AUCKLAND.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 59, 23 July 1859, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

By way of Sydney we have later news from the "seat of Government," in New Zealand. We extract the following from the Sydney Herald of July 4 :—: —

On the evening of 24th June, Dr. Hochstetter, of the Austrian ship Novara, delivered a long-promised lecture to the members of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, on the Geology of the Province. The hall was densely crowded, and large numbers of persons had to go away unable to obtain admittance. The lecture was a very interesting one, and though very-impartial in pointing out existing drawbacks, was throughout most encouraging in the view taken of the value of our coal-fields, limestone-beds, pottery clays, &c. The description of our volcanic system,' including -the hot springs, was very graphic. Mr. Heaphy was in the chair. — New Zealander.

The Auckland Examiner states that the Government of New Zealand is feeling its way towards a new native policy, and adds : — Not only with their sanction, but under theit auspices, has been published a well-timed and useful work, entitled "Observations on the State of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand." Blue books are seldom either enlivening or interesting. Few have leisure, and fewer patience, to wade through them. At home, blue book dulness is a standing joke with politicians generally, who like not the labour that mere reading of such books presupposes. But here is a blue book likely to be well thumbed on several accounts. It deals with questions which Auckland people are at issue about. Native difficulty, whether real or not, cannot much longer be trifled with. If actual ministers do not meet and overcome that difficulty, other ministers will. Crisis has come. Native affairs have long been progressing from bad to worse, and it is now notorious that the Governor, advised by Native Department gentlemen, carries out a Native policy, distasteful to his Responsible Ministry, who do not relish being in any sense responsible for a policy they disown. From their blue book it is plain that they have made up their mind to take from Native Department gentle-

men the management of native affairs, and mend that native system which must mend or end. In a note we are told that they hope by publishing this book "to draw attention to the state of the native population — especially to its decrease in numbers — with a view to invite inquiry as to the cause, and suggestions of a remedy." It may therefore be considered blue book ministerial, and conclusive evidence that Ministers meditate a radical change in native affairs. At present the Native Department has its own way. In so far as native policy is concerned, Governor Browne is alone responsible for native affairs, and will not act against the opinions of those irresponsible advisers who constitute the Native Department unless such action be demanded of him by public opinion endorsed by the General Assembly. If our Parliament pronounce for a new native policy, the Goveruor will inaugurate it — not otherwise on any account. Now, ministers naturally desire all their own way upon all matters, and do not like being dead-locked by those Native Department gentlemen, whose advice the Governor thinks it unsafe to disregard. Moreover, it is plain that permanent settlement of the Native difficulty connot rank with fixed facts, while those who make our lawmakers are either uninformed or misinformed with regard to Native matters. Hence their latest and perhaps most valuable blue book, which deserves attentive consideration.

Authorities differ with regard to actual number of aborigines. Mr. Carleton considers them under 50,000, whereas Mr. Fenton computes them at 56,049. This disparity, however, will not appear astonishing when it is considered that the natives generally object to furnish statistical information with regard to themselves. Their reluctance to enlighten us with regard to their numerical value is characteristic and quite natural. As a race, they are dying out from causes now beyond European reach. Native chiefs know the fact, and of such knowledge would like to have a monopoly. They are suspicious because fearful. They are civilized enough to understand that rapidly diminishing native tribes are a bad sign indeed for native chiefs. Did Europeans diminish as fast as natives, there would be less suspicion and less jealousy on the part of our brown friends, who have so much more excellent land than they will part with, or can use.