The Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 151, 4 July 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 4, 1870.

The mission of the New Zealand Commissioners will nob have been fruitless It is true it has failed in the main or ostensible purposes for which it was created. The British regiment if nor mythical at first, has some time "ince faded from view, and the highly organised forces under whose protection New Zealand was to repose in .peace, have been'disbauded : and their great efforts over, Messrs. Ferherston and Bell have been enjoying the otium cum diginilale in the " Charing- Cross Hotel." But as we have said the mis-don has not been in vain, and the million loan guaranteed by the British Government, gives ground for as much if not more gratification than the successful conipletioti of the main purposes of the Commissioners. Had the regiment been obtained, it would no doubt have been the means of circulating a good deal of money, aud would have given no inconsiderable impulse to depressed trade; and had the highly organised *orce~ been embodied, they would have given competence and comfort to the swarm of captains and colonels in esse or in posse, with which this unhappy country is afflicted. But what would either or both of these results have been as compare! with the vista opened up in the million loan, rither of the former in i4.lt only hay* benefitted special classes, but who can say who may not have a share in the pickings from the expenditure of a million sterling. To the members of the legislature it ii? a

real godsend. The legitimate revenues of the country are strained to the

utmost and there is a danger of pub-

lie feeling awaking, and, as in others of

the colonies, demanding with indignation

that not only should no fresh appoint

tneu.be'mad- to the civil service, butthat

even of those who have been in the

enjoyment of the gifts of a beneficent

country, we should keep "no more

eats than catch mice." We say there is a danger ol* this; circumstances point to it, and in at least two of the neighbouring colonies the public voice lias demanded and effected the most sweeping reductions. Now any one that wishes well to the success of " government by party " must see that such a result would be disastrous in the extreme ; and tha* should a commission be appointed in answer to the popular demand, consisting of me^h'jit and business men, to ipjfjjj ]_"t IE S realms of res* cjALE :— . - in ' w,,at rr FARMS ' ■-,u' lil«an,!) fjßl " r° - j pert_x_a^_ with fewer offices aim officials, a whole army of the most respectable people in the colony would be thrown on their own rescources. And not only so, but for many years to come, no prospect could be held out to the "waiters on Providence" of snug sinecures mid comfortable provision from the funds of a long suffering people. To '.nil the people into peace, and to postpone such a sad denouement inter years of quiet expenditure and enjoyment, the million loan will come to us most opportunely. By legislatois in an especial manner is the million loan to be hailed with joy. It, is true that a goodly proportion of them have been comfortably provided for, and according Io the wise provision of our constitution, while still in the discus sion of great political questions ami impartial legislation,enjoy at the hands of ministers of the Crown comfortable situations iv the Civil Service. Still there are some who have been left out in the cold, and the expenditure of a million "easy come easy go" will suffice to set all matters to right. A large portion of the amount will necessarily be expended in opening up roads through the disturbed districts; and in such circumstances the ordinary system of open contract would never do. In fact, it might at any timj embroil our relations with the natives, and the man or the journal who would demand that J hi. expenditure should be directed otherwise than that which is the established and proper system in dealing with native tribes is a traitor to the country ! Native

questions are not understood by the general public, and only by the initiated.

But it is in view of an approaching general election, the subject becomes invested with fullest interest. What issues will be dependent on the result of the votes ? To have a voice in making ducks and drakes with a million . sterling! The billets, the contracts, the commissions ! for self and friends. What a mysterious interest will hover over our first ballot-box.