THE NEWS BY THE MAIL

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1091, 12 October 1869, Page 3

THE NEWS BY THE MAIL

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS IN ENGLAND.

(From;"Anglo-Außtralian" in the "European Mail.") The piteous exclamation that Shakespere puts into the mouth' of Joan of Arc, ." Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?" appears to be the refrain of the appeal that reaches our statesmen and politicians from the New Zealand colonists. Perchance they may pluck up courage from despair, and crush the hydra of native rebellion without British aid ; but, if so, it is to be feared that the cold treatment whioh they have received from the Colonial Office will not be easily forgotten. " England, with all thy faults, I love thee still/ is a patriotic sentiment, which doubtless finds place in the hearts of many of the colonists, but it is as well not to test affection by too rough an ordeal, and to remember, at all events, that To be wroth with one we love, Doth work like madness in the brain. The disoussionsthat New Zealand affairs have recently excited, both in Parliament and in the Press, might well have been a source of congratulation, but for its barrenness of beneficial results to the Colony, j There is no blinking the fact — disagreeable though it be— that the weight of English public opinion, so far as.it has found expression, is in favour of leaving her to fight her own battles. The truth is, that people have been led astray by the fallacies of the Times and other journals as to the relative ■ numbers of the European settlers and natives. The general public conceive New Zealand to be one Island with a population of 200,000 whites, and cannot comprehend •why these should be so nonplussed by 30,000 Maoris. They do not understand that the war is confined to the Northern Island, where the odds, taking all things into consideration, are immensely in favour of the natives. The ignorance of colonial geography amongst Englishmen is something astounding. As a sample I extract . the following announcement from the number for July 24 of that erudite periodical, the Athenozwm :— " King Victor Emmanuel has made Prof. Frederick M'Coy, Director of the Natural history Museum of Melbourne, South Australia, a Knight of his Royal Order of the "Orown of Italy." I suppose Mr. Hepworth Dixon would charge this error to the change of editorship to the journal ; for, doubtless, that versatile gentleman is not ignorant of the existence of the colony of Victoria, whose royal namesake, according to his newspaper friends, -has been so many times on the point of knighting him. But can one wonder, when such mistakes are possible and go unrecognised in English society,, that the colonies are misgoverned by the politicians who rule them at Downing Street, and who, for the most part, know lamentably little about them P The recent debates in Parliament on New Zealand affairs will be read with bitter interest by the colonists. They resulted in evincing the persistent determination of the political party in power to ignore altogether the claims of the Colony upon this country. New : Zealand did not want, earnest champions, either in the House of Commons or the House of Lords, but they were in a mournful minority. Bishop jSelwyn gallantly did .battle in her behalf in a most effective speech, which made up in eloquence what it wanted in logic. Colonel Torrens ably defended her, and other friends followed in his wake ; but "what could they do against so many?" Sir Charles Dilke was, as usual, flippant and superficial, in support of Lord Granville's despatch ; land, in face of such aid, well might the latter exclaim, " Save me from my friends I" I shall not, however, spend any time in amplifying upon the Parliamentary debate on the subject ; but proceed to say a fewwords as to what steps the friends of New Zealand have been taking out-of-doors on her behalf. A meeting of persons interested in the Colonies was advertised to take place at the City Terminus Hotel, Cannon-street, on July 29. It was postponed in consequence of the unexpected discussion in Parliament. The following is an abstract from a circular privately issued by Mr. W. Westgarth, who had been instrumental in inaugurating the proposed meeting :-— " It is abundantly evident, from the opinions and views of the Government, as expressed by Mr. Monsell, Under Secretary for the Colonies, that there is no probability of the moderate requests lately put forward on behalf of the Colony being acceded to. Seeing that there is no one in this country having competent authority on the part of New Zealand to vary those requests, and that no new facts are or will be, before June 29, in our possession, other than those which have been lately so fully put forward, it is considered advisable to postpone the proposed meeting until replies shall have been received to the communications lately made to the Colony. " The friends of New Zealand may congratulate themselves on having met with sympathy and consideration from many influential quarters, and now that interest in the matter has been fairly roused, it is hoped that by continuing to diffuse reliable information, the errors of the past may be avoided, and a better system be inaugurated for the conduct of future relations with the Home Government." There was a meeting of eminent colonists, on August 4, at the Royal Colonial Society's rooms. Sir George Grey, Mr.'Youl, Mr.' Seweli, and a number of their confreres assembled in solemn conclave over the New Zealand crisis. The meeting was wholly of a preliminary and private character. Such particulars, however, as I have been able to gather respecting it, I hasten to communicate. The object of it may be gleaned from the following explanatory private circular by which it was convened :— Reoent circumstances have forcibly called the attention of colonists to the defeots in the present system of administering the affairs of the Colonies in their relation to the empire. Whatever objeotionsmay have existed heretofore to the department of the Colonial Office, as an Imperial organ for governing distant dependencies of the Crown, apply with greatly inoreased force to that large and important olass of Colonies in whioh responsible Government has been established. It would be superfluous to dwell on this obvious faot, or tbe oauses and influences which tend to produce it. It is to be feared that unless a remedy be applied, the result may be a continual conflict between the mother country and her Colonies, which may end in a disruption of the empire. In order to avert so great a calamity, a general desire has been expressed amongst colonists to bring about, if possible, an improved organisation in this department of the Imperial Government. Various plans have been suggested for this objeot, which deserve careful consideration by the Colonies themselves, and are proper subjects for a Conference of Colonial Representatives^;'"' The results of ; such a Conference, properly urged upon the Imperial Government, oannot fail to receive tbe consideration that they will deserve. A v provisional . committee was formed with the view of organising such & Conference, and of making the necessary arrangements.

The promoters fear that should the New Zealand people propose to be separated from the Imperial Government, and in their dire distress apply to any foreign Power for assistance, the whole of Aastraiia will sympathise with them, and this will lead to the breaking up of the Oolonial Empire. It is to avert if possible such a calamity, both to the Colonies and to the mothercountry, that these gentlemen aire moving in the matter. There was rather an original suggestion made by Colonel Torrens in the House of Commons the other night. It was to the effect that the Colonies should be allowed to send home ambassadors or charges d'affaires to look after their interests. It would seem from this, that he does not .think their present agents-general have sufficient position and influence to be of. much assistance. Sir George Grey made a suggestion, at a meeting of the Social Science Association some time back, which, I think, was far more to the purpose— namely, that a Colonial Council should be formed after the manner of the Indian Council, to prevent the Oolonial Secretary from falling into the absurd mistakes which ignorance of the country over which he sways necessarily engenders. The Broad Arrow states, in connection with the subject : — It is rumoured in wellinformed quarters that our colonies in the southern hemisphere are likely to be agitated by proposals for forming a league which will have for its object their separation frora England, and probably their connection with America in some kind of commercial union." That respectable journal is welcome to its sources ■of information, but knowing something of the Colonies as I do, I do not believe that they are going so readily to sell their birthright. Stories like that of the " Three Black Crows " must be guarded against in the present heated state of opinion on the subject. When it is remembered how much and how dearly the colonists, in spite of everything, love the memory of old England, and how even some have Died, as many an exiled heart hath died, Of its own thirst to see again thy shore, one can understand the long-suffering and forbearance of New Zealand, and turn a deaf ear to statements that, whatever may be her wrongs, she is about to ally herself with Prussia or America. And now I must fain leave this painful subject, which I have dwelt on at some length because it is monopolising so large a share of public attention at home. The expression of dissatisfaction that reaches us from Australia in respect to the charge in the estimates for the presents made by the Duke of Edinburgh to the colonists is re-echoed here. Considering the much larger proportion the value of the gifts to His Royal Highness bore to that of those he distributed, it would seem that his notion of gratitude somewhat agrees with the definition given of it by La Rochefoucauld — "A lively anticipation of favours to come." The English press has with > one voice endorsed the view of the colonists in the matter, and regards the affair as a monstrous violation of good taste and hospitality, by whomsoever the real blame may be borne. The subject was made a topic of discussion in the House of Commons, but of course the Government had a cut-and-dry explanation at hand. They asserted that the Prince's tour in Australia was of an official charaoter, and shuffled out of the dilemma as well as they could. The public is not at all satisfied with the explanation. It is also exceedingly chagrined that the Prince did not eagerly embrace the opportunity of the solicited interview with the New Zealand chiefs, and so help as far as he could to bring about a better feeling amongst the natives. It takes so little to make "an amiable prince," that it is surely worth while to earn the character. The regularity of the Australian mail service is the subject of continued congratulation. The letters were delivered on Saturday, August 7, two days before the contract time, but on Monday, the 9th, there was telegraphic intelligence four weeks later in date ; in fact, we are now brought within twenty-two days of Melbourne, and, with steamers of greater power, the time may be still further abridged. Talking of telegraphy, the Java Government have granted concessions for a submarine cable connecting Sumatra with Java, which, with a short additional line, will enable Australia to be placed in communication with Europe in less than twenty-fotir hours. Surely the Australian Colonies will by federative measures bring about the much desired improvement, and not be behind the great Anglo-Saxon race in other parts of the world. I believe the Peninsular and Oriental Company have, under consideration a scheme by which proper time would be allowed for replies to all letters from Australia, both by the Marseilles and Southampton routes. The plan would also bring Queensland and New Zealand within the regular course of post. This could only be accomplished by lengthening the interval between the arrival and departure of mails at London and Sydney ; but, on the other hand, some of the time granted would be saved by making Aden, instead | of Galle, the port of junction with the Indian service. The route via Suez should be maintained for postal purposes, all other routes being practically useless, or needlessly expensive; but there is no reason, with steamers of increased power carrying more coals, avoiding. waste of time at the stations, that there should not be an enlarged passenger traffic, and an easy conveyance of all the gold from Australia and New Zealand. As an earnest of this, the incoming mail brings £500,000 in gold. A simple and comprehensive scheme is much needed, embracing all Colonies and interests. I trust the Indian mails will not be kept so determinately paramount as to r cause the claims of the collateral service to be forgotten, which has been too much the case during the last two years, As the Postmaster-general has not yet apE roved the arrangements for next year, I ope something more will yet be heard on this subject. The Meat question, an all-absorbing one with the Oolonies, continues to progress ; that is, the shipments that arrive are sold readily, but they do not arrive in very large quantities, and it is yet a moot question whether they are taken up by persons as a regular article of food, or whether they are bought out of curiosity. I am inclined to think that a great deal that has arrived has gone into consumption in the latter way, and much remains to be done before it becomes a regular article of diet. The people will have to be taught how to cook it, and it is no easy task to divert the taste of a nation, especially suoh a prejudiced nation as the English people are in the matter of food. There appears to be an apathy^ upon this, subject amongst the colonists. The bankers and settlers, who will benefit more than any other class by the success of the trade, should organise an association for promoting the use of Australian meats. It would find plenty of work to do, and would enlist the hearty co-opera-tion of the philanthropists on this side

who are interested in reducing the cost of animal food. One service at least such an organisation, would render, and that is to protect the trade. Already, young as it is, it is in danger, and if very great care is not taken the Australian meat trade will be extinguished far more rapidly than it was kindled. It is known that, stimulated by the demand, parties are now buying up all the refuse ofthe markets, which they tin up and send into the provinces as Australian meat. The result of this may be the same as with the Cape wine trade experiment, viz., such a blow that it will never recover. The remedy for this, in a great measure, rests with the colonists themselves ; curers and shippers of meat should place it in the hands of Australian meat brokers or agents only, so that the fmblic may know, if they require Austraian meat, where to get it. By placing it in the hands of general salesmen an opening is made for other meat to be introduced. The arrangements for the great dinner to the working classes continue to progress, and it promises to be a most interesting affair. The Earl of Denbigh will preside, supported by the Duke of Marlborough, and the vice-chairs will be filled by Messrs. C. Reed, M.P.; T. Hughes, M.P. ; A. J. Mundella, M.P.; W. M' Arthur, M.P. ; R. Torrens, M.P. ; all of whom have promised to attend, if in London; while the Stewards' list comprises the names of about forty of the leading men in all philanthropic movements. The guests, 1,500 in number, will be selected from the workingmen's clubs and all the large bodies and establishments near London. Each club or establishment will elect those by whom it will be represented, and female suffrage will also be recognised, as the invitations are to be each for a man and his wife ; and, in order that the affair may be rendered as characteristic as possible, it is intended that it shall be cooked by thirty bona fide working men's wives, selected one each by the clubs in the London district. The whole thing seems conceived in an ingenious manner, and reflects great credit on its author, Mr. D. Tallerman, who has undertaken the management of its details. It will take place about the middle of October.