AUCKLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1354, 2 February 1865, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

Our advices are to the 25th ult„ two day. later than the usual departure of the steamer which was delayed on account of the non-arrival of the English papers are occupied to a large extent by reports of Separation meetings, held in the suburbs and country districts of Auckland, under the auspices of the Northern Association. The same speakers speak as spoke before; and the same ipeeches are spoken by them, with only one novelty -the argument that the South suffers nothing by the war expenditure, since it is ail paid out of-a capital, that is out of the loan ! We trace this idea originally to a secondary article In the Cross', thence it has moved into the speech of Mr. Oreighton, and afterwards into that of Mr. Firth, the great exponent of the new revolution doctrines.

We give the items of news which arc most important:— Why should Canterbury hatb Auckland ? The question is one which demands a very considerable amount of examination, and admits of considerable difference of opinion, no doubt; and it is one which, at present, when separation is on the tapis, may with some propriety be discussed here. Probably, the first answer of a Canterbury man would be that Canterbury did not hate Auckland; his second, that if it did there was no cause for surprise iu the fact. In The meantime, we shall confine ourselves to giving a tew reasons why it scents pretty plain to us that of ail the New Zealand provinces the one most heartily opposed to Auckland is Canterbury. It might be easy to show how probatde this would be from the aspirations of Canterbury, and the repeated checks which Auckland has imposed upon, her; but we prefer, in the present instance, adducing the less contestable witness of their own words when referring to Auckland affairs. We have been struck several times before by the curious way in which Auckland news got interpreted on the journey to Canterbury, but as this appeared usually in the highly spiced form in which it confessedly suits the proprietor-editor of the Press to give it, we attached but little importance to it. It would be as unfair to judge of Canterbury sentiment from the lucubrations of Mr. FitzGerald as it would be to take Smith O'Brien's interpretation of the mind of the Emerald Isle. Iu the present instance we quote, however, from a sober and highly influential organ of public opinion, the Lyttelton Times, and we think we are justified in supposing that in its columns we have the common Canterbury view of Auckland affairs and Auckland settlers. On the 7th of this month the northern news by the mail just received at Canterbury is the subject of a long article critical and explanatory. From this it appears that the new Ministry, nobly unintimidated by the threats of " the angry mob of Auckland," are actually strong enough to carry out the policy of last session. Who is there here who does not picture to himself the magnanimous soul of Mr. Weld as it appears to the citizens of Christchnrch! the Minister defiantly seated on the top of a box of Government records mounted on a car, and proceeding calmly to " carry out the policy of " last session " by pitting the before-mentioned case on board the Wellington steamer, followed by the hoots, threats, and yells of an infuriated population collected in Queen street? After all, that is the sort of man we like to see in office in times of difficulty; and this .noble conduct of Mr. Weld may well endear him to the heart of Canterbury. " The policy of last session "is further elucidated by the mention of how far each department has succeeded in shaking off the dust of Auckland from its feet, and the way in which each real or imaginary sign of the governmental desertion of Auckland is gloated over is very suggestive and vastly amusing. The Colonial Secretary has left, and is actually in Christchurch. Would that they might dare to e> press a hope that he might soon be there as a permanent arrangement! The PostmasterGeneral was at Duuedin, .which, of course, was better than being anywhere north of Canterbury at all events. The Treasurer is at Wellington, and is not grudged in the meantime to that most impecunious of capitals. The Native Secretary is alH>ut t» follow, and as there are really no natives in Canterbury, perhaps Wellington is the furthest point from his work to which he could reasonably be expected to come; and best of all, the Defence Minister is packing his portmanteau to go to Taranaki, or elsewhere (perhaps to organise the volunteer movement in Canterbury !) And Sir George Grey is about to forsake Auckland for the favoured and enchanting scenes of (>tago and Canterbury. Nothing could possibly be more satisfactory to Canterbury, nothing the Canterbury organ seems to feel sure could possibly be more overwhelmingly humiliating to Auckland. The delight with which to all this catalogue of triumphs of the policy of last session is added the presumed fact that the army is Being drafted away from Auckland preparatory to its being sent home, is very amusing. The figures given are slightly exaggerated, but not, we feel certain, the gusto with which anything likely to damage Auckland's hated prosperity is stated. This inaccuracy in the figures of the news is greatly exceeded by the very rose-coloured picture of the rapidity with which all the work necessary for leaving Auckland totally unsupplied with any General Government supervision is conduc ed, Waikato regiments are going upon their lands with a rapidity truly marvellous, and wholly peculiar to a Southern Administration in a bustle to be off home. The emigrants being sent out under the unwise orders of the late Government are having everything done for their settlement by steam power at railway speed. Lands are already advertised for sale to pay the expenses of the war, and things are all in train to leave Auckland nearly as much in a fix as Canterbury herself is; a consummation most devoutly desired, and evidently hailed by delight by the disappointed contractor for the Panama mail service. Finally there is no reason to imagine that any change need take place in this comfortable state of things. The state of the No/th, in spite of the absurd canards of the Auckland press, is, on the whole, satisfactory. So says the Lyttelton Times, and the accuracy and intelligence of its views on other points make us very diffident in saying how much we disagree with that journal on this. It is aot, however, the inaccuracy of the statements which we would point out, except, indeed, in so far as they show by their very incorrectness the way in which the wish of the writer and those for whom-he wrote tended. It is the spirit of the whole thing which, . manifested in a sober journal not addicted to sensational writing in general, gives the irresistible impression that a deep-rooted dislike to Auckland now underlie* most of the political actions of Canterbury. Under the circumstances, it will have been a considerable disappointment to Canterbury to hear, as she must have done ere this, that the total abandonment of Auckland by Ministers has not, meanwhile, been found practicable; that Sir George Grey has been obliged to deny himself the intense gratificat ion of seeing the Canterbury races, and even the Otago Exhibition, from causes which point to a different estimation on his part of the "satisfactory condition of the North " from that so sagely formed by the Lyttelton Times; that a good deal of doubt exists as to the safety of withdrawing even so many troops as have been withdrawn from Auckland, although the number of these has been greatly overrated; that, in short, in spite of the notable " policy of last sescion" and its unflinching pursuit by Mr. Weld, Auckland cannot be reduced at onceto the level of Canterbury's embarrassment.—Southern Cross, Jan. 19.

Gbeat Fire.—While we take up our pen to write, one of the finest and most substantial building* in Auckland is being sacrificed to the flames, and although there is reason to hope that the conflagration may be confined to it, there is no absolute certainty of it. We need hardly say to an Auckland reader that we speak of Messrs. Henderson and Mhcfarlaue's stores in Lower Queen street, near the wharf, which have alwayß been admired iwt a credit to our street architecture. The cauxe of the fire is at present unknown,—and, indeed, for some time it was a puzzle to those who were warned by the ominous ringing of the fire-bells to discover the locality of it. Crowds of would-be spectators soon assembled in the streets, and in Shortland-street, opposite the Q.C.E., the smoke was so dense that it was suffocating. Still no one could tell where it came from, until a volume of smoke and fire from the buildings on the wharf at once solved the difficulty. The crowd at once rushed to the locality, and the street opposite Messrs. Henderson and Mn<> farlarie's store was illuminated with volumes of lurid flame belching out of the second chimney The fire had then apparently taken but very little hold upon the building, and there was but little glare from the windows of the upper storey. Every moment, howover, increased the magnitude of the flames, which were emitted in such immense volumes that it soon became apparent that little could be done to check them. The building being divided into two stories, one occupied by Messrs. J. S. Macfarlane and Co., and the other by Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, li Was at ** rßt d *® cu ' t B ®y in which compartment the fire was spreading ; but only a brief period elapsed before it became evident that Messrs: J. S. Maefarlane's store was the one in which the fire had originated, for the bright and increasing glare from the upper windows, and

the subsequent escape of the flames through the windows, soon indicated that fact. About this time a panic seised some of the crowd in consequence of a rumour, which flew like wild-fire, that there was a large quantity of powder in the building, and a general rush was made for safer quarters. This fear, however—not an uncommon one on such occasions—was soon allayed; ana m the fl;» progressed with fearful rapidity, those who had gone away were irresistibly induced to return to witness it. In half-an-hour, the roof having fallen in, the whole of the upper part of the store in question was a mass of flames, which became increasingly fierce from the evident ignition of some inflammable material. The advantage of slate roofs and good stout partition walls was particularly apparent here. It seemed at times to rain fire, and the sparks being carried by the wind, which fortunately was but gentle at the time, on the roofs of the surrounding buildings, great fears were expressed for their safety, but as they were protected by iron and slate roofs, the danger was greatly diminished. Steadily and too surely the Ire increased in fierceness; and the opaque volumes of smoke p«ssing through the falling portions of the roof too quickly changed into flame. The sudden illumination of the sky only too effectively gave the warning to those at a distance, which the clanging fire-bells had been attempting to effect, that again the time had unfortunately arrived when willing hands and strong hearts were required to secure the eafety of property jeopardised, and that the occasion was one of imminent emergency. The streets were soon crowded with persons hurrying to the scene of the conflagration, and two Are-engines, with firemen unI der Superintendent Bartloy, were quickly upon the spot. One of the engines was placed at the rear of the premises, and the tide being at the full in the intake an abundant supply of water was obtainable from this source, and was used with the most judicious effect in cooling the roofs and sides of the brick stores closely adjacent, and occasionally serving to diminish in some measure the full force of . the fire within the burning edifice. The other engine was stationed at the end of the Queen-street Wharf, and here likewise, from the same cause mentioned above, no stint of water was experienced. The hose in this case ran along Queen-street, the water being principally directed upon the goods in Messrs. Hen- : derson and Macfarlane's store. The Barrack engine arrived upon the scene about a quarter of an hour after the advent of the first two. The doors of the

stores endangered having been broken open, a large number of willing assistants quickly mustered, ready to give their aid in removing the corn and other goods on the premises, so long as the devouring element would permit them to prosecute their voluntary labours; and at this time most fortunately several picquets of soldiers of the 68th and other regiments in garrison appeared on the spot, under the command of their respective officers ; thus relieving, in a great measure, the police force,' under the direction of Mr. Commissioner Naughton and Sergeant-Major Meredith. Most of the police were armed for the occasion, and were employed keeping a sufficiency of ground clear in the vicinity of the burning building, and guarding the piles of goods ever increasing in the middle of the road. A considerable portion of this duty was undertaken afterwards by the soldiers, and the police were consequently enabled to be of great assistance in other directions. A number of the men of the Military Train, it must also be observed, early marched to the scene of the conflagration, and were of the utmost utility in removing the goods. Shortly after half-past one the fire had abated its fury, and the energetic services of the persons who came to rescue having materially lessened the first floor of its weight of combustibles, there was now hope of the flames being subdued before they could extend to the adjacent buildings—a result which could not have been hoped for at several previous periods of the evening. The exertions made by

the large numbers who volunteered their assistance to rescue some of the material stored within the building was most praiseworthy, and the stacks of flour and casks 1 of spirits, &c., which were filed in the road fully testify to their industry and perseverance at the critical period. No pains were spared in this, notwithstanding the attendant peril; and men were to be seen dragging ponderous loads out of the burning building, while masses of fire fell from the windows and the floor above. Many narrow escapes ensued, and the wonder is that no lives were lost in the daring efforts made to save property. The books and papers were got out by the assistance of some servants, who were familiar with their whereabouts, and a considerable quantity of stationery was se-1 cured after great efforts on the part of a few

brought from its musty rendezvous by some soldiers and civilians, who were not long in placing it in a conspicuous position, but whether it was of any avail after all their pains, we ar« unable to say. There was no lack of water, and no effort was spared to save tbe adjacent buildings, many of which were of a less substantial material, and very liable to fall an easy prey to the consuming element. Mr. Stones store, with galvanized iron roof, was in imminent peril. The books and valuables were at once secured from the most contiguous buildings, and guards set to prevent the crowd from entering, until necessity should arise for clearing them of their contents. Fortunately, however, there was no necessity for further steps being taken to secure the property contained in them, but wet blankets were applied, and the engines occasionally played upon them to ensure their safety. Owing to the direction of the wind, the buildings on the other side of the street were not in any jeopardy. Shortly after two o'clock, all danger of the fire extending had ceased, and the efforts of the firemen were then directed to extinguishing the smouldering embers on the ground floor. Many citizens whom we could name exerted themselves most praiseworthily in saving property, but as there may be several whose presence and exertions on the spot we may not have noticed, we refrain from doing so at present. The goods in the store consisted of rice, flour, grain, bottled beer, &c., and a portion of the flour, it is understood, was the property of Messrs. Soppett and Son, millers. The insurance is stated to be between £8000 and £10,000 in the New Zealand Insurance Office. We have just been informed by Mr Poulter, the watchman, on the beat from FraserV Buildings down to the wharf, that he was the first to discover the fire. In pursuance of his duty, he went to the back of the building about twenty minutes to twelve o'clock, to ascertain if all was right, and seeing smoke from the top he immediately gave the alarm.—lbid* Fokther Particulars.—The cause of the fire which broke out so mysteriously on the premises of Messrs. Macfarlane, near the Queen strebt Wharf, about midnight on Thursday, is still enveloped in mystery. A meeting of the insurance agents was held at 12 o'clock yesterday, at the offices of the New Zealand Insurance Company, when the matter was discussed by those most interested, and we understand that it was thought desirable to hold an inquest on the fire to-day. The smouldering grain was beingdugout of thedebris yesterday; thehose being kept at play, to cool the heap and facilitate its removal. The building has a very ruinous aspect, although built unusually strong; and it is_ surprising indeed, how it resisted, as it did, the melting heat of the flames for so long a period without suffering even more. The top storey and roof were completely gutted, but the first-floor was only partially demolished, thanks to the plentiful supply of water and the assistance of the spectators. The burnt grain and charred rubbish was cleared away as speedily as possible. The grain and flour saved from the debris were lying in the middle of the road, and covered a considerable area. The owners of the property adjoining might be seen conveying their business books and papers back to their premises, no doubt with extreme eatisfaction, for it is, after all, great cause for thankfulness that the fire was confined to Messrs. J. 8. Macfarlane and Co.'s premises. We understand that in the top storey there was a considerable quantity of flax, and as it was from the rear of this room the smoke was first seen to issue, and from this room that the flames flrtt burst, it is thought highly probable that this inflammable material became heated, and that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. This is only surmise, however. The premises were left all safe at the usual closing hour on Wednesday, and only two or three persons had been in the upper ' storeys during the day. Besides the flax, there was £4000 worth of oats, insured in the North British and Mercantile Fire and Life Insurance Company for the sum of £1200. There was also flour, coffee,

100 tons Java rice, valued at between £2000 and £3000, and a large quantity of bacon and other merchandise. The back premises were insured for the sum of £600 in the New Zealand Company, but these did not suffer at all. The remainder of the insurance with this Company is £1400. The insurance effected are as follow Store. Stock. £ £ New Zealand Insurance... 1,400 260 Imperial Insurance ... 3,000 Northern Insurance ... 2,000 3,000 North British 1,200 Victoria Insurance ... 2,000 £3,400 £9,460 This gives a total on the stock and goods, including the back stores, which are uninsured, of £12,860 There are no means of estimating the actual loss until the books hare been gone through, but we

understand that it is probable the insurance will be sufficient to cover it.. The injury to the goods in Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane's store is merely nominal,—caused by their removal into the s troet and back again, and some slight damage from water. The damage to the roof will cost about £100 to &W t« repair. Since writing the Above, we are informed that Messrs. J. A.GUfillan and Co. have an insurance of £1200 in the British and Marine Fire Insurance Company, on goods that were stored by them in J. SMacfarlane and Co's store. This is independent of the insurances effected by Messrs. J. S. Macfarlane and C.—lbid, Jan. 20.

Arrival of tub Nelson.—The Nelson, Captain Cobb, arrived yesterday afternoon from London via Cork, bringing military reinforcements to the number of 300, of various regiments, in command of Captain Bryce, of the 2nd Battalion ,15th Regiment. The following is a list of the officers' names Lieut. Cornish, 2nd Battalion 14th Regiment; Lieut. Lloyd, 40th Regiment; Ensign De la Poer, and Ensign Swindley, 65th Regiment; Ensign Tredennock, 57th Regiment; Lieut. Caldecott, 68th Regiment ; and Staff-Assistant Surgeon Jobson, M.D. The Nelson alsk brings about ninety other 1 assengers, and a full cargo of general merchandise. The Nelson is a fine vessel, and has made a good average passage of a little over one hundred days.— Ibid, Jan. 21. Immigrants from the Cape.—By the Eveline, which arrived yesterday, we have another large ac-, •cession to our population from the Cape, the number of immigrants that have thus arrived being 325, and we welcome them to their newly adopted country. We perceive by the Cape papers, files of which we have received to the Ist December, that an emigration to America was being agitated, and that a shiploa of immigrants was on the point of leaving for that destination. It is described as a private scheme, in which free passages were given, and the immigrant is left free to act as he pleases on arrival. The Cape Argus warns those who are going to avoid the : recruiting-sergeant, for it is evident that the movement is originated for the purpose of enlistment, and it does not in any way appear how the originator of it is to be paid for his outlay. The st. tue of Sir George Grey in Cape Town had been unveiled with an appropriate demonstration, but the papers describe the ceremony as having been sadly bungled. Extracts from the Cape papers will be found elsewhere in our columns.—Southern Cross, Jan. 23.

THE HANGATIKI CONFERENCE. (From the correspondent of the New Zealander.) Tawari, an influential chief of the Ngatihaua, who left here for Hangatiki on the ltth instant, returned yesterday morning, accompanied by the following natives of Ngatihaua: Panapa, Kereama, Tuwhenufl, Eruera, the two latter being Queen Natives, and the remainder adherents of the Maori king. They were the bearers of important letters from William Thompson to the Governor and to Brigadier-General Carey. From this Tawari, a Native of whose loyalty no doubts need be entertained, and who is one of the most intelligent Maori I have ever conversed with, I obtained some interesting particulars of the meeting at Hanga-

tiki. He left this camp on the afternoon of the Uth, and arrived at Kohitane, or Rangitoto, by 9 p.m., the same evening. He found at that place the King, Thompson, and 300 men, who had remained after the Rangitoto meeting. This number was composed of representatives of the following tribes:— Ngatihaua, Ngatimatira, Ngatimaru, Ngaetirengi, Ngatipaoa, Ngatiraukawa, Ngatituwaretoa, Ngatimahuta, Ngatitipa, Urewera, And hapus of other tribes.

There were also 200 women and children at this place. O* the morning of the 12th, the whole proceeded from Rangitoko to Hangatiki, adistanceof fourorfive miles' and upon their arrival, they were met by a number of men and 900 women of th« Ngatimaniapotos and Waikatos, under Rewi. Aftei I customary Maori greetings were over, the whole of the men assembled in thefollowingorder:—the Ngatimaniapotos and Waikatos, in column of companies of 100 each, like soldiers upon parade,the only difference being that the Maori company was formed in single rank, or in military parlance, rank entire; and the Rangitoto party in three long lines, the space between each being about two yards. To those who know something of infantry drill.it will be sufficient to say, that this party presented exactly the same formation as three companies formed into threes, right or left, at quarter distance column.

When all were assembled, several obeisances were made to the king, and then after a short prayer, a la Pai Marire, the men dispersed to finish a large whare, -aiaity- fpftt. hv forty, asaßunanga House for the Grand Council. This and Ottierarraogementa were completed by the evening of the 13th ; and at ten o'clock in the forenoon of the following day, the natives assembled in the Council Room, being called together by a native shouting the following, " Hui mai, hui mai, ka timataria ta tatou korero," — " Assemble hither, assemble hither, our discussion is begun." The women and children were not admitted to the Runanga, the Maori "lords of creation" looking with supreme contempt upon the political and legislative abilities of the weaker sex. King Tawiao Matutaera Potatau was not present at the korero, that doughty potentate being, it is said, suffering from indisposition.

Rewi was the first to address the meeting. He walked into the open space in the centre of the runanga, and having marked two rings upon the ground, he spoke as follows: Whakaronga mai kite korero i hui mai ai tatau ki tenei whakaminenga. E rua porotaka,koteporotaka 0 te pai 0 te mari tanga; ko te porotaka ote kino, ote whawhai. Ma Routon katoa, ma tenei whakaminenga e whakakino tetahi, e whakapai tetahi. Ko taku ki, kei runga kite porotaka 0 te whawhia. TRANSLATION. Hearken to the sentiments in reference to which we are now assembled. There are two circles, namely, the circle of peace and quietness, and the circle of evil and war. It is for the whole of you in this assembly to approve of one, and disapprove of the other. My decision is on the circle representing war.

Then Bewi having finished and sat down, up rose Porokora, a chief of Ngatihaua. He said: I sit on the circle of quietness. Maihi, of Ngatiraukawa, said the same as the preceding speaker. Pakarda, of Ngatihaua; Iraia, of Ngatikoroki; Paora, of Ngatihaua; Hopa, of Ngatimaniapoto; Nepe, of Ngatimaniapoto ; Tewi, of Ngatipaoa ; Wiremu Hopihona, of Ngatiraatira ; Tawaru, of Ngatimaru ; Popata, of Ngatipau ; and about thirty other leading chiefs followed in favour of peace, each one pronouncing his vote whilst standing inside one of the rings, and then retiring to give place to the next. Rewi then said: Kua Whakaae koutou nei katoa kite parotaka ote pai, ote marietango, kihai nei i pai koutou ki ti porotaka o te kinp, o te whawhia, aianei, ko taku kupu hoki i runga a te porotaku o te marietangi e takoto ana. TRANSLATION You have all approved of the circle representing peace and quietness, but you have not approved of the circle of evil and war. And now my word is also on the circle representing quietness, where it lies [i.e., settled or fixed.] William Thompson, of Ngatihaua, then spoke as follows : Kua tu katoa nga rangatira kite whakaee ki runga kite porotaka ote pai, ote marietangH. Kei kona hoki taka kupu e tu ana. Engari, ko teraina o te Kawana, waiho kio takoto, kana e whakapaingia, kana e whakakinongia. Engari ma nga Pakeha he wahi tenei pai kua oti i.ei te owati, ka tae ka raruraru tenei pai, kua ota nei to korero.

TRANSLATION. All the chiefs have stood up to give assent to the circle representing peace and good will. My word is also thereon—standing up [i.e., I fully concur m relation to the sentiments expressed regarding peace]. As to the Governor's line [i.e., boundary line set forth on the Confiscation Proclamation], let that lie unheeded; do not approve of it, and do not disapprove of it. But let the Pakeha break in upon this peace to which we have sworn. In that case, the peace which has been proclaimed will end in confusion. The meeting then broke up, tho lcorero or discussion having lasted from ten a m. to twelve, noon. Most of the natives, who came from distant localities, have since left Hangttiki for their homes. The following is the quantity of food consumed a the meeting:-—BOO kits potatoes, 100 kits pipis, kits of eels, 30 kits of apples, 50 kits of maize, bullocks, besides half a chest of tea, two bags o sugar, and a small quantity of spirits.—New Zealanaer, Jan. 25.

Thb Hanoatikx Conference. —The great Maor Conference recently commenced at Bangitoto an concluded at Hangatiki must be regarded j lB a , event of very considerable importance. The letter ourTe Awamutu correspondent, gives the deterrmntion arrivedatby thelately insurgent tribes of Waijta . At the commencement of the Hangatiki korero u was still for war; but as all the other chiefs, wh» exception of note, gave in their adherence to pacific policy of William Thompson, near the - elusion of the conference Rewi accepted the net » and himself took his stand upon the " circ

peace." The result of the whole ia, that those tribe# still maintain their Maori " King,'' and make no proffer of assuming a new allegiance to Her Majesty; while on the other hand, they determine on making no aggressive movement against the too powerful Pakehn. The consenting Proclamation of December 17th was mentioned in such a way as seems to indicate, that the boundaries defined in that momentou* document will be respected William Thompson's concluding speech may, under the circumstances, be taken as the expression of the Waikatos' intentions; and it is as follows:—" Ail the chiefs have stood up to give the assent to the circle representing pence and goodwill. My word is also therein—standing up [i.e. I fully concur in relation to the sentiments expressed regarding peace]. As to tho Governor'* line, [t c. boundary line set forth in the confiscation Proclamation,] let that lie unheeded; do not approve of it, and do not disapprove of it. But let the Pakeha breuk in upon this peace to which we have sworn: in that case, the peace which has been proclaimed, will end in confusion." In order to estimate exactly the present condition of affairs, with respect to the insurgent tribes, let ub refer to the Governor's Proclamation of December 17th—which

was countersigned, as our readers are well aware, by Mr. Weld. In that manifesto his Excellency says:— The Governor will make no further attack on those who remain quiet." And again:—"The rule with regard to arms will be this. The Governor does not , inefst upon all natives giving up their arms; but • arms shall not without permission, be brought into i settled districts, and arms will be taken from such as •re unruly and turbulent. This also is the law of all nations." And then follows the usual exception 'with reference to the murderers. Comparing the Hangatiki resolutions with the Governor's edict, we infer that the latter has virtually regulated the definition of the former. It seems tolerably plain, that tjie late insurgeuts have, alter considering the terms of the<projlamation, determined upon formally conceding at once all that was requisite in order to the 1 avoidance of renewed hostilities, and no more. Letters, we learn, were dispatched immediately after the conference, to General Carey and to hisExcel-lency-rthe Governor; and we doubt not that the pur- : port of missives, was to indicate the nature of the resolution thus adopted. Having taken thegreat step of confiscating the Waikato land, his Excellency's proclamation could not prescribe less than lit does, in order to the security of the settlers who will be located there; and the conditions 1 which it specifies, and of which it announces the enforcement, are for that purpose sufficient. More than this it would be useless to demand, unless we were prepared to undertake the vast enterprise of thoroughly penetrating every recess of the interior, and completely subjugating or utterly exterminating every section of the alienated population. A wiser course, however, has been adopted. The Waikato turbulence of 1863 and preceding years has been visited with a keenly felt ptjnishment, in the defeat of the tribes and in the confiscation of the lands. The penalty is of such a kind as conduces to the great benefit of the colony, by affording a valuable field for immigration ; while ultimately the Maoris themselves will, if they are wise, benefit by the change. Still the confiscation is, for. the present, keenly felt as a punishment; and it is solemnly declared, that any renewal of the turbulence can only lead to an extension of the penalty. We can scarcely ourselves believe that the intentions of William Thompson and others in the direction of submission to the Queen go no further than the mere limits of the Hangatiki rote. The Proclamation of December 17th saysTo those who have rebelled, but who shall at once submit to

the Queen's authority, portions of the land taken will be given back for themselves and their families." Here surely is a strong motive for going one step further than the mere abstinence from turbulence or aggression, and for making an overt submission to the Queen's representative. If we suppose that Thompson really intends this, or wishes for it, still we should not expect him to do more at present than has now been done. We know the great difficulties that he has had to contend with, in his efforts to regain and preserve peace; and we know also the politic caution of his character. We should not be at all surprised to learn, that the Peace-maker hopes yet to see the Maori •' King " recognised as a dignified Lieutenant-Governor; and stranger things have happened, than that Tamihana himself should yet be among the? honourables of the colony. Meantime a great deal has been accomplished in encircling Kewi and the Ngatimaniapotos within a periphery of peace. If we rightly surmise the existence of such views as we have indicated, their development and realization cannot but be materially furthered by

that change for which the Northern Association and the people of the province of Auckland are at present bestirrtag—thernseiveS. ""Thompson and the other leaders of the Waikatos are by no means ignorant of the fact, that whereas spme time ago the the Colonial Government, represented by the "double - minded" Pakeha, claimed the uncontrolled management of the Maoris, now on the other hand the Governor exercises a potential voice. But still the pernicious and, to the Maori, unjust and treaty-infringing system of the "double government" subsists. Let that system be manifestly done away ; and let her Majesty graciously assume de novo the fulfilment of her treaty obligations, by singly ruling the Maoris, until they shall be happily fitted for, and incorporated in, the political system of the colony; and this being done, and consistently carried out, an immense facilitation will be afforded for the cordial adherence and allegiance of the whole Maori race. Before concluding, we cannot but remark, that it is a matter of satisfaction, and also, in some respects, of surprise, to how small an extent the prevalence of the Pai Marire fanaticism appears to pervert the practical sagacity of the people. These Maoris are certainly a very peculiar race of men. It is strange —as has been before flow remarked—that a people who have advanced so little from their savage condition, as to physical comfort, should be even what they are in mental attainment and in political perspicacity.—lbid.

The Military Settlers.—The Southern Cross is doubtful as to the success of this scheme and prophesies accordingly. Speaking of the terms of enrolment, it states:—" They are to render military service in the Waikato until peace shall have been proclaimed, and then they are to be put upon their freehold farms, receiving rations from the Government for twelve months* thereafter. The settler may be told that his labour on his land will, in time, yield him money: but everyone knows enough of mankind to know that to ninejmen out of every ten, good wages easily earned will be preferred to months of unpaid and arduous labour, however bright the prospect may be. If, therefore, the military settler be compelled to remain for thirty-three months out of thirty-six upon his fifty acres, or forfeit his title thereto, we believ* the majority of them will run away from it. A month's absence every year ought not to be the extent of time a man may be absent from his section; nor do the circumstances of the country, with regard to the natives, render such extreme caution necessary. Caution, is, no doubt, necessary; but the, regulation in question seems framed to guard against the irruptions of a hostile race, ever on the look-out for a weak point of attack. What vre would propose would be, that the in this particular should be amended. Let the military settlers be permitted to take employment where they can get it in the district, or even, under certain limitations, in Auckland itself. This would put them in the possession of money, and enable them, from time to time,

to go upon their land, and carry out the improvements which ought to be exacted from each as a condition on which Crown titles would be granted. Thus, the district would be .improved by their labour, and the men would be contented wth their lot, and better able to do battle, with the early difficulties that beset all settlers in this province, however fortunate in their selection of land they may be. We think, with our contributor, that there ought to be musters of the men at stated periods, when field exercise should be insisted on; but it is idle to suppose that regimental discipline could be enforced after the men have been, "settled." It would not be possible to enforce it, neither would it be at all desirable if it could be enforced* The settler element ought to be encouraged, and not the military, although, by what we can hear, this object is not always kept in view " Native Lands Act.—The New Zealand Herald says :—" The Native Lands Act having been put

into operation over all the territory, it has become necessary to appoint judges under the Act. We understand that Mr. Fen ton has become Chief Judge in the Native Land Court, and that the appointment of Judge has been conferred on Mr. Kogan, a Commissioner under the Act and the respected Kesident Magistrate of the Kaipara district. A second judge will, we understand, be also appointed."