MOUNTED POLICE.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 59, 18 July 1846, Page 2

MOUNTED POLICE.

Various remarks have, from time to time, apj peared in our columns respecting the establish* | ment of this force, and some of the prominent i features of the measure have beea the subject | of animadversion, both in the communication* | of our correspondents, nnd in our editorial articles j' nevertheless, some of its objectjouable tendenciesstill remained untouched. We therefore, propose to institute a brief enquiry, into the truth of the opinion held by some, who imagine the organization of this force to be intimately connected with the future interests of the Colony. It will be recollected that the Select Committee of the House of Commons, in 1844, recommended the enrolment of a mixed militia of Europeans and Natives, and the creation of a permanent Native force; and the present mixed corps of Policemen, who are to be mounted, is doubtless the result of these recommendations. It is, therefore, pretty evident, that the scheme was intended lo promote the civilization and improvement of the Native race, rather than to confer any special benefit upon the European community; and it must, therefore, be approved or condemned, according as its tendencies are calculated to further, or defeat, the end for which it was designed. Now, if this is the true light in which this subject should be viewed, we may with pro* piiety pas's over the arguments which .have been advocated* and the lears which have been expressed, by the correspondents who favored us with their opinions respecting the policy of this measure, and rest the conclusion upon the solution of a single query. Will this measure lend to the moral improvement of the Natives ? Whatever has a ten-, dency to raise their character, and improve their habits, will necessarily promote their civilization, and at (he same time further the real interests of the Colony ; but that which is likely to exert a demoralizing influence over them, will, "by a parity of reasoning/? produce just the opposite effects. This corps has now been established long enough.,ta jena,ble^Jjojre.js,htt^hajM,Atteatiy.ely!< . considered its influence upon the coridact of H the Natives enrolled in it, to form a correct opinion of the tendency of the scheme; and we feel assured that the majority of those who have thus exercised their thoughts upoa the subject, will join with us in condemning the measure, as ill adapted to improve the moral character of the Natives. Idleness is the nurse of dissipation ; and although-tke'l^olrce-men, when mounted and fully equipped, may probably be more constantly employed thau ! military men usually are, yet there will necessarily be a large portion of their time unoccupied ; and it is not difficult to imagine I how the Natives, — having more money tuan they have been reguluriy accustomed lo pos- ! &ess, — will spend these leisure hours. We cannot, even now, shut ooru r eyes to the fact, that many of the Native Policeman are becoming familiar visitants of the publichouses and other more disreputable places of resort in the purlieus of the Town ; and are beginning to display in taeir bearing and deportment, the swaggering accomplishments of Jirst-ratc bloodsEvery one who is acquainted with the Native character, knows full* well that restless* ness, and love of novelty and change, is one of, their predominant traits. The present recruits will remain in the sei vice, just as long as the profession of Policemen coincides with their inclinations and caprices ; but quite long enough for them to finish their education, and' render themselves perfect "men about Town." They will then retire or desert, wending their way home to instiuct their uninitiated brethren in the interior — others will appear to supply their vacant places, and thus'the'demoraliztng effects of the system will circulate through every district, and gradually vitiate the character of the Natives throughout the country. In some remarks which appeared in tt e New Zealandcr, of the l6ih May, it was said* that provided the colonists were not saddled with the expense, the Authorities' at Home were at liberty lo set on foot as many expe^ rimenls of the kind as they pleased \ but we beg to qualify and correct that hasty admissiou. The Home Authoiities are not at liberty to make experiments which have a tendency to injure the moral 'caste' of our community, even though they relieve us from the pecuniary liabilities which such experiments may involve. The motives which actuated the members of the Select Committee, and induced them to recommend the organization of a mixed force, were doubtless good ; bu f . they certainly were egregiously mistaken in believing such a measure to be the best and surest means of promoling the civilization of the Natives, and th* prosperity of the Colony.

Had the funds which the maintenance of this corps will require, been devoted to the establishment of a general system of education for the Natives, the outlay would have beeu productive of the most beneficial results ; and the men who originated and recommended such a wise proceeding would have been remembered by posterity, as the benefactors of New Zealand and the New Zealanders.

Prospectus op a New Company. — We were prevented by unavoidable circumstances, from attending the large and imposing meeting lately held in Fuliginous Hall, Conflagration Street ; to take into consideration the alarming prospect of the 1 Town of Auckland being some day destroyed by Fire, and the propriety of adopting some precautionary measures for averting so distressing a calamity. We understand that the speeches delivered on the occasion were characterized by a fiery eloquence that nothing could withstand. The thoughts that burned in the imaginations of the orators, were communicated to the combustible feelings ; of the audience 'in sparkling jets 'of flaming 1 declamation. The warmth of the speakers, and the intense heat of the place, produced a suffocating sensation : to escape from which, they hastened to resolve that the meeting should there and then form itself into an association, to be denominated the "Anti-negligent-sooty-chimney-sweeping - and-careful - fire-preventing - Company." The rules of this Company are yet in embryo ; however, we are to have a copy as soon as they are specifically adopted. Amongst others, we understand that there will be a regulation for the special purpose of compelling every one to join the association, who is in the habit of lighting a fire in any dwelling-house, or other tenement within the precincts of the Town : and every negligent member will be liable to the punishment of sweeping all the foul flues in the neighbourhood to which he belongs, for a period corresponding in duration to the nature, and degree of aggravation, of his offence. — Communicated.

It it our painful duty this week, to record the death of our much lamented and respected fel-low-colonist, Henry William Apple) ard, Esq., Associate of the Institute of British Architects, who expired at his residence in this town, on Sunday evening last, after a lingering illness. We could ill affoi dto spare such a man— one possessing a most amiable disposition, combined whh the strictest integrity df principle, — who was devoted to the interests' of the colony and his fellow men. He was induced to emigrate to this colony entirely b_y a high opinion of the climate, and the liope of establishing his health ; no mercenary or speculating motives actuated him mJeaving his native land, for, besides such motives being quite foreign to his feelings and nature, he was, we believe, a man of independent, fortune. The inhabitants of Auckland will long have reason to remember this excellent character, who, in addition to his liberal gift of all his books to the * l Auckland Library," has left the noble bequest of Five Hundred Pounds to the College of St. John, BUhops* Auckland, for the foundation of a Scholarship. Surveyor-General.— This officer has returned from Waikato, having arrived in town on Tuesday evening last. We understand that his mission has proved wholly unsuccessful : he has not been able to reconcile the contending Tribes, by effecting a purchase of the disputed land. When he arrived, in company with a party of Ngatitipa, Ngatiteata bid them defiance, and hois>led the red tiag as a challenge to the combat. Such being the animus of the disputants, of course, Mr. Ligau had no opportunity of trying his peace-persuading powers. We confess that we were apprehensive this eifort would foil, as we could discover no indication of a yielding spirit on the part of Ngatiteata and Ngatipou; and when we were told that Mr. Ligar had gone in company with some of the disputants, we felt certain that he would compromise hinself with the other party, — appear to them like a partisan, and render his failure inevitable. Mr. Johnson has also safely returned from his long tour in the interior. He was at Taupo when Heuheu, and a number of his people were destroyed. As we imagined, this catastrophe was not occasioned exactly by a volcanic eruption, but by the explosive power of steam. The hot springs on the hill above the pah were choked as it were by the heavy rains, and the unusual quantity of steam thus generated, caused an eruption •which overwhelmed these people. Mr. J. reports the dispositions of the Natives in the districts circumjacent to Auckland, to be pacific and friendly ; but that in the Tavipo and Rotorua country the spirit of disaffection is very apparent. When we remember that the Rotoi ua tribes are celebrated for their emigrating propensities, and that Heke obtained many of his adherents from that distiict, we are not at a loss to account for the disloyalty noticed by Mr. Johnson. Those who think that the New Zealand rebellion has been entirely suppressed by late measures in the North, will, we fear, find themselves sadly mistaken.