The Politician.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 340, 17 August 1878, Page 21

The Politician.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL. (Prom the New Zealand Times.) As the great lines of railway approach to completion, and as connection between detached works is effected, the value of the revolution in our colonial system effected by the Public Works and Immigration policy initiated in 1870 becomes more tangible and plain. It is gratifying now to find that, the touchstone of experience having been applied to the sanguine predictions of the past—with the result of showing that they were sound as well as far-seeing, —the name of the man most intimately connected with the development of the Public Works policy is again frequently in men’s mouths, and becoming familiar as a household word. On all sides we hear of Sir Julius Vogel. In England, New Zealand finds in him her champion, ready to defend her honor and her credit against the detractors of both, who unhappily can quote the public statements of our Premier and his friends as evidence in support of their calumnies of the colony and of the people. There also we find him as astatesman, measuring swords, in no unequal conflict, with the leading men of the time, —not on personal grievances, not on paltry official squabbles, but upon broad questions of national policy, such as the consolidation of the Empire and the binding together in a closer union with the mother country the scattered offspring of the great nation. His is not the policy of the “lone hand” which would detach New Zealand from the common brotherhood of the Australasian Colonies in order to govern by dividing ; he seeks, with courage and with noble aim, to make her a unit of a grand Imperial confederation, and a factor in the growing greatness of the English people. We are glad to see that in Dunedin, where Sir Julius Vogel commenced his colonial career, and even amongst those who are the known adherents of the present Government, the sense of justice to one who has deserved well of the colony is stronger than party considerations ; and that the opening of the railway line from Christchurch to Dunedin, which will take place in a few days, is proposed to be made the occasion for a public recognition of the benefits derived by the colony from the policy of Public Works and Immigration so courageously launched eight years ago, and which has done so much to make New Zealand, with her handful of people, second, comparatively, to no other colony in rapid progress and sound material prosperity. A correspondent, whose letter will be found elsewhere, suggests that upon the opening of the railway line to Wairarapa, the people of Wellington should follow the example of the people of the South, and we very heartily approve this suggestion. Sir J ulius Vogel needs no spur on the road of duty, but it will be a consolation to him to know, whilst enduring the petty official afflictions which meaner men have the opportunity and enjoy the delight of imposing upon him, that the bulk of the people recognise his unselfish devotion to their interests, and the great services which he has conferred upon the colony. This will be for the people but the payment of a just debt.

GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. (From the New Zealand Times.) There was a long and acrimonious debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Fox for “ a return of all advertisements published by the Government during the year terminating Ist July, 1878, inviting tenders from publishers of newspapers for the insertion of Government advertisements and notices ; of all tenders sent in reply to such advertisements, and giving the rates tendered; and showing any tenders, and their rates, not accepted. Also, a return of all insertions of advertisements and notices in any newspaper by authority of any Government official without tenders having been publicly invited.” Here was a net constructed carefully to catch a good many very queer fish, but the Government dexterously by means of their obedient servants talked the question out over the usual hour of adjournment for dinner, when, according to the rule of the House, it lapsed. Except, then, in the pages of Hansard, none of the points upon which Mr. Fox sought to obtain information will be found recorded, and there they will appear in the nature of a charge, without such rebuttal or confession as might be expected to be found in the required return. We shall be glad to record the fact, if Ministers, having skilfully evaded Mr. Fox’s deadly thrust, will still have the grace, voluntarily, to produce the return which the honorable member for Wanganui desires to obtain. The truth cannot be worse, and may, we hope, be found to be even much less damnatory than the belief which has seized men’s mind with regard to the oonduot of the Government and of certain sections of the newspaper Frees of the eolony in this particular. A

perusal of the report of the debate will show that the charges have been very definite ; if they can be shown to be untrue, for the honor of the public Press and for the credit of the colony which must suffer from the wrong-doing of its Government, we shall greatly rejoice, and be glad to give such publication to the rebutting evidence as we shall be able. But a manoeuvre which shunts enquiry, vague denials of asserted facts, or appeals to partisans to rally round the citadel of jobbery, cannot reasonably be accepted as irrefragable proofs of innocence in such a cause. It was one of the many blunders which the present Government have made, to suppose that any permanent advantage could accrue to them from even the most successful attempt to corrupt any section of the public Press. The discovery and publication of the facts is the instant antidote, and the public power and usefulness of the infected journal i 3 gone. In the interest of all the parties, we repeat the expression of our hope that the return moved for will be immediately laid upon the table of the House.

ALARMING ATTITUDE OF A MINISTER. (From the Thames Evening Star.)

The following is a translation of an advertisement, printed in the Maori language, which appeared in the Evening Star of the 18th of July : AN EXPLANATION. It has been seen by certain paragraphs which have appeared in the newspapers, how very unacquainted with the true state of the case are those Europeans and Maoris who have mistaken the actions of Hoani Nahe. They all seem to think that their member is acting foolishly, and that his ideas are confused—as are evidently those of the newspaper writers, who do not understand the workings of a chieftain’s heart. Perhaps I had better explain, with a view of teaching all those who are in error respecting such feelings, namely, the workings of a chieftain’s heart, which are not generally understood by the masses of the people. It would be very far from right that the Hon. Hoani Nahe should conceal what he knew to be correct with reference to the piece of land in question, Te Aroha, in accordance with Maori customs. It would also not be correct that the said honorable member should allow the fact of his having been admitted as a member of the Ministry to cause him to conceal the right of those of his people who have right on their side, but who are being unjustly overcome. Perhaps those newspaper writers hold the mistaken idea that the persistency of the honorable member is caused by a desire that he himself, or his hapu of the Ngatimaru tribe, should be put in grant for Te Aroha, and that is probably the reason why they have sent those paragraphs to the newspaper (which only expose their ignorance) in which they state that the honorable member will be driven out of office, either by the Speaker or the Premier, or punished in such other way as the Parliament may think fit. It will be wrong if Sir George Grey’s Government listens to the counsels of the Advertiser newspaper, which is urging them on to condemn tfie work of Hoani Nahe, which work he is doing in accordance with what he has seen to be right, and in accordance, also, with sentiments contained in speeches made by members of that Government itself. The present Government will not take away wrongfully the land belonging to the Maori, but rather they will put straight the wrongful acts which the former Government committed in dealing with the Maoris. Perhaps the newspaper in question did not recollect the fact that one of the reasons which caused the downfall of the Atkinson Ministry was, that they recklessly paid away money to Maoris who had no land to give as an equivalent. By what I have said, that newspaper will perhaps understand that I maintain that the tribe of Hauraki as a body have no land at Te Aroha. At anyrate they did not go to Te Aroha, after taking the money, to point out to the Government officer their lands which were to be given as payment for the money which they had received. By this, also, those who condemned the honorable member, will, perhaps, now clearly understand that it was simply in consequence of the judgment given in favor of the name “ Marutuahu” that the Government officer placed the tribes of Hauraki on the list of owners of the land at Te Aroha. If those tribes had been left to themselves to prove their titles they would not have taken the mouev. Let us now return to the words which have been uttered in condemnation of Hoani Nahe. If it is reported correctly, that it is proposed by certain parties to compel him to resign his seat, both as member of the Ministry and as representative of the people, on account of his having stood up in the Court as a witness on the Ngatitumutumu side, I strongly disap pi-ove of that proposal which (it is statedl has been adopted by those people. They did not bear in mind that he was carrying out the right of pointing out boundaries, &c., which he had derived from the chiefs and elders of the people —from those dead and goue ; and in accordance with the motto handed down to him, which says, “ Be strong to do what you think to be correct ; condemn the wrong : uphold the right.” That is the reason why he stood up at the meeting at Pukerahui. That is also the reason why he stood up i i the Court to carry through what had been entrusted to him by the elders and by the people—to carry through and to repress the wrong. I do not refer to the decision given by the Court in favor of the name of Marutuabu—that was fixed by the law. However, the law was not made for the upright man, but rather for the wrongdoer ; so, also, neither will the upright man be brought into judgment, either by the law or the judge, but only the wrongdoers. This is She reason why I praise the eonduefc

of both the Hon. Hoani Nahe and Captain Taipari, because they did not take into consideration the fact of their holding offices in the Government as a reason for their concealing the rights of those who had right on their side, nor for their upholding as being correct the wrongful acts of the wrongdoers. No so especially do I praise Taipari, as he has a claim to a share of the land. The Hou. Hoani Nahe had no claim to a share in that land Te Aroha. The claim that he had to Te Aroha was simply in the judgment which gave the laud to “ Marutuahu.”

His connection with Marutuahu was very much greater than that of those people who took money on account of Te Aroha by reason of the name “ Marutuahu.” It is sufficient to point out that he has openly stated to the Court that he has uo claim to Te Aroha in accordance with the justice and truth of Maori ownership,—and further, that neither had his ancestors of the Marutuahu line any claim to that land.

The duty of the Native Laud Court is to search out Maori titles. It is true that the Court has ceased searching out the titles, in accordance with native custom, of the Waikato and other tribes, who formerly contended with the Hauraki people about this land at Te Aroha. But, to my mind, it is only right that the Court should continue to search out diligently the Maori titles to ownership amongst the tribes of Hauraki.

Just let me ask a question. If the claim to Te Aroha was a new one, and had not previously been before the Court, would all the tribes of Marutuahu stand up and show their title to claim shares in that land ? I think it would be a good thing to put that question to the witnesses in the Court without delay.

Now a word about the uneasiness in certain persons’ minds, of which I have heard. It is said that an application will be made to the Government to stop Hoani Nahe’s work in Parliament. They are wrong in making such an application to the Government, as they ought rather to explain the reasou of their anger to Hoani Nahe himself. The Government will not condemn him for the course of conduct he is pursuing. In fact, it is really their line of policy that he is carrying out in this case. Hoani Nahe is also the man who gave them the support which enabled them to stand as a Government, and for that reason it is not likely that they will lightly condemn him.

Who was it that set up Sir George Grey as head of the Government ? And who was it that set up Mr. Sheehan as Native Minister ? It was Hoani Nahe. Which of the four Maori members has taken a place in the present Ministry ? Again the answer is, Hoani Nahe. Perhaps it may be asked what is the reason for making the statement that Hoani Nahe set up the Government. I will explain. The efforts made by Messrs. Sheehan, Karaitiana, Wi Parata, Stafford, and Sir George Grey to cause the downfall of the late Government began very long ago. They did not succeed in ousting them, although repeated efforts were made. As the Maori proverb has it—“ Kore ti ! Kore ta ! Kore taketake !” It was at the time when our friend Hoani Nahe went to the Assembly that we first heard the cry, “ These are the great leaders.” Then the feelings of both Europeans and Maoris changed, and they all began to praise Six George Grey, Mr. Sheehan, and the Napier natives. I say again that it was Hoani Nahe who set them up, and the newspapers, here and elsewhere, are at liberty to criticise my statements in contemptuous terms, if they like.

Perhaps there are some friends who will recollect the voting in the House —39 on one side and 39 on the other—the result being that the present Government took office. If Hoani Nahe had been inclined to vacillate or to act dishonorably, he would either have remained outside the House or he would have gone over to the other side. If he had acted in either of the ways mentioned, those persons who are now being advised by the newspapers to turn round upon and eject the hou. member from office would not have attained the positions which they now occupy. He has sent a telegram to the Government to explain the position of affairs. He will not go to the Parliament, even although it should be opened, but will wait for the answer of the Government as to the wish of the general public of both races on the subject. It may be that he also wants them to express definitely their own ideas regarding his conduct, so that he may make up his mind how to act in the event of the Government being attacked by the Opposition during the coming session. I should add, however, that the latter is simply a thought which has passed through my mind. I have written this to show how little I esteem these perspns who have given expression to such sentiments regarding the conduct of Hoani Nahe. I praise Hoaui Nahe for acting independently, and for not seeking by cajolery to induce the tribes to vote again for him at a future election. He did not take heed of the anger of those who wished him to remain like a stupid owl to do the work of closing the mouths of the duck, the parrot, and the talkative tui; or wh<> wished that he should gently coo like a dove in their midst, so that he should not stand up in the Court to reveal that which he knew to be right.

From Reihana Poto. Correct translation, H. D. J ohnson, licensed native interpreter.

NEGOTIATION OF THE £3,500,000 LOAN.

The following papers, relative to the above subject, have been presented to both Houses of the Geueral Assembly by command of his Excellency : The Loan Agents to the Hon. the Colonial Treasurer. London, June 7, 1878. Sir, —We are glad to be able to confirm telegrams which we have already sent to the Hon. the Premier, by which you will have learnt that the two loans, amounting in all to throe and a half millions, have been negotiated with entire uuctjcsm

The Bank of England, on our behalf, oallod for tenders. The list was opened on Monday morning, the 3rd instant, and closed on the following morning, when the applications received amounted in the aggregate to about eight and three-quarter millions. The great success with which the loan met was due to a variety of circumstances. The time chosen was particularly opportune ; the bank rate had just fallen to 2k per cent. We had selected for receiving subscriptions the day upon which the various rumors in reference to the Congress were confirmed by the announcement that it would positively be held. The buoyancy of the market during the previous week culminated on the gratifying intelligence that all doubts as to the Congress being held were at an end. The low rate of money was another circumstance in our favor, and the fact that the Bank of England, for the first time in its history, had called for tenders for a colonial loan, was not without its influence upon investors. It is important that you should recognise that the success of the loan does not mean that the market is open to the negotiation for some time to come of further New Zealand loans. Too much stress should not be attached to the magnitude of the subscriptions. It is not to be supposed that there was really a willingness to subscribe to the amount of eight and three-quarter millions. When it became known that the applications for the loan would exceed the three and a half millions we had to dispose of, it became evident that the full amount applied for in each case could not be granted ; hence applications were put in for mnch larger sums than the subscribers actually required. We had for a long while been engaged in negotiations, in order to be ready immediately on a favorable opportunity presenting itself. The opinions we received from most experienced persons to whom we applied were that we could not hope to place so large an amount without submitting to a considerable discount on par rates. Even when we adopted the plan which seemed to us most desirable—of enlisting the assistance of the Bank of England—we were not assured of success; and when we finally fixed the rate, we resolved on terms of payment less favorable to the subscribers than any authority was prepared to recommend us. After anxious consideration, we determined on adopting a fixed rate, as we desired to be assured in ad van-e of at least a major portion of the loan being subscribed, and we could not count on such an assurance without those who were willing to subscribe largely being able to know the rate at which the loan might be obtained. Hourly, from the time the advertisement was issued, the position improved ; but we are quite confident that, in view of the large interests at stake, we adopted all the precautions that could have been devised to obtain a good rate for the loan, coupled with a reasonable assurance against failure. The allowances for payment under discount amount to a mere fraction, and the price may therefore be considered equal to par. The commission we agreed -to pay the Bank of England was only per cent., a smaller commission than would have been required for the same services from much less powerful negotiating bodies or firms.

Although not mentioned in the advertisement, we gave currency to the assurance we were authorised to make, —That the Government would not offer any further loan in this market earlier at least than September, 1879. —We have, &c.,

P. G. Julian, W. J. M. Laknach, Julius Vogel. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Wellington.