THE ENGLISH PRESS ON NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2257, 30 April 1869, Page 3

THE ENGLISH PRESS ON NEW ZEALAND.

To tlie Editor of the Otaoo Daily Timbs Sm—ltißplea»ingtofmdintheleadingEoglish papers a pretty general concurrence in tbo assertion that the colony lias been unjustly and injudiciously treated by Great Kritain ; but still with this concurrence there ia a considerable diversity of opinion *»a to the proper remedies to be applied, the diversity arising in a great measure from defective information as to tbo circumstances of New Zealand. It is peculiarly satisfactory to the colonists to be»r the Spectator asserting that " our own Imperial relations to that unfortunate colony have been one long source of vacillation, depending on no intelligible principle, and erring aa mucu in the way of naughty censure one year as they erred in that of indiscriminate help tho previous year, or of th? es^secraent year." Indeed, the language of the Spectator throughout in an. ample defence of the position taken up by the colonists. The Pall Mall Gaftstte allows that "the/ pblioyof the Colonial office has been mo t vacillating in. relation to' Now Zealand is true enough," but with the luaghty cynical sneer o! the prejudiced critic, it declares that farther help, if needed, " munt not be given in the shape of money, and least of all sb an acknowledge-, nient of a debt due from us." The colonists of New Zealand aro not content to appear in court as begssing for alms, but I'eing confident in the justice of 'their cause, they ask for redress for the consequences of Imperia miemanagement. The writer of the article im the Gazette is rich in sympathy, but poor indeed in suggestions of prac;ical relief. He says, in fact, to the perishing soul.. "Be ye i warm," and passes by on the other side, revelling in the conviction of having administered relief, ■ • • •• ■ •

The Standard, with a jaster appreciation of ? the realities of the case, tells ita readers that the denial of assistance by the Imoenal Government '* fa virtually to cat the pointer," to tell them (the colonists)"that, they are a separate nation, and to declare ihat our colonial empire is dissolved," More weighty and truer worda were never written, and if they are allowed to paw unheeded, the predicted

coß»cqueac«B may not be clow of fullowiog, and colony after colony, deserted by the mother country, may find it necessary either to stand alone, or, driven by absolute exhaustion, to seek the practical sympathy of those who may not be deaf to tne voice of the oppressed. The Times Advocates "thait henceforth the two races must be left to settle accounts with each other," which means a war of extermination, and by a prow as peculiarly effective, that is, by employing the loyal i Maori to slay his" brother. This system, no doubt, when nck'd on in due proportion is not i a bad mftairare ; but what would be the reiralt if the loyal natives, stung to the very quick j by the disgraceful abandonmont of them by the Home Government, should be converted from friends into f«c«, and should nse the weapons entrusted to them against ourBelves ? They rallied round the Governor as the Representative of the Crowa wiien assistance was needed ; bat. when their active allegiance multiplied their enemies, then the Imperial Government handed tht-in over to ft colony—overwhelmed with taxation and dot—and bid them fe»r not. It ia easy to I»dulge in fanciful theories with respect to tho native race, hnt it is well to remember that the law of «elf.preservation is the first law of nature, and those on whom we are urged to rely may feel that their first duty is to thenwlvM and their families. The Pall Mall Gazette raises tho cry of separation as, under certain circnmstancM, the only alternative, Je t at the same time advocates the interposition of the Imperial Government, but asserts that " the cflintri ntion of th« Southern Island to the fall extent of its means mnst be insisted on as an indispensable accompaniment," ignorant of tho foot that it ia to avoid this contribution that the local cry of separation has been rained: The Manchester theory with respect to oolouios meets with a ready acceptance at the hands of successive governments, but those who look deep into the future know that Great Britain will rue tho day when, if thai policy be adopted, she will find herself without one strategic point of importance in eitaer ocean, and may find those who might have been bar ablett allies in a trying hoqr, cithw indifferent or worm The very thought that such might he the j case is truly punfal, but there is a limit to human endurance, and the sooner this is reoognised the better for the Empire and its dependencies. ( Lot England, by-tbe voice of hor Parliament, give clear and unmiatakoablo utterance to her views with respect to thaw dependencies, *°d then there will bo uo vacillation nor donbt. An empty title is often an expensive privilege. —Yours, &c. " ' CniTic.