The New Zealand Herald. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1864.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 238, 17 August 1864, Page 3

The New Zealand Herald.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1864.

SPECTEMUTI AGENDO. " Givo evory innn thhic car, but few thy voi^e: Tnko oarli insiu's ceuMiro, but reserve thy jmljpueut. This sibovo all. —To thine ownselt' bo true; Anil it must Mlow, as the night tho clav. Thou canst not tht?n bo false to any man."

"\\ no will be tlie cliic(' gainer by iiic iN'cw Zo;i],-Hid war ? Hi'inliuoss 1o impute liocossjiry motives was at ciio time in re.s])eetal>le i-irclcs. ]iar-tic-ularly in the old country, we remember, regarded as a sure marl; of ill-hreedine; on the part of the person addicted to it, and it (lie liabit were persevered in was Jilfely enough to subjeet the individual to the suspicion of being himself probablv hut too familiar with the practice he imputed to others. "\Ve fear this healthvhigh-bred sensitiveness which formerly distinguished the society of men of honour and refinement: at home and elsewhere, in these degenerate days, is but too sensibly loosing its keenness of edge, not only in " Colonialbnt in English circles, and that in its stead there is springing up. insensibly perhaps, but not the less surely, a readiness that did not formerly exist to measure the molives of an opponent not so much by liis actions and speech, fairly interpreted, as by the uncharitable surmisings of our own evil hearts. Uecent" transactions in connection with this country for the last" twelve months appear to have afforded scope for the development of this latter day practice, to an extent truly amazing considering the limited sphere ot the Held of operation. I'runi the meekly spoken, tremulously suspicious utterances of the third-rate dealer in slanderous inuendocs. to the noisy, open, trum-pet-tongued detainer with " lb ill :is Vulcim's stithy," and words more smart than choice —almost every grade of inviduous "conclusion," and nearlv all forms of unscrupulous reviling have been put in requisition to give expression to the virtuous indignation of individuals whose sensibilities have been shocked at the proposals of the Government of this country, to coerce refractory aboriginals and guard itself in future against: lawlessness and crime by the adoption and enforcement of judicious, precautionary, and reformatory measures. The matter generally assumed in these invectives against the colonists usually takes the form of a charge of appropriating the lands of the natives, robbing them in fact of their just inherit ance, to enrich ourselves by the spoil. A most goodly and concise explanation i" faith of the causes of the war. 2sow how 7 stands the case? The question brings us asrain to where we started. "Who will be the chief gainer by the war? .As the colonists popularly are supposed to be the highly favoured parly, we shall begin with them, and lirst enquire how they will stand afiected when they shall have escaped from the troubles of war. Already a debt of three millions may he assumed as saddled on the colony, the repayment of which, both of interest and capital, will be a dired charge on our resources for years to come. This (to us) immense liability has been incurred solely 011 account of the war. A large proportion of this department, probably three-fourths, will have gone in unproductive expenditure, being swallowed up in works of defence, in actual war expenses in the Held, in the colonial contribution in aid of Imperial outlay, in the maintenance for action of a considerable ]oc:il force, and finally, in compensation on a very inadequate scale to persons injured by the war. On all these items the colony is a loser, not simply to the amount expended, and the debt incurred, but much beyond. J'■ needs no argument to prove how heavily loss has fallen upon the colonists ai large in consequence of the inconveniences attendant <>11 a slate of war. Many settlers bave been ruined, three-fourths of the agricultural operations of this provincehave been interfered with or entirely suspended, while all classes of the community have suffered in person, or property, to a greater or lesser degree, and many valuable lives have been sacrificed, and if, 011 the whole, our sull'erings have not; been more intense, our losses more overwhelming, the fact that this is so, under Providence, has been due to a'great extent to the vigorous promptitude of the authorities, both civil and military in the colony. "With these facts before us, then, we repeat the, question in the English point of v j-. ;w ,— What has the colony gained, or what is it likely to gain by the present war ? AVe see it; lias incurred a heavy debt of three millions of money, three-fourths of which is absorbed in an unproductive expenditure, the remainin"- fourth only promising any return beneficial character —namely, that portion devotpd to immigration purposes, but this part of the colonial scheme could have been carried out much more advantageously without war at all. Then so far as we have cone into the case, it' war could have been avoided, the Colony obviously would to-day be a gainer to the extent of three millions of money. But the necessity of the war was denied by 110 one conversant with the facts, except 011 the alternative that the country should be abandoned. The question to be answered was this —How was the war to he conducted ? What was to he its policy ? and Who was to pay the cost ? Great "Britain confessed its inability to deal with the first part of the question ; in short she was conscious that to her own blundering the whole of

otir troubles were chargeable; and with the latter part ol' the question she naturally desiredto have as little to do as possible. On the Colony, therefore, the entire onus of the policy to be pursued was laid, and also to her charge a largo proport ion of the expense was assigned. It; was our misfortune and not our fault: that we were compelled to find a policy that would not only succeed in its object—-the pacification and future prosperity of the country—but also one that would perfectly satisfy a somewhat jealous authority standing by, not over gracious in the manner of its strictures, and a little testy perhaps at times on the remembrance of its own past shorrcomings in the same line.

But the Colony devised tho policy nevertheless, and its success to the present is even beyond our expectations. With equal alacrity we undertook tlie heavy expense to which allusion has been made, but this last demanded consideration. The brains and the energies of the colonists were at the service of the mother country without charge, but the debt to be incurred required more reflection. The colony was not rich. It had no surplus revenue to devote to unproductive expenditure to any large amount, and it would not have been honest to have run into debt without prospect of paying. llow were we to pay? Either we must be put in a position to meet our portion of the expense, or Great Britain herself must have borne the whole weight; of tho war. We do not believe for a moment that even the British taxpayer would have accepted the alternative, and allowed this fine country to fall into other hands. If its intractable aboriginal occupants, whose subjugation must involve this heavy outlay, had the means and to spare wherewith to reimbtuse that outlay would not justice and common sense alike point out that this must heilie source whence our deficiency should be made good? So the colonists believed, and ihe lunne Government coincided with their views. This then is what is called in ordinary political circles confiscation of rebel property, but among aboriginal protection folk in England, and by a few Maori sympathisers in ihe colonv isteimeil " robbery," and "taking other people's lands," »fcc. AVe do not exactly know what these people would call the expenditure of three millions of money by a youngcolony to put down insurrection and lawlessness 011 their borders, but we suppose Ihey would find a name for it equally piquant. That, however, will not divert this country from the equitable adjustment of its relations with the rebel Maoris, whose land, to some extent, must go to recoup the heavy outlay of the war their violence occasioned. It is doubtful, however, whether what wo have taken, or yet may take, will sullico to cover this outlay. Certainly there would be no actual balance in favour of the colony as the case now stands. 'The country it is true, to a much greater extent than heretofore, is opened up to profitable occupation, and future industry and peace together may be expected to bring prosperity along with them. But a heavy liability is incurred to accomplish this much, and the money value of whatever we have gained would be fully accounted for in the cost of its'acquisition.

Once more, then, we ask, who is the chief gainer by the war? We at once answer, the Maori is the principal gainer. As the case at present, stands, the lands still left in his possession (and these are immensely bevond his wants) will be increased ten-fold in \alue by our occupation of the remainder. This fact was foreseen from the first and will be [latent to any one 011 the slightest reflection. Wherever a strong European settlement is formed, there. Maori lands must advance in proportion to its prosperity. Hence we are of opinionthat in thoselocalit ies where " confiscation" has but just nibbled at the rough edge of the native wilderness, as for instance at Tauianga. Ihe native land-owner is impoverished in exact ratio with the disparity between the amount of land occupied bv the European and himself. 11 ail one-half the land been taken at instead of one quarter, as at-present, we have 110 hesitation in saying that the remaining moiely would now be worth three times its present actual val'-e to its native owners. iStn-h is the benefit to the IN'ew Xealanders of the short sighted protection policy of Sir George Grev !

IS'cxt io the natives, however, the home government itself will be largely a gainer by the present war. To none of the three pari ies interested will the comprehensive scheme of the colonial government prove a greater boon than 1o the British tax-paver, if only Ihe jealousy and ignorance which prevail in certain quarters at home are notallowed to interpose to defeat its object. The desire to put an end to incessant; demands for help from Ihe mother country which the endless broils brought about by imperial mismanagement of the natives occasioned, was one: of the strongest motives oil the part of the colony for the adopt ion of (he confiscation policy. Our object was not only to lighten the burden upon Great IJriiain, but if possible altera lime to remove it altogether. And was this nothing to accomplish, or even to project? Yet for attempting it, aya and for carrying it out (for we will carry it out, despite our tiaduccrs here, and the false friends of the Maoris elsewhere) how muchabuse have we not borne from the vary men Avho.se shoulder:-! we arc lightening of their burdens? This then is how the ease stands. The colonists of New Zealand of the three parties to the war are the least directly benefitted of all. 'Whilst the others reap an immediate advantage, they must look at the future. The lands they are so much envied will have cost them far beyond what they might have been purchased for previous to the war had the natives been disposed to sell : but; they are satisfied with the guarantee of future peace which the possession of those lands affords, and this from the first was their chief concern. They arc content; therefore though not elated —confident of their success but not jubilant in their triumph. To their own industry, energy'and intelligence for the future, ;ts heretofore, they alone look to find a recompense for the losses they havesustained, the dangers they have passed, and the liabilities which for years to come they must labour earnestly but hopefully to discharge.

AVe are glad to be able to inform our read- 1 ers that Mr. Henry Wrigg, C. E.,,has been instructed to examine Mechanics' Bay, and to report upon the scheme we lately advocated for enclosing it, and carrying the Parnell road across it to Queen-street. That

G-entleman -was busily engaged on IMonday in the work assigned to him, and iiis roport will doubtless be a very valuable one and show both how this groat improvement; may best be made and the eost of etl'ectmg it. j Mr. Wrijjro- brings to bear upon hisi task a large amount both of theoretical! and practical information, the latter derived} from a large professional business in vcr_yl extensive engineering and drainage works! in the North of England. Being therefore) neither an amateur self-dubbed C.E., nor bound up with party polities or party into-j rests, his report will at once commend itselfj to the favorable consideration of the public.; The Parnell community who are" taking tlie bull by the horns," and having this work performed deserve great credit for at , once boldly grappling with the difficulty, 1 and not waiting till the Provincial Govern- j ineiit could take action in the matter. The i latter, both as the central authority, and as ] having the charge both of general and local ] improvements of this character,, ought to have been the first in the held, but doubtless it will at least not check but rather aid all in its power those who have made a commencement in this necessary work by engaging a thoroughly competent professional man to report upon the subject. There need ■ bo little or 110 fears 011 tho score of expense, ; in so far as that portion is concerned which : would naturally fall to the share of the Provincial Government, for the land gained j would doubtless spoedity recoup the whole! of the expenditure that would be incurred in ; enclosing the Eay^/But the report of the Engineer will nert'ssarily enter into all these quest ions, and as it will doubtless be laid before a public meeting of those interested in the matter, we shall not further discuss the topic at this juncture. We must however protest against the idea that the City of Auckland has nothing to do with this proposal. It has a very great deal to do with it. Surely the approaches to the town are of very great importance to the inhabitants thereof. It ought to be the study of the city authorities to make the approaches to it as easy and as good as possible. People will more gladly and more frequently visit it for business purposes when tliey can reach it without having half-a-dozen hills to ascend and descend, and a tortuous zigzag road several inches dee]) with mud to tread and wade through. With a direct st raight road, and iij'oofpath J'or foot passcntjers to enable them to walk in comfort, there will be some inducement for persons to come to the city for various purchases, who are now completely prevented from doing -so by the formidable task the accomplishment of their desire entails upon them. "Whatever increases the trade of the city, whatever brings more purchasers to its shops and stores must of necessity be of importance to it, and be worth the very careful consideration of the City Board. It is in point of fact as incumbent 011 the City as a whole to make the approaches to it. and the means of getting to and from it, as easy and convenient as possible, as it is for any individual shopkeeper to have the way 1o his shop accessible with eas-e and comfort to his customers. Everybody who has business transactions, especially in certain classes of shops in the mother countrj r knows that there is a considerable ditference in the " takings'' of a lino and a wet and uncomfortable day. So will it be here between the City and the Nuburbs according 1o accessibility between the two or the reverse. "We are quite aware that past neglect has entailed a very large amount if work of a most pressing and expensive kind upon us, and that therefore we may well be chary at launching out into any very large expenditure which cannot bit proved to be absolutely necessary. But this is just one of those works which is very necessary not only for the benelit of the outlying districts and of the Provincial Government, but also of the City itself. AVe therefore trust that no narrow mindedncss on the part of the City aut horit ies will prevent: them entering cordiallv into the consideration of the Engineer's report when made, and that they will, after consultation with the oilier parties interested bear their fair share of the work. Then, again, there is ihe Harbour department. That is doubtless very greatly interested in the carrying out ol' ihe scheme; and if the representatives of the Harbour interest and the Provincial Government, both ol'which will bo materially benefitted by the scheme being carried out, will give it their fair and favourable consideration, a great difficulty will at once he removed. No one can ;tl all doubt, the benelit that would accrue to the Harbour by having a sea. wall built in the manner proposed. It is at present a great desideratum. The sooner steps are set: about for supplying it the better, and there. can be no better time than the present, when Ihe public mind is thoroughly and favourably interested in the subject, when it can be carried out- by the joint co-operr.l ion of various interests, and when arrangements are under consideration for effecting various harbour improvements, and K'ving increased facilities for commerce. When Mr. Wrigg has finished his investigations and made his report upon Mechanics' Bay, we should be glad to find that he has been charged to investigate and report upon the sister improvement proposed by tis, the enclosing of Ereeinan's Bay. Upwards of thirty acres of land, where land is selling at tho price it is in the neighbourhood of Freeman's Jhiy, ought not to be allowed to lie idle a single day more than can be avoided. With very little management a very large quantity of rubbish and refuse matter could be carted and deposited in Erceman's Bay at once, and thus we might begin to make " dry land" appear where now it is only seen at low tide. A notice too, might be put, as is done in London, and elsewhere, that " rubbish may be shot here," and we should thus soon see a beginning of the work, and some progress towards completion without any expense at all to the public. It might also be very well worthy tlie consideration of the owners of the property in tlie neighbourhood of, and beyond freeman's Bay. whether they would not be studying their own interests by following the example! of the Parnell and liemuera holders of property, and calling a meeting to discuss the general questions.