The New Zealand Herald

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 140, 25 April 1864, Page 4

The New Zealand Herald

SI'ECTEMUU AGENDO. " Glto overy niau ttilue car, but few thy voice: Tako each inun's cunsure, but reserve thy judgment, Tliis Kbovo all, —To tliiuu oiviisclf lie true; Mid it must follow, us the night tho any, Thou canst nut thuu be take to any man." AUCKLAND, MOM DAY, APRIL 2.3, ISGI. l.\ Europe all is still iuu«cision iiud. susnonsc. One day hopes are entertained of tliw jiacitic .settlement ot'tlio great Ilolsteiu (jueslion, and almost tlie next witnesses the irruption of the Au.stro-Pi-usaian ti'oops in'o Uolstein, tlie opciipation of Sji.'lili'swit^ —the jiaHsage of the Kiel, tlie retreat of the Danes, watli considcirablu loss, into Jutland, and the eapture of Kolding by tlie Prussian!!, which is now with the two Duchies, held as a hostage by the invading powers. Before the Daunewerke, however, the Prussians met with a severe loss, once taking the enemy's position, but being eventually driven from it with great slaughter. King Christian's evacuation of Sehleswiig, beforo even the G-ermau troops had crossed tlie Schle, lifts caused almost a revolution iuCojJL'ulutgen —the people accuse him of German sympathies, and even threatening his life. By tho very latest intelligence we learn that the proposal of England that an armistice should be entered upon between Denmark and Germany, for the purpose of holilj ing a conference of the Great Powers, having been refused by Prussia and Austria, England had proposed a conference without an armistice. A uslriaand Prussia had expressed their willingness to lake part in the conference, as also had l-Yam-e, and Russia it was believed would also be willing. Deiiinark had consented to accede to the conference, which, we niav remark, is to be held in London, provided that the Austro-Prussian troops .shall at once evacuate Sehleswig. Thus matters rest, but whether these mediations shall tend to peace, ur whether the liiune which lui.s been lighted in Denmark will spread throughout Europe, we must await patiently the arrival of the March mail. In Germany the lesser powers are violently opposed to the course taken by Austria, and Prussia, and civil war is imminent. Prussia herself is said to be divided on this question, and Austria to lie bur lukewarm in tins cause.

Our homo news is painfully distressing. Her recent unh;v])py bereavement in the death of tin; Prince Consort, has unsettled the reason of our beloved Queen, and at late cabinet council it is said that Her Majesty retired saying that " she would not give her opinion uutil she had consulted tlio Prince Consort." Tins Queen i.s living in strict privacy at Windsor. It is generally believed that: tier Majesty will shortly abdicate in favour of the Prince of "Wales. Parliament was opened on the 4-th hist. Little of interest to the colonies had been | discussed up to the 20th February. In the j Queen's speech it mere allusion is made to the insurrection in New Zealand coupled with a belief that it will be speedily suppressed. Lieut.-(ienerul Cameron has, we j perceive been made a Knight Commander ! of the Bath, in acknowledgment of his serI vices in this colony. Parliament lias protested againsl liie right of.American cruisers to seize British ships in neutral waters, and lias decided that: the seizure of the Confederate steamer " Tusealosa' at the Cape was illegal, and orders have been issued lor the release of that vessel. The scandal raised against Lord Palmerston turns out. as most people expected, a i disreputable conspiracy. The noble Lord i after the dismissal of the hearing of the case i and the remarks of the .lodge, that no stain 1 whatever rested on the defendant's reputa- : tion, was loudly cheered on his entrance by I members of all parties of both Houses. j Parliament has allirmed Ihe right of Her Majesty to transport criminals into any part of her dominions she may please, and transportation to Western Australia will be continued. Unlike the execution of a few days since, the hanging of the five mutineers of ! the ship ' Flowery Lund' took place in front of Newgate, and in the presence of forty thousand spectators. The scene is described as having been a most solemn and imposing one. "Wo are glad to note that, the distress in the cotton district is considerably ameliorated, aud that trade throughout England is brisk and satisfactory. In America- the two bclligents appear to have awakened up from their winter's trance, and the results are somewhat different to those which we receive by way of California. The Confederates everywhere, it seems, have been successful. Longstreet has driven the Federals out of Broad Jliver Valley, again attacked them in Knoxville. and thoroughly routed their forces. Another army of the ■South had driven the Federals from Tazewe»l and Cumberland (xap, and invariably it is said their arms have been crowned with success. They have also captured Corinth and Fort Pillow, and the Federals are said to bo in greater need of men than are their antagonists. President Lincoln, at: any rate, has called for another conscription ot 300.000 men to serve for the period of three years, or until the war is over. This looks as though the tone of braggadocio assumed till lately by the North, is somewhat humbled — as a few months since the rebellion was to have been put down in three months. The siege of Charleston has been suspended, and Northern ferocity baulked of its prey. In Greece the people seem to but little appreciate the efforts made for their better government, and the residents of Corfu earnestly desire the re-annexation to England. The insurrection in Poland is a struggle of despair which must end in the destruction of a noble race. It is the steady continuous dodged loss of man for man, in which the superior numbers and ■wealth of Russia must prevail. The British forces have taken a satisfactory revenge for the murder of our countrymen by the Japanese. The city of Kagosiinahas been bombarded, fifteen hundred japauese killed, and property to the value of a million and a half dollars destroyed. Decisive measures are the only ones' effectual with Asiatics, whether in a British colony or in Japan. Upon American affairs there is nothing important to notice, and there is no other European matter deserving reference. Monetary affairs are much better. The Bank directors have lowered the rate to 6 per cent., and are likely to reduce it to 5 per cent, in a few weeks. The Secretary of Ntate for the Colonies has not yet resigned, but his health is far from being good; and at the first convenient moment be will resign, there caii be no doubt.

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY, The following despatch from the Duke of Newcastle to His Excellency Sir George Grey, was published in the New Zealand Gazette, issued ou Saturday last: — Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 21st April, IS(J4. His Excellency the Governor directs the publication of the following Despatch, from Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for tho Colonies. "NYsi. Fox.

Downing-strect. I 26th November, 1803. Sik, —I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch (No. 109) of the 29th August, transmitting a from your .Responsible Advisers, containing the details of a plan which they have formed for the introduction into the Northern Island of a large body of settlers, to whom it is proposed to assign land on a species of military tenure iu the Waikato, and hereafter probably in the Taranaki districts. You also enclose a copy of your reply, authorizing the immediate raising of 2,000 men for active service, ponding the meeting of the General Assembly, together with copies of the conditions under which they ore to bo enrolled.

I do not disapprove of the principle of this measure. I think that any body of Natives which takes up amis against Her Majesty on such grounds as these which are- alleged by tlie "Waikatos, may properly bo punished by a confiscation of a large part of their common property. I think that the land thus acquired may properly be employed in meeting the expenses of carrying on the war, nor do I see any objection to using them as the sites for military settlements, whidi, moreover, must soon lose their distinctive character, since it is probable that the districts, unlike those iu the Capo Colony and Kaflraria. will soon become an unimportant minority of the inhabitants. But while. I acquiesce generally in the principles which you have adopted, I must add that the application oi' tLese principles is a matter of great danger and delicacy, for which the Colonial Government must remain responsible. It will be evidently very ditlicult to control within wise and just limits that eagerness for the acquisition of land which the announcement of an extended confiscation is likely to stimulate among old and new settlers, and which, if uncontrolled, may lead to great injustice and oppression. Still mure evidently is it possible that the Natives who still remain friendly to the Government may view this measure, not as a punishment for rebellion and murder, but as a new and flagrant proof of the determination of the colonists to possess themselves of land at all risks to themselves, and at any cost, and as thus furnishing the true explanation of the past anil present policy of the Government. Such belief would obviously tend to make this Maoris desperate and aid the efforts of the King party to effect a general rising throughout the Northern Island.

Your .Ministry do not notice tiiis danger in their memorandum, but they cannot have beeii blind to it, and 1 do not doubt (though you do not so inform me) that they feel their power to control the application of the principle which they have introduced, and have taken sufficient means to persuade the Maoris in general that the property of innocent persons and tribes will be strictly respected, unci that a different measure of severity* will be administered to those who have taken a lead iu the war ; aud those who, though in some degree accessories to what has passed, have, as far as circumstances would allow, favored the cause of order. "Whether due caution has been used in these respects is a question which the Home Government can only judge by the result. And I must not disguise from you that if this important determination of your Government should have the effect of extending, and intensifying the spirit of disaffection, and thus enlarging the sphere or prolonging the period of military operations, these consequences will be viewed by Her Majesty's Government with the gravest concern and reprehension. I have, Ac.. &e. JN EWCASTLE. Governor Sir George Grey, IC. C. 13., cVc, ..Vic. &e.