The Marlborough Press. SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1861.

Marlborough Press, Volume II, Issue 77, 22 June 1861, Page 2

The Marlborough Press. SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1861.

The Governor, in a proclamation addressed to the Waikato tribes last month, thus specifically states the final terms upon which peace will be made, and a complete amnesty granted to them: — Ist. From all, submission, without reserve, to the Queen 1 s so\ ereignty and the authority of the law. 2nd. From those who are in possession of plunder, taken from her Majesty’s European or native subjects, restoration of that plunder. 3rd. From those who have destroyed, or made away with property lielonging to her Majesty’s subjects, European or native, compensation for the losses sustained. / \ Never were milder terms granted toi rebellion than those which Colonel Gore Biowne declares will satisfy the Queen and the Colonial Government, and never, probably, were such offers less likely to be appreciated by the people to whom they are addressed. As read by Europeans, the Governor's declaration pledges him to exact all the guarantees for order and good government embodied therein; as understood by the native tribes to whom they areaddressed, who after twelve months of warfare retain their powers unbroken, the manifesto must rather appear as a bombastic effusion fEan .the expression

of a sober determination. We, conscious of our strength, can understand the motives of the Government in thus, after long forbearance, arriving at the conclusion that the Queen's sovereignty and the supremacy of the law, must be upheld; but to the Maori people the matter presents a different aspect. They have had proof of our feebleness, and have not as yet been made to feel our strength, and until that evidence of our determination is afforded them, it can hardly be expected that the Maori will understand why obedience to the Queen and the law at this particular juncture, and on the demand of an authority which has never been permitted to maintain either, is to be substituted for bribed quiescence and futile koreros.

While, therefore, we view with great satisfaction the decision of the Government to put an end to an intolerable and dangerous negation of its authority by the native population of these islands, we cannot help fearing that the consequences of a long absence of rule, and of an unworthy collusion with lawless violence, are not likely to be repaired by proclamations, however straightforward, or by native convocations, even should these prove honest. 1 o the presence of General Cameron on the scene, we presume the resolute tone of the declaration to be attributable, and are therefore not without hope that a vigorous effort will be made to bring about so desirable a change in the habits of thenatives as is there contemplated, but success in this undertakinginfers no less than uricontrolledauthority on the part of the Commander-in-chief, sufficient material of war both in men and equipment, and the moral support of the Government and people. In such case the first real step to the improvement of the Maori people will have been taken. Subjugation is the necessary preliminary to any real advance on the part of the natives in civilization. So long as they retain their independence, a conservative principle will influence their policy as a people, and while anxious to borrow some of our institutions, and adopt many of our habits, they show themselves equally solicitous of retaining their own laws and customs, which are utterly opposed to progress and utility. Until we possess the power of making roads, planting villages, and establishing courts and schools throughout the native territory, the task of civilizing the population; can hardly be said to have commenced.. Force in this, and in all parallel cases,, must go before the application of persuasion and argument, and when we contemplate all that may be gained by establishing a permanent and effective authority in New Zealand, no real wellwisher to either race but must desire to see such logic employed as is intelligible to all, the ‘ argumentum ad hominem,’ applied through the agency of the British bavonet.

It is true that the material advancement of the country, after being settled by the means now intended to be adopted, would disentitle New Zealand to her distinction as a great missionary preserve ; other blessings of an equally questionable nature with clerical influence, might also pass away in the then state of.tliings, exceptional laws, specific departments, and native civil lists might possibly be numbered with the things that have been, while rational and welltested means of government would take the place of fanciful experiments. Then, too, might we hope to see the native people bona fide subjects of Queen Victoria, taking part in the development of their country, and returning to the Imperial Exchequer the money of which Exeter Hall has occasioned the present expenditure. / ♦ Thq acceptance by Dr. Monro of the Speakership in the House of Representatives curtailsthe Province of Marlborough by one moiety of that support in the General Legislature to which she is entitled, and imposes upon the electors of the district which returned him to the house the immediate duty of repudiating their choice, and of finding a member less ambitious, it may be, but a trifle more honest, if possible. Dr. Monro was elected member for the district of Picton upon the strength of his declaration to the electors that he would not accept the office of Speaker, which it was then believed would probably be offered to him, and which thus gave occasioo for the pledge so unceremoni-. ously broken. By this manoeuvre the province 'is

deprived of any advocate in the Assembly of the measures recommended •by the' Provincial. Government and among which, by far the most important to the interests of the community, is the Railway Bill, the loss of which would inflict the severest blow to. the interests of Marlborough which could be dealt by popular J e o islation. Unfortunately no steps can be taken in time to hasten the result, which Dr. Monro’s address to his constituents contemplates, but in anticipation of that event no time ought to be lost in making the public aware of the intention of the electors in this matter, and also,'if possible, of intimating their choice of a successor to the honours of their false friend. " In this case it seems to us that the electors of Picton have not very far to look for the right man. If it should be consistent with the views of the Superintendent to permit himself to be put in nomination for the expected vacancy, the present loss might become a gain. It is quite obvious that no man in the province is more interested in her advancement than Mr. Adams, while his knowledge of official business, and his acquaintance with official persons, give him advantages which could not be found combined in any other individual. We therefore trust that no obstacle will interpose to prevent the province at large receiving the advantages which would 'result from her interests being entrusted to the care of a man so competent to guard them as His Honour the Superintendent.

The following letters have been sent to us for publication : Superintendent’s Office, Pictou, June 18, 1861. Sir, —The Provincial Eugineer having attended and examined the Wairau and Opawa rivers, for the purpose of ascertaining the best means to be adopted to prerent damage from the floods, in accordance with the arrangement made when I had the honour of seeing you and the other members of the deputation here, I have now the honour to enclose you Mr. Dobson’s report, and to assure you that the subject shall have the immediate attention of myself #ud Executive Council. I have, &c., ♦ William Adams, Superintendent. W. Budge, Esq., Blenheim. Picton, 17th June, 1861. Sir —Having examined the Wairau from Waikakaho Bush to the head of the Opawa Jliver, in order to see how far the contracted channel at the bush tends to cause the overflow above, I have to report — Ist, that the contraction referred to produces no direct action on the head of the Opawa, the bed of the river at the latter *place beiug more than sixty feet above flood level at the mouth of the Waikakaho stream. 2nd, that in a flood the Wairau overflows almost continuously on the south bank, for a distance of about two miles above the bush; owing partly to the contraction of the bush, and partly to the fact that the channels set against the bank at every bend. I am of opinion that this action might be very much diminished by a grip opposite the Waikakaho valley, which would tend to set the channel altogether clear of the bush in the middle of the shingle bed, and by a few grips above the different bends cut obliquely so as to open channels towards the middle of the shingle bed. These grips would require to bo about three or four chains in length, commencing at nothing and increasing in depth to to three or four feet where they enter the present channels. 3rd, at the end of the Opawa the overflow is more serious on account of the rapid fall of the ground, which gives the Opawa waters such destructive velocity. Since I last visited this breach the shape of the shingle bed has somewhat altered, the current not setting now so directly in the line of the Opawa, but more across the head of it. The breach in the bank is not quite four chains in width, and it is probable that a bank of shingle might be formed across it, in a short time, by placing across it three or four rows of small trees and shrubs from the opposite islands, keeping the tops up stream, and pegging them down with stakes. In addition to this, I would suggest cutting a ditch below the head of the Opawa, so a 3 to draw the current past it, and also grips above, so as to try and set the current of the Wairau from the south bank. These measures, although they would not prevent the Wairau from overflowing in high floods, would tend to prevent the Opawa from being flooded at every slight fresh in the Wairau.

efficacious than any regular system of piling. I have, &c., Alfred Dobson. II is Honour the Superintendent.

Meeting at Picton.—A very numerously attended meeting of the electors, with T. W. Downes, Esq., J.P., in the chair, was held on the evening of Wednesday, 18th instant, in the Mechanics’ Institute, Picton, to consider the course to be adopted consequent upon Dr Monro’s acceptance of the Speakership of the House of Representatives. After very little speaking, the following resolutions were adopted with perfect unanimity : That Dr. Monro, by violating the pledge which he gave to the electors of this district, that lie would not accept the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives has thereby forfeited their confidence, and, therefore that lie be requested to resign his seat forthwith. That a requisition be addressed to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to permit himself to he put in nomination for the expected vacancy in the representation of the district.