OUR LETTER HOME.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7863, 19 May 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME.

POLITICAL AND OTHER GOSSIP. politics. Potrrics are rather cleared by the succcasful floating of the West Coast Railway contract: less money to find for works, and less tension of parties. The aspiration so devoutly made by Mr Ormond the other day, that the railway might be got rid of into the hands of some private company, has been at last fulfilled. Major Atkinson, Mr Ormond, and those who represent that side of the House, probably think they have before them an opportunity to make new combinations. On the Government side the Treasurer is sure to feel a little relieved. Such is the effect -which the determined stand of the promoters of this railway has had upon politics. The only result of the removal from politics, however, will be the consolidation of the Ministerial party. In other words, the uncompromising element has been withdrawn. The Railway League has no longer before it the prospect of a stirring electioneering campaign. The League, however, will do well to keep together until the contract is safe through Parliameah. THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. Like many another speech delivered by a Colonial Governor under similar circumstances, that which precedes our session of 1886 will chiefly disappoint a watchful Opposition. There is no revelation of some heinous policy of progress, no foreshadowing of reckless borrowing—the word millions does not occur throughout its length. To some that will be a very great blow indeed. To others, who are content with criticising what has been done, rather than howling at what is not going to take place at all, except in their fevered imaginations, the Speech will bring most lively satisfaction. It is a quiet, modest record of a year of good, steady work, of progress, of accomplishment heralded by no rash promises. The jubflee year and the Exhibition afforded opportunities for expressions of loyalty and attachment to the Queen and to the Mother Country which, after the events of last year, come with more spontaneity than of old. The rest deals with our own affairs. If good work done in Native affairs, in the settlement of the land, in public works, in the consummation of a railway contract obstructed in tbe most selfish manner, is not a fair record, it would be. hard to find one. With regard to the proposals for the future, judging from the past they will be in the place of promises redeemed, by this time next year. HR HUS DEN. Mr Rusden, having given himself away, as they say in America, by admitting that ho knew the untruth of what he had written about Mr Bryce gleefully cutting down women and children in that Maori skirmish, and that he did nothing to send a contradiction after his published editions, no one can wonder that he was ordered to pay the .£3OOO damages. Mr Rusden, we must remember, is a historian, and historians must be judged as to rewards or punishments by a very bigh standard. It is a pity this should have happened to him, for his is the only history which has attempted to do justice by the Maori race. It is a pity, not only on account of the matter of the libel, but also, and rather more, on account of the manner in which the libel came to be* written., According to his own account, Mr Rusden had conversations with Bishop Hadfield and Sir Arthur Gordon. But he never took the precaution to ascertain if ' there was any documentary proof or corroboration. It is a proof of carelessness (gleefully accepting anything he came across) which mars the whole history. MB BUSDEn’B WITNESSES. It is perhaps a very safe thing to comment on the conduct of men whose names have been mentioned in an important libel case. It is very easy to condemn Sir Arthur Gordon and Bishop Hadfield for what Mr Rusden says they told him. It would be more decent to reserve comment until *we really know what these gentlemen told Mr Rusden. It is one thing for Mr Rusden to throw the whole blame on them of his own errhrs. It is another thing to prove that Mr Rusden is not as wrong in this instance as he was about the gleeful cutting up of the women and children. Lord Granville has given ns a good example, by his refusal to condemn Sir Arthur Gordon until he hears what Sir Arthur has to say. But then Lord Granville is not the owner of a newspaper, which, having once printed (utterly without justification) the statement that Sir Arthur Gordon was totally unfit to be a Colonial Governor, is always on the lookout for evidence of any kind of quality to bolster up that rash expression of inconsiderate opinion. THE OAMAHTJ MANOEUVRES, The first grand display since the revival of Volunteering in New Zealand is now taking place at Oamaru. Thus the Colony will he able to see, in the discipline and bearing of its Volunteers, by land and by sea, what value it is getting for its money. It is a, very satisfactory .feature that the time of the citizen soldiers is not to be frittered away in the old stylo of exercise. Instead of marching and counter-marching round paddocks, going through movements never practised in actual war, and performing manceavres puzzling to the average soldier, the men are to be put to do just such work as would devolve on them in case of attack by an enemy. The result of this trial of their efficiency must be a large increase of their intelligence and military skill. THE MUSEUM. The apathy of the Board of Governors in the matter of the Museum is absolutely inconceivable. Dr Von Haast is now at Home with letters in his pocket from the dii eccbrs of the best Museums in Europe, aspiring him that they have duplicates of all kinds ready for him to take away and imploring him to come and select. For want »f;the|necessary money for hia travel-

ling expenses the genial doctor is powerless. It will scarcely be believed, but it is true, nevertheless, that the Board of Governors will not vote one penny. THE UNEMPLOYED AT AUCKLAND. When we see that at the Auckland meeting of unemployed some thirty were out of work, we feel justified in the conclusion that the devil is not so black as he is painted. We seem to have got into the habit of making demonstrations on every possible pretext. If an artisan is out of work, or a labourer seeks vainly for a “ job," we call a public meeting, invoke the Government, and pass resolutions to the effect that the country is going to the dogs. Is it not time to stop crying ? THE TREASURER AT WELLINGTON. The passing of something very like a vote of confidence in Sir Julius Vogel by the Wellington meeting, taken in conjunction with the grand reception be got at Auckland, shows that the Colony has very largely come round to the belief that amongst our leading men there is ■ no one superior to Sir Julius Vogel. . The reason is that whatever the enemies of the Treasurer may be, the bulk of the people of this Colony are certainly not fools. Like all reasonable beings they are open to conviction by process of fair reasoning, and adequate display of necessary facts. As he did twenty years ago, os he did in 1884 at Ashburton, so does Sir Julius now when he has to speak of the condition of the Colony. At his reappearance he was selected because unlike bis rivals, who had nothing better than taxes, and dismal moral lessons to doctor us with, he showed his unshaken faith in the resources of New Zealand, and gave his reasons. As the only logical leader, who follows out his belief in the Colony to its logical'conclusions. Sir Julius was chosen in 1884 by Canterbury. Since j;hen the Colony has largely taken to him. The hopeful, resourceful, wide-seeing, logical, excellent speech he* delivered in Wellington on Saturday last shows the reason why. WEST COAST RAILWAY. The further information conveyed in Sir Julius Vogel’s speech, that, in addition to a share capital of a quarter of a million, the Syndicate has arranged for an equal amount to he raised by debentures, is satisfactory. So is the expectation of an immediate signature of the contract on their part, followed by the deposit of £SOOO. The Syndicate frees the Colony from the burden of making this line; it does so by accepting lands which would have lain without value probably for generations; it offers to the Colony the prospect of rapid completion, accompanied by the guarantee of the personal interest of a powerful financial Company in the development of our great marketable western resources. Should the modifications of the contract require the sanction of Parliament (the modifications have been referred to as not material). Parliament should, for the above reasons, lose no time in granting that sanction. MB BRYCE. The reports of the trial brought by the Suez mail, prove conclusively that there was some such incident as that described by Mr Rusden, i.e., that a party, chiefly unarmed, of Natives (without women, but containing boys) was attacked by the Kai Iwi and Wanganui cavalry in 1868 and cut up—two boys being among the slain. The trial has also proved beyond a doubt that Mr Bryce took no part whatever in this matter of the killing—having left bis men to seek his commanding officer just Before‘the incident began. On his return, seeing the men straggling, ho galloped to the front, and, after some exciting work and a display of great sternness-—threaten-ing to out down his own men if they disebeyed him—succeeded in getting them together. This explains at once how the whole story originated. The incident having taken place, and an officer having displayed extreme energy in putting an end to it, what more natural than for the enemy, who cannot be accurately informed as to the circumstances, and is never under such circumstances generous, what more natural than for the enemy to blame tbe officer for the whole ? It is the fortune of war that Mr Bryce’s action was misunderstood by the Natives of the Coast, and that it has been misinterpreted ever since. We congratulate him, all the more for that reason, on the completeness with which he has vindicated himself. That his friends at Wanganui, the headquarters of Lis influence, should agree to give him a grand reception on his return to the Colony is the most natural thing in the world. That the leading citizens of Wellington should devise some method of doing him honour is most proper. For the public man who has the courage and resolution to cross the ocean and vindicate his character at all hazards, has given an example of that jealous regard for personal honour which should be the highest quality of every public man, the continued general possession of which would maintain the tone of our polities high and pure for all time. But it is not right to go further than this and say that Mr Bryce has vindicated the Colony from the aspersions of Mr Rusden. Mr Bryce has freed himself, and perhaps the reputation of two cavalry corps, from a charge which, at its worst, could not have been very severe. The other, and more serious charges scattered broadcast over the pages of Mr Rusden’s history, still remain unanswered. With them the Handley’s woolshed incident is in no way connected. MR BRYCE’S RETURN. Mr Bryce has been welcomed in Auckland as the successful hero of the Rusden libel case, and for the fine example of keen regard for personal honour which he has given. What is objectionable about some of these demonstrations— they are going on all over the North Island—is that some of those Colonists who have felo the weight of the Rusden hand, and never made any attempt to defend their characters, ore claiming that Mr Bryce’s victory has set them free. It has, of course, done nothing of the sort. If those gentlemen were to imitate Mr Bryce’s courage and cultivate his delicate sense of honour, it would be better for them in many ways..

INDIAN-COLONIAL EXHIBITION. We have never received such encouraging news of any Exhibitions On on® side there is a general consensus of opinion that the Exhibition ought to do wonders in bringing tbe people of Great Britain to aright understanding of her Colonies. On the other we see a determination on the part of the Exhibition authorities to spare no pains to make the Exhibition thoroughly perform the grand work required of it. The result will he that money will be sent here for investment, and people will come with it to help it fructify. Under, the circumstances it is well that New Zealand is so well represented. In the first place the rumours of difficulties between Dr von Haast and the Agent-General are, we now see, without foundation. In the second the arrangement of our exhibits so lucidly explained by the painstaking doctor, as our London Correspondent tells us, is admirable, comprehensive, and on a splendid scale. THE KIN* COUNTRY. The most important item of Native news that has been published for thirty years, informs us that the Native owners will in a few weeks the w*hol® of the King Country through the Laud Court. It means the end of the aukati, of the separate kingship, of the ineffective Queen’s writ, of the anti-selling combination, of the stoppage of colonisation, of a great many other things. Curiously enough, the Opposition Press has not discovered the fact. JVhen it does, we shall probably hear that Mr Ballance is a truckler. In the Opposition Native philosophy there are only two methods, force and truckling. MIDLAND RAILWAY. As the above name is probably taken from the prospectus of the successfully launched scheme, we adopt it. It is the sign of the completion of all the preliminaries of the great work one-third of the Colony has so long been fighting for. That these preliminaries are over, the latest news enables us to know with something like certainty. It is that the contract has been assigned to the Syndicate which has successfully launched its scheme, and will pay up the ,£SOOO deposit within the next fortnight. That means that the railway is as good as begun. As soon as possible after this news was published, tbe series of telegrams between the Treasurer and the AgentGeneral followed. These show what the concessions are upon the original contract, and that they are unimportant. . They show also how painstaking, energetic, and shrewdly careful of the public interests tbe Government has been throughout the transaction. It is a strong addition to the claim Sir Julius and his colleagues have to the confidence of the people of New Zealand. People profess to feel disquieted by the news that the shares are being allotted. Their idea is that the scheme having fallen flat the shares are being allotted among the promoters to save appearances. But there has not been time enough for the scheme to fall flat. There' has, on the other band, been ample time for the scheme to succeed. "When a scheme is first placed on the market, nothing is said about the time of allotting shares. That depends entirely on the way the shares are applied for. If applications come in quickly, an early date is fixed for allotment. This is probably what has happened. The telegram should, in that case, read not that the shares are being allotted but that the date of allotment has been fixed. This would reconcile the telegram with the advices of the Agent-General, which pronounce the scheme as so far a success. THE SERIES OF TELKORAMB. They make a most entertaining history. First there is the result of Mr Scott’s work, in the shape of the basis of negociation with the Syndicate. And, by the way, Mr Scott deserves the greatest credit for the tact, energy, perseverance and ability to which we owe the successful termination of the enterprise which everybody regarded as abandoned after the return of hia brother delegates. Then comes the progress of the negotiations towards success. Presently there is gloom, grave doubts are entertained of tbe adequacy of the preliminary subscription; all are very anxious. But throughout all the hall keeps rolling backwards and forwards between the Government and the AgentGeneral. Suddenly the list of subscriptions rises to a quarter of a million, the financial magnates nod their heads in tbe right way, and the news is allowed to be made public. From that the story hurries with exciting steps to the climax which has caused all the rejoicing. It is one of the most interesting episodes in our annals. THE BABBIT IN THE AMUR!. Absolute ruin stares the Amuri in the face, and the settlers know' perfectly well that unless they bestir themselves, the staring process will be followed by the usual result. What is more to the purpose, they have taken up the matter in a grave, determined, and practical spirit. To fight the spreading enemy they have accepted fencing and the “natural enemy ” as the best means. For the one they want £IO,OOO and a revenue to meet the annual charge of interest and maintenance. For the second they want a revenue to pay the expenses of breeding establishments. They have appointed a Committee to select the line of fence, they have agreed to a rate per thousand sheep. They want from the Government a subsidy, and from Parliament legislation enabling them to carry out their resolutions. As the Government hold unoccupied country, and as the scheme of defence is useless without the binding force of a law, there is every reason for helping these settlers who are trying to help themselves. One thing is certain. If £IOOO a year is enough now, £IO,OOO will be insufficient if the evil is allowed to go on. ME BALLANCE. Hitherto it has been the fashion to talk of converting the Natives the way of thinking of the Native Minister. This week the conversion of a large European population is announced as fonnaPj made.

Last year nothing was more ridiculed than what was derisively called “ the one policeman policy,’’ inaugurated by Mr Ballance at Farihaka. After a year’s trial, the settlers have declared that nothing has ever succeeded better. They declare, in fact, that the said policeman has had far more work among the Europeans than among the Native people. The Minister, we remember, said that this is exactly what was going to happen. The best thing in the whole history is the candid confession on the part of the settlers that Mr Ballance was right. When open conversions become possible in politics, we may hope for the Beat, more especially when the seat of conversion is the Native question. THE NORTH ISLAND GRAND TBUNKThis Line and its prospects begin to loom large. We hear this week of the approaching completion of the purchase of the first batch of 400,000 acres with a frontage of 40 miles to the line; of the opening of trade up the Wanganui river; and of the construction of a road to connect the Upper. Wanganui with the railway workings. When Parliament meets, the only people dissatisfied will be those whose only political capital is the neglect of the Government to acquire the lands along the railway line, and the insinuation that Ministers care very little whether the line is made or not made. TE NQUTU-O-TE-MANU. The memory of this great disaster to our arms has been recalled by tbe dedication of the monument erected at Manaia (which is near the scene of the fight) to the memory of tbe brave men who fell. Their names are historical, and their brave comrades who led the remnants of the force out of the trap into which it had fallen ■will always have honour in New Zealand. To the Volunteers the memory is instructive, as showing the consequences of indiscipline on the part of men, and want of skill on the part of officers. To the general body of Colonists it is a source of satisfaction that the lapse of time has enabled us to recall these horrors without any return of the old desire for the extermination of the brave but remorseless enemy. We can talk of these things now as men talk of bad dreams. THE CENSUS. At length we have the census of Christchurch and its suburbs, totalling an aggregate of 34,625. The three Boroughs, Christchurch, Sydenham, and St Albans, contribute to this result, and the Town Districts of Linwood and Woolston. As Lyttelton, Sumner, New Brighton, Richmond, Papanui, Eicca.rton, Bryndwr, and other small centres are not included, it is pretty evident that the population of Christchurch and suburbs has gone up to 40,000 souls, which marks a substantial advance. Tbe enumeration of the Town Districts ought to enable the RegistrarGeneral to amend his vital statistics with good effect. COLONIAL LOANS. The news that our converted stock already amounts to four millions is most satisfactory evidence of the rate of progress of the Consolidation policy. The successful floating of the South Australian Loan (one and a third million, 4 per cent, at £99 9s 6d) is fair proof of the undiminished value of Colonial securities. THE “STANDARD” ON THE COLONIES. The cleverness of Sir Julius Vogel is not admired by that splendid old fossil, the Standard. And very naturally, for the Standard possesses the higher talent of being able to announce, and of course criticise the policy of Sir Julias Vogel’s Government before it lias been made public. The Standard has upon its staff a gentleman whom we all remember for his good qualities. The memory of hie friendship is very dear to those who had the privilege of enjoying it. Not quite so universally appreciated is the memory of hia politics, which were formed in the severe atmosphere of Cashel street. Now, a certain journal, which need not be referred to more particularly than by the simple statement that it created that atmosphere and continues to live in it, published a few weeks ago, the fullest details of an alleged Ministerial scheme. About tbe time these details get Home the Standard cries to the financial world; “ Don’t lend any money on it.” Are these merely coincidences ? THE NEW HEBRIDES. The Presbyterian Church has made up its mind to Christianise these islands under cover of denationalisation. But denationalisation has become impossible, ns all the Powers interested are in favour of a partition on fair terms. The New Zealand Government, sensible of this, have come to the conclusion that partition is the best thing. Why the Premier should have deliberately determined to do nothing if the Presbyterian Church objects, it is not easy to understand. Under a guarantee of religious liberty, the church has nothing to fear from the acquisition of these islands by France. On tbe other hand the Empire v/ill be strengthened greatly by tbe settlement, once and for all, of the Pacific question. Humanity at large cannot but be immensely benefitted by the permanent stoppage of the Recidiviste deportation. The only point on which the Presbyterian Church will be worse off will he the opening of the field in the New Hebrides to the missions of other denominations. This is galling because—lst, Presbyterianism like all religions must consider itself the best; and, 2nd, tbe field has been opened by Presbyterian enterprise. But,' however galling, the fact that the field is already open to all and sundry who choose, deprives the Presbyterian Church of any locus standi it might have had as opposing the interests of national settlement and humanitarian progress. MR G, A. SALA. Everyone will sympathise with Mr Sala in his serious illness in India. The loss of his charming and accomplished wife in Melbourne has no doubt told upon him severely, for ho was a devoted husband. Grief, joined to the strain of incessant writing and lecturing, have told their tele in the fierce climate of the* greut ecte!; -ik, Uc' cions mr»y

differ about Mr Sola’s standing as a literary man, but they do not detract frow bis unrivalled position in the journalistic world of England. That position he has used to advertise this Colony as it could have been advertised by no other man, and we, at all events, should feel regret at any misfortune that befalls him. SHIPPING. The present shipping season at Lyttelton is a very dull one, and there is little or nothing to record inwards, outwards, or of vessels on the berth . There is not one single arrival of sailing craft from London, and departures are limited to the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s a.s. Coptic, which left this port on May 1 with a good cargo and excellent passenger list. The only sailing vessel despatched this,month is the Norman M‘Leod, barque, by the New Zealand Shipping Company, and particulars of her departure will be found herewith. The R.M.S.S. Ruapehu arrived at Port Chalmers /on May 12, and is now at Lyttelton, which port she leaves on June 3 for London direct. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s s.s. Tainui arrived at Auckland, and is now (May 18) at Wellington. She also takes departure from Lyttelton, leaving on May 29 for London. The. sailing craft on the berth here are the N.Z.S. Company’s Waimate, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company’s Hudson and Trevelyan. All these, however, are loading but slowly. Vessels from London are as follows -.—Auckland, eighty-eight days cut on May 18; and Loch Awe, sixty-five days out. The former may arrive at any hour.