THE SOUTHERN MONTHLY MAGAZINE

New Zealand Herald, Issue 15, 17 December 1863, Page 4

THE SOUTHERN MONTHLY MAGAZINE

HKCKMIfEK. This serial, which lias now been for more than a twelvemonth before the Xew Zealand public, may be said to have attained tlio position which its projectors originally designed for it. As a colonial literary work, it reflects considerable credit on its editor and compiler, and tho present number before us—and it may be taken ns a fair specimen—is one on which, wo should be scarcely willing to cast a mere cursory

glance. Passing the first few pages, a portion of the tale of "j-Egle," we come to an interesting episode in Huguenot history, or rather in the history of one of those early colonizing bands which, in the days of the Kith ccutury, under the effect of political or religious pressure, or wearied with and wearying the old world of Europe, sought in the far oil' land of America the fabled wealth of the Ifesperides, and a dream-land of luxury and indolence which few of them, if any, were ever fated to realise. The story is pleasantly told. The most interesting paper of the present number is " Our Colonization and its Ethics," in which llie relative position of the two races to each other is temperately and ably discussed, from an impartial and — what is an entirely new phase in such discussion —a really practical point of view. The right of the Mauri to claim and hold laud which he cannot cultivate, and the supposed obligation under which we lie to save and elevate the Maori race, as though the country had been colonized for the express purpose of Parrying out such Utopian ideas, are, we think, fairly disproved. AVe rather incline to the belief of our reviewer, when he asks,

" Whether it is on the whole best that a country should be peopled and occupied l>y men of English race, or by ail equal number of men of whom a portion should be llaori. The answer to this question depends entirely on the consideration, —which is the superior rare --which presents the highest perfection of human organization ? If the answer is iu favour of the .Knglish race, then it is better they should inhabit the land, and if wo find that by the operation of natural laws the decline and extinction of the inferior rar-e h being L-2eci_d, wo sro net tc the process but admire the result. This may be looked upon as the frigid conclusion of men who look upon the problems of human society, with the scientific curiosity of zoologists or political economists, yet it seems to us a conclusion as consistent with an enligli'icned benevolence as it is with sound reason. We are not called upon to prop by artificial means a declining race ; all that we are bound to do is to give it fair play, and the question of preponderance for one, or extinction for either rice, will be settled by laws which v.-ill be wiser than wu or our pliilanthrophv. If the Maori will not avail himself of the means which are placed at his disposal by contact with a superior race, ho must take the conEcquenccs ; and there is no fear but that his place will be properly supplied." Mr. David Hay has an excellent little article oil " grafting," full of practical usefulness to the settler. An article on " Modern Poets" will repay perusal, and the number contains several pages of a talc of the devolution of 1848, " The Lesson of the Barricades." The New Zealand " Army List," which has been long promised, is appended, and contains a list of the oflicct-s in the various Militia and Volunteer corps throughout the Colons.

Solution of thk Native Difficulty;— The iSydney Morning Herald in treating of the scheme for colonizing the Northern Island of New Zealand with military settlers, alludes to a contingency which is more titan likely to occur as the interior of the country is opened to the Europeans. That- there are extensive and rich gold-fields in the interior of the Northern Island, is believed by all old settlers, and it is absolutely necessary for the public good that means should be taken before settling the country and so alienating newly acquired territory, to ascertain what lands are auriferous and what are not, that the former may be set apart for the public use. Many of the local forces who will follow on the advance of the troops, are practical gold-seekers, and we think that to any such pointing out workable gold-fields, a large reward should he offered. The Sydney Horning ]{'•>■(!ld says ; —" Gold has proved the greatest coloniser of modem times. If the New Zealand Government could only discover a rich gold-field in the heart of the Waikato country, and direct to it sueli a stream of population us lias set in to Otago, it would solve all lliese difficulties at once. A large European population would be immovably established just at- the most convenient place; and as the land is forfeited by the natives, there would be no legal difficulty in the way of selling it. But in the absence of a gold rush to the right spot, the Government must import the necessary population and pay for the proccss by the alienation of the land."

. "lvKt:r to the Right" and '• .Movk ox."—ln all large cities in liurope an ecredent and necessary rule is adhered to whieh saves much time and ineonvenicnee to loot passengers. .It it?, that every person in walking along and in passing those he meets should keep to the right. This, ii' once fairly commenced, would soon become a universal habit; and really now that our streets, during some portion of the day at least, present somewhat the appearance. of a busy old world town, such a rule is becoming absolutely necessary.. "We think the City Board might very properly take the matter in hand and do us similarly acting corporate bodies sometimes do in cities at home, cause boards to be placarded extensively i:i all tile streets with some such notice as "It is particularly requested that all fooL passengers will keep to the right in walking along the pavement." Our next word is to the police.—" Jtove on," if, indeed it be not paradoxical to say so. has become a very household word in the streets of London, and a very necessary one too. Loiterers are not allowed to remain standing upon the pavement in groups, to the inconvenience and annoyance of passengers, but are at once ordered by the police to " move on." ("Now, we do not see why the nuisance which is not permitted to be intlieted upon the inhabitants of large cities at home should be the rule here ; —why groups of idle men, or filthier Maoris, should be allowed to block up our pavements or make club-houses of our street corners, a.s they now do ; —and why on Saturday night the pavement from the corner of High-street in the Crescent to the corner of Durham-street in Queenstreet, should be rendered almost impassible on

account of the groups of young men and boys who con"re"ale there to stand and talk in twos and threes, Miifsometimes eight or ten together, to the inconvenience and annoyance of everybody else. How lung must this nuisance be endured ? Aoteahoa —The large silken Hag taken from the natives near I'aparata by G'apt. Jackson in his late expedition, had embroidered 011 it in large letters the word " Aoteama." Our readers are probably aware that, according to ancient Maori legends, their ancestors arrived in this country in a canoe, which first touched New Zealand at YVangapavoa, a promontory lving about 1-1- miles north of the entrance of the \Yaitemata, and called VVangaparoaby them from the fact of a dead whale lying at the time stranded on the beach. Aotearoa was the name of the canoe in which this party, the supposed founders of the present New Zealanders, arrived.

The Custom Hoise Street Staircase, or ladder, leading by Fort Briiomart to the Queen-street Wharf, is in a condition so precarious as to demand the immediate attention of authorities under whose supervision it is placed—steps have fetched way—others are so loose that passengers run the risk of being thrown 011 their faces or over the cliti'as the case may be. 111 a wuril, the whole fabric is in a perilous condition, and may ere long find work for the Coroner, if not carefully and effectually overhauled.

The St.. James's Church Soiree, Hobsou-street, and the tea meeting at the anniversary of the opening of the Princes-street Independent- Chapel, Onehuuga, both take place this evening. Tiie Captive Rkiielp, who surrendered to General Cameron, at Raugiriri, 011 the 2lst ult., are still in occupation of remarkably pleasant summer quarters 011 the main deck of lI.M. Steam frigate ' Curagoa,' where tliey are infinitely better housed and aired for than many thousands of her Majesty's loving and well-deserving subjects. Yesterday ufternoon, Copt. Lee and Lir'ut.. Preston, with the detachment of fifty non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the' 50th ; under whose guard tliey were brought down from Otnhuhu, on board the steamer ' Corio,' 011 the 26th ultimo, and in whose charge (on board the ' Curaoo,') they have ever since remained, were relieved by a detachment of the 43rd Regiment under Captain Smith. Hut for the bun hommie and unexceptionable hospitality of the Curagoa's, the prolonged duty would have been altogether intolerable. jiut when a transfer shall bo made from the Curagoa' to the ' Marion,' will not the unfortunate. guardsmen be the objects of the most sincere " commiseration ? "

Wool Sale of Messrs. Styak and Hunter. —We would remind our country readers and others that the adjourned wool sale of Messrs. Styak and Hunt er, will lio held at their rooms, Durham Yards, tomorrow.

To Buildeks. —Tenders for the erection of a dwelling-house and shop in Wellesley-street will be received by Messrs. Wood and Baber, Architects, Canada Buildings, until 3 p.m. of Tuesday next the 22nd inst.