been nearly two years engaged digging gum, may lead to the commission of some overt act. They are well armed ; and they are now well provided, having turned large sums of mouey for their gum. The KawMa and Hangatiki natives are very unsettled, and would not hesitate to renew hostilities were they at all certain of receiving the help of the other tribes in Waikato. At present, they do not seem to command sufficient influence to enable them to precipitate a struggle ; but of their inclination to do so, there can be no doubt. The central authority being at Wellington, much injury might be inflicted before the intelligence could reach there, and instructions how to act be received from thence. It is satisfactory, however, to know that the local authorities are aware of the danger, and have taken such steps as they think necessary. That we may have peace speedily restored is our sincere wish ; but the consent of Rewi and the Hauhaus is requisite before peace can be firmly established. And who can say when their consent may be received ? They decline to hold any friendly intercourse with Europeans, and do not conceal their hostile feeling towards the Government and colonists.

The members of tlie Auckland Acclimatisation Society are showing that they really mean to work the association to some purpose. It was resolved on Saturday, at the meeting of the commitee, that all district constables should be appointed rangers under the Protection of Certain Animals Act, and that the names of all persons licensed to shoot and to sell game be published in the Provincial Gazette. Several gentlemen, as will be seen by the report, have agreed to act as rangers, and will be gazetted. They will then be empowered to demand from persons shooting, wherever they may see them, their authority. No doubt this will appear veiy hard to some in this province, who think that in a new country there ought to be no restraint on their personal liberty, so far as it is confined to sport. But the destruction of pheasants had become a trade, and there was great fear indeed that these useful and beautiful birds, which were acclimated by some of our fellow settlers at very great trouble and expense, would be exterminated. Legitimate sport would not have interfered materially with the increase of the pheasants. The true sportsman will not, therefore, scruple to pay his license fee ; and the man who owns no land, and who will not pay the license fee, ought not to be permitted to go abroad and slanghter these useful birds, for the sake of selling them at 4s. to ss. per brace. The pheasants, no doubt, destroy a good deal of grass ; they will also visit orchards and gardens, and do some damage; but they more than repay this by their destruction of insects. The black cricket is an especial object of their attack ; and in many parts of this province, these insects are a greater pest than the caterpillar has been. We know of one property from which a flock of sheep were driven by the swarms of black crickets, which came up out of the ground and literally covered the face of the pastures. Pheasants had not been acclimated on the island on which the property in question is situate, or, at least, they are not in sufficient numbers to cope with the insects; but these had, until a short time ago, been held in check by flocks of turkeys, who made up for their partial destruction of grass by their wholesale destruction of the crickets. Now, in this respect, the pheasant very much resembles the turkey ; only, there is no necessity to guard against an unlicensed shooting of turkeys, because the owners have a remedy at law; whereas there is no personal property in the pheasants at large in this province. If, however, they should be carefully preserved for a few years, they will be in such numbers as to go far towards keeping down much of the insect life which now threatens to overrun the province. "We may say, in conclusion, that the pheasants are spreading rapidly over the North, where they take well to the berry on the manuka, or scrub tea-tree, which everywhere abounds. This berry, with what they pick up on an occasional visit to the settlers' dealings, enables them to thrive marvellously. There is, however, one danger to which they are exposed in the Northern districts to a greater extent than in the South, and to this we would specially direct the attention of the Auckland committee and the rangers. We refer to the wanton destruction of the nests and young broods, by the frequent fern burnings in many of the Northern districts. These burnings are not made by the owners of the property for the purpose of clearing for cultivation; in j&vaj oasea, the

person applying the fire-stick has no land atxill ] — but may have a score or two of cattle at ltrge. for whom it is necessary to provide food. Therefore, the old fern is burnt off in the limits of "their run," so that the cattle may browse upon the tender shoots which soon after sprout up. To this cause we attribute the scarcity of pheasants in many parts of the North.

By the arrival of the « Star of the South,' Captain Bendall, yesterday, we have Hawko's Bay papers to the ISfcb, iuolusive. There ia uo local news of importance. By the arrival of the barque ' Bella Mary,' Capi tain Copping, we have Hobarfc Town papers of th« 23rd of March. It will be seen that Mr. John A. Gilfillan has addressed the electors of the City West as a candidate for the vacant seat caused by the election of Mr. Williamson to the Superintendence Mr. Gilfillan ia well known to the electors'of the City Wett. He ia an old colonist, and has taken, an active part in the politics of the colony, as well as in Auckland matters, for many years past. To say that he is m i highly respected as he is widely known is hardly necessary. Should he be elected he will be found to be a useful member. The little screw steamship ' Midge ' awived here on Saturday from London, vi& the Cape of Good Hope, after a successful trip of 149 days, under canvas, She is intended for the coasting or inter i provincial trade. We publish elsewhere a copy of the requisition which hat been addessed to Mr. P, Dignan soliciting that he will permit himself to be nominated as a candidate for the representation of Auckland City West in the Houso of Representatives. His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand held Divine service on board the brig 'Flying Cloud' at nine a.m. yesterday. The passengers received the rev. gentleman with every courtesy, and listened to his discourse with some earnestness. His Lordship visited the families on board after the service, and made inquiries respecting the provisions. A native meeting has been held at Turanganui with reference to the confiscation question. The Hon. J. C. Richmond was present. The natives were also present in large numbers, and expressed their willingness to give up all the land between Turanganui and the Big River, but the hon gentleman was dissatisfied with this offer, and desired a larger extent ; and, being obliged to leave by the steamer, left Captain Biggs behind to settle the matter. Notice has been given for a sitting of the Native Lands Compensation Court at once. The nomination of candidates to represent the electoral district of City of Auckland West in the Provincial Council is fixed to take place on Wednes* day, the Ist May next, and the poll, if necessary, on the 2nd proximo. The polling-place ii at the Old Court-house, Queen-street. A detaohment of 89 men of H.M. 12th Regiment, in command of Captain Dawion, arrived yesterday in the s.s. 'Star of the South ' from Napier, having I arrived there from the Wairoa station. The men were met at the pier by the band of the regiment, which preceded them to the Albert Barraoki. Amongst the names of those gentlemen whom the Auckland Hunt Club thanked in Friday's issue, for kindly allowing them to pass over their respective properties on Wednesday last, that of Mr, Bailey was inadvertently omitted. A cricket match will be played at the Albert Barracks this day, between eleven of the military and eleven civilians : wickets to be pitched at 10 o'clock, sharp. A cricket match will be also played to-day between eleven of the Mount Eden Cricket Club and eleven 'of the Phoenix Club : wickets to be pitched at 10 o'clock. A parsonage is about to be erected at Remuera, for the Rev. E. H. Hey wood, minister of St. Mark's Church. Tenders for its erection were called for up to Saturday last, but the lowest tenderer, finding that he had made a mistake in his calculations to the extent of £100, declined to accept the work. Professor Kohler made his ddbut before an Auckland audience, at the Prince of Wales Theatre, on Saturday evening, and was well patronised. The professor proved himself to be a wizard of no mean order, and kept the audience in a glow of excitement throughout with his amusing feats of legerdemain. The tricks were, in many cases, of an inimitable character, and received the applause they so well merited at the hands of the audience. To-night is announced as the last but one of the Professor's appearance, and we have no doubt he will be w«ll patronized. The Nathan Juvenile Troupe, it will be seen, arrived here on Saturday last from Hobarfc Town, and purpose giving the first of their very interesting and very attractive performances at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Thursday evening next. The juveniles have received considerable accession to their number and the talent they display since their last visit, the programme comprising the names of Messrs. J. Small, H. Eastwood, and Parker, combined with the Nathan troupe. The artistes have, doubtless, much improved since their last visit!, and will be able to produce things new and old from their choice repertoire. We have little doubt the success which attended this clever troupe on their last visit to Auckland will be again vouchsafed to them. A grand evening entertainment is promised for this evening in aid of the funds of the Auckland Catholic Institute, Wellingtonstreat, when will be performed musical selections, by Miss Shanaghan and the principal amateurs of Auckland, followed by the amusing farce of "Slasher and Crasher," by members of the Recitation Class. The programme of music to be performed has evidently beeu prepared with great care and judgment, and we anticipate f a, rich treat is in store for those who may be present. A pigeon -shooting match is arranged to come off today, at 12 o'clock, at the Northern Hotel, Great North Road, for a fat pig, weighing 4cwt. A conversational meeting will be held this evening, at half-past 7 o'clock, at the Parnell Hall, when th« subject " Christian Sacrifice or Vicarious Suffering," will be discussed. A meeting of the ratepayers of the Turanga Highway District will be held this morning, at 11 o'clock, at the school-house, for the purpose of taking into consideration the amount of rate to be levied for the year 1867. Cremorne Garden* will be opened to-day for amusements, weather permitting. The Auckland Troop of Royal Cavalry Volunteers will parade on Wednesday aftetnoon next, at three o'clock, on One-tree Hill, when all members aro requested to attend. It will be seen by advertisement in another column that the Acclimatisation Society offer a reward of five pounds to any person giving information which shall lead to the conviction of persons shooting pheasants during the present month. The members of No. 3 Company Auckland Rifle Volunteers will hold a meeting this evening, at 7 o'clock, at the Exchange Hotel, for the purpose of accepting a tender for tho uniform of the company. It is our melancholy duty to have to record th« death, on Thursday last, the 11th instant, of our loyal and faithful ally, Pitihera Kopu, of Te Wairoa. He died quietly, and his last words, addressed to Ihnka, Toha, and others who stood by his side, were, *• Be kind to the pakeha." The funeral took place on Saturday, and was attended by all the Europeans and natives of the district. Major Fraser and Mr, Deighton, R.M., were the pall-bearers ; Lieutenants Richardson and Gascoigne, with two other Europeans and four Maoris, carried the" coffin. He wjw buried in the pa, just in front of the church, the military settlers furnishing a firing party for the sad occasion. The speeches at the funeral were loyal and good. The general desire seemed to be that Kopn's last words should lie respected, aud his known wishes carried out. The death of this distinguished chief, had cast a gloom over the whole district, and, indeed, along the East Coast. At last advices, Datives from all parts were flocking in for the "tangi." K«>pu was of a quiet, firm, and decided character. He did more than any other chief in this part o£ the island to uphold the Queen's authority. From the very first he resisted the King _ movement, and frequently cautioned and enjoined his tribe and supporters to resist such an insidious and ill-advised attempt. When, subsequently, the Hauhaus were fast increasing in numbers, and his own people were wavering, he encouraged them to act with loyalty, and, at the risk of his life, challenged the first party of them that came to the Wairoa, warning them, if they crossed to the European Bide of the river with their murderous intentions, he would attack them, even if they were v three times more numerous than his own followers. The success which attended the stand made on that oooaoion by Kopu, and his sub»equent exertions to quell rebellion and root oub tUt Hauhau mptttUton.

are nutter of hutory. So also wu his consistent friendship toward* the European, and his desire to «cc European settlers in his neighbourhood. Th« death of this fine old chief will be deeply regretted by all who knew him, whether European or najdve ; -while, in many respects, the«td event may be viewed as a public misfortune.— Hawtes Bay Herald, April 16. Our neighbours in Victoria deierve unqualified praise for the gallant manner in which they have undertaken tho duty of self-defence. They have adopted a truly self-reliant policy, and have set an example which the other Australian colonies will do well to copy-.jfow Zealand not least. It is impossible to r-^d of the extensive fortifications, the Armstrong batteries, the iron-olad ram, over which *•>• >eople of Victoria have not hesitated to expend nr Jndreds of thousands, without painfully recollecting "what a disnnl contrast is presented by the undefended ports of our own colony. Victoria will , shortly nave no cause for alarm when the telegraph flashes hasty news of war with America or Russia — the two powers which hover ominously over the British possessions in the southern seas ; but New Zealand can but tremblingly hope to escape by its insignificance the assault it is powerless to repel. The one is wise beforehand, the other seems to prefer waiting for the bitter teaching of experience. It must be allowed that some of the provinces, especially Canterbury and Otago, have made considerable advances within the last few years. Our volunteers are numerous, and up to a certain point efficient. But we ought to go further still. It is beginning to be a received maxim in Europe that $very man in a State ought to b« so trained as to be qualified to take part in its defence, and to form one of a reserve from which in times of emergenoy the State may draw a supply of trained disciplined men to recruit or replace the standing army. The astonishing successes of Prussia, where snob, a system is carefully carried out, have forced it on the attention of Europe, and even in Ecgland itself conscription is beginning to be mentioned as an ultimate and possible resource. We hold that a similar system ought to be adopted from the outset in every young country, and that every man should be trained in the use of arms and capable of taking his place in the ranks as an effective combatant if sudden necessity should arise. Failing that, the next I best thing is to make the most of what material is at hand by training the volunteer force up to the highest pitch of effloienoy. They are assiduous enough in ordinary parades and shooting matches, but we should like to see this routine varied by the practice of the kind of work that would be required of them if actually called into the field. A sham fight, resisting a supposed attack upon Lyttelton, and the like, would teach many a useful lesson, and » day once a quarter might surely be giren up to the purpose. The Volunteer Artillery forms so obviously important a part of the harbour defences, thatweneed scarcely insist on the necessity of making it as serviceable as possible. But after all, the question of the defence of the colony is not one to be left to the isolated efforts of the provinces ; it should be taken up in some comprehensive form by the General Government. A step in that direction — if a very small one — was taken last session by the resolution respecting the fortification of the New Zealand harbours, though we are not aware that the passing of that resolution has led to much practical result. It would cost no very large buto to fortify all the chief ports in the colony against any casual attack or filibustering expedition, the dangers to whioh in a time of war, particularly with America, would be most expqsed. — Press.