ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1188, 12 November 1873, Page 2

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

Or, Home Jottings v,y our London

CoiiREKrONDENT

London*, September 5

The last Brinclisi mails were delivered in London oil the evening of the 2nd inst., and the letter of the Wellington correspondent, dated July Ist, appeared in the Times of the 3rd mat. He Rives a very satisfactory account of the colony, and says that its only want is labour, and that you could readily take and give abundant employment to twice as many immigrants as arrive at present. His remarks are cb icily statistical—l mean founded on statistics -and arc not therefore very interesting. Touching upon native affairs,he says that they remain in .slain quo, and quotes Mr T. B. Gillies to show that the threatening of the Waikato meant nothing more than a possible " scrimmage," and adds that the settlers in that district at the date of his writing were perfectly satisfied with the action of the Government and the stops taken for their defence and safety. The Dailt/ Teleyraph, of the 3rd inst., takes a different view of the state of the colony, whence its information I know not, and says that the native difficulty presents numerous difficulties ; and that the Maori King, so called, is an " anomaly." Here is the Telegraph's article in full : —Fresh troubles, it is said, threaten the growing prosperity of New Zealand. A murder was committed, and the murderer, a Maori, took refuge in the territories ruled by the Native King. He was spurred on to this step by the issue of a proclamation offering a reward for the production of himself and accomplices, alive or dead. For some time his Maori Majesty was not disposed to shelter the fugitives, but at length he was persuaded to protect them, and, with striking frankness, he intimated his intention to the Colonial Government. Of course the first thought of the settlers was that war would ensue, and that an expedition would be sent to enforce the man's surrender. But the colonists do not seem to relish the notion of more bush fighting. Perhaps they rely upon some change in the conduct of the "Maori Court," and think that the King will be prevailed on by his subjects to yield up (he criminal. Although the sons of a once famous chief, WiHiam Thompson, have joined the King, other influential leaders, seated on the East coast, have no only refused to support his decision, but have Urged him to remove all cause of quarrel by a prompt surrender. The best symptom in the case is that no apprehension is felt by the Government or the more exposed settlers. The power once possessed by the Maoris has greatly diminished. After the collapse consequent on the Inst war many of them found it more profitable to lease than to retain their Jnnds, and thus gave substantial hostages to fortune. Some of the most turbulent districts are now • the most contented. Nevertheless, the Colonial Government may not be able to stave off an appeal to arms. Their confidence in a peaceful solution is reported to be great • but manifestly, even the indifference too strongly felt at all times by the Middle Island settlers, who have no natives in their midst, will not be proof against repeated provocations. The Maori King is an anomaly, and it is a pity well-meaning philanthropists ever invented him. If he could be made a means of keeping order, fostering reasonable progress, and conducting the relations between the Maoris and the European population ho might be of some tise as an a^ent in bridging over a transitional period. As it is he mainly serves the purpose of encouraging impracticable notions among the natives, and thus his existence tends really towards the extinction of his race by bringing it into conflict with one incontestably stronger. The colony is now beyond the reach of Maori hostility, which, although it might inflict much suffering and considerable loss, could not uproot tho foundations of European sway. The King may strike one more blow at his adversaries, and destroy frontier settlements. But in the end his people would bo fewer than in the beginning, and the white man more firmly fixed than ever. For the sake of the Maoris we may hope that patience and good management will prevent war, since its issues must materially advance the moment when, from natural and adventitious causes, the noble savages of New Zealaud Avill fall into the category of extinct race",. The appointment of the Rev. T. Jackson i Smith to the incumbency of St. Peter's, Qneenstown, Otago, is announced. On the third instant the usual quarterly communication of the United Grand Lod»:e of Free and Accepted Masons of England was held in the Temple, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen-street, when, in the absence of the Marquis of Ripon, and Earl Carnarvon Dr Robert Hamilton, District G.M. of Jamaica, presided as G.M. The chief business consisted in tho reading of addresses of condolence on the death of tho late Earl of Zetland, from tho Grand Lodge of Scotland and tho Grand Lodge of South Africa. I have not had time this mail to touch upon several subjects of great interest, conspicuous amonest which are the respective conditions of France and Spain. The first exciting adulation by her extraordinary and successful efforts to pay off the German indemnity, and anxiety as to how sho will set about the payment of the interest, and the establishment of a sinking fund. The movements of the Bourbon party are also causing suspicion, and many persons look for a sudden violent movement in favour of Henri Cinq. The Pope all the time is praying for the Count de Charabord, who he knows will be a stout pJly on the throne of France. Then there is unfoifcunate Spain, torn by t 'adless factions, reminding one somcwhjr Jjbf Jerusalem during the siege by Titus, with CarJists, Republicans and insurgents of several kinds she is indeed in a wretched strait ; and here a«ain tho prayers of «his Holiness are for Don Carlos, whoso accession to the throne of Spain would be the signal for the suppression oi all civil and religious liberty, the enjoyments of which the country was only just beginning to feel. Then the unveiling of the ' statue of liberty at Berlin by the Emperor William and the triumphant reception of Bismarck has given rise to many whispers regarding future aggression on the part of Germany. i