AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 6

AUCKLAND.

We have just had the sad news of Commodore Gcodencmgh's death, r.nd of the death of two of the five men wounded with him at Santa Cruz. The*e must be the same people who killed Bishop Patteson. Why they do these murders it is impossible to say. Guesses will abound, and the first impulse will be to put them down to revenge for outrages b}' white traders. No oae acquainted with Maori history, for example, would do this, for he would be aware of the innumerable modes by which the religious feelings or the pride of savage? can be hurt without the lea-t design. We know too little of the circiunstii".ces attending the Commodore's murder yet to form any reasonable opinion, but this I do know, that his rlenth will be regarded as a very great calamity wherever he is known, and nowhere more than in Fiji. His services as joint ConnnKsioner with Mr Layanl were highly appreciated there, and his kindly general temper attached everyone to him in the firmest manner. The "ervice, too, loses one of its ablest officers. The Commodore's kindliness seems to have prevented an example being ma«le of the murderers, for he used only blank cartridge in dealing with them to the last. One cannot but admire the man in thus mercifully dealing with ignorant B:iva7e3, but is very doubtful if truer mercy •would not be shown by giving them the strongest possible lesson once for all. After that they appreciate kindness readily enough, but they are so unused to a policy of forbearance among themselves that they uniformly attribute it to weakness, for which they have the most profound contempt. Such is the experience of every man who has had much to do with these people, and the lesson will yet, I fear, have to be taught them. Business is universally dull, and money somewhat tight, in this Province. No one is able to account for it, but the fact is admitted on all sides, and in all branches of trade stores are full, sales are difficult, and the prospect not bright. We have a spurt in mining through the rich finds of the Union Beach, but no one believes in mining now until dividends are declared. The Tairua will probably prove good, and a great help to us in the Bummer. Everyone is confident of its ultimate success as a t:olclfield, but if past experience is to be a guide, a good deal of work will have to be done and a good deal of money spent first. The Kati Kati special settlement people are to be welcomed by the Orangemen here on their arrival, and a great banquet is to be given. There are not a few who regret this, and wish Orangemen and Hibernians both in another and a better world if they are to revive old worn-out quarrels in this new land. In that respect at least, we have nothing to gain by g.ting back to the times of our grandfathers, which Mr Bowen thought a good time to quote in illustration of the applicability of the Abolition BilL The Orangemen are powerful here, and they cry out loudly against Catholic organisations as the reason for their own existence. These Catholic organisations may be abused for political purposes. Perhaps they are so as Orangemen allege. But they are at least charitable in principle, and are not based on open hostility to any_ other sect or party, which Orangemen — if their most staunch supporters are to be credited — certainly are. In the caso of the Kati-Kati people, the promoters of the banquet declare that there is nothing in it more than- the usual friendly greeting of fellow -townsman to fellow-townsman — and nothing more,