THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; OR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, 3rd OCTOBER. COLONIAL DEFENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1965, 3 October 1863, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent. "NOTHING EXTENUATE; OR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, 3rd OCTOBER. COLONIAL DEFENCE.

A PERUiAL of the discussion on Colonial Defence in the House of Lords on Jane 29th, as reported in the Times presents a true picture of New Zpaland affairs from an English point of view. Lord Lyttelton when presenting a petition from Taranaki, took occasion to enter into this question, and was followed by the Duke of Newcastle, Earl Grey, aod Lord Lyreden. We confess that Lord Ljttleton is by no means clear either Jin statement or reasoning, indeed it is almost impossible to understand very clearly what he meant in some parts of bis speech, but that is probably due to bad reporting, at leasl, such is the explanation given by the London correspondent of the Lyttellen Times, who says that the language of the noble lord was infinitely more favourable to the colonies than could be supposed from the report. He bowever laid down the principle " that the cost of war ought to be borne by those for whom it was carried on." and said it would apply with special force iu the case of New Zealand. This was qualified again, by an admission that while the colouy labored under its present difficulties, it was necessary to treat it with consideration on the question of Military defence, until the lapse of such a period, as would enable it to manage its own affairs, — wars included. The Duke of Newcastle does not at present lay down any principle at all, but grumbles at the expenses of the former war, allegrs that it origiuated with the settlers, and was carried on for their advantage— thereby favoring the conclusion that they must pay for it. He, however, does not go the length of asserting this, last, because in reply lo Lord Lyttleton, he ' remarks: — "As far as principles are concerned, heap" pears to me lo go beyond anything which I have expressed in the d«spatch to which he has referred, in respect to the liability of the colonists for the expenses of the war ; for he said most emphatically that, though he is unwilling to lay down any general principle, yet he thinks there is one rule of universal application that all colonies are bound to hear the expenses of their own defence, which includes the control of the natives within their borders. I, myself, during the time that I have held the seals of the Colonial-office, have always felt it objectionable to lay dowo general theories to apply to varying circumstances, but it must be borne in mind under what circumstances this despatch was written. A year ago I wrote a despatch to thecolony of an essentially practicaloharacterand in answer to that the two Houses of Parliament of. New Zealand seut over a memorial to her Majesty of the most extraordinary character I ever heard of as coming from a Crown colony. Though I have laid it dowu as a general principle that the colonies should provide for iheir own defence, I bave never said that all assistance from the Home Government should be withdrawn from New Zealand, aud that the colonists should be left to fight out their own battles with the natives. On the coutrary, in the despatch of May, 1862, I said expressly that the troops would not be withdrawn at present." This is at least satisfactory to some extent. The Imperial Government recognises the ne« cessity, whatever may be its opinion of the duty, to afford us assistance in time of need ; and what we hate since learned relative to large reinforcements despatched, shows that there is a deteimination to afford all necessary help in the present crisis. If 3000 men could he ordered for service, when only the news had arrived of the attack on the Escort, surely everything required iu the way of further assistance would be grauted, when the intelligence readied England that war had been commenced with the most powerful tribes in New Zealand. If there be one thing more tl.an another .vliich will impress Colonial readers in this de>ate, it is the failure to recognise the existence )f a general determination on the part of the Native race not to submit to British rule, do natter whether administered by Imperial or Colonial officials. Earl Grey for instance said : " The Mamies had shown themselves capable f government and anxious to submit to a fair nd impartial government ; and it had also ieen shown that, by the authority of the Crown, iroperly supported and exercised, a state of • leace and good order might be preserved which, n the course of a few years, or perhaps he hould rather say generations, might had to he amalgamation of the two races and the fornation of a happy and contented community. [f the present state of things were allowed to io on, n, war of extermination might result;

other settlements besides Taranaki would be involved in similar calamities, and that was a state of things which they weie not justified in allowing to arise. The measures to avert these consequences were not difficult to discover. It was not necessary that the war should be revived, or to deprive New Zealand of the benefits of representative institutions. What was necessary was that the executive authority of the Crown should be re-established ; that the Governor should be responsible to the Crown and the British Parliament for his executive administration."

One could almost smile at the ignoiaoce of the real state of affairs displayed by the last speaker. Have wenot tried every thing that could be tried to induce the Native Race to receive our laws, and to accept the institutions specially brought into existence for them ? Has not the best Governor that England could find been sent here to throw the immense weight of his personal influence into the scale ? Has not forbearance been stretched to its utmost limits, — and what has been the result ? The Native Race is determined to rush on destruction in pursuit of a phantom nationality. It is only when their strength has been measured against

ours, and when defeat has crushed presumption

that any hope of tbeirreal submission can be felt. + They are determined to fight, and thej,tnust be worsted. But that this question can be better settled by the Imperial Government alone, is what we do not believe. The Imperial Government has tried the experiment already of managing native affairs— aud it has failed. The Duke of Newcastle has admitted this, failure and it is scarcely likely after the experience of the past be will again attempt it. Moreover, it is clearly the duty of the colonists to grapple manfully with a difficulty, on the settlement of which hangs all our hopes of the future.