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New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 533, 28 July 1865, Page 4

Metropolitan and Provincial English newspapers, private letters from England, and the despatches from British Ministers to the Governor and to General Cameron, all alike testify to a bitter feeling of disappointment at the practical carrying out of the programme of the Government since the present Ministry came into power. The English people and the English press were beginning to sympathise with our position, for they fancied they saw that despite the ravings of the " bad whites," the philo-Maoris at home, the colonists were more sinned against than sinning, and that they were the victims of circumstances of position and Government of a very peculiar, and, indeed, unique character. On the one hand was a semi-barbarous race on the other a government which involved the colonists in results which tliC3 r had practically no means of averting, any more than had the good people at home. The great exertion we had made and were making to do, supplement the efforts of the mother country by our citizens giving their own personal services in the field, and taxing themselves very heavily to pay for a colonial army, were beginning to tell their correct story and to have their natural effect upon the British mind. The debate in the House of Commons clearly showed that the tide of feeling had turned in our favour: the Colonial Secretary, in his place in Parliament, spoke highly of the sacrifices made by the colonists, and of the very favour,able manner in which he hud been impressed by the manner of the Colonial Minister, Mr. lieader "Wood, oil his late visit to England. The tide, we say, had thus turned in our favour, it simply needed taking skilful advantage of to float our barque into more peaceful waters. But wc were in such a critical position that the conduct of those who steered her might either guide her into the desired haven, or by unskilful piloting lose all that had been gained. Unfortunately the latter is the case, and we are at this present moment in more ill favour with the British public and the British Government than wo ever were before. This is the great gain of the removal of the scat of Government, of tne accession to power of the Weld Ministry, of the land purchasing schemes, of Dr. Featherstou, to aid which latter this most disastrous roadmaking campaign was undertaken. And what is die great cause of this recoil of British opinion? .Simply that the English Government and people feel that they li.vvii bek.v niX'iavKD. They were pompously promised peace, they havehad war and horrid murder: they were told that the British troops should be sent home, and the Colony would defend itself They have in lieu thereof heard of fresh wars, and read with anger and disgust the despatch of General Cameron asking for IiOOO more troops. The whole a Hair at first sight would seem a most inexplicable riddle. The Colonial Ministry would necessarily he looked upon as composed of either fools or rogues, or perhaps a fair proportion of both. Now, however much the British people may be prejudiced either one way or the other, we generally find that at last "they sec things in their true light, and will by no means turn their back on their brethren in trouble. But if the aid is sought 011 false pretences, if deception has been practised, and tin's is clearly proved, John Bull buttons up his "breeches pocket, refuses all further aid, and hands the swindler to the oilicers of justice. He prides himself 011 the maxim that " an Englishman's word is his bond." From the Peers of the realm their bare word "011 honor' is substituted for an oath, and the national character in every possible way displays itself in the confidence on which rcliancc is placed 011 the spoken or written word. The Weld Ministry have given, therefore, a shock to the moral feelings of the British Government and British'people in a way which the latter will most keenly feel. Confidence in straightforward 'dealing is gone, and will "not easily be replaced. The repudiation of the duties devolving upon the present Government in connection with the emigration scheme caused disgust 111 all right-minded men here, and it will add fuel to' the flame that is now kindled in England. With what a contemptuous refusal will be met the proposal of Mr. Weld for an annual contribution to be paid by England to New Zealand to enable the Weld Ministry to carry out their plans of providing for themselves and their friends. And their treatment of the General will, doubtless heap the measure ot their faithlessness still higher. Unavailing]}' indeed will Mr. Weld go to and knock at the door of the Treasury OlticeatLondon. The hall porter will take his card, but on perusal thereof that functionary will intimate in curt manner that his master is not at home.

And not only is the Colony thus shown the cold shoulder by the British Government. the capitalists will argue from one ease of blighted hopes and broken faith to another, and they will tighten their pursestrings and gravely shake their heads when New Zealand loans are spoken ot to them. We had not the best' ot characters before. Our enemies had succeeded in painting us a tolerably _ dark colour, our conduct was beginning to counteract this, and to prove that we were not so bad as wo were painted, but had in fact some patches ot brightness in our character. The Weld Ministry have effectually not only chocked this feeling in our favour, but have given our enemies an opportunity of pointing to the conduct of that Ministry "with jubilant voice as proving that we arc indeed that land-grasping, war-provoking, degenerate race they had pictured us to be. And the Governor must, feel very comfortable under the sha-p tor.e of Mr. Cardwell's dispatches. The Secretary for the Colonies does not frequently write to Governors of colonics in such curt, decisive, and authorative language. There is no circumlocution. 110 gilding of the bitter pill, no hints as to a certain feeling dictating the despatch. The language is undoubtedly very strong for a Secretary to the Colonies to use to a Governor ; and our Governor will well know the feelings which dictated that language. Mr Card well drives the nail home. He connects the Governor and the Weld Ministry, and the blame of the latter is universally laid on

the shoulders of the former. The plea of responsible ministers such advice will not be tenable, for the Governor lias been positively told that lie and General Cameron must decide about war and troops on their own responsibility. But the war was decided upon bv the Governor and his Ministry in oppo si'tiou to General Cameron's views, and consequently in direct opposition to the positive instructions set out by Mr. Cawlu ell. The old Adamite plan then of shitting the responsibility to others, to responsible advisers. will be of no avail. Craity bovemors and craft v Ministers, like other mortals, are liable to" be taken by their own craftiness. This is a consummation to be desired, and unfortunately the Colony has to grievously sailer for the sins of its rulers. Auckland must P ur S e herself of the evil, and earnestly strive to be separated from those who drag her honor in the dust.