The Evening Herald. MONDAY, DEC. 20, 1869.

Wanganui Herald, Volume III, Issue 735, 20 December 1869, Page 2

The Evening Herald. MONDAY, DEC. 20, 1869.

The indifference which English go-, vernments have shown: of late years about the colonies, has arisen in consequence of an economical theory, that the expense of governing colonies is not compensated by their consumption of English manufactures. In other words, it is believed that the colonies would be as good customers of England if they were independent, as they are, "being colonies. The economists back their theories by Roman history, and in round argument maintain, that the principal cause of the decline of the Roman empire was, that it had outgrown itself; its power was diffused, and when assailed in one of ita most vital parts, it had neither the strength nor the .spirit to- repel- successfully the attack It would hot be difficult to show that there is no common ground for a comparison, and that the principles by which nations aire governed the I.9th century, are of modern

origin, and bear no relation to ttose which ruled purely military empire'& In a late number of Frazer's Magazine, a colonist contributes some valuable statistics of the English Colonial trade, which establish the commercial advantage of a colonial empire. The following figures require no explanation :—"ln 1851 the Queen's possessions absorbed twenty millions' worth of British goods, and the entire exports from the United Kingdom were valued at 74| millions. The colonies, therefore, were customers of the mother country in the proportion of about four fifteenths of her export trade. In 1858, the colonies took 40 millions worth of British produce, their demands having doubled in seven years. Tn the same year the entire exports from the British Isles were worth 116_f millions; the colonies consequently, had taken more than a third, or as much as the United States, Germany, France, Turkey and Holland put together. In 1866 the value of imports into the British possessions from the mother country reached a limit of over 60 millions, having advanced by more than a third in eight years. This was a year of great depression all over the world, and the export trade of the United i Kingdom was represented in round numbers, by 188 millions." The rate of progression of the different colonies is also shown -.—"Take the value of home goods and manufactures ex-1 ported by Great Britain in the years 1851 and 1864 respectively. India advanced in its importations from 8| millions to 23 millions; Ceylon from a quarter of a million to a million and a half; Mauritius from £372,000 to £824,000 ; the Australasian colonies from 3 millions to 16 millions ; Natal from £60,000 to £441,000; the Cape colony from 1| million to £1,776,000; British America from 3J millions to 7 millions; the "West Indies from 2 millions to 3 millions. Take, too, the value of colonial produce received by Great Britain during the two same years, 1851 and 1864, estimated similarly in round numbers. India moved on from 8 millions to 45 millions ; Ceylon from £777,000 to 2 millions; Mauritius from 1 million to 1 million and a tenth; the Australasian colonies from 3£ millions to 8£ millions; Natal from £2,000 to £187,000 ; the Cape from half a million to 1J million; British America from 2£ millions to 4 millions; the West Indies from 2| millions to 6| millions; and British Guiana from £814,000 to 1| million." Referring to the cost of governing the colonies, the writer asks : " What is that by the side of which a trade worth 135 millions sterling seems to sink into insignificance 1" And answers : "In the year when our colonial trade reached those figures the entire expenditure out of the British treasury chests on behalf of the colonies was, say, 3 millions and a third. Of this amount one million ought to be deducted on account of Gibraltar and Malta, which are strictly and' properly military stations, maintained for purely imperial purposes." These figures and this deduction may never have pre-"-ented themselves at a meeting of the Imperial Cabinet, but they form a protest against the policy recently pursued by Earl Granville, and in the previous Government by Caernarvon and Buckingham. It might be advantageous to some, if not all, of the colonies to separate from the mother country; but it would be a loss to England which she could never com- i pensate. There are no more new i countries to be acquired. A few! oases may be found in the deserts of Africa; but if England should part with her colonial possessions, she may expect what appears ..to be a natural consequence—her trade would fall off, her relative power be less, and the prestige of the great naval kingdom would be seriously diminished. [If there be a Colonial Congress held ;in England, tlie Secretary for the Colonies may gain information likely to reverse the policy of the Imperial Government

Excursions. —We refer oar readers to an advertisement announcing trips to different party of the Colony during the Christmas' holidays. An opportunity will be afforded of visiting the different centres, of population at very low fare*.

The Manawatu Question.—A correspondent has written to the Inpendent, describing an interview Mr Fox had with the Manawatu dissentients on Monday last: —"After an hour'of two spent in chattering with one afid another, and the usual feed, they adjourned to the Runanga house, where Mr Fox addressed them for about an hour, giving them a detailed account of his visit to the Upper Wanganui, and his interviews with Topia, &c:, and also a short account of Mr McLean's visit to Waikato, taking care to give due praise to vVi Pukapuka, a chief of Kakariki, who has been assisting Mr McLean. The natives listened with intense interest, and when Mr Fox had finished, the principal chief, Rawiri, and Matene Te Whiwhi, made complimentary speeches. One of the dissentients from the sale (Akepeta Te Tawe) then got up and tried to drag in the land question, in which he was supported by old Parakaia, who, after relating the history of the case down to to the judgment of the Court, went on to say, "Now let all that go for nothing. Let the matter be settled by concession. Give up all the land to Ngatiraukawa, Ngatiapa, and Rangitane to divide among themselves. Then we will give a piece to Featherston—a very little piece will do for him." He also threatened if the surveyors came to Himatangi he would follow in Meritana's steps, &c. Mr Fox on this told Akepeta and Parakaia that they were a couple of unmanly fellows to attempt to drag in subjects'of strife, when he was visiting his friendly chiefs in a neighborly way, and shaking hands with the leading men, he walked out. Akepeta followed him, begged his pardon, and requested a shilling to drink— which I rather think he did not get. The impression left on Mr Fox's mind, I understand, was that the obstruction of the surveys was attributed solely to a few low caste fellows, backed up and encouraged by Mr M'Donald ; and that a little firmness and patience would see all difficulties removed. Mr George Graham.—This gentleman ia earning for himself a most unenviable notoriety. Upon his letter to Earl Granville, the Southern Cross has some severe comments. It says :— " The pens of Mr William Fox and of other distinguished men have often been used with effect to combat misrepresentation, and refute calumny. But the Libellers of the Colony, who achieve a fame which is marvellously like infamy, are unfortunately very numerous, and it would be a failure of duty to allow their wanton and unfounded assertions in such a case as the present to pass unheeded. If, as an old Saxon proverb runs, 'It is an ill-bird that fouls its own nest,' then Mr George Graham, the ex-member for Newton, must be a very ill-bird indeed." Action for Defamation.—An action for £10,000 damages for defamation of character has come before the Supreme Court in Nelson. A well-known Wellington citizen, the Hon. N. Levin being the plaintiff, and Mr Beaumont, of Nelson, defendant. The action *was based on some statements made by the defendant regarding Mr Levin s conduct in relation to the insolvency of the once Hon. Mr Tetley, who departed this Colony under peculiar circumstances, and without having time to arrange his affairs or pay his debts. Mr Levin and Mr Beaumont were both sufferers by Mr Tetley's departure, and the latter gentleman used some rather strong terms in regard to the conduct of Mr Levin. The case lasted several days, and when the jury retired they, I after an hour's absence, returned, stating they were unable to agree. After a few questions had been put to them, they were sent back, the Judge informing them that unless both parties to the action consented to their dismissal, he could not discharge them until they had deliberated twelve hours. The jury were thereupon locked up until half-past two on the morning of the 4th December, when the opposing counsel, Beeing that a verdict was hopeless, agreed to a dismissal of the jury. It is said that eleven of the jury were in favor of a verdict for the defendant, and the feeling was that damages should "be merely nominal, as no special damage was proved to have been, sustained. Tour or Inspection.—Colonel Harrington is now on bis official tour of inspecting the Militia and Volunteers. Parades are ordered of all the Militia classes on Tuesday, and of the Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry on Wednesday, on the Racecourse. The Alexandra Cavalry will parade on Wednesday at Symonds' junction, No. 2 line. Colonel Harrington is allowed two months for tbe work of inspecting tbe whole island. We need not impress upon the Wanganui Cavalry tbe desirability of attending in numbers, and in their proper uniform, ou Wednesday. It would be a pity a corps which bas rendered services of so important a nature to the district and the colony as it bas done, should suffer disparagement, thc result of its own inattention.

Photography.—We have seen a photograph, taken ,by Mr Harding, of Mr Fox and party, piior to their, departure for Ohinemutu, to be present at the interview requested- by Pehi, Topia, and the King natives, lhe likenesses of the Premier, Mr Buller, and Mr Kirkpatrick are clear and well taken ; Mr Booth is a little dark, and the natives are as black as the aboriginals of Australia. The picture, however, is a very good one, notwithstanding the tendency of the artist to blacken the natives.