The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3524, 14 January 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1886.

_HE latest news from Samoa is surely sufficient to rouse tho martial enthusiasm A the belligerent Buckley and the terrible Tole to fever-heat. We are in hourly expectation of bearing that the Hinemoa Las once more been ordered to get up steam and wait with " bunked Bres," as she did about a year ago, while the Ministry make up their minds whether they will send a declaration of war to Prince Bismarck and sweep the German vessels out of tbe South Seas. It is to be hoped, however, that having once made New Zealand ridiculous in the eyes of the world over the Samoan question tbey will be content, without involving us in another escapade of tho same absurd character. As far as one can judge from the accounts which have reached us the Germans certainly seem to have been carrying matters with a high band, and poor King Malietoa has been having a very unpleasant time of it. On the other band it is quite possible that we have heard only ono side of tbe question, and that the Germnns may bave move warrant for their actions than appears on tbe surface. However this may be, the matter is one in which this colony can do very little, beyond representing its views to tbe Home Government. Ministers may desire to Bally forth like knight errants, to figbt tbe battles of King Malietoa and the unfortunate Samoanß, but tbe people at large are distinctly opposed to any such Quixotic conduct. The question is one which concerns tbe Home authorities, and not tbe colony of New Zealand. .Tbe Home Government has its treaties with tbe German Government and with King Malietoa, it has its resident consul, and tbe latter, according to the recently published reports, has made an energetic protest against the line of conduct which the German offioialshave thought proper to pursue. "With- Lord Salisbury, and not, with Sir Julius Vogel, Mr Buckley, or Mr Tole, rests the responsibility of seeing that the treaty obligations of other Powers to Great Britain are respected, and that tbe lives and property of British subjects, whether in Samoa or elsewhere, are properly protected. Tbe English Colonial Office, we observe, having had ite attention drawn to tbe recent disturbances, has Bimply replied that " there is no reason to believe that Germany intends to annex Samoa." That, however, is not tbe whole question. There are many things which German officials might do, short of absolute annexation, which might be very vexatious and call for an emphatic remonstrance from tbe English Government. They might for instance involve tbe island in a constant stnte of turmoil, and thus render existence almost unendurable to tbe other European residents. That would be a stato of things which we hope would not be allowed by tbe English Government to pass unnoticed, simply because it did not amount to annexation. New Zealand Las already been given to understand in pretty plain terms that she cannot be permitted to interfere in the Samoan question, and it is extremely fortunate for her that some of her rulers have been curbed of their will in this matter. New Zealand is not a colonising Power, and is not likely to be one for many years to come. When her sons begin to leave her in any appreciable numbers it will be a sign that her capacity for supporting tbem is beginning to be taxed to its full extent, and we hope that that day is still distant. Certainly when we bave our banda so fall of our own affairs it is not a favorable opportunity for burdening ourselves with tbe responsibility of ruling a far-away group of islands, whose successful government must for years to come prove a most expensive and difficult undertaking. It is possible that tbe Germans are getting rather tired of their anomalous and unprofitable position in Samoa, and would be quite willing to sell out. It is even possible that the recent disturbances bave bad something to do with a desire to precipitate the sellingout process. We in this colony, however, should be worse than lunatics to burden ourselves with taxation for any such harebrained purpose. Having got rid of the Germans, we should come in conflict with the American interests, and although tbe natives — or rather [the Kingite section of tbem — are ap- [ parcntly anxious for annexation just [now, we might find them very different people to deal with when we attempted to introduce taxation, police regulations, Acts of Parliament, and all tbe other blessings supposed to be inseparable from a civilised Government. The New Zealand Ministry will do well to keep tho Home Government posted up in the progress of Samoan affairs, and to see that the feelings and interests of this colony are not ignored in any settlement which may be made. If tbey do more than this they will probably do more barm than good, and certainly will receive no thanks from tbe public of New Zealand.

| —-■ When tbe Harbor Board deal with tbe subject of dredging, they will do well to consider whether it will not be advißable for tbem to go in for a thoroughly good dredge on their own account, such as will be sufficient constantly. to maintain jthe port in working order for large ! Bteamers. Tbe original idea was to hire | tbe Oamaru dredge for a time, to e_-

cavate a number of channels, and then purchase a Priestman dredge for tbe purpose of keeping these channels clear thereafter. We believe, however, that the opinion of practical authorities is that it would be better for the Board to go in for a really large and efficient dredge when it is about it. If the Oamaru dredge can be obtained on reasonable terms, it would still be advisable to hire it for a time, in order to make a good start with the work without delay. If we are correctly informed, however, the Oamaru machine is only capable of dredging to a depth of 23 or 24 feet, and already we bave a depth of about 20 feet iu the harbor. Clearly, we want one that will excavate to a greater depth than this if we are to make a really good job of tbe work. Considerable improvements have been mado of late in this description of plant, and dredges are now constructed capable of taking the spoil out to sea, and towing out a vessel if necessary at tbe same time. A really good article of this kind, easy to handle, and thoroughly efficient in its working, would be better, and in the end probably cheaper than a makeshift at a nominally less cost. There is reason to believe that other ports would be glad to hire it from U3, and so tho cspense of maintenance would be correspondingly reduced. Depth of water is, after all, the great essential now required in this port, and we should not be satisfied unless we can take in tbe first-class steamers employed in the New Zealand trade. In one respect, although we are a little behind some of the other ports in the commercial race, the delay has been of some benefit to us, because we are able to take advantage of the improvements which experience has brought to light, and shown to be necessary. There is no doubt other Harbor Boards bave wasted thousands of pounds simply because they were not able to look sufficiently far ahead* The revolution wrought in the New Zealand carrying trade within the last four or five years has been little short of marvellous. How it has affected some ports may be seen by taking a glance at Lyttelton and noting the enormous berthing accommodation provided for sailing vessels now never used, and never likely to be. It is well, therefore, for us to look ahead, to realise the fact that the bulk of tbe trade in future will be done by steamers, and that these will probably become larger rather than smaller. Realising this fact, it behoves us not only to provide proper wharfage but to secure appliances capable of obtaining an ample depth of water for their requirements. The whole question at any rate is one deserving the most careful attention of the Harbor Board.