NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2017, 27 December 1870, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS.

(From, the "Times," October 4.) We are now in the autumn of 1870, and it is needless to say what subject of interest and speculation is absorbing the attention of the public. But it will probably not be'j needless, and will certainly, not be uninstructive, to recall the subject by which public attention was engrossed in the autumn of 1869. At that period we were all agitated, not to say alarmed, by the aspect given to what was termed the Colonial Question. It was intended to put a strong pressure on the Government, and tbe alternative presented to us was, in fact, ; notbittg,|ess than that : of radically" >J».egtf-__ atructiug our relations with the Colonies or forcing them into secession and hostility. As we have said, the true and only question concerned the liability of this country to undertake certain military duties on behalf o£the colonists of New Zealand. There was at that moment a regiment of British soldiers still stationed in the colony — the sole remnant of a garrison once 10,000 strong. These troops were under orders to return home, and it was emphatically affirmed by those who had certainly good means of information that if those orders were carried out it would bo impossible to calculate the consequences to the colony in the first place ancl to the United Kingdom in the end. However, the Government persisted in its resolution, and the troops were removed. Within the last few days we have published tbe actual results of this policy as visible in the condition and prospects of the settlement just twelve months afterwards. The contrast between the prediction and the event, the alarm and the reality, is something incredible, and may well remind us that no evils cost so much trouble as those which never happen. The New Zealandera,deßired the retention of a British regiment as an indispensable symbol of Imperial power, countenance, and support. They feared the native tribes would look upon the colonists as deserted if the red-coats were withdrawn, and would be induced to rise once more in universal and irresistible rebellion. Te Kooti was the chiuf wbose intrigues and designs were principally dreaded, and we were warned that more than one repetition of the Cawnpore massacre might be apprehended from his ferocity. At the same time it was argued that tbe resentment of the colonists under these sufferings would be extreme, and that nobody could foresee the end of the dangers to be incurred. We were at the pains of pointing out at the time that Te Kooti's whole scheme of action — so far as he had one — had been deranged and destroyed even before the reports of his proceedings reached this country, and we observed also that, if he or any other native chief should really be found troublesome, the strength of the colony itself, even in the Northern island, was amply sufficient for thq preservation of order. We have now to record, as the experience of the year brought up to the 4th of last August, that thi3 rebel, though still at large, has never been anything but a fugitive ; that he has been tracked and hunted with more or less success during the whole time; that no further thought is now given to his movements ; and that the visions of Maori wars have been entirely dissolved. But this is the least extraordinary part of the story. The whole subject of last autumn's agitation — tbe conduct of the Imperial Government towards the colony — has been taken into consideration by the Colonial Parliament, and after a vote of censure, a9 we may call it, had been flatly rejected in the Lower House, three resolutions were carried in tbe Upper. The first of these stated tliat the interests of New Zealand would be best consulted by her remaining an integral part of the British Empire ; the second, that there were not sufficient grounds for believing Englishmen to desire the contrary ; the third, that} under the circumstances, it was not advisable to prolong the controversy, or to refer to past misunderstandings. Nothing could be more sensible tlian such views, or more politic than such proceedings, and so entirely do we approve the last resolution that we shall adopt it ouraelves, and say nothing of "past misunderstandings," except this, — that the expression conveys tbe exact truth of the

whole case. Ifc was in ami understanding chat the whole unpleasantness arose, acid nothing, indeed, bat a misunderstanding of the most extraordinary kind could ever have suggested the belief that' any; considerable or even appreciable number, ofr Englishmen desired to see a separation be-: tween Great Britain and her colonies. No •mch wish waa ever entertained. ". ,'. '. The explanation of this better feeling is is agreeable as the fact itself. Our correspondent describes the change of public opinion as a "sudden waking from a hideous nightmare to a full consciousness of power, security, companionship, and light." The colonists understand at once their strength and tbeir opportunities. Instead of dreaming about insurgent Maoris, they are planning railroads, waterworks, and. telegraphs. They are considering a comprehensive scheme of colonization, and are willing to apply a million sterling to the encouragement of immigration. The resources of the colony, as they clearly discern, are almost infinite, and need..o.o!y development. One of the most judicious, measures before the Legislature concerned. the, employment of natives on public works in the Northern Island. This plan would have the double effect of providing the Maoris with peaceful occupation and bringfhg the country itself more effectually under the control of civilization and government. If ever men were born soldiers, the Maoris are these men, and vet even they may^occasionally Jhave gone to war as much for subsistence as else. It will be no slight advantage to turn ! these skilful warriors into hardy labourers ; and surely the 7 genius which , produced , all those impregnable, earthworks in the shape of fortified "pahs" might be easily diverted ' to the more useful art^ of civilenginejering. ■"" It is intimated that, except for the purpose of putting thid particular work in hand without delay, tlie 'Colonial legislature might actually decline,, in its altered mood, the pecuniary assistance which the Imperial Government has recently offered. By way of evincing the. sympjathy of this, country j with the colonists, Ministers offered to guarantee a colonial loan to. the amount of £l,OQQ,OOO,ste*linj»; but the colony, itself, after a calm .jewej^ of its own resources, is , now proposlng^tp rafee, on its own unassisted, .credit, "just four times that sum. Naturally, thereipre, the question is asked whether the aid which is not required for the larger loan > can be . needed- for the smaller, and so firm is now the belief of the coloii?sts in their future prosperity, ttjat % ' .trifling difference in the interest annually payable appears unworthy, of consideration. It is impossible, in short, to conceive a more satisfactory- report of affairs than that now before us, an,d if, as we are assured, nothing beyond the maintenance of peace is needed | to convert all these anticipations into, realities, the end ought not to be doubtful. We ! do not expect that Maori outbreaks will at once become things of the past, but a judicious employment of friendly natives, combined with the requisite display of colonial strength, will surely reduce the .wars of former days to the dimensions of petty disturbances.