NEW ZEALAND OF TO-DAY.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 178, 25 February 1868, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND OF TO-DAY.

The following thoughtfully written .article upon New Zealand, is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald:

The Panama mail will convey Sir George Bowen to his Government. The statements with reference to Sir George Grey to welcome the Duke of Edinburgh will thus he refuted. He has, however, completed the usual term and, therefore, his recall cannot be viewed in the light of a disgrace. At this distance, and seeing tilings through the colored lens of contending parties, we are not warranted in forming any final opinion with respect to his administration. Leaving him, therefore, to the judgment of history, we can only congratulate New Zealand on receiving a successor who has had experience in one of the more trying, though not conspicuous of the Australian dependencies. When Sir G. Boweu entered upon his office in

Queensland the population was only a few thousands. The celebrities, though many of them were estimable in private life, held narrow views caracderistic of the form Liberalism takes in all young colonies. Time has, no doubt, taught many lessons, even to those who used to threaten rebellion if not invested with all the rights privileges, and profits of self-govern-ment.

Thus, an immense territory was confided to the management of a small population, and it was expected that it would bo found a source of revenue sufficient to meet its utmost expenses ; but the cost of initiating government is always great, and the power of levying f axes upon a scattered community exceedingly restricted. Everything had to be done. That so much has been accomplished entitles the people of Queensland to credit, and proves that they are not behind their Australian brethreninthe colonising spirit. The troubles into which they have lately fallen, and from which, perhaps, they are now really recovering, have always followed the first-steps of colonisation. There is an exaggerated idea of the value of land. There U an excessive competition in the supply of all merchandise. Houses of business multiply too fast. Bents are enormously high. The temptation to anticipate future means becomes general and irresistable, the banks, participating in the common idea, and reiving upon the double securities which they command, and upon the large profits they seem to make, extend their accomodation to the utmost. Certain persons, who have more experience than the rest, begin to realise; they press for payment. They sell their allotments at a lower than the current rate. They recall their mortgages, which in the first instance exceeded the ultimate value. The people become slow in their payments. The shopkeepers involve the merchants. The banks take the alarm. Then comes the panic—the crash—when property is sold almost for a song. Happily for Queensland there was succour to be obtained,although at great sacrifice and with somo difficulty, from colonies more established. There was also ths experience of a re-cuper-ative power in the colonies which was not acquired when South Australia was formed, and when fixed property sank into a nominal value. The colonies had beeome too strong and too firm on their foundations to have any apprehension of final failure at Queensland, and thus capital performed in part its task, and sustained the Queensland community in the crisis of its trouble. "What seemed the most feasible plan to the Ministers was to make people accept paper instead of gold in discharge for public obligations. Their idea was, that this would create a credit and restore public finances. They knew perfectly well that bills and notes dispensed with the issue of coin. It seemed to them not unnatural that a similar office could be performed in Queensland, where it was so much required. Fortunately for himself and for the colony of Queensland, Sir George Bowen performed his duty and obeyed his instructions. Although, perhaps, a questionable momentary convenience may have been lost by his firmness, he really preserved the credit of Queensland. The establishment of the Queensland Executive was so far facilitated that the laws of the elder colony were in full force until repealed, and the presence of colonial Government, was almost reduced to a code in matters of secondary importance- But the new offices created by the separation had to be filled. Candidates were of course supplied in. great profusion. Many of them were not adapted for their work. The men thrown into political power were little versed in its exercise, and thus all the difficulties of starting, where every man was a candidate for everything, between the office of watch-house-keeper and that of Governor (an exception only made because it depended upon the direct appointment of the Crown). Of course this crude ambition has been partly corrected by time. The great difficulty will always

be in expenditure. Wo hope that the people of Queensland will avoid the habit of leaving everything to the central power, and multiply officers without increasing their practical efficiency. In appointing Sir George Bowen to the charge of New Zealand the British authorities have given the strongest evidence of their appreciation of his ability. There are some happy positions where good intentions and moderate intelligence are sufficient to ensure success, but we cannot hope that so easy a path awaits the successor of Sir George JGrey. He vvill find all the animosities of a long and acrimonious struggle dividing society. He will find

men, some reaiiy quunecl tor anything, but who nevertheless are in danger, from their experience and the strength of their will of warping the judgment and seducing to a party the confidence of the Queen's representative, who should be the protector and friend of all. There are no guarantees against egotism and covetousness which belong to all ranks alike and are oiily disguised, hardly moderated, by education and superior social standing. Sir Oeorsre Bowen. however will rlmihtlnaa

close his ear against all that does not belong to the duties of his office, and seek by all means to reoncile conflicting interests, by which a colony so situated is apt to be divided. The rivalry of various capitals, the encroachment of different Superintendents, the opposition of communities of such various origin, will all have their distracting effect. We have always had an impression that in the central PnnHmmif

there was more propriety and decorum and less of that violent deniagoguisrn which has too often made some of our Australian assemblies a scorn. It is pleasant always to do with men who have been accustomed to the habits and social code of educated society, even though they may not be more sound in their principles or more respectable in their lives. There is a grand future opening to New Zealand It is a noble colony, and posesses all ihe elements of greatness. Its scattered population may be united by commerce and its Government facilitated by the increasing means of intercourse. Its position will give it a high and commanding place in the centres of British influence. We wish well to the Government; and it will be a fortunate thing if the visit of the Prince should be the means not only of rallying all parties, but opening the way for a final pacification of the hostile JSTew Zealanders, for whose fate no philanthropist can ever be unconcerned.