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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2127, 15 October 1867, Page 2

In one department or its policy the Ministry of Mr Stafford has merited the confidence and the gratitude of the colony „ The astounding claims and unconstitutional interference of the Home Government have alike been firmly resisted. That portion of the Treasurer's financial statement which referred to the claims and counterclaims of the Imperial Government and the colony has fortunately not been departed" from. The correspondence between Mr Commissioner Airey and Major Eichardson brings to light certain transactions which may make the Cabinet of Lord Derby blush for the too hasty credit which it attached to the assertions of its subordinates, whether civil or military. Defalcations and blunders have been made to swell the charges against the colony, until they had reached the con J siderable sum of one million three hundred thousand pounds. This amount, be it observed, was irrespective of the large Bum of two millions and three quarters expended directly'by the colony itself. Major Richardson, however, as Colonial Commissioner, found on examining the accounts that upwards of five hundred thousand pounds were wrongfully charged against the colony, and thus reduced the amount owing to the Imperial Government to about seven hundredand sixty thousand pounds. Against this the colony presents, a claim for somewhat over nine

hundred 1 thousand pounds, thus leaving a balance to be paid over to the colony of one hundred and forty-seven thousand pounds. The Imperial Government will find some difficulty in rebutting this claim, and will, we suspect, find it utterly impossible to defend the conduct of its servants. Well-wishers

to New Zealand, whether in the colony or elsewhere, will rejoice to see that some ot those who have been so ready to asperse the conduct both of its

people and its Government, have been in other respects far from trustworthy. The world is so ready to attach weight to any charges made against colonists, and in favour of aborigines and their sympathisers, that it is well to have

discovered in this case some good means for testing the value of their assertions.

But the Imperial Government itself has been far from blameless in its course of action towards the colony. The demonstration which has been made against his Excellency the Governor involves something far more serious than a mere specimen of personal discourtesy. Whatever discourtesy, indeed, has been shewn to his Excellency, has been called forth by his prompt defence of the consti-

tutional liberties of the colony. A recent despatch from the Duke of Buckingham, as Secretary for the Colonies, informs the Governor that whatever powers he may hold and exercise in virtue of his Commission 1 to represent her Majesty as Constitutional Sovereign of these Islands, are to be directed or overborne by instructions received from the Colonial Office in London. Now, this is exactly the state of things which exists, and which ought to exist in a Crown colony or Dependency. It is the very rule required for India or for Gibraltar. But in a colony to which a Constitution has been granted, it is nothing short of the upsetting of that Constitution. It ignores responsible government, and substitutes the worst

kind of irresponsible government. In the conduct of the affairs of New Zealand, the responsible advisers of her Majesty, or of the deputy whom her Majesty may appoint to represent her, arc the Ministers who enjoy the confidence of the representatives of the people, here. But the Imperial Ministry is in no sense responsible to us. 'And it is the worst kind of irresponsible power with which we could have to deal, It is liable to be changed in its personnel at auy time, and from influences which have nothing to do .with its colonial administration. It may purchase political support by its colonial measures or appointments, but these will be for the benefit of others than the colonists. I

'■■■ We grant indeed that the recal, pure and simple, of Imperial Troops is an affair of the Imperial Government, But if the Goremor of this Colony holds the powers of Commander-in-chief, it is only through him that the order of recal can legitimately be given. To issue sueh an order directly to the General is to violate all official rules, and. to betray a petulance and an impatience wholly undignified and all but childish. But it is not merely in the instance of recal that this interference with the rights of the Governor's position; has-been countenanced. The power of life, and death over the rebels been exercised without a regard for. his jurisdiction. At least one rebel has been shot by the military authorities, without allowing the Governor. and Commander-in-chief or his Ministers to have anything to say in the matter. Here is surely a great change from the quondam outcries of philanthropy and forbearance. It is no; longer the Colonial Governor or Government, nor the forces under their command, but the British forces that put.Natives'to death in cold blood. We should not wonder but this instance of Imperial cruelty, committed iii haste and without the knowledge or sanction of any Colonial authority,istho one story which forms the basis of all the slanders. of military men against the.colonists and their Government. .It would.; be; difficult to specify any

kind of action more fitted to paralyse that of the Colonial Government, in seeking to establish peace and to win the confidence of the natives, than was this military execution. It was calculated to proclaim to the nativos that power had passed from the hands of the Governor, his agents, or his Ministry. It might have been an express violation of some promise or order previously given by the Governor.andthus have sown the seeds of a distrust and discontent which many years will not quite remove. And all this because the Imperial Government would interfere with the power of the Governor, and so with the rights of his responsible Ministers and the liberties of the colonists. In its treatment of this subject we are pleased to find that the present Ministry has been firm, temperate, and consistent.