THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1863. Shipping Intelligence.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22267, 21 May 1934, Page 13

THE Otago Daily Times. “Inveniam viam aut faciam.” DUNEDIN, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1863. Shipping Intelligence.

SEVENTY-ONE YEARS AGO.

The barque Helena, from London, has arrived at the Heads. The tug Samson was alongside, but she waits a favorable wind. Appears to be a barque of about 500 tons. Has general cargo, but few or no passengers. Is 127 days out. Dr Hector has been for some days at Port Chalmers, superintending the outfit of the Matilda Hayes, and _in the afternoon the trim schooner sailed for the Heads, with the Doctor and his surveying party on board. The question of war with any section of the Native population involves so many consequences and considerations, that the Government may well have hesitated to resort to such an extremity. War with any particular tribe of Natives is to a certain extent war with the whole, at any rate with those tribes which are not separated in sympathy and geographical position. Sir George Gyey has been fully aware of this fact, and much of his peculiar forbearing policy may be ascribed to the kriowledge that hostilities, once commenced, would lead to serious complications with the greater part of the Native population. It is not unlikely, that jf any signal step in the direction of war has been taken, the whole or greater part of the Native population south of Auckland, will be drawn into the struggle, including even those tribes whose Chiefs have hitherto manifested a desire to preserve peaceful relations with the Government.

We hope and trust that the anticipations of a general war will prove exaggerated, and every attempt should be made to avoid such a result. But let us have no, more truckling, fearsome policy of expedience. The time has come for asserting Her Majesty's authority, and if war only can bring about the result, war let it be, but it must be a sharp and decisive one.

A Sydney telegram in the Argus of the 13th instant states that, according to private advices from New Zealand, Governor Grey has sent a_ gentleman t 0 England to ascertain precisely what the Goverment will or will not do; and whether, if it will not give a definite decision, it will give him carte blanche. The Home News eayo that a detachment of Royal Engineers are about to be sent to New Zealand, and that it is intended to employ some of the most intelligent of the non-commissioned officers and engineers in the Australian Mint. , , A meeting of the directors and shareholders of the proposed Dunedin Water Works Company was held in the Interim Secretary's office yesterday. The following resolution was adopted:—-"That the shareholders present at the meeting, having heard from the provisional directors that the public have not subscribed the requisite capital necessary to the formation of the proposed Water Company, and that in their opinion there is no prospect of the full number of shares being subscribed, request the provisional Directors to take the necessary measures to putting an end to the association, and returning to the subscribers the amount of monies paid by way of deposit by them." A telegram from Sydney in the Argus of the 11th states that a cupola battery for New Zealand is being, constructed .in Sydney. We presume this cupola is intended for the steamer which is to be placed on the Waikato River. It appears from the following extract from the Kilmore Examiner that we may shortly expect the arrival of a feline consignment, of which the miners of the Dunstan will doubtless gladly avail themselves: —"We hear that a young man, about to start from this place for the New Zealand diggings, is making arrangements for the transport to that place of about 100 cats. It Would appear by the last accounts from that quarter that cats are worth from LI to L 5 each."