New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1879. WEEKLY BULLETIN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 383, 14 June 1879, Page 14

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1879. WEEKLY BULLETIN.

The position in respect to native affairs on the West Coast has somewhat improved during the week. Severe pressure was brought to bear upon Sir G. Grey when at Taranaki, and he seems to have given way to the expression of public feeling in favor of a strong force being placed in the district to defend the settlement in case of the Maoris making any further encroachments. The natives are evidently somewhat surprised and alarmed by the vigorous measures adopted by Lhe Pakehas, and hesitate about continuing their encroachments upon the settlers, who are now anxious that some severe lessons should be taught tho Pari-

ii.ika gang as to the power of the law and im- determination of the authorities to iMifufce it. Sir G. Grey's deliberate refusal to relieve the anxiety of the settlers by giving the information desired about th • force to be sent into the district, and ■' to the means of defence which would

be afforded to the settlers, has raised a very strong feeling of indignation and unpopularity against the Ministry. The settlers know that they were left in a defenceless condition, exposed to an extreme danger for many days, and also that the unrestrained acts of law-breaking, which the Maoris were allowed to commit with impunity, will encourage similar outrages in the future. With perfect right they object to a Government which allows the security of properly to be weakened and the lives of peaceable subjects to be threatened, without undertaking either to punish the evil-doers, or oven to inform the settlers how much assistance they may expect to receive from the authorities. An attempt was made by the friends of the Ministry to represent these ploughing expeditious by the Maoris as a mere assertion of their legal title ; however, the losses in cattle near Opunake, and the seizure of Mr. Courtney's hay at Oakura. have effectually disproved any such theory. It is very difficult to predict what is likely to bo the ultimate outcome of the disturbance. Strong hopes are entertained of a peaceful solution, but it is now well known that Tfi WIIITI has dawn to himself a very largo force of natives; all the bad characters and almost all the young men from the several tribes bordering on the disturbed districts have flocked into Parihaka, which is said to be strongly fortified, and many of the Maori settlements outside of the disturbed districts are said to be quite bare of ablebodied men. However, a very considerable force of Europeans has now been placed in the Taranaki district, and pending a meeting at Parihaka on the 18th, at which white men will be admitted, all parties "stand at ease." In any case, it would soom exceedingly undesirable that the Europeans should take any active steps towards arresting Tb Whiti or HiROKi, as has been proposed, before Parliament had given its full consent to such a proceeding. Objections aro coming in in great numbers to-the land tax, and the department i 3 said to be in rather a mess. Mistakes as to ownership have been very numerous, and a great deal of difficulty will probably be experienced in setting matters right. The grand error has evidently been made of assessing the tax on extreme values, no allowance having been made for fluctuations in tho prices of property. In England, assessed values are known to be, and are purposely calculated at, about w'3 per cent, below real values in ordor to avoid objections, and to sustain valuations without difficulty whenever objections are lodged. In Dunedin, things appear to be as bad, as or even worse, than in Wellington. The Press Agency reported on Wednesday last:—"The land tax office "is crowded with objectors every day for "hours, and an agent advertises that ho " prepares objectionsandexecution fonns. " People throughout the countiy com- " plain that they cannot get objection "forms. Tho department is in a general " muddle." We are very doubtful whether some of our country readers will have had an opportunity of lodging objections upon the prescribed forms before tho legal time oxpiros on the evening of the 17th. Tho valuation will be of service, as the information derived from the returns as to the financial position of tho colony will indicate to our legislators the funded wealth of the people upon which to base any future taxation. Parliament out of session has been busy during the week, Messrs. Stevbns, Bauff, and THOMPSON having addressed the electors within tho past few days. But little interest has been displayed in their speeches ; in fact, unless somo Minister of tho Crown determines to lift the veil of secrecy which has hitherto concealed all the intentions of tho Ministry, we believe that but few of tho members' speeches will command much public attention outside of the district where they are delivered. Ono exception in respect to the general absence of information regarding the intended policy of tho Ministry may bo quoted, although it has as j'et only taken the form of rumor. It is, that the Government intend to propose an increase of the land tax, but only upon properties exceeding the value of £ISOO. This is an important step towards tho development of the policy of " bursting "up" large estates. Carried a little further, it would load up to communism pure and simple, and oven the most advanced democrats in New Zealand are hardly yet propared to adopt principles which would ultimately necessitate a complete reconstruction of society. Our country readers will be glad to hear that the Chamber of Commerce has undertaken to draft a Bill for the formation of a Harbor Board in Wellington. Tho constitution of the Board as proposed provides for a wide basis of representation as follows :—Two members to be nominated by tho General Government, cne by the City Council, two to be elected by the ratepayers of the city, one to ba

nominated by the Wairarapa CountyCouncil, one to be nominated by the Manawatu County Council, one to bo elected by tho shipping interest, one to be nominated by the Chamber of Commerce, and tho Mayor and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce ex officio. The Government have signified their intention of supporting a measure such as is proposod. A lawyer is said to have promised to draft tho Bill free of all cost, and but for the obstructive action of the Mayor and City Council the measure would doubtless shortly become law. However the Mayor, in his desire to magnify his office, more especially while it is occupied by him, will insist upon it that the City Council is the most liberalminded, broad-viewed, and capable administrative body which could possibly be chosen anywhere in New Zealand to act as a Harbor Board. It is true he can only find in all Wellington some half a dozen City Councillors to support this yiew, but he advocates it as earnestly and forcibly as if he himself really believed it. The fact is the wharf brings in about£3ooo a year to the Corporation, and Councillors are loth to part with either the money or the power. The port is looked upon by them as a feeder to tho coffers of the Corporation, and as a means of affording a relaxation of rates to the city ratepayers in days to come. However, we believe that the narrow views expressed and indulged in b}' a majority of the Council will meet with a very cool reception in the House of Representatives, and the policy adopted by the Mayor and Councillors of impugning the motives of the Wellington merchants, who have advocated the formation of a Harbor Board will most likely be fitly rewarded when the time comes.