MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 234, 3 December 1861, Page 2

MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

There is quite a lull in the political atmosphere — an unusual thing under the New Zealand constitution. Upwards of two months have now elapsed since the arrival of Sir George G-rey, and for some weeks past all eyes have been turned towards Auckland in the hope of seeing some indication of the course His Excellency means to pursue in native matters. As yet, nothing of moment has transpired ; but rumour with its hundred tongues has been unusually busy. It is known that a system of government for native districts has been under Sir George Grey's consideration, if it be not already matured ; but what terms he will make with those tribes which have been under arms against the Government ; or, in the event of their submission, what material guarantees he will demand for their loyalty, are, as yet, but matters of conjecture. It is generally believed that the acquisition of native lands by means of the old machinery is at an end, and that a aystem will be substituted under .which the Natives will be | enabled to sell or lease to individual settlers. "We subjoin the outline of the scheme for native self-government. Taken by itself, it smacks strongly of the old flour and sugar policy ; but as it is probably no more than a single ramification of a widely extended system, it cannot with propriety be judged upon its own merits. 1. — Districts (say 15 or 20) with Civil Commissioners at head. 2.^-Sub-districts (Hundreds) with Resident Magistrates. 3. — Village Runangas (Native). 4.— District Runangas, composed of Assessors and chief men of Village Runangas, say 12 members each. To be paid at the rate of £50 per annum each member. .5. — Assessors (paid). 6.— Police. Chief. £,30 a year; inferior, £10 and suit of clothes. 7. — Medical officers. 8. — Schools, teachers, &c. 9. — The Bunangas (central), to have the following functions : — 1. — Judicial. 2. — Administrative. 3. — Taxation for local purposes. 4. — Land titles, and power of lease and sale to actual occupants. 8. — Power to maJce by-laws. 10. — The Supreme Court Judges to hold sessions in Native Districts, so that great criminals may be tried there. This bids fair to be a very expensive scheme— its annual cost being estimated . at ,£50,000. ,It will, however, be cheaper than war, should it prove an equally effi-

cacious remedy for the native difficulty; although of this many are sceptical — it being a common saying among old settlers that the natives must be well thrashed! before such schemes -will prove acceptable^ or, if accepted, found to be practicable.. Sir George Grey left Auckland on the 4th ult. for the Bay of Islands, on a visit to the powerful northern tribes, but the result has not reached this remote, and, in the matter of steam communication, much neglected part of the colony. It is supposed that he purposed enlightening the tribes of Ngapuhi on the subject of the new institutions.

It will be remembered that, consequent on the wonderful discoveries of gold in Otago, the Province of Hawke's Bay, in common with other parts of the colony, was threatened with the loss of the greater part of its labouring population. Vessel after vessel left our harbour with some twenty or thirty men in each, comprising many able-bodied laborers and skilled mechanics. I Fortunately, accounts began to get gloomy, and the exodus was brought to an end — not, however, before upwards of a hundred men had quitted Napier. Of these, some have since returned, and others have forwarded discouraging accounts ; but of those who perseveringly followed up their new occupation, despite toil, privation, and the misery of hope deferred, not a few are now doing well. Instances of success are recorded in another part of our present issue — a working man, one of the successful, having, by last mail, sent his family, residing in Napier, £100 out of the fruits of his labour.— We rather think, however, that the cases of 100 unlucky diggers might yet be readily quoted for that of one upon whom fortune has smiled. Nevertheless, there is the undeniable fact that 35,000 ounces of the precious metal reached Dunedin by the escort on the 15th ult.

Of questions of local significance the first in importance is that of "grass money," as the term is. The anxiety of Europeans for the acquisition or occupation of fresh land, evinced in a thousand forms, has not failed to impress the acute Maori with an accurate knowledge of the real value of his native territory. Hence, on repeated occasions, of late, he has demanded rent from stockowners, for the grass consumed by their cattle while browsing upon the contiguous native pastures. This demand has in many cases l>een complied with ; for although, as taking a retrospective effect, it was at first looked upon as a grievous burden, yet the claim was generally found, upon reflection, to be moderate in comparison with the profits derivable from the unrestricted occupation of a" rich grazing country, and was in most cases met — with some grumbling, it is true — but nevertheless acknowledged and paid. There were, however, exceptional cases, in which the sum named as compensation was deemed excessive by the European settler, and payment refused. The Native could go to no court for redress — seeing that the provisions of the Land Purchase Ordinance forbid occupation of unpurchased lands, and that, consequently, any application to that effect would have been refused. He accordingly, in several cases, took the law into his own hand — seizing the cattle of the person so refusing by way of security for the due satisfaction of the disputed claim. This, as may be supposed, was looked upon as a serious outrage, and certainly, but for the good sense and forbearance of most of the settlers thus treated, the results might have been really serious. Some of the cattle so seized are yet in the hands of the Natives. 'Little, however, is said about the matter — the settlers being in daily expectation either of a visit from His Excellency hr person or from some ofiicer deputed with full powers to settle questions of this vexed character. Such trespasses as those complained of cannot now be prevented and fresh legislation to meet the difficulty, is urgently required.

As intimately connected with the question of "grass money" we may here allude to the peculiarity of the position of the town of Napier. - It abuts upon native land- I—upon1 — upon the' magnificent and extensive Pakowhai plains. Were these . in the possession of Europeans, Napier wouM become the centre of a rich agricultural country, and would rapidly advance in material prosperity. Unfortunately, the natives are fully aware of the value of their lands, and shew no disposition to part with them. The only hope of the plains being soon in profitable occupation

lies in the embryo scheme of the present Government — under which, with certain necessary restrictions, land may be sold or leased by the native owner to the European settler direct.

Provincial politics are equally stagnant with those of the General Government. Consequent upon an Act passed during last session of the Provincial Council for the enlargement of its number, there have recently been elections for five additional members. For the town of Napier the two vacant seats were contested, but without any of the excitement with which elections are ordinarily associated in our minds. The result, as announced by the Returning Officer on the 16th ult., was as follows : — T. D. Triphook 50 W. Colenso 39 John Begg 24 John Wilkinson 20 Thomas Edwards 6 H. L. Skeet 5 — The two first being, of course, declared to be duly elected. Neither of the country constituencies was found to have a plurality of candidates, so that, upon - the nomination of H. S. Tiffen, Esq., for Te Aute, J. D. Ormond, Esq., for Porangahau, and Donald Gollan, Esq., for Waimarama, these gentlemen were duly elected. A vacancy, however, was immediately declared for Waipukurau (for which Mr. Ormond was member) j another, soon after, for Waimarama, in consequence of Mr. Gollan's resignation ; and a third, for Porangahau, in consequence of an informality in Mr. Ormond's return. These three elections are still pending.

In commercial circles there has been much complaint of the slackness of sales and tightness of money. The past winter has been a very dull one — ascribable in part to the uncertainty of our relations with the natives, but likewise to be traced to the exodus to Otago and other causes. The wool season, now on — many loads having already come to town — will soon be the means of placing more money in circulation, and of leading to renewed activity in business transactions. At the same time, we rather fear that a very common error in new communities has crept into our own — that of too many sellers in proportion to the number of consumers. There is also a facility of obtaining credit which in the long run must operate injuriously. Nevertheless, there is nothing unsound in our commercial system, nor should we have said a word having apparently a contrary effect did we not think that, in all young settlements, an occasional word of caution is a primary duty of the journalist.

In a social point of view, the Hawke's Bay of old was held in but indifferent estimation among its contemporaries. Some time since we were shocked at hearing it described as the "drunken province;" and, really, upon a cursory examination of the statistics of the colony, we found that the expression was not altogether a slanderous one. However, the Hawke's Bay of 1861 is rapidly improving in a social point of view.' Through the exertions of Father Reignier, Mr. Donaldson, and other friends of temperance, much has been done towards arresting the evil of drunkenness. Something has also been effected in the way of providing intellectual occupation for the inhabitants. A Choral Society is in existence and prosperous. And we hope shortly to be able to announce that steps have been taken for the erection of the Napier Athenaeum — a structure for which funds were collected some time since, but the progress of which has ~been hitherto retarded by difficulties of a technical nature in regard to the site of the intended building.

Amongst the many public improvements whidh have been effected since Hawke's Bay became a separate province, none will prove more practically useful than the Meanee bridge, -now in course of construction. It crosses the Meanee, or Tutaekuri (the native name) about five miles from Napier, and will connect the town with the ; agricultural tract of country which lies on the western bank of the river, and which is already studded with thriving and, in some places, picturesque farms. This will prove a great boon to the farmer. It so happens that the Napier side of the river is native land — part of the plains to which we have elsewhere alluded — and the natives, whose ideas on the Bubject of " grass money " have extended to everything else, have made repeated

m === demands for utu, or payment, for permission to erect this bridge. As, however, equally with the white man, they will reap the benefit of its erection, the Provincial Government have practically ignored their claim, and the pile engine has now been for some two or three weeks uninterruptedly at work.

Napier can now boast of three sacred edifices — the Church of England, the Presbyterian, and the Roman Catholic. It -will shortly have a fourth — arrangements having been completed for the erection of a Wesleyan Chapel. The Church of England is still unfinished — the bell turret, lining, and pews, having yet to be added ; and it will probably be six weeks ere it be ready for service. The Presbyterian Church, although it has been used about five months for public worship, was not completed till last week. The design is by Mr. William Miller, in the style of the early English. Its plan comprises a substantial tower, 10 feet square, surmounted by a small spire rising to the height of 60 feet. The bell has been or-,, dered from England. The length of the "! nave is 45 feet, its width 25 feet, with a double aisle. The walls are 17 feet high — height enough for a gallery when required — and the desk and rails are of Australian cedar, kindly contributed by a i gentleman in Sydney. The building can accommodate 150 persons with comfort* It is built on a piece of land adjoining the * beautiful garden and residence of H. S. TifFen, Esq., and purchased from that gentleman at a reasonable rate. The appearance of the church is much improved . by the picturesque row of trees which forms the boundary of the two properties. The building, to which a two-roomed . vestry is attached, has . been erected at a cost of £850 (exclusive of pews) without the necessity of incurring debt — a state of things owing in a great measure to large contributions of money and of fancy articles (subsequently sold at a bazaar) obtained from England, and even from Sweden, through the influence of energetic friends to the cause. The other sacred edifices now in course of erection will, when completed, be also referred to at length for the information of our European readers.

The ordinary revenue of the province has been steadily, although not rapidly, increasing. The customs returns for Au- v gust shewed a gross amount of £646 lls. * lOd. ; for September, £654 2s. 4d. ; for October, £671 12s. Bd. ; for November, £842 14s. sd. The territorial revenue for September netted £2598 18s. 7d. ; and for October, £5258 16s. 9d. The return for November is not yet published, but it will include the amount of £3771 18s. 6d., elsewhere recorded as the proceeds of a sale by auction on the 30th ult. Although the expenses of the province are heavy — heavier perhaps than they might be — a large proportion of the amounts we have named will be expended upon the roads and other public works of the province. So much for local self-government.