THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1873.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3602, 28 May 1873, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1873.

It is satisfactory to know that Mr. James Mackay, who was in town yesterday, is sanguine that war will not result from the present complication in Waikato, and considers that the murderer of Sullivan will be surrendered to justice without further bloodshed. He is firmly impressed with liewi's friendly disposition, and does not doubt that he is sincere in his advice to Tawhiao and Mauuhiri to give up Purukutu. It is also right to state that Mr. Mackay does not think that there is any cause for apprehending danger to tho Waikato settlers, the steps the Government are taking beiug of such a character as to render any sudden surprise impossible. Five redoubts are in course of construction along tho frontier, one of which is already in the occupation of friendly natives; and when completed and garrisoned they will be a protection against surprise from the King's territory. The redoubts are in view of each other, and incase of an attack upon any one of them, immediate succour could be sent. Telegraphic communication has also been improved. We may add that our Hamilton telegram, which stated that Te Wheoro's natives were detained at that settlement for ammunition was incorrect. They were detained for a conveyance to take on their arms and ammunition which they brought up the river with them, and which had been issued to them long ago, when they had charge of the Eangariri redoubt. The disposition of the available force by Mr. Mackay, and the officers in command in the Waikato, appears to be the best possible; and the small reinforcement of twenty Armed Constabulary from Taranaki, advised by telegram to-day, will do something further towards strengthening the advanced posts. lleeruite are also being called for, we perceive by our Southern telegrams. To sum up the whole affair : it is possible that Purukutu may be delivered to Mr. Mackay, to be tried by the Supreme Court on a capital charge. If,however, Purukutu goes to Tawhiao, and he is protected by him, then Eewi stands aside, and says that so long as the pakehas alone endeavor to bring Tawhiao and the Waikatosto terms he will not lift ahand nor permit his people to do so ; but that if the friendly natives are employed against Tawhiao, he may be compelled to fight against us. This, as we have already indicated in our paper, is the one great difficulty out of which complications may arise. Let us hope i'or the best, however, and that the state of preparedness on the part of the Government may be, of itself, sufficient to show to Tawhiao,and that most stubborn of all the Maori leaders — Manuhiri— that resistance is vain, and that murder, according to the ancient Maori code, is no longer recognised as a summary mode of procedure in New Zealand. We would not be doing justice to our feelings, did we conclude these remarks without sayinga word personal to Mr. Mackay. It would be impossible to over-rate his services to tho country at the present juncture. His untiring zeal, promptitude, firmness, and intelligence are beyond praise: they speak for themselves, and no doubt will be recognised by the General Assembly when it meets. The amount of actual work performed by him may bo estimated by the fact, that in two days he has ridden one hundred and ninety miles. We state this circumstance, simply to show that the bodily fatigue which he has gone through would prostrate anyone but a man of great physical endurance. We have already expressed the opinion that the Premier, in deciding to act upon Mr. Mackay's advice in the first instance, did the best possible thing ; and since his employment, the trust reposed in hiin by the Native Minister proves that that gentleman, at all events, estimates hiin at his proper value. We regret, therefore, to find any journalist, in this province at least, sneering at Mr. Mackay, and referring to him in the same breath as a tool of Mr. McLean and a dupe of Ifewi's. The official records, when presented to Parliament, will set Mr. Mackay right.

Tiie Southern telegrams do not contain much of general interest. Canterbury appears to be getting rid of the public estate at a rapid rate, £40,000 having been received in two days at the Christchurch treasury from the sale of waste land. We perceive that the proposal with regard to immigration came on for discussion in the Canterbury Council last night. The General Government, we believe, will not consent to pay a Canterbury agent out of the immigration loau. In Canterbury, the acclimatisation of salmon is so far successful that fifty salmon ova are hatched. We trust this experiment may prove an entire success. The Marlborough Provincial Council is in session, and Mr. Superintendent Seymour congratulated the province upon its prosperity. Public works are to be carried on extensively. The salt meat exported from Wanganui has been favourably reported upon by the Inspector for the Navy. We perceive that the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce passed resolutions, urging

upon the General Government the necessity for extending the trunk lines of railway in that province. What about the Waikato railway and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce ? Is that body alive to the importance of railway extension in Auckland, or does it think that an amended bankruptcy law is an equivalent for a railway ?