NEWS BY THE MAIL, THE COLONIES AND THE EMPIRE. ("PALL MALL GAZETTE," NOVEMBER 26.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 3888, 7 February 1870, Page 5

NEWS BY THE MAIL, THE COLONIES AND THE EMPIRE. ("PALL MALL GAZETTE," NOVEMBER 26.)

As things stand now, v, 3 know m a rough sort of way that if a colony wished to declare itself independent it would not be treated as an integral part of the empire— that we should not fight to keep Australia as we should fight to keep Ireland or India. The relations between England and her colonies being such as they now are, this is a very intelligible distinction ; but how would the question be affected by the creation of » more intimate union ? There would be little profit iv drawing the members of the empire closer together if it is to remain in the power of any one of them to break the chain M pleasure. Mr. Wilson read a letter on Monday in which the writer narrated with extreme disgust that Lord Granville, on being warned that some of the New Zealanders were talking of asking aid from the United States, "said in eiiect that if it would be really good for us we had better go." Would Mr. Wilson or his correspondent have been better pleased if Lord Granville had said that England would take good care that New Zealand should not go? Yet a real consideration of the empire might make such a sentiment the most natural and proper possible in the mouth of a Colonial Secretary. It is not our wish to exaggerate the difficulties attendant upon such a settlement of the colonial question as we have more than once advocated in these columns. But, on the other hand, nothing is gained by ignoring them altogether. If the promoters of these weekly meetings wish to do real service to the unity of the empire, they -will devote themselvos to ascertaining what are the genuine wishes of the colonies with regard to it ; what are the methods by which they would propose to put these wishes into effect j and, above all, what the sacrifices they are prepared to make in order to ensure that these methods shall be efficacious. ("MANCHESTER EXAMINER," NOVEMBER 29.) The simple truth is that we are proposing to do nothing more than insist on the selfevidently sound principle that those who have the power must bear the responsibility of governing themselves. We did not insist on the settlers in New Zealand governing themselves. They insisted that we should make over the country to them, and we acceded to their wishes. We did not, however, even then throw upon them the responsibility of dealing with the natives. On the contrary, we retained the management of native affairs for a time on our own hands. But that did not suit the colonists. They found that the two authorities were constantly clashing, and they resented the | least show of British authority in their islands. We gave way again, and surrendered the last relic of control over them. But we said, "If you are to have these splendid islands to do what you like with ; if you are to be allowed to govern the natives as you please, and pursue what policy you choose— just or unjust, conciliatory or provocative — towards them, the least thing we can ask of you is that you should bear the burden as you will reap the profit. As, however, you are a young State, not very well versed in military matters, we are willing at the outset to lend you some troops if you will only pay for them." What was the answer wa got? Why the colonists utterly scouted the proposition. _ They were, they said — and we quite believe it — perfectly able to protect themselves. As for our troops they would rather bo without them than have them, for they were useless in bush-fighting. They would raise an army for themselves, and we might take ours away as soon as we liked. Again we said, in the same complacent style, " Just as you please ;" and it is an indisputable fact that Lord Granville is now simply carrying out policy which was adopted at the urgent instance of the colonists. ("STANDARD," DECEMBER 1. ) To pretend that there is the same liability in each of the colonies to help each other as upon the mother country to help one of the colonies, is absurd. Whether, or not, there should be a liability in the future is another question, and one which we have no doubt the colonies will be prepared to entertain whenever the whole subject of the future relations of the various parts of the empire | to one another ia proposed for discussion. | Bvit Lord Granville will not let us have any such discussion. He insists upon a general " cutting of painters, " by his own authority and decree. He has solved the colonial question already, in his latest despatch to New Zealand. He has given the empire no opportunity even to say whether or not it prefers disintegration. He has commanded the empire to be dissolved from Downing-atregt Ho h»,s actually taken steps to stop the coming of the colonial delegateg who are charged with proposals. Is it not, then, somewhat out of date to discuss the question of how the colonies aw to be governed, when the Government have already determined that there shall be no Qoioniea ?

San Francisco and Japan.— The New York Chamber of Commerce has adopted a resolution, asking the aid of Congress by wanting a mail subsidy, to establish a semi- monthly line of steamers between ban Francisco and Japan, instead of the monthly line now running. The Duke of Edinburgh has made a prone of 200,0001. by a fortunate speculation in mining shares in New Zealand. The "Byron controversy" has, fortunately, almost expended itself. It will proWy to rev WMm tang, \w* v *?x fr ** is iyncleVstood that Mrs. S^towe is preparing a rejoinder to her antagonists. One of themost damaging rapließ that have been given to her statement appeared in the last Qtfar^rfy. Letters frqm Lady to Mrs. Leigh 5 written inrf sss &s w/tWt vmm&% w«w pu!«A33 :*t«^ wMflt seemed tfl dwpW altogether of %s. Stowe's charges. Jf the letters are genuine. ancUheda.tes.cqrrec*, there inus,t tie an en 4 tf fte geuM W* apparently thgr§ is a B*?,?t^« lß IQP S Hew fork papers publish "ft owd » from Mrs. Stowe, requesting tha public to suspend their judgment on the letters published in the London Quarterly, until they meet them in their proper historical connection m her forthcoming volume.'' So, for tni»l pß]j|gp R] j|g "Father Hyacinths ate a beefsteak on October 22. the Catholics are muclj iiwjensed," "Father ß[yacinftQ H*6 * KW** jeefsteak on Friday because, as he claims, he had a right *«> do so," These ft re two scrapa of " newa " just laid before the public _ The New York Times says, "Father Hyacinthe has now seen in operation for the hrsttime a 'free press.' We hope he likes it. The Health of the Widow of Maximilian.—We have received some interesting information as to the state of the health of the Empress of Mexico. The widow of the unfortunate Maxindlian occasionally has lucid intervals, but they are W we. She resides habitually «* the Chateau de Tervuoreid She is not permitted to take long walks in the park now, as on several occasions she attempted to escape from the persons who attend her. Horse-riding naa always been one of the favourite pleasures of the Empress, but recently she attempted to escape on the horse of a soldier who had brought despatches from Brussels ; this recreation has, therefore, been denied t\W^ She bearsthe restraint mth.greaVimpa^noe, and oqcaaionally gives r way to' fits of anger which border on the fury 'of madness. The King of Italy 'has been dangerously ill, but is now in a fair way of recovery. His illness was a fever'caugh't while Imnting, and as usual, the Italian doctors bad free recourse to Weeding: They kOled ■& Jut VictQr $mmanushad a stronger conitituttoa and bis Majes/ty bas quite recovered. So serious jwas his illness comidered at one tune th*t the last sacraments were *dmm»tered, and hi<? Majesty subsequently went through the religious ceremony of marmge witto. a lady, the Countess Miraaori, by whom he has i on« son. The marriage is not legaUy complete, however, without the performance efwrtAiaoiYttritei, Tb»K»gw^««^r

municate, and an attempt ™« made JjMjie priest to induce him torenouncehis "errors, £d abjure the offences which, as King ;o£ Italy, he had committed against the Church. His Majesty made a very manly reply, drawing a distinction between his obligations aa » kin*, and his duties as a Christian. It, sakf his Majesty, " you come here to speak to a Christian of his approaching end, 1 will liateu to you with calmness and witn gratitude • but if you require to speak about politics, my Ministers are in the next room. An extremely embarrassing retort which brought the discussion to an end. The following description of the new portable forta or watch-houses which are now being used against the insurgents in pajmatia is from the military correspondent ot the Eastern Budget:- "These watch-houses, which are roughly fitted up as barracks for about 20 men, are of wood, faced with 4-inch iron plates, and consequently musket-proof. They are put together as follows :— A number of wooden beams are screwed together for the foundation, and on this are screwed other beams, six inches thick, which form a scaffolding. The scaffolding is then covered with pine boards, to which the iron plates are fixed, and the fort is built. The whole of the watch-house can thus be put together or taken to pieces in a very short time, and it may easily bo moved from place to place on wagons. The men sleep in hammocks >, a tub buried in the ground serves as a cistern, and they are provided with a stove foxwarming and cooking. As a further protection to the fort, stone walls without mortar or earthworks are erected round it. It might be worth considering whether these moveable forts might not be adopted with the greatest advantage in New Zealand. Such a fort, provided with a garrison armed with breechloaders, and a few small field-guns, would be absolutely impregnable by the Maons, and would secure the peaceable possession of a large extent of country in its neighbourhood by the colonists. A few of the two-wheeled bullock carts commonly used m New Zealand would suffice to carry the iron plates and screws required by the fort, and the wood would probably be obtainable on the spot. As the country is not mountainous, the watch-houses might be made with flat roofs, protected by a breastwork, so that a sentinel might be posted on the roof to watch the surrounding country. Similar watch-houses are used for the summits of mountains, and other places which cannot be attacked from above, in Dalmatu*-. It would be necessary that the occupants of such forts in New Zealand, whether volunteers or regulars, should be in full uniform, as military show produces a great impression on the Maoris." It is intended to place a statue of the late Earl of Derby in the Carlton Club, and ; another is to be erected in the Legislative Hall, at Douglas, Isle o£ Man. The late Earl of Derby has left behind him a fortune of £190,000 a year. When his Lordship ] succeeded to his estates they were said to be worth i CO, 000 a year ; but the great increase is attributed to the wonderful extension of factories in Lancashire, and the consequent enormous increase of buildings. It is said that miles in extent have been covered with houses built on land much of which was formerly barren, and nearly unproductive. A [provincial contemporary says: — "The new Lord Derby is making great changes at Knowsley. Under his father's regime there must have been a vast amount of extravagance. The beer bill was £5,000 a year, and the sum spant, or rather charged, for corn given to the game was £250 a week. Somebody ought to. have had a nice picking off theso amounts. The Lord Stanley, whom we all know, is not the man to allow this style of things to go on, and he is entirely reai ranging his household staff." At a meeting of the Paddington Board of Guardians, held on November 17, the master reported the death of Mr. Hamilton Wood, aged 69 years. The deceased, some little time back, claimed relationship with the present Lord Chancellor, and told a series of extraordmarystories about his former wealth. His last woids were, "Deinortuis nil nisi lonum." On "November 17, while Mr. Grey, of Dilston, the receiver of the estates, was being paid the rents in his private office at the Anchor Inn, Newcastle, the Countess of Derwentwater marched into the room at the head of a number of her "retainers." She was richly apparelled, and wore a massive gold chain round her neck, and had q. sword suspended by her side. On ontecing tljo room she said, " Mr. Grey, I come to forbid you receiving any rents from my tenants, The notice has appeared, and is now legal, and I forbid you now to receive the rents." She was thereupon ordered out of the room by Mr. Grey. While the Countesa was preparing to draw the sword, it was seized by the scabbard by one of Mr. Grey's attendants, and another grasped it by the handle and broke it in two, It was a weapon of the rapier description, and two-edged at the point, Only a few of the tenants had arrived at the time, but they immediately attacked the Couutess's party, who did not number more than half-a-dozen, and they were rather unceremoniously ejected. The remainder of the business was done without any further annoyance from the Countess's pai ty, although she occupied one of the rooms of the inn during the whole of the day. A singular case was before the Wolvtf* hampton Board of Guardians on. 26. Some days before, a oj~\ 0 { eight years, who had learut to play a mouth instrument, and was travelling with a musician *vb.o is supposed to be a Swede named Wolff, appealed for protection to two gentlemep, \?ha at once took her to the Umcp. Prom what followed, i$ {r^nsipu'ed that her name was Harris, that she was the daughter of awidow, who had been prevailed upon b j Wolff to let him have the child at as early an age as four years, since which time she h id not se.en her mother, nor had Wolff gone. Sjaok; t« Exeter, At one time h§ &\4 »3 srany as four girls, T3\a gier% to, the guard had communicated with the authorities alj Exeter, and a letter wa.s read to, the B;oard, whioh the child's mother Aa4 written. The goor woman, whose aa.m.e is Mary Harris, said that she was a widew and in aervioe, and expressed herself as. "truly thankful that she had heard of her child at last." She had placed the case in the hands of the Exeter police, but had not had any tidings for two years. At that time Wolff sent her a document to s,ign, p,yQm|4ns to give her £26 for £^a ghM, fytil she refused till aha knewlb it wia Veil treated. " Wolff hqwever, neither took the child to, her nor wou.ld he pay her railway fare home, either of whiclj she her-wish for him to do. She begged the guardjans to www her daughter to Teiuain in the workhouse " till she oould raise money enough to get her restored Ito her," In proof that Wolff had "no right to the child," she enclosed the document he had wished her to sign. Here it ia : "I, Mary Harris (widow), do hereby agree to f've my only daughter Mary Ann Harris to rancis Wolff, to take her as his own child, and to learn his profession, from January \, 1867, until January 1, 1877, afte which fime my child shall ha.ye hap free will to stay or leave the Bftid Francis Wolff: and incase of no fresh agreement on both parties, Francis Wolff will be compelled to give my daughter, Mary Ann Hams, necessary and respectable clothing, and £26 English money, which the said Francis Wolff willhave to pay her for her own benefit. Witness— signed by my own hand— signed this firsj; $ay'os January, 1867— Francis WpJ& professor of music, singing, and danejag." The child re. mains, for a w»f «* *k e care °* the WolverHampton guardians.

f RENDERS will be received at the General I Post Office at Wellington till SATURDAY, the sth March next, for the PEKFORMANCE of the undermentioned alternative MONTHLY STEAM MAIL SERVICES, in accordance with Time Tables I annexed, for a period of six months from the commencement of contact, determinable at that date, or any subsequent date by three months' notice given on either side. No. I—From1 — From the Bluff to Port Chalmers, and from Port Chalmers to the BlufF. No. 2 — From Port Chalmers to Wellington, calling at Lyttelton, and from Wellington to Port Chalmers, calling at Lyttelton, No. 3. — From Oamaru to Lyttelton, calling at Timaru and Akaroa, and from Lyttelton to Oamaru, calling at Akaroa and Timaru. No. 4. — From Wellington to Auckland via Napier, and from Auckland to Wellington vii Napier. No. 5. — From Wellington to Napier, and from Napier to Wellington. No. 6. — From Auckland to Napier, and from Napier to Auckland. No. 7, — From Wellington to Manukau, via Whanganui and Taranaki, and from Manukau to Wellington, via Taranaki and Whanganui. No. 8. — From Whanganui to Manukau, via Taranaki, and from Manukau to Whanganui via Taranaki. No. 9. — From Wellington to Manukau, vift Picton, Nelson, and Taranaki, and from Manukau to Wellington via, Taranaki, Nelson, and Picton. No. 10. — From Hokitika to Nelson via Greymouth and Westport, and from Nelson to Hokitika via We3tport and Greymouth. No. 11. — From Hokitika to Manukau via Greymouth, Westport, Nelson, and Taranaki, and from Manukau to Hokitika vifi Taianaki, Nelson, Westport, and Greymouth. No. 12. — From Wellington to Whanganui, and from Whanganui to Wellington. A proper and secure room to be provided for the custody of the mails, and a chief cabin passage, free of cost, for a postal officer, if required, 1 All mails to be landed, shipped, and transhipped, by and at the expense of the contractor, excepting at Taranaki. The names, tonnage, and horse-power of ! the vessel" proposed to be employed in these services to be stated, and the vessels to be approved by the Postmaster-General, and subject to be surveyed by some person appointed by him whenever he may consider it necessary. The Postmaster-General to have the power of detaining the vessel for two days at Auckland, or Manukau, as the case may be, if required to await the arrival of the steamer fiom San Francisco, without charge ; the rate I of demurrage per hour for any further detention to be stated. A penalty of five pounds per hour will be enforced for delay in departure from any port after the time fixed on each voyage, to ! be remitted at the option of the PostmasterGeneral, if the steamer arrive at its destination at its proper time. Also, in addition, a, penalty of one hundred and fifty pounds for failure to deliver the outward Mails in time for the homeward steamer in Auckland. Tenders to state the rate per diem, or otherwise, for passages for members pf the General Assembly Und otfioers of _ the General Government, exclusive of "wines, spirits, &c. Tenders to be addressed to the PostmasterGeneral, Wellington, and endorsed — "Tenders for New Zealand Inter-Provincial Steam Mail Service, No. — ." JULIUS VOGEL, Postmaster-General, Auckland, N.Z., February 4, 1800.