The Daily Southern Cross.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3716, 16 June 1869, Page 3

The Daily Southern Cross.

LUOKO. NON ÜBO. If I h»T« bttn •xtlncuiihtcl, y»t th*r« Hit A thouand btaooni from th« ip»rk I bort.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16.

It is matter for public congratulation that Sir William Martin has consented to making public the .letter written by him to the King natives at Waikato. The manner in which this letter had been represented by Tamati ■Ngapora and others was such as to render it no easy matter to know how far we had ourselves to thank for the state of feeling amongst the adherents of Tawhiao. Had it - been true that any man of the established position and highly esteemed character of our late Chief Justice had written in the terms Stated by the natives, it would clearly have been our own fault that we could do nothing • reasonable with ouy turbulent natives. And, although ire do not suppose that the statements made were ever fully believed by Europeans, there can no doubt that they were »uch as to cause great uneasiness in the public mind. On all accounts, therefore, it is well that we now know exactly what was written by Sir William Martin, and it is also well to know why Sir William Martin wrote as he did. We confess to the very strongest feeling about the question of private negotiations with the natives, f»r not only does it appear to us to be a most dangerous assumption of power on the part of individuals among ourselves, but also a most critical and objectionable experiment in its relation to the natives. Badly as we may be situated in respect of the diplomatic powers of our Government and its servants, we prefer rather to be subject to the worst errors they can commit than to be exposed to the irresponsible potterings of every one who may choose to believe himself adapted for the task of a. peacemaker. There is in the first case the satisfaction, at all events, of having some one on whom we can lay the whole blame. There is the satisfaction to be derived from turning unwise responsible Mini*tei'S out of office. But there is no remedy in the case of foolish and irresponsible meddlers, and no satisfaction unless it can be found in regretting- the want of power in a free country to put down officious busy-bodies with a very strong hand. In the case of Sir William Martin's letter it is satisfactory to know that, whether wise or unwise, it was, at all events, not the unauthorised expression of a private opinion, but the act of the Government. When, therefore, the late Chief Justice proposed to constitute the King natives' country a kingdom by itself, governed by its own King, and in no sense amenable to our laws, he only unfolded the deliberate policy which Mr. Stafford was prepared to endorse. When he proposed to give up part of the Waikato territory to such natives as chose to give a sort of recognition to our laws and to acknowledge the British Crown by a sort of half-acknow-ledgment, he spoke the deliberate sentiments of the Colonial Cabinet. And, finally, when he asked the King natives to join in putting down murder and barbarism, the suggestion was one which really emanated from Wellington. All this, as we have already said, it is very satisfactory to know, even if we do not approve of the wisdom of the proposals. If we think the proposals foolish or derogatory to the dignity of the colony, we now know who is to be blamed for them. If, on the other hand, we consider them wise, we know that they are not spoiled by being merely the emanations of the fancy of a mere private settler who ought not to have interfered at all in the matter. For our own part we are free to confess that we are not satisfied of the wisdom of the proposals by any means. We are dissatisfied with the proposals absolutely, and we are also dissatisfied with them when viewed in relation to the people to whom they were made. We have indeed already, on more than one occasion, expressed our opinion that it was useless to attempt anything like an assertion of sovereignty over the King's country. And ■we are by no means inclined to change that opinion. But we cannot, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that ib is one thing: to abstain from asserting any sovereignty over a district, and quite another to give its independence an absolute and plain recognition. How far it is wise to stereotype the condition of r things beyond our Waikato frontier may be matter for future discussion, but at the first view we do not pee what we gain by doing so — by giving our deliberate recognition to it as a highly- proper arrangement. And, viewed as a native must view the proposal, we fear it will - still less bear criticism. Can we imagine ' such a proposal appearing in the eyes of a Maori in any other light than as a mere weak concession of all we have so long contended for % Can we wonder if such a proposal gives occasion to men like Tamati Ngapora to say that they have been promised everything 1 Nor can we approve of the second proposal. Here again is what appears to us, and must, we think, appear to the natives, a very weak compromise proposed. We are to give up territory in Waikato, not to such natives as are ready to become in all respects as we . are, but to Bach as are willing to become half-and-half subjects — tomen who will recognise our laws, if among themselves they may administer them for themselves. Do any of us know what a native administration of our laws would be like 1 Do any of us fancy that such a scheme holds out any reasonable prospect of advantage either to natives or Euro4. peans? For our own part we do not. To us §. it appears tkat this is another weak attempt £ at a half-and-half state of things, which would i' inevitably end in a total failure. And, if this is our vievr, we cannot help thinking that of * the natives must be even less complimentary. '** Why, they may ask, are we novr offered back ' tracts of land in Waikato 1 Why are we now t'~ to govern ourselves if we will accept the land 1 f J Is it not because the pakeha, in spite of all he i^hfts done and we have suffered, is afraid of us ? Hfls it not because he thinks we will take ||' Waikato and govern it ag we choose* if it is not given up to us on .some such terms as these ? And if there is P any justice in these t ideas of ours we k cannot be too glad that the onus lies on the '*'„ Government, and not on private individuals. t. How far it is a reason for censure that the ||| .Government should try to deal by underhand Blmeans with the natives,/ bj inducing one H|isettler to write letters and another to pay jp.official visits, without themselves appearing, ■ppre do notsay ; but ye have no, hesitation in Kgaying that the Government is fully respou-

sible, under these circumstances, not only for the proposals made in this roundabout fashion by them, but also for every blunder that has orept into the matter in consequence. And, looking at the matter thud, we cannot but consider the whole course of the Government's recent proceedings in Waikato as evidencing more incapacity for native management than we could have believed possible, or than we hope ever to see again in New Zealand.

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court; were continued yesterday before his Honor Chief Jußtioe Sir George Arney and » special jury. A oase of considerable commercial importance — Roberton v. Morrin — came on for hearing. The case arose out of the destruction of a quantity of sugar at the fire in Fort-street some months ago, which sugar had been purchased a few days previously and was even then in bond, from which it had not been taken by the purchaser, Mr. William Morrin, at the time of the tire. Immediately after the fire the defendant denied his liability to pay for the sugar, iuasmuchas — although the sugar had been knocked down to him at public auction — it had not (been delivered to him, and was not placed io bond ia his name, but in the name of Mr. Roberton, who therefrom commenced proceedings as above. The hearing of witnesses lasted until six o'clock, whoa the Court adjourned nntil ten o'clock this morning, when the case will be resumed. The cause seemed to excite considerable interest, and there were a large number of commercial men in Court throughout the trial. In all probability the case will not conclude till late thii afternoon. The general half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the New Zealand Insurance Company will be held at 2 p.m. to-day at the offices «f the company, when the half-yearly report will be presented, and the ihareholders will be called upon to elect two auditori. A literary and scientific agiooiation has been recently established on the JNorfch Shore, which holds its weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings in the Devonport Hall. Mr. S. Coohrane is the President, and Mr. Wynn Vice- president of the institution. The Society was formed for the benefit of the young men in the district, who are to a great extent debarred from participating in the institutional pleasures of the city societies. So far, tho movement is hiuhly popular ia the district, having bean supported and encouraged by all the leading inhabitants of the district. To-night, Mr. H. M. Jervls, who we believe is au fait as a geologist, will read a paper on the " Earliest Formation of the Earth's Crust." We understand that several diagrams hftTO bee a specially prepared for its illustration. We learn that an information has been laid by Mr. Frederick Bugden against Mr. John Finlay charging Mr. Finlay witb using provoking and insulting language towards the complainant in the City Board-room. The case is to come before Mr. Beokham on Fiiday, the 18 th instant. Mr. Finlay maintains that * citizen hits a privilege as well as a lawyer, and that whatever language is used in the room of the City Board is no more actionable than that which a solicitor may use in Courb, and he further declares that it would be well for the oity of Auckland if all its representatives were as honourable men as himself and Mr. Maoraady. The mounted volunteer corps honoured by the name of " Prince Alfred's Light Horse," whiah was enrolled lately on the North Shore, appeara to be progressing favourably. Thete are now twenty smart active men fully equipped and readj for service ; and they hare communicated to the manager of the Priuee of Wales Theatre their desire that the performance on Friday next may be advertised as being under their speoialpatroaage. Theirindefatigable commande-, Lieutenant C. Smith, has also requested the Artillery Corps to join them on tha oocasion ; but as yet there has been no time for a reply. It is notified by Major Tisdall that, inasmuch as a number of stand of arms belonging the lit, 2nd, and Srd battalions Auckland Militia,, and to disbanded volunteers, hare not been returned io the Government, the sum of 2s. Gel. will be paid for delivery of every complete stand of arms, with accoutrements, at the Militia Office, Princes-street. The second meeting of creditors in the estate of Fohn Francis Lawrence was convened for noon yesterday at the Registrar's office, Supremo Court, out no creditors appeared to prove their debts. Mr. Mowbray.Proviaional Trustee in Bankruptcy.theref ore became trustee. The liabilities amounted to £102; assets, nil. In the case of William Taylor (first meeting) no creditors appeared, and the matter thereFore stands adjourned until next Tuesday. Tho liabilities are £276 ; assets, £215. A woman named Margaret Ewen was apprehended this afternoon by Detective Ternahan charged with stealing 1 dozen white woollen comforter*, value 3 J . Bd., from the shop-door of Mr, Hobbi, draper, Queen-street, On tho 6th Dooember, 1863, the same person was apprehended on a charge of taking 64 yards white calico from the ihop-door of Humby and Cater. For this she was convicted, and sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour. A publis diicu99ion will be opened this evening, it the Cook-street meeting-house, between Dr. Wallis and a member of the Church, on the subject of baptism. Ihe affirmative is, "That Christian baptism is by immersion only." Last eveniug Mr. Deck delivered his concluding lecture at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, on the subject of prophecy — "The Church of God the hidden mystery, its hope." There was a very numerous audience, the room being crowded, and the lecturer was listened to throughout with great attention. We are requested to remind our readers that on Friday next Mr. A. Board man will lecture on — " Are modern Christian missions a failure or a success ?" If all things should go on as favourably as the Kauwaeranga Road Board seem to expect, they will be In a position to do something towards " mending our ways." The valuation of the district will reach, it is supposed, nearly £200,000, and an income of over £1,000 a year will be the result. Besides this, Captain Butt expressed his belief that £500 would be obtained from the Provincial Government, go that at least Pollen-strset will be made paisable. — Times. A lecture on Congregational Psalmody is to be delivered by Mr. Theophilus Cooper, ia the Baptist Chapel, Wollesley-street,on the 23rd inst.,commencing at half-past 7 o'clock, the prooeeda to be devoted to the fund for tbe liquidation ol the debt on the chapel, At the meeting of the Kauwaeranga Highway Trustees, held at the Sbortland Hotel, on Monday afternoon, no less than seventeen applications were received for the office of secretary and collector to the Board. The choice of tha trustees fell upon Mr. Honiss. — Times. The promoters of the Thames Gas Company are displaying most praiseworthy zeal in oarrying out the preliminaries for establishing their undertaking. Applications have been made to the local Highway Boards for permission to break up the roads foy the purpose of laying down the|mains.— Times. In the oase of Gough v. Etty, heard in the Court of Chancery on 10th March, the plaintiff, a New Zealand colonist, sought to make the defendant liable for £1,200 aud interest, which had been lott by the failure of Barned's Bank. The plaintiff, being entitled to one-seventh of an estate, gave a general power of attorney to one Halls, under which he received the money in qnestion, the prodnce of the sale of the property, and it was deposited inthe names of Messrs. Poole and Etty, in Barned's Bank, under .a declaration of trust, where it remained until the company, into which it was afterwards converted, failed. The plaintiffs oase was that the deposit had been made ia consequence of the purchasers requiring the confirmation of the plaintiff from New Zealand. When that arrived, and subsequently a power of attorney to the plaintiff's solicitor, from that time the defendant Etty was pressed by letter and at interviews to band over the money, but he always delayed, and the losi of money was the coniequenoe.— Tha Court gay* judgment for the plan tiff. We cannot see what good was likely to have resulted from the interview of tha Duke of Edinburgh with the King party, but it might have done a great deal of harm. Old political questions, that had been lone; settled, would have been raised, and Tawhiao would have quoted Scripture largely to bear put his arguments, which, we fear, hit Royal Highmes woold have found it diffioalt to refute. Altogether ire think that Tawhiao (the Maori King) has shown greater wisdom in refusing to visit the Prinoe than the " wise men, of Auckland have in trying to bring about an interview which oould only have entailed upon us fresh difficulties. We have to be thankful that the Prinoe has left one shores • without i any acoident happening to him. , He will, however, take away a very different impression of the colony to what it really ii ; for he has oaly vlsitad the oities of New Zenlwiciv Had be OftJled at aomt of tut

■ smaller towns, or gone where rebellion was rife, and seen a "real war dance," he would have had a better knowledge of the placa, the people, and ef the difficulties they ar« contending against. Aa it ii, we ■hould not be at aU surprised, v? ken hereaches England, to hear that he has said " that we were rich and able •nough to fight oar own battles, without the assistance of the mother country." So much for showing a false face to a vinitor. — Taranaki Herald, June 9. The " Peripatetio Philosopher," writing In the Australasian of March 29, fays ;— " Two friend* of mine made a handsome income out of slaying. They were brothers, and tolerably alike. Having no money, John painted Thomas a fine bronze, and sold him to a planter. Thomas escapee, comes to town, paints John, and sells him to another planter, John washes himself, and walks out in the morning a free man. They are now highly respectable people, and own slaves themselves. After all, slavery is nothing more than compulsory emigration." Mtssre. Lewis Brothers notify that a larga trade sale of 1,500 packages teas, sugars, oilmen's stores, fruits, Ac. , at their stores, Qugen-street, will be held this day as 11 o'clock. A few evenings since a youth named Dennan, described as a clerk out of employment, was walking iv Duchess-wood, near Bristol, with a girl named Ireland, to whom he wa» engaged to be married. Some slight disagreement rose between them, and Dennan walked away. The young woman went in se»rch of him yery soon, and found that he had climbed a tree and hanged himself by his handkerchief. Nobody was near the spot, and the girl at onoe climbed the tree to cut her lover down, but she had no knife with her, and the only way by which ■he could effect her object was by biting through the knotted handkerchief. This with some difficulty she succeeded in doing, and the foolish boy fell on the ground insensible. The young woman then succeeded in getting assistance, and Dennan was taken to the Bristol Infirmary, where he is lying in a v«iry precarious condition. — Home, News. h. curious action has just been brought in a Paris law com t. A writer in the press olaimed 3,000 f rances (£120) damages from the publisher of the Journal Offioiel, the new Monikur of the French Government, for the inconvenience to which he had been subjected by the late delivery of the journal and the illegible manner iv which it was printed, owing to the inferior quality of the paper. The Court held that the plaintiff had no oase, but senbenoed the defendant to pay the costs. Few would deny that the Parisians are an ingenious race, but their ingenuity is, parhapi, nowhere more conspicuously displayed than in devices by which they contrive to show their political opinions without unpleasant consequences to themselves. On Sunday last; one of the "conferences "now so much the fashion in Paris was held at the The&tre de l'Am-bigu-Comique on " the phenomena of light," a subject one would have thought about as unpolitical as could well have been chosen. Not a bit of it. The lecturer, iv order to demonstrate certain theories, proceeded to enlarge some photographs of celebrated persons. Now, this being done by means of a strong magnesium light, all the theatre, except in the immediate neighbourhood of the operator, was in almost total darkness. The audience could be heard, not seen. The portrait of the Emperor was received with a storm of hiises and cries of " A la portel" "Vive la Rgpublique I" "II s'en ira bientdt !" <fee. That of the Empress met with, a worse reception, if possible, than her husband's. On the other hand, the portrait of Maximilian was received with cheers and cries of " Qui I 1I 1 a trahi ?" Maximilian, as a bystander remarked, probably owed his popularity to the fact of his having been shot. The operator, like a prudent man, soon brought his experiments to an end, and when the gas wai turned on the "agents'' were very busy looking about, but of course erery one looked intensely loyal. Cvii any one fancy a similar scene at one of Frofeasor Tyndalls lectures ?— Pall Mall Qazttte. Saturday afternoon at the Crystal Palace — especially in the spring, when the flowers begin to bloom, the days grow long, and the grounds tempting — the Saturday afternoons have sealed the fate of many a London bachelor. The invitations to spoon among the fountains and in the shrubberies are numerous indeed. The organ inside contributes towards the amusement. When Mr. Coward ia setting all his pipes a -roaring with the Wedding March, or that sweet thing from "Robert; the Devil," there is the deuce to pay amongst the younger portion of his audience. That is the reason, perhaps, why they do not remain to hear the pieces out, but slide off to the quiet oourts down where the cockatoos are stroked, and in the neighbourhood of the everlasting combat between a lion and ajtiger in a glass case. A little dinner at the Palace helps the progress of matters likewise ; so does the xeturn by train, when ten to one the dragon is asleep, being wearied of travelling over miles of boarding in search of the smiling charge, who leads her a pretty dance partly out of mischief. There are obliging and discreet guards on this line too, and it is possible by diplomacy to have your dragon, travel agreeably in another. The theatres, operas, or the concerts, must be only referred to in order to indicate a different level for the exercise of the same seutiment. The Regent's Park swarms with pretty faces at times, and most of them have a look of expectance. Observe the wonderful difference between the men and the women. The women are for the mout p»rt, not only neatly but elegantly dressed, and have an air that shows the possibility, at least, of refinement. The men (they may be good fellows enough privately) are desperately and abominably clothed, smoke cigars of ill-odour, and make their approaches with v swagger that gives a sickening sensation to a spsotator. They carry off the respective young ladies to seats or chairs, and what they talk, or what they can talk of, we know not ; but the young ladies smile. They, as well as their betters, are unconscious hypoorites. Occasionally trips are projected to Greenwich Park or Epping Forest. These places are within the home iiirtation grounds. So is Bushey Park, where an immense deal of innocent love-makingis carried on in summer. Hampstead is so well-know as to need no special comment. The only significant feature of the fun there is its connection with gipsy jaskasses. Frisking millineis of a third-rate kind are fond of being jolted on a staggering donkey, with their own 'Any impelling the.unhappy beast to spasmodic imitations of agility. It ia difficult to conceive how the course of love is warmed by this exercise. — London Review.