THE LAWLESS STATE OF THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 991, 13 October 1855, Page 2

THE LAWLESS STATE OF THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

(From the Wellington Independent, Sept. 5.) The brig Gazelle, Captain Downie, from Otago, pul into this harbour yesterday morning. She is bound to Sydney with a full cargo of colonial produce, con-ist-ing of 3,080 bushels of wheat, 105 clit'o bran, 1128 ditto oats, and 60 tons potatoes, estimated at 351'2f. G. McClyinont, Esq., has favoured us with a copy of the Otago Witness of the 25th ul f., from which wo extract the following paragraph : By the Workington, which lias lately returned from the Chatham Islands, we learn that the establishment of a custom house and ihe cnforcenmit of a regular system of law and government in those islands is likely to be a nutter of greater difficulty than was anticipated when the appointment of Mr. Shand was made. At t >at time it was represented to the General Assembly that the European population of tho Chathams were anxious for a better system of law than that they were living under, which, in fact, amounted to no law a; all. But it would appear from statement* made to u», that so far from the representations of the views of the peo| l.j of the Chathams made at Auckland being correct, they were positively the reverse of the real <me, and that instead of welcoming Mr. Shand’s arrival as a boon, the natives, no doubt instigated thereto by tho European population, actually with arms in their hands, rfi.isled Lis landing, so that it was found necessary 11 land him in a comparatively unfrequented part of the island; and that in consequence of the Workington being engaged in this, to the natives, unpalatable duty, tbo cargo taken by the vessel found no market, und has been brought buck to Otago, We trust that the accounts which first reached us of this this affair were exaggerated, and that the personal danger in which Mr. Shand was left is not so great us was represented, but his position is certainly an unenviable one, accompanied as he was by a vri e and large family, and being apparently without the means of enforcing his authoiity ns a magistrate. Indeed ilia whole management of the business appears to be of a piece with the doings of the General Government, which wo presume must have been in total ignorance of the task in which it was engaged. We shall look with some interest to gee what course it will pursue in the matte r . it can scarcely be expected that the Gorin mnent will allow its authority to be set at defiance without taking notice of the fact, especially if the representations made in the General Assembly cf the extent to which smuggling was carried on in many of the purls of New Zealand, in consequence of there being no customs duty in the Chathams bo correct, and then arise the questions, what means have the Government of enforcing its authoiity in the Chathums ? and will it be worth while to incur this expense, if the natives be as turbulent as they.are represented to he? For our own part, v.e believe the easiest Bolu’ion of tbe difficulty, if the prevention of smuggling in New Zeulind be the object aimed at, will be a revision of the u reduction ol the custom duties, smuggling less profitable, will to at extent put au end to It.