THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 1

THE ENGLISH MA IL.

The occasional references to New Zealand affairs which occur in the English telegrams are the reverse of encouraging to those who, look to the mother country for assistance. Tf the tone of the Secretary of State's despatches is hard and unfeeling, that of the leading journals is even more so. It is not easy to read with patience such, a misrepresentation of the actual state of our affairs as that ascribed to the Times in our present telegrams. To relieve the * gloomy impression* which the bare record of facts appears to have produced in. England, the- Times proceeded to ridicule the idea that the colonists are really in need of assistance. * They do not complain that they are too weak and too few to compete with the savages ; they are too rich and too busy.' A deliberate statement of this kind, made in the face of the continuous disasters suffered bythe colonists, is absolutely startling. The painful inference presents itself that, after all that has been said on the subject, the real position of the colony is not yet appreciated at home. Misled by the fallacious argument based on our numerical superiority, the statesmen and the journalists of England persist in shutting their eyes to the overwhelming danger with which, the colony is threatened. The adoption of the Self-reliance policy has done much, to strengthen the impression that the colony can be safely left to itself, — if indeed it has not created the impression. The persistent attempt made by the Stafford Ministry to carry out that policy, instead of seeking Imperial assistance at the outset of our present troubles, has apparently determined the Home Government to hold aloof. The attitude of haughty independence thus assumed by the Colony has led to the ridiculous representations of the Times. The publication of Earl Granville's despatch refusing a guarantee for another loan, baa it appears provoked another discussion ; but we are not told whetfier this was a Parliamentary of a newspaper discussion. Of the latter we h&va had more than enough. It is high time that the affairs of New Zealand were brought under the notice of Parliament ; for there is clearly no chance of our obtaining justice until that is done. Mr M'Lean's commissioners will, no doubt, be courteously received in Downing Street, but there is no reason to suppose that they will succeed in shaking the determination of the Government.

The American news wears at first sight a rather alarming appearanpe. Mr Sumner's speech seems to have been meant as a hostile demonstration towards England. Without confining himself to the Alabama question, he anfcewd jinto a general disoussion of the position tajfen up by England during the civil wav, bitterly denouncing He thinly-veiled sympathies with the Southern States and the sjavebolding interest, and concluding with an exaggerated estimate of the loss resulting to the Union through its professed neutrality. Mr Sumnbr made himself the mouthpiece of the not inconsiderable section of American society which cherishes hostllo feelings towards England, and which watched Mr Bbverdy Johnson's career in England with in* tense disgust. The temper of thej Senate, judging from the rejection of the Treaty, is very uncertain. But thero ia no uncertainty a» regards tho temper of the American nation. Mr Goldwix Smith, who has ample opportunities of judging, is very decided on this poinfrj while Mr Motley, tho new Ambassador, declares it to bo the earnest wish both of President and people to cultivate friendly relations between tho two countries. The latest telegrams state that tho excitement occasioned by Mr Sumner'B inflammatory addrewliad gone down. In all probability it waa followed bytheuiu*! motion. Wedo not regard

the Alabama i dispute. as ait alFmore* serious .than the dispute between Greece and Turkey, ior the dispute between France and Belgium. Complications of this nature are too common to occasion much alarm, .especially in the case of friendly powers., , A much, more important event than Mr Sumner's speech is the completion of the . Pacific Railway. It was finished on-'the tenth of May, and was to be formally opened dn the fourth of July— -the national ,gala day; The suspicions entertained as totbe safety of travellers who may venture on the line are probably well founded; for | the extreme haste which has characterised the progress of the works could not fail to give some ground for such 1 suspicions. The best of American railways are not too solidly constructed. But the national importance of the Pacific line will ensure for it a much greater degree of attention to its safety — not only as regards construction, but also as regards the peculiar contingencies to which it is liable — than is generally bestowed on American railways. The enormous traffic it will carry, the immediate development of the long tract of country through which it passes, and the magnitude of the interests depending on its success, will prove to be so many guarantees for its permanence and security. These will not be affected by any mishaps that may occur at the outset. The establishment of the railway across the Continent will soon be followed by the establishment of steam communication between the Western seaboard and the great settlements in the Pacific. This is a matter of peculiar interest to New Zealand, which must necessarily look to America, sooner or later, for the means of satisfactory communication with Europe.

The Irish Church Bill has made its way through the House of Commons, carrying everything before it. That it will probably meet with a very different reception in the other Chamber might be safely predicted in any case ; but the result of a private meeting {of the Peers is peculiarly significant. A Jurge majority of the members present advocated the rejection of the Bill. With the Bench of Bishops on their side, it seems almost beyond a doubt that the opponents of the measure will succeed in defeating it. Should such an event take place, the most serious collision of modern days between the two Houses will be the result. .