THE NELSON EXAMINER. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1860.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 28, 7 April 1860, Page 3

THE NELSON EXAMINER. SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 1860.

Journal become more neeenarj v men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to tuppoie that they terre only to secure llbertyt they maintain nviliiation. D« ToCdUBVILLI. Of Democracy in America, vol. v.,230.

We should not have thought it necessary to take any special notice of the proposal to assemble the native population of this province in the town of Nelson, for the purpose of publicly professing their loyalty, and signing a corresponding declaration, especially since the intention to do bo has been abandoned in deference to the general opinion of the public ; but our attention bast been again called to the

subject by a letter from the Native Interpreter, Mr. Jenkins. It appears from this, and indeed, was previously acknowledged in the discussion which took place, that it was chiefly in consequence of his opinion, and by his advice, that the permission to hold such a meeting was given by our Executive ; we may therefore fairly look upon his letter as containing the reasons for taking such a step, and as a sort of official protest against the general disposition to condemn it as a very unnecessary and inexpedient proceeding, Now at the outset we must demur to the propriety of our local authorities interfering at all in a matter which, to us, appears clearly beyond their competence, and out of their jurisdiction ; it is taking upon themselves political functions which exclusively belong to the General Government, and with which they have no right to intermeddle ; and is as much beyond their province as it is for their Interpreter to assume the tone or bearing of a Minister for Native affairs, an office which the style of his manifesto would induce us to think he aspires to fill, if he does not already believe himself to be exercising some of its fuuetions. He begins by stating that much "needless excitement" was manifested ; on which we would remark, that this is the very question at issue ; aud that until the public is disposed to place implicit confidence in the ability of Mr. Jenkins and the Executive to provide under all possible circumstances for their comfort and security better than they can do for themselves, n6 agitation is needless which leads them thoroughly to investigate the reports in circulation, and decide how far there is or is not reason for taking any further steps in the matter. Now we maintain, that the very want of the information which Mr. Jenkins supplies so abundantly, formed a sufficient reason for hesitating, before we consented by our silent acquiescence to sanction such as assemblage as that proposed and decided upon; and that it was not the part of prudent men, entrusted to a certain extent with the duty of preserving the public peace, to do anything calculated to disturb the tranquillity of even timid women and children — no inconsiderable part of the population, by the bye — without some manifest and urgent necessity. Now the circumstances of our situation were such as to create and justify considerable uneasiness ; and no sufficient cause existed, and no great advantage was to be gained by acting in such a manner as to increase it. It was known that a Native war had broken out ; it was known that it was upon a subject concerning which their race is more easily excited, and has a greater community of feeling than any other; it was unknown what its first results had been, whether favourable or adverse ; how widely it had extended, or what tribes had beeu induced to take part in it. But it was known that the particular tribe which led the hostile party at Taranaki had friends and relatives down here ; for Mr. Jenkins himself mentions them as living both at Queen Charlotte Sound and Motueka.

To assert then that all these natives were " most anxious to support the Governor in the prompt steps he has taken against Wiremu Kingi and his adherents," is in our minds proving a great deal too much ; and as the Governor at that time was known to be engaged in such "prompt measures" as firing upon them with shell and rifle balls, we should have set down their protestations as naught, or their natural affections, little better, if they really meant what they said. Their report would be of very doubtful value in either case. It is impossible to believe that they do not at heart sympathize with men of their own race, language, and modes of thought, in preference to the strangers who are visibly fast replacing them in their own country. The utmost we can expect is that the love of peace, the knowledge of their numerical inferiority here, and an enlightened regard to their own interests, may keep them from taking any active part against us ; but to talk of them as all " most anxious to support the Governor," is a tale which we recommend Mr. Jenkins to reserve for the marines when the Niger next visits Nelson ; when, we shall be most happy to publish his experiences of the manner in which they receive his assurances. No! Giving the natives around us credit for being men of like passions with ourselves, they must be sorry to hear of the defeat of their countrymen; they must feel proud of them whenever they resist us with success ; and all the eloquence of the Interpreter will fail in persuading us to think so badly of them as he would have us. As to their characters, there are good men among them doubtless ; but there are some bad ones too ; and not a few, neither one nor the other, who occupy a middle ground, and are either or both by turns, as circumstances or occasion may decide, just as there are among ourselves ; and we see no more occasion for taking them all " cordially by the hand," than we do for going through such a fatiguing ceremony with the first two or three hundred persons we may indiscriminately chance upon in the street, without distinction of sex, colour or condition. Such an extensive manipulation would, to our mind, furnish a better test of our muscular powers of endurance, than of our real philanthrophy. There are some ?«ry fine fellowf among them,

no doubt, some of nature's own gentlemen ; but there are others very far from agreeable, whose habits of drunkenness alone are a very sufficient bar to any very intimate fraternization. Our true policy is to gradually merge and absorb them into the general mass of the population ; not to promote any separate action or call for any combined manifestation of their sentiments. We are content to take Mr. Jenkins's word for them ; although within the period he mentions we recollect occurrences both at Motueka and Wakapuaka which do not exactly tally with his assurances, and old Paramatta always turns up in troublous times, like a Mother Gary's chicken before storms ; and we find reason in what is taking place at Taranaki to decline, placing implicit faith in them, even if the Interpreter pledged his head instead of his credit for their trustworthiness. Some there have already paid with their lives for their over-confidence ; their written protestations have not prevented others from taking up arms against us ; and some are said to have been killed fighting in the late engagement, with the very V.R. upon their breasts which had been placed there by the Jenkins of Taranaki. "We must, for want of space, pass by much in the letter well worthy of notice ; but we canuot omit the version it gives of Hoepa's meeting with our authorities, which is delicious. We read that after a long interview, he was told that " if the natives came peaceably and orderly, he might send hisraessengerforthwith." Thus, according to this very luminous arrangement, the natives were to come in peaceably and orderly, and then they were to be invited to assemble. Jesting apart, we fear that our officials have beeu seized with a sudden freak of activity, and a desire to distinguish themselves; and finding no outlet for their superabundant energies in the usual routine of their duties, have volunteered to perform the functions of the General Government ; not perhaps without an eye to showing how well they could replace them in case of need at the coming Assembly. We must however be permitted slightly to demur to this course. Let our Executive keep to their own business, whatever that may be ; let our Resident Magistrate decide all cases under 3620 ; and manage the Bank, and receive the public money, and register deeds, and join couples in holy matrimony, and advise with his colleagues in the intervals of private business ; let our Solicitor draw bills for the protection of bridle roads and the licensing of cabdrivers, at the rate of each; let our Superintendent bid for popularity by finding fault with all the departments of Government which are hot under his own control, and let our Secretary exercise his talents and ingenuity in finding reasons for all their actions, and " boshing " all those of their objectors ; but when it comes to inviting and feasting two or three hundred natives in Nelson, in order to enlist their sympathies in our favour against their own acquaintances, we must be permitted to siguify cur dissent ; even at the risk of sneers for our cowardice, or reproaches for our violent partizanship and spirit of factious opposition.

A short conversation took place the other night in the Council with reference to the polling place at the Moutere, on which we lately made a few remarks. The Provincial Secretary stated, that he distinctly informed the applicant, when spoken to on the subject, that since the Act of the General Assembly in 1858, the power of appointing polling places rested with the General Government, and that the proper person to apply to was the Returning Officer of the district, who would make the necessary representations. He further stated that the Provincial authorites had not interfered in any way, and knew no reason why the polling place, once given to the district, should have been taken away again. Oddly enough, the lately elected member for Motueka supplied the missing reason ; and maintained that if his constituents at Riwaka could walk three or four miles to the poll, his Moutere constituents could not complain of coming twelve or fourteen miles for a similar purpose. Having given the report iv question precisely as we received it, and having found that it was generally believed iv the district, we give equal publicity to the contradiction.

Want of space compels us to postpone a report of the proceedings in the Provincial Council during the past week, the matter is in type and shall appear in our next. On Tuesday evening a lengthy discussion took place upon the reply to the Superintendent's address, in which Dr. Monro passed in review the proceedings of the Executive, criticized that portion of the address which complains of the separation of the Wairau, and says, that it will not be conducive to local selfgovernment ; and expressed his opinion that the New Provinces Act had not given to th|p people a sufficient control over their affairs. To this the Provincial Secretary replied, defending the Government from the attack of the honourable member, though at the same time admitting that with his remarks respecting the separation of the Wairau, he mainly coincided.

On Wednesday evening, a select committee was appointed to consider the local postal arrangements ; a Bill was introduced for the

licensing of hackney carriages ; some discussion arose as to the internal arrangements of the Nelson gaol ; the Bridle Road Protection Bill passed through committee ; a select committee was appointed to draw up a memorial respecting the Compensation claims ; and the Provincial Secretary proposed the following resolution, which was received with the most hearty hear, hear that we have yet heard in the Council : —

That his Honour the Superintendent be requested to convey to the Superintendent and settlers of Taranaki, the expression of the admiration felt by this Council and the community of Nelson, at the very gallant conduct of the Volunteers and Militia of Taranaki, and of Captain Cracroft and the officers and men of H.M.S.S. Niger, at the recent battle of the Waireka — conduct which this Council feels not only has reflected the highest credit upon them, but has conferred upon all the colonists of New Zealand a lasting benefit. The Council then adjourned until Tuesday week.

We have received a letter from a lady condemning the Fancy Fair, or Bazaar, proposed to be got up for the relief of such of our Taranaki friends as stand in need of assistance, but as we believe the idea of the Bazaar has been abandoned ; it is unnecssary to print the letter in question, but we will quote from it some suggestions of a very practical character which are well worthy the consideration of our townswomen. The writer says : —

I would suggest, whether instead of a Fancy Fair, we might not do better by forming Committees for neudle-work, to be "given at fixed prices to the sufferers, who, whilst they have availed themselves of our invitation, yet seem all to wish with one heart to do something to prevent the burden becoming painfully felt by those whose hearts prompted them to act, without one selfish consideration of subsequent consequences to themselves. I think money so gained would be sweeter to their feelings ; I may err, I only suggest what m)' own heart dictates.

We have, most of us, large families, we must have always on hand plenty of needle-work, which, as good wives from motives of economy, we generally try, where our husbands are not rich, to accomplish ourselves. Could not tee all agree to put out some of this ? A committee might be appointed to receive, price, and distribute it, and those we wish to help would not so painfully feel, that they were living solely on the heart's generosity of their sister settlement.