THE GOVERNER, THE MINISTRY, AND SELF-RELIANCE.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1171, 15 December 1868, Page 2

THE GOVERNER, THE MINISTRY, AND SELF-RELIANCE.

A telegram transmitted from Wellington on Sunday night by an occasional correspondent stated that differences between the Governor and the Ministry had grown so j great that an immediate dissolution was imminent. We made enquiry through the telegraph in the course of yesterday, and find, as our latest telegrams show, that the story originated with Mr. Haughton, of Gaol Commission notoriety, now Undersecretary for the Defence; and it is said there is no ground for the statement. Coming from such a source as an Undersecretary would seem to give something like confirmation of the original statement. Either this, or an official has been guilty of propagating an unpardonable hoax, on a subject all too serious for officials to play with. We nave long ago pointed out the advisability of obtaining military assistance from the other Colonies, a force, such as it seems can be spared by Lord Belmore, and which will do military duty, and take part in fighting the savages. Self-reliance has proved a failure. Our men have been defeated time after time, and have yielded up large tracts of what was settled and flourishing country. Sneers used to be applied to the doings of the regular force j but the regulars defeated

and pacified Waikato. Mr. Stafford's army ' has accomplished—what ? losses and failure only as yet. The recent successes in Poverty Bay were the work chiefly of native allies, whom the commander of the forces has disgusted. The questions of self-reliance and centralism are the questions of the day. The Government support both; with what result is known- Is Nelson prepared to' support a policy that has been so disastrous.