Latest Telegrams.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 188, 18 December 1868, Page 2

Latest Telegrams.

[bx electeic tele&baph.] ■Wellington-, Dec. 17, 8 p.m. "Mr FitzGerald publishes in this morning's Independent a four column letter supporting self - reliance, or rather deprecating the application for Imperial troops because — (1) A conflict of authority is sure to arise. (2) A military force which is independent of the Civil power is a standing menace to liberty, and the moment it comes into active life becomes a permanent difficulty to civil government. (3) It is the most costly mode of carrying on internal war; admitting the coat of Imperial troops to be less per man, the whole bill at the conclusion of operations would be found more expensive than if colonial trooper only were used. (4) Imperial troops are not here only to fight battles and go ; they unavoidably become a political power, vitiating the harmonious working of our political institutions, by criticising colonial policy and conduct. A people possessed of national respect ought not for a moment to contemplate subjecting the Governor, Ministers, and colonists, to the contemptuous language of the military as during the last war. (5) The appeal would damage our national credit ; national credit being I based on national resources and vitality, an admission of our having over-estimated our military resources would lead to the inference that we had also over-estimated our financial powers. I (6) Damage to colonization: No I one would join us if we show that we are afraid of living here ourselves. (7) The greatest of all reasons is, because it would tend to sap and wither all the raai elements of national life. /^Mr FitzGerald then remonstrated against carrying on war in a savage manner — head money, use of dogs, showing no quarter, &c, and concluded by stating that New Zealand would do well and wiseJydn this crisis to rely on herself alon|/i|jlle then pointed out that EnglandßraNa duty towards the colony, and she^mght to help with money and arms. In that way alone, he Baid, " can England help without deadening the sense of our own duties, without interfering with our own self-gofetffment, without paralysing our natiomUifejL VAt a meeting, last night,Vt%ak resolved to form a Distillery Compan^j