West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 910, 22 August 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 1868.

The disturbances in the North Island are, as might be expected, giving rise to a multitude of suggestions as to the best way of dealing with the great bar to New Zealand progress — the Maori question. At a public meeting held recently in Christchurch, a gentleman intimately acquainted with the Maoris and their troubles, seriously advocated the advisability of drawing a Hue round the principal native settlements in the North Island, and forbidding any communication between the two races. He urged that such a course would speedily bring the disaffected tribes to their senses, by showing them the true value of the connection they had foil'eited by their misconduct. One shoit answer to thu proposal is sufficient. It is not practicable. There would be a frontier to defend ; and the colony is not in a position to undertake the expendiiure. A second proposal has been made in the Assembly by that stout old East Indian, Mr Craeroft Wilson, namely, that the colony should find him ten thousand pounds, with which sum he would very quickly put a stop to all Maori nonsense. How the hoaorablu member would eot about his task we are not informed ; and ns he is known as a large talker, his offer served only to raise a smile on the faces of persons who knew more about the subject. Not that Mr Wilson is only a talker, for his career in India proves him a good man and true. What he meant to imply, and indeed what he said in other parts of his speech, was that tho Government were remiss in dealing with the disturbances, and that their action should bo sharp and decisive. Towards the conclusion of his remarks he alluded to a proclamation b} r the chief Tito Kowaru, as leaving no shelter for any more pseudo-philanthropy. The document is as follows :—": — " Wharekura, 25th June, 18G8. — To Puano and the rest, — A word for you. Cease travelling 011 the roads ; slop for ever the going on the roads which lead to Mangmnanga, lest you be left on the roads as food for tlic birds of tho air and for the beasts of the field, or for me, because I have eaten the European (Smith, trooper) as beef; lie was cooked in a pot : the womeu and children partook of the food. I have begun to eat human flesh, and my throat is constantly open for the tfesh of man. I shall not die ! I shall not die ! When death itself shall be dead I shall ba alive. That is tho word fur you, extending to Matangarara. That' is a clear word to you, extending to all your boundaries. Cease (slop). — From Titoko." Tiuly a production to make the blood boil, but not calculated to inspire confidence that Mr Wilson could restore peace to the colony for the small charge of £10,000. A correspondent, whose letter we publish in another column, advises a wholesale confiscation of the lands of those natives who do not come in and swear the oath of allegiance before a certain day, to be fixed by the Government. This confiscation policy is tho very cause of the present disturbances ; and how an extension of it could lead to a peaceful issue wo are totally at a loss to perceive. When the General Assembly passed the three millions Loan Act, it was on the understanding that the money should be expended partly in putting down the rebellion, and partly in forming military settlements on the European frontier ; and that the Colony should be reimbursed by the sale of lands taken from the tribes who had been in arms against British authority. The loan was spent, the lands were declared confiscated, and an attempt was made to form the frontier settlements. But the whole scheme proved a miserable failure. The military settlors wero not able to defend themselves. They who were to have formed the advanced guard of European colonization, required troops to assist them in maintaining their ground against tho treacherous and persevering enemy. The Maori never was a consenting, or submitting, party to the confiscations. The Government proclamation taking from him his lands, was a dead letter except when backed up by a multitude of soldiers. Ho looked upon the now occupiers as trespassers of the worst sort, and took every opportunity of venting his rage bn them. At the present day public 'opinion throughout tho colony seems to be rather in favour of tf'vhig up the forfeited lands, than making further confiscations. It is true that Mr Hall has stated that the policy of the Government is still one of coufhcalion; but Mr Stail'.ird has almost as plainly said that wo arc unable to hold what we havo already got, and has hinted at the possibility of the country being called on to compensate those who have nettled on these lands under Acts of the Legislature. With the justness of the confiscations we are not now defiling, though there is a difficulty to be met in that direction, owing to the complicatocl charaotoy pf Maori tenure, and tho eon*

sequent risk of involving the innocent in punishment which should only fall on thi! guilty. We are merely , questioning ha practical utility. To proclaim lands as confiscated, and not to bo able to take possession of them, to say nothing of keeping them aud turning them to good account, seems to us ihe very heighlh of folly. And what cr.n the Culony do in tho pivsent day to ensure the settlement of confiscated Maori territory ? Would -it be possible for purchasers to make use of the land without ajjvast pj otective expenditure on the part of the Government, and can the country afford thut expenditure. These questions must, we apprehend, be answered in the negative. Experience teaches us that the assistance of troops would be required, aud that their cost in New Zealand soon runs up a bill of a million or so. The colonists are already taxed to an extent which is severely felt by the poorer classes ; the revenue is falliug off; and throughout the Provinces there is a deadly depression and stagnation. He who at such a time advocates an increase to the burdens of the people for the purpose of effecting the colonization of the Maori portion of the North Island canuot have counted the cost. Finally if the colony is not strong enough to coerce the Natives, or ihe object to be gained is not worth the inevitable expenditure, a prompt acknowledgment of weakness would be the wisest course, and would quickly prove our greatest strength. By withdrawing within bounds about which there could be no dispute, the Maori difficulty would be at once disposed of. If we are accused of enunciating a cowardly policy, our answer is th.it the present course' is bringing ruin to both Islands, and that what we advocate would restore peace and prosperity. Many years ago the Government of the Cape of Good Hope had lo act in a similar manner, and withdraw protection from' the northern part of the colony. Those who ventured boyond the posts went at their own risk.

Tho drawing for pvkes in Procter's ArtUnion will take place this day, at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre. Wo are glad to hear that tho Co-oporntire Company, Kanicri, aro working i« excellent ground, their loturns for last week being 48 02. This week promises oven bettor things, as Monday's and Tuesday's sluicing yielded 22 oz., or at the rate of 66 oz. per week. Wo observe by our advertising columns that an adjourned general meeting of the shareholders of tho Maori Reserve Gold-Mining Company Limited willbehcldatthoS wan Hotel, Wharf street, this evening, at 8 p.m., when members aro earnestly requested lo attend. Important business will be discussed. Writing from the Five Mile Boach, Okarita, a correspondent informs us that mining there is about to receive a decided impetus by tho completion of tho two largo water races which have long been in tho courso of construction. Ono of them— the Alpinecommanding thu north end of tho beach, was finished last week, and carries from seven to ,eight heads of water, drawu from the lake situated a -short 'distance inland. The other — the Okarita Gold Mining Company's iv.eeconimunds tho south extremity of tho beach, and also has it 3 somvo in tho lake. It 13 finished all but the ilmuitig which convoys the water from the bush across tho beach. The iluming is now in hand, and will bo completed in the course of a fortnight. A saw mil), di iven by water power, is attached to this race, and i 3 proving 11 very ijrofitabio speculation to the company, the timber cut by it being in givat demand.

We havo received si copy of tho report presented to the eighth ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Southern Insurance Company, Limited, held on Friday, the 7ih of August, at the offices, Melbourne. Tho revenue derived from underwriting has steadily increased, and tho balance of the general account exhibits a larger amount in hand than any previous return. With the view of carrying out the original intention of tiie company to make tho paid-up capital £100,000, tho Directors invited the shuro-hoklfi-s to take up the uuallotted shares prior to iho 22ud of Juno lust. 1820 shares wore subscribed for, loaving 7500 shares still at the disposal of tho board. The directors recommend payment of a dividend at the rate of ten per cent, per annum.

Mr Procter is again before tho public ns a distributor of prizes upon the Art Union piinciplu, and guided by the uuhci-snlly expressed satisfaction on the part of the public at the equitable manner in which lie conducted former oveuts of the kind ; we can arrive at no other conclusion than that this oeer ylon will be marked hya no less unqualified success. Tho prizes compriso all kinds of jewellery, costly watches and clocks, nuggets of West Coast gold, varying from two ounces to eight ounces in weight, and a quautity of miscellaneous articles of undoubted worth. The highest pr'ze, a gold huuting watch aud chii'n, ;s; s valued at £10, tho lowejt at 15?, the total vuluo of the 177 prizes oU'ered being £630. Iho sum wi!' be covered by Iho issue of 10s tickets, of which between one thousand and eleven hundred I'avo al-cady boon bought up, and wo doubt not that tho balance will bo got rid of to-day, cither by di.-cot purchase or by swecpataking. Tho drawing comes off this afternoon at the Duko of Edinbu-gh Opera House, under thcniuun-cireut of v committee, to be chosen by tieket-bo'dcr3, and the boxes as usual will bo presided over by children.

The downpour of rain last evening was ineffectual to prevent a fair muster of tho Ist Company of Volunteers at tho Captain's, parade, nearly forty members being present. Tho examination for efficiency was continued in a variety of movements appertaining to company drill, aud which were gone through vciy wolt indjed, duo allowanco being made for tho inconvenience resulting from tho confined space of tho room. Of Iho members present, several had not attended on Wednesday nighl, and thoro wero tohl off in a separate squad, whilst tho othors formed Una, and to a man were passed by Captaiu C.irey, tho district Adjutant, who said that provisional upon their having attended tho requisite number of drills, lie bhould have much pleusuro in granting each man a certificate of efficiency. Captain Bonar, who conductor tho drill in person, then iutorrogatod tho romuiudor of tho won &3 to their doairo of under* going that pavb of tho examination they bad mlwd through nofc iitfoncting on

Wednesday night, and a general answer in Ihe affirmaLiro being given, ho put them to the test, tho result being with two or three exceptions favorable. The whole then formed line, and received a very complimentary address from the adjutant upon their efficiency, Vihieh he said reflected much credit upon themselves, their officers, and Sergeant-In-etruc'ov Carey. Certain business mattei'3 were afterwards discussed, including the question of giving a volunteer ball bo soon as might be convenient after the completion of the new drill shed. The proposition, vrhioh emanated from Ensign Fisher, was favorably received, and a committee of the commissioned officers appoint*. J to confer wilh tho Light Horse and No. 2 Rifles upon tho j subject. Captain Bonar reminded the Company that, vnt or dry, the adjutant's monthly parade would be held thi3 afternoon, at halfpasfc three o'clock, the men to fall in at Hansen's room, at twenty minutes past three. Ho stated positively that on tin's occasion the penalty for non-attendunca would bo rigorously enforced.

We take the following from last ovening'B " Despatch" :— We understand that a Commission has been received by Brother John Lazar, P .D.D.G.M., from the Provincial Grand Master of New Zealand, S.C., empowering him to iustal and invest Brother G. W. Harvey, E. W.M., Westland Kilwinning Lodge, S.C., as Provincial Grand Steward of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Now Zealand. We hear that the ceremony of installation and investiture will take place on Wednesday next,, at a lodge to be specially called for that purpose. Wo loam that the drill shed for the Volunieers, now erecting in the Camp Eeserve, will bo completed so H3 to be fit for use in about a month.

Tho following extract from a private letter received by tho last mail from Christchurch, will give some idea of the severity of the earthquake shock in the suburbs of that city on Monday last. The writer says — " I wa3 sitting in the parlor, near the fire-place, when suddenly the chair I was sitting on began to rock backwards and forwards, the tables and chairs movod about, the pictures on the walls swung to and fro, the clock on the mantelpiece nearly tumbled off, and a heavy box in . <he next room jumped up and down, the whole house rocked and cracked. Tho boys who wei'O outside the house heard a strange rumbling noise, the ground seemed to move under them, and a large fence near was violently shaken." The coach for Christchurch left Cobb and Co.'s office this morning, at six o'clock. Passengers — Mr Stcengracht, Mr Eilgour, Mr Kcnrick, Messrs Isaacs (2). Tho G reymoulh coach left town at halfptist 2, with one passenger, Mr Winter, County Paymaster. On reaching the Threemile Creek, nliiuh lately has been a mere lagoon, the driver. Mr Young, found it had burat out, and was running with such velocity that ho doomed it prudent to return. The wing dam in tho river opposite Kortcgast's brewery will- bo completed in a few days. IL is a substantial work, and it is to bo hoped Hint it will answer the purpose for which it has been constructed, viz., to prevent the scouring of tho north side of tho river bank during freshets. The hulk Euby is now plnccd iv position as a win" duin, and when lillcd with gravel, this portion of the river protective works will be finished. The wing dam ut tho lower end of the wharf has not been commenced, but tho contractor is making preparations for an early start.

Mr Yogel, M.G-.A., is about to introduce a bill to remove doubfs as to the privilege of the press to publish reports of public meetings. The him. member is also going (o attempt to reiuovo the prcsont restrictions on the circulation of newspapers. The Potlmustcr-G-enGvul, in reply to a question from Mr SU-veus relative to steam postal subsidies, slated in the House, that notice had been given to determine tho existing contracts in accordance with tho expressed wish of the House, and now tenders had been called for. Tho result had been somewhat disappointing, as, although he had endeavored to make tho services l : ght, tho tenders received — that for tlio one service being from ouo company, and that for tho other from the other company — showed an increase on tho present subsidies in the one case of 17 per cent., and in (lie other of 72 percent. ; the Posl master-General added thut these were terms wuich the Government could not accept.