West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1868.

West Coast Times, Issue 918, 1 September 1868, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1868.

The relative position of Wostland with Wellington, the capital of the colony, is a peculiar one, and as an integral part of a colony, we might as well be attached to Victoria as form a part of New Zealand. Distant as we are from the seat of our legislature, the central Governmeut has done little towards enabling us to avail ourselves of the benefits of obtaining early, and anything beyond the merest skeleton form of intelligence of what 13 going on affecting us. As a rule, we have little iuterest in the general politics and squabbles of the Wellington Houses of Parliament, and-, perhaps, the greatest favor they could do us would be to leave us to ourselves. We may justly object to the game of shuttlc-oock-juid-battle-dore, which our legislators are now inclined to play with us, or to be made the. continued subject of experiment as to local constitutions, or the battle field on which the advocates of centralism shull encounter the supporteis of provincialism — but we are powerless ; our objections would go for nothing, and we are, therefore, of necessity forced into the vortex of general politics, but more as onlookers than actors, for before we can discuss or even know of the merits of any measure it is generally disposed of. There is one exception, however, to the indifference with which we view the distant affaiis of the colouj^, and to the expedition with which our Senators dispose of matters interesting to us, and that is what is called indifferently, the Maori rebellion, or the Maori difficulty. Directly we have no interest in the struggle. If is carried on far from our doors; but indirectly our interest is strong touching us in the most sensitive part, for be the result what it may, the Middle Island must be the sufferer. Whether the confiscated lands are abandoned to the Maori owners, or the settlers of the North Island secured undisputed possession, we of the Middle Island must pay the greater part of the cost. We sympathise with our fellow colonists, and will rejoice should their troublesome colored brethren be reduced to their proper position, and will cheerfully do what consistently with our own and the public good we can. The Middle Island iv the late struggle did not shrink from its responsibility. We undertook a debt that is pressing on us every day, aud we are willing to still bear our share of responsibility, but there is a limit to human endurance. We must not be dragged blindfold into

a struggle that may entail on us a, ruinous expenditure. It is time to make a stand and ascertain " the Native policy" of government. That its exposition would, as stated by Mr Stafford, injuriously affect the colony by exposing our tactics to the Maoris is simply a piece of special pleading. But were there more l-jrce in the objection than we are prepared to admit, lhe time has arrived when all such reticence must be laid aside. It is, asking too much of us to bid us stand quietly by while we are d lifting into a war with lhe Native race in which we can gain no honor, may suffer di-grace, aad are sure to incur a heavy ('.ebt. We re Gently said that an increase to the burdens already imposed on the people was not to be thought of, and though we exposed ourselves to the charge of pusillanimity in our counsels, we hesitated not to avow sentiments, and advise a course tha% vre felt and still feel assured, would be the the wisest. It is all very well to speak of British pluck, and never giving- in, but it is no less a trite than a true saying lhat discretion is the better part of valor. We then maintained that if the Colony was not strong enough to coerce the natives, or the object to be gained worth the expense, and tlsis is just what Government will not tell us, our wisest course and greatest strength would be to acknowledge our weakness, and by withdrawing our frontiers within bounds, as to which there is no dispute. We do not, of course, advise a cowardly, weakly giving up of everything, but we would cease supporting friendly against hostile tribes, for there is no reliance on such friendliness ; the friend of to-day may be the traitor of to-morrow. Nor would we counsel the removal of long established settlers to make way -for fictitious or fanciful claims to territory. Iv these two points we cannot give in. In all beyond, it is better to compensate settlers than carry on a petty ignoble series of skirmisLcs in which we have so many disadvantages in coping with tho Maoris. Since the escape of the Chatham Island prisoners what have wo gained V When we wrote last, a small body of troops had been slaughtered or put to the rout in the only encounter we had had with the escaped convicts, for enemy we cannot bring ourselves to regard the attackers — the name is as much too dignified for them, as it is a caricature to designate the outbreak a Avar. Since then our telegraphic news brings us but tidings

of disaster, and if wo thus continue j without a policy, or the adoption of any definite course, we may drift into such ignominy that, if we would, we dare not adopt an) r amicable course. In one skirmish we have five killed and five wounded, and the per contra is: one company under a colonel and the other under a captain have succeeded in burning two native settlements, but, it is significantly added, "did not encounter any rebels ;" and, perhaps, it is as well they did not, for a subsequent telegram soys that Colonel M'Donuell, Von Tempsky, with the cous tabular J' and volunteers, with £?0 men commanded by Captains Buck and Page, met a warm reception in an attack they made, and though successful in destroying a pa, their retreat was retarded by a desultory and galling fire. The gallantry of our troops achieved nothing. They retired, so "did the Jfaoris; aud except that lives wire lost, tho relative state of parties remained aa before. This is tho result of months of such fighting, and without more knowledge than we at present possess, we cau predict no other termination to a conflict of years. Were our exertions directed to the re-capture of the escaped prisoners, and the punishment of the murderers, we could understand what we are doing. Instead of this desultory fiyl.tiug md a predatory conflict is the only future we are permitted to anticipate ; and this not with the Maoris generally, but with sections of a few, tribes. The Maoris as a body are disunited and have adverse interests, and a firm judicious treatment of them, a policy that on the on'c side does not needlessly irritate, und on the other shov's no wavering front, would have saved much of our past difficulties. -The same policy is stiiL necessary. But above all, lot us avoid ail agrcssicn, shun vacillation, aud act on some known and recognised principle.

Wo have rectsivod from the author, Mr Jnmes W3 ldo, C.E., a small work, entitled " A Geography and History of Now Zealand." It beiir3 to be specially designed for the use of schools, but may be safely commended to persons of more mature years. It is a complete repertory of facts illustrative of the history, geography, produels, government, and capabilities of the "several islands, got up in the form of question and answer, and will be found a valuable book of reference. It is published at Christchurch, and Mr John Crerar, bookseller, Revell sLrect, is appointed ageut for the' sale of tho work in Hokifcik.i. The ignorance that still exists with regard to the explosive character of kerosene and other mineral oils is toinfiwhat singular. On Saturday uri accident occurred at Ross, which shows tho necessity of the greatest care in dealing with tho smallest quantities of such ai-lieles. A storekeeper there, having emptied a tin of koroscno, wished lo melt off the end of it, for which purposo he put the damaged end on the fire, aud when lie looked to sco how tho process of molting tho solder was proceeding, suddenly a viole'At explosion took place, L\y which ho »vas severely burnt. A soiree will be held to-morrow evening in the Wesleyan Church, Tancred street, in connection with lhat body, and after the tea a public meeting, which promises to bo of a most interesting character, will bo held. Mr J. M. lliggin will take tho chair. Addresses will bo delivered by sover.il clergymen and other gentlemen, and during tho evoiuurf a number of unthems will bo sung by tho choiv. We understand that the tables arc to bo furnished by the ladies of tho congretation, and remembering how tho Wesleyan body on former occasions provided for the bodily and mental enjoyment of those who attend such meetings, that of to-morrow may be loosed forward to with pleasure. Tho police force of Marlborough resembles the army of La Grande Duchesse do Gerolstein, in tho famous burlesque. It consists of 1 Commissioner of Police, 1 Inspector, 2 Sergeants, aud 1 full private. Lsmentable to relale, the force bus received no pay for (lie last three mouths — tl.o Provincial Treasury not being equal to l!io demand. f lue capital of tho Province has loit its only Government for the same reason. Tho weather yesterday was very unsettled, and tho full of rain was at timP3 very heavy. The body of water tliat came down tho river did goxl service in widening and deepening lhe new channel. Speaking of the lato achievement of the telegraph — "To San Francisco and back in two minutes !" — tho " Alhen&nin snya : — " To accomplish (.his the wires were 'joined up' all across America, from Heart's Content to the great Culifornian port. The message was sent from Valentin, at 7.^1 a.m. on the first of February, tho acknowledgment wa3 received at 7.23 ; the S:m Francisco time being 11.20 p.m. of January 31. Tho distance trnvollcd by the messago going and coming was about 14000 mile 3. This is a lurgo instalment towards tho telegraph thai is lo stretch all round tho globe, and bring us news from New Zouland and all intermediate places at least twico a day." Tho London " Timoi " lias a lcaJin^ arlielo on the subject of tho return of tho Duko of Edinburgh. After expressing regret that liis would prevented him from continuing his voyage, our contemporary remarks :—ln: — In New Zealand, ono of the most interesting of our Colonies, and one which is said to reproduce most nearly all tho society of England, thore had been the moat engor anticipation of tho Prince's arrival. Ho was to visit thoso noble harbors, tho future seats of a vast c.wimereo when tho Bfitnin of lhe Smth. shill have taken bor placo as ono of fho chief nations of tho earth ; ho was to ascend tho lofty peaks which look down on some of the most fertilo plains of tho southern hemisphere. When tho news cumo that this was imposoiblo, that the Royal visitor lay wounded in his cabin and nuiat return to England at once, there was an outburst of indignation and regret which almost impelled the colonists to give short shrift to soino troublcsomo Fenians who uci\) chattering aud threatening in thoir towns. Wo hope, for tho sako of our Now Zealand friends, that it will not be iinpossiblo to send them a Royal visitor at somo l'uturo period. At any rate, there is now abundant proof that tho instiuuts which hold such powerful sway ul home nro oven stronger in colonial braisls, and it is v satisfaction that ono of the Queen's son's should have em-

1 biMceJ a profession which enables him to gratify them hy his pie;-enc>\

Tho "Wellington Independent" of 27th inst. states " (lwt William Charles Roberts, Esq., of Ilokitika, has been gazetted a Justice of the Peace, and that George Wm. Harvey, E^q., has been appointed Crown Solicitor for the Westland District, vice J. H. O'Loughlin, Esq., resigned.' 1

Ono of the most daring attempts at escape from tho Mount Eden Stockade that lias ever been made (says the " New Zealand IL'erald 1 ' of August 6tli) was perpetrated yesterday afternoon. Four men, named respectively Bryant, Korsting, Goldsmith, and Campbell, managed to rid themselves of their fetters, and made a rush for liberty. It appears that about a quarfer-past three yesterday afternoon the four prisoners were working in tho quarry outside tho Stockade, with tho usual guard over them. These men must doubtless for a long timo have been concocting a ptan of escape, &,n& in this instance took advantage of the guard's back being turned for a few moments to cut through the links of their irons with the &teel poiut3 of their gads. Throe of them adopted tliis mode of escape, and the fourth managed to hammer his shackles into an oval shape, so a 9 to be able to slip his feet through them. As soon as the four were at liberty they attempted to rush past the warder on guard; who threatened to shoot llieni if they persisted in any attempt at escape. Regardless of consequences, they rushed on, saying, " Blow away." The warder Scott, fired, a3 did also Constables Jackson and G-amble, but apparently without effect. All the men were subsequently recaptured, aud it was found that one had been wounded in the hand, and another in the tho thigh.

Tho '/Ararat Advertiser" furnishes another comical Hlu'strdtion of life in the bush :—: — " Last Sunday evening Mr Swan was accosted by a man in Barkly-street, whom he had known some years beforo i\3 being in the employ of the Messrs Wilson Brothers, on ono of thoir stations near Horshain. On being reminded of tho former acquaintance with the stranger, lie entered into conversation with him relative to his position and pros-^ peets. The traveller, who was well mounted stated tliat latterly ho had been doing very well, co woll, indeed, as to induce him to enter into tho married stale ; and that he was then on his way up the country to tlie place wliich he intended making his home. Bill as- there wiis no sign of drays or baggage of any description) the poi-itioh of tho horseman thus equipped aud travelling, did not appear to tally with that of a very happy man who had passed tho honeymoon : and on being questioned as to tho whereabouts of his wife, he said : ' Well, you see, sir, I can't afford to coach her, and the won't go, by dvayo, and so' — pointing to a hoi-se and rider, both of which appeared to be getting impatient — ' there she is ; she rides fust rato, I can toll you j used to do it before she was spliced, and so she made some of my tog 3 a lit lie less to fit her like, nnd that's tho way wo travel.' The figuro on horseback was certainly dressed iv men's olothes, aud, if oue of the gentler sex, rode as though she laid not been on horseback for the Grsfc time."

115 llonov Judge Clarke will hold a sitting, under tho Debtors and Creditors Act, thi3 morning. At the conclusion of this sitting, fjie District Court will sit in Bankruptcy.

Wo take the following from last evening's " Despatch" : —

The coach for Greymouth left Cobb and Co.'s office this morning, at 11 .o'clock. Passengers — Messrs Ivenrick and Kilgour.

Much interest is being felt By tho members of tho Fire Brigade in tile trial of preparing and making np t 1 c firo engine, which took place on Friday evening lust, and tho result of which was published in Saturday's Despatch, and many are the inquiries as to when tha return match is to como off. These personal contests of smartness and manipulating skill will effect a great amount of good amongst the members of the Brigade, by inducing a spirit of keen competition, and thus loading to that increased efficiency which is inevitably the result of constant practice-. Wo hear that it is the intention of Mr King, the victor in the trials that have hitherto como off, shortly to send a challenge to tho smartest man of tho Greymouth Fire Brigade to ungage with him in a similar friendly contest. Mr John Shane, of Ilokisika, has presented tho sum of JBL to the members of tha Ilokitika Eire Brigade, in acknowledgment of their services in extinguishing a firo on his premises. Tiiis is the first donation thifc lia3 been presented to tile Brigade for similar services, and Mr Shauc'd example is worthy of imitation.

We are requested by Mr Andrew Young, ti^eut for Cobb and Co., at Ilokitika, and who drove the Clirktehurcli coach on the return trip, to state that no information was given from Cobb and Cj.'s office to the elfoct that tho coach did not arrive beforo Sunday, on account of the bad state of tho road, a3 mentioned in this morning's " Observer." The reason of the coach being one day late was, that it did not leavo Christchurch until Saturday morning on account of tho necessity of clearing tho snow from Porter's Pas 3. Mr Young requests us to state that so far from the r oad being bad, it is in capital condition.

An accident occurred to-day at noon at tho Big Paddock. A miner named Honry Mill was standing on tho edge of a sluice box, engaged iv feeding, when, through his foot slipping, he fell off the stage, and it is feared fractured hia right log. His mates bound up the injured limb to the best of thoir abilty, and placing him on a litter, brought him into town, whenco he was conveyed to the hospital.

Tho " Southland Ncw3" gives tho following account of gold diggings at Stewart's Island :

— " Two or three parties have been recently prospecting at Smoky Cave, Stewart's Island, and have obtainod very encouraging results. One great drawback they have to contend with is the difficulty of obtaining provision*, or moving from place to place, on account of I ho close underwood and brakon nafuro of tho ground. A party of soven was lately lost in tho bush for several days, and narrowly escaped starvation. Tho miners are very sanguine of success, as much as twenty ounces having been obtained by three men for a fow weeks' work. They express tho hope that Government will do for thorn what has been done for tho miners of Oropuki aud Longwood, viz., cause tracks to be cub through the bush, so aa to enable prospecting to bo carried on with less hardship and risk than at prosent."

The- following comparative statement of the number of newspapers soufc through the Post. Oillce in Now Zealand during the years, 1866

and 1867, shows a falling off of nearly half since tho imposition of the penny postage tax in each year :—: —

•„ 1867 1,390,368 The liuo of telegraph between Greymouth and Hokitika is down near the Arahura. The Christchurch line is working very badly, consequent we presume upon tho bad weather. The " Philadelphia Medical Eeporter" describes the case of '.he sou of a clergyman •who has just died insane at the age of 81, having become insane at college at the age of 21. j According to Ihi3 astounding statement, for nearly two yeai'3 he was not confined, until hia father's life l >ad been repeatedly endangered by his violence, when he was restrained with chains for a couple of years, and then was placed in a strong cage in the garret of the house, whenco he uever came forth while ho lived- No clothing could be kept on him ; bub in severe weather he. would allow himself to be covered with d .blanket', which lasted only till his propensity for destruction became stronger than his fear of the cold. His cage was not high enough for him to stand erect, and he remained constantly in a sitting position, leaning back against the timber when he slept. His limbs could not be straightened, his hair was never trimmed ; and for cleanliness ho received only the attention given to a poorly kept animal. In fact, ho had lost all appearance of a human being, and had nearly lost his faculty of speech. No official or legal im estigation of his case, or his class of cases, has ever been made by the Government, but he was left in this pitiable, but unpitied stat«i iri ( the midsl of a highly enlightened and Christian' people, to howl and shriek and groan, and suffer the unutterable horrors of mental madness for sixty years.

Tasmanian papers comment rather dolefully on the lately published statistics of that colony for 1867. The "Hobai't Town Mercury" remarks I - 1 " We regret being obliged to ac&nowledge that. these returns convey no very encouraging impression of the state of the country, and they fully warrant Mr Nowell remarking at tho conclusion of his elaborate analysis that a review of tho condition of the colony presents but fow eucouraging features ; in almost every direction the same law of decadence is found to have been in operation as in the preceding years. « . . Our agricultural and pastoral intbresb, bur imports and exports, our bank returns, whaling and mineral resources, all tell b\e> same melancholy story of forsaken prosperity and cankering decay. There is not a single return in the whole catalogue which indicates permanent health in any one branch of industry. Flour mills, bone mills, breweries, saw mills, are each and all decreasing in numbers, while no new industry of any importance supplies their place. We grow less grain, less wool, prepare less timber for market than we did ten years ago, and amidst this universal decline of tho general prosperity, wo have the most perplexing of all problems presented to us for solution in the fact that we still continue to sell large quantities of Crown lands, and to receivo proportiouably largo sums of hard cash in return for them. Surely the system which produces such a result as this, under the present circumstances of the country, must be radically defective, as well as ruinously exhausting." "

A correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times," who signs " Senu-Pakeha," sends the following intelligence : — " Not many days ago a Hau-hau prophet visited Waitoitftiti, Attended with a retinue of his dusky brethren from Moeraki. Having arrived at tho Maori pah the prophet invited the natives to assemble at tho church ; the greater portion did go, the fow that did not respond to the call were those who had been covorted to the Weslcyan fuith. No one was allowed to enter the church tliat had not embraced tho Hau-hau faith. Prom the great uproar going on during the performance of service, it is supposed the congregation was walking in procession or dancing whilst thero. After the very exalted of prophets, Mr Solomon (for that is the prophet's name), had concluded his sermon, he walked out and placed himself at the door, holding a box of matches in his hand, from which he took matches and lighted them in succession, whilst the congregation left tho church, eaoh individual bowing beforo tho lighted match ss ho passed by. Several halfcast os havo joined the Hau-haus, so they muster pretty Btrong at Waikouoiti. The few natives that would not join them havehad orders to leave the Pah, consequently some have lefc for the south, and others are on tho point of going. Amongst those unfortunates who have got warning to leave is an old Maori missionary, a disciple of the Rev Mr Creed, a Maori linguist, well known to the early settlers as a zealous reformer of the aboriginals in the Christian faith during the early part of the settlement. Mr Creed was culled away in 1862, and since that time scarcely any white missionaries have been amongst the natives. Nevertheless the old Maori missionary I havo mentioned, oaused the Church of tho Pah to be built, wherein tho old man has held Divino Service twice every Suuday for years. He haa alao cmployod himself in teaching tho children to road and writo in Maori ; tho fruit whereof is, that tho natives hitherto have proved themselves peaceable, aud industrious, thereforo uaoful, subjects. I thiuk it vory hard that Mathew, for that is tho old Maori's name, who has proved himself tho Paler Palrie of his people, that that he should be compelled to leave his wigwam and bit of ground, and go elsewhere in his old age, because he continues steadfast to his Christian faith, and doos not apostate to that of Hau-hauisin. Thore seems to be some Freemasonry iv connection with this now faith, for none but Hau-haus are allowed to bo present during their ceromonies. It would be well for the Government to keep its oyos on this affair. Sir, my reason for troubling you with this letter is that Hauhauism of the North is synonymous with things I should not like to Bee iv Otago, upon however small a sciilo. ' "

On Wednesday morning a special service waa held in St. Michael's Church, Christchurch, in commemoration of the return of the llight Rev. Dr. Harper', Bishop of Christ? churcli, to hi 3 diocese". At the Conclusion df ilie sefVice an address from the clergy wii3- ", presented to the bishop, and elicited a suitable reply. In the evening a social gathering aad pitblic meeting. was held in the Town Hall,,tlie cliair being taken by Mr 3J. j. !§. HarmanL The meeting was largely attended by membersof the Church of England and several gentlemen of other religious denominations were presonl. An address from the laity was preeented, to which the bishop replied in a somewhat lengthy speech. Speeches were also delivered by the Very Rev. the Dean of Christchurcli and others of the clergy.

Province, oickltmd, , o . 'atadakl, )> lawke's Bay, Vellingtdn; S> felson, » iTavlborougli, )) Canterbury, i) )tago i) Southland, ToxAis 1866 1867 „...,»... 1860 1867 1866 186.7 1866 ..-...:.... 186T 1866 1867 1866 1867 1866 1867 1866 1867 1866 „ 1867 1866 :... despatched. 5f11,148 1?9,O40 20,170 11,052 81,922 ..5.8,^3 286,889 i75,f65 158,877 83,252 65,419 34,264. 597,220 269,852 561,841 519,253 80,525 5&,106 t)it3,541