THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 289, 15 October 1864, Page 4

THE SOUTH.

By arrival of tlic' Wellington' Captain Francis, in the Manukau, we are placed in possession of late Southern files. So far South as the resignation of the Ministry had reached, at the time of the leaving of the ' Wellington' there appears to have been but ont; expression of opinion from the Southern press, with the exception of the Nelson Colonist, which lias always been, as oar own Governor's paper is now in Auckland, an enemy to the prosperity and settlement of tht Colony. Like His Exeeltenej-'s'organ. houerer, it carries but little weight, and is as little read. We gather then from our Southern contemporaries that the Whi taker Ministry commands the respect and good opinion of the colonists for the stand they have taken. Even the Tfctliin/ton Spectator, with its pro-Maori leanings, says in its issue of the Bth inst.: — " If these prisoners are allowed to remain at large, and insolently to defy the Queen's authority, it will be well that .England as well as this colony should ltnow that the authority is here but an empty nam'. What relation this escapade or its probable eon?pquences inav have had to the resignation of tlic Ministry we have yet to learn, but if it be true —as ve can but infer—that the action (or want of action) of tlie Governor in this matter, has been the proximate cause of their resignation, we do not hesitate to affirm that the whole colony will thoroughly approve and endorse what tbey have done, and triumphantly restore them to oflices which at present they could not continue to hold, with due regard to their own characters as public men and English gentlemen." Aud even the Colonist admits that " Sir George Grey" is not blameless in the matter of the Kaivau escape : — If it was wronjr (it says) for Ministers to withdraw the guard, the Governor had power to prevent it, for he i 3 vested with absolute authority overihe troops.

The Daily Times which lias been loud in its opposition, to the Government, recognises the faithfulness of the Ministry to the duty imposed upon them by the Assembly. In a leading article of the -!rtl inst, it says:— Sir George Grey at last recognises the individual responsibility thrown npon him. aud appears desirous of mating peace on any terms. If what ran be gathered from our'own correspondents, nnd from the Northern press he correct, Sir George Grey is inclined to abandon nearly all the conditions previously insisted on. Ke is said to be'willing to give back a greater part of land, and to waive the delivering, up of their arms by the rebel natives. The Ministry naturally decline to be a part// to this proceeding, and ieave Sir George Grey to take it ou his own responsibility. This , may be said to he a step towards defining the exact relations of tlie Governor and ins Ministry. The latter horrouni'i their iitzpirafinn from the jl.-sembiy, eould only intk the approbation of the hitter depart so fur from thtvr declared policy. On the other hand, Ml- George Grey lias unquestionably been vested by the Home -Authorities with great and independent powers. What he desires to do is very eleiir, he wishes to exercise his powers and to throw the responsibility on h:s advisers. Th?v decline. They d > not impede his taking bis own course, but they refuse to be a party to it- The position is quite intelligible, but the wonder is that the easiest solution is not attempted. There is nothing to prevent the Assembly being convened, and the Assembly only caa sett;' the attitude the Colony is disposed in future to adopt towards the Governor. Articles from the jPress-, the hidejwulenftind Lj/iltlfon Times enter even more tvarmly into the defence of the Ministry and condemnation ot tue Governor. Tltey will be found in fttli elsewhere.

FromTaranaki we have tlie yews of Thursday last, the 13tli, I'roin which we extract the following During the past week tlie tremendous positions of Mauutal'.i, Mataitawa, and To Arai, have hern captured and destroyed by our troops, military and militia. It was known th-.t the natives had evacuated these strongholds, probably for the temporary pur pose of attending to their cultivations inland, and these victories have been consequently nearly blood less, although some GOO or 7i>o men were gathered for the work. We are not informed what beio: gstu these movements, which mny be the commencement of a series of operations intended to grasp the i nture of the IVovinee.

It is time, indeed, that something v.ns doneto bring military operations to a close in Taiamun. Had Governor Sir George Grey used the troops, the cost of which is such a bug-biur to the mother country, as they might have been used, they would have been iree long siiu'e to u ' settled the Maori rebellion in the iSoutli. J-'" 1 Taranaki JSenv. the exponent of public teehng in .New Plymouth, thus speaks of Xaiaraiitiska : The Tataraimaka Poitiers have, we are iiitoruifd, ])etitioneii the Government to put up a blockhouse r.i that distiiet, to enable them to resume the oceuj>;ition of their laud. It is extremely desirable that at much as possible of the country should be occupied

~by tho settlers ■whenever it is practicable. Much valuable land has heon lying idle for moro than four years, and, not only that, has deteriorated nivaluo l>ecausc the owners could not get at it to chcck the spread of fern, thistles, and other weeds. Besides, the resumption of productive industry, even on a small scale, is a benefit to the community in overy way. But the thing must "be carried out systematically and with caution. Until the Taranatci natives have been brought to terms, Tataraimaka will always be peculiarly open to an attack ; indeed a Maori could not wish for a better field for liis operations than the back of the block, connected as it is with the south by the bush line from To Tutu to Kopna. After the troops have moved southward on their \vuv to "Whanganui, much of the danger will be averted, otherwise it would bo either a very rash, or a very arduous undertaking ; that is, to get much good from the land. But it is stirring in the right direction, and it is particularly desirable that the Government should be reminded of their duty to givo what assistance the} - can to enable the settlers to re-establish themselves upon their land. ]tfr. "Whitaker has made great and successful efforts to prevent tho money voted for the ' reinstatement' of tho settlors being misapplied or prematurely squandered by those for whom it was intended ; perhaps his efforts'neiy have been as great, though obviously Jess successful, to 'reinstate tho i-ettleinent and its inhabitants.' However, if the Governor will not accept his resignation, ho will have another chance of trying what he can do, and might perhaps begin with Tataraimaka ; but indeed it is not blockhouses or any other defensive arrangement that will make the country habitable, but a proper settlement of the insurgent natives, and this Ave arc not likely to see so lo'n«* as Sir Geoi < r Grey has a voice in the matter. At Dtiiiedin. the ease of the New Zealand Banking Company against the Da if// Tim en was in course of hearing. "We have referred to the well-deserved horse-whipping given by Mr. G. X. Turtonto a 31 r. A. G. MeCoinbe. "for the publication of a libel in the Diundin Satin-da// .Rcrit'ir. The following paragraph in reference to a trial subsequently brought against Mr. MeCombe by the husband of tlie lady libelled :—

Tlie Police Court was crowded in every part on Saturday lust to hear the criminal action for libel, instituted by the Ker. K. Gr. Edwards, against Sir. A. G. M'Combe, tlie now celebrated author of an article published in the ■Sittitr/itn/ Jieriru-, and entitled "The School for Scandal." Mr. J. Oh S. Grant, the editor of the publication in question, attended, ond in the most unhandsome munner "split upon his pal." The case was only partially heard, and was then adjourned till Thursday. The evidence of Grant, however, clearly brings the authorship of the alleged libel home to Mr. M'Combe. The only question, therefore, will be as to how far the identitv o; the complainant with the libel is established. The prisoner was ultimately committed fpr trial, and released on bail.