The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3590, 13 January 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1883.

Resuming the " Story from a Blue-Book the "Wellington Post, criticising Sir Arthur Gordon's despatches relating to the Parihaka affair, says " they are eminently characteristic of their writer. They are the production of an earnest, able, wrong-headed, and conceited man. They abound in .special pleading and misrepresentation, but the special pleading is evidently unconscious and the misrepresentation unintentional. The native difficulty never possessed any objective existence i'or Sir Arthur Gordon. What lie deals with in Iris letters is a purely subjective condition of affairs mainly envolvcd wjth his own pro-conceived ideas as to the relations which must of necessity subsist between Europeans and natives in any country where both races co- existed. Viewed in this light, his sayings, doings, and writings, which otherwise might create a very unfavorable impression as to }ii« sincerity and candour, become the perfectly intelligible utterances of a man who is immovably convinced that the European settlers of the colony burn with the desire of oppressing their native fellow-subjects and depriving them of their lands, from which evil designs it was his mission to protect the weaker brethren. Sir Arthur Gordon remarks that when he received, while at Fiji, from his private secretary intimation of the menacing aspect of affairs, " although I was unable to learn that any now or unexpected action on the part of the natives had given rise to these feelings of uneasiness, it was clear that a great change in the views of the Government must have taken place since my departure." He therefore returned at once to New Zealand, and found that the October proclamation had been issued by Sir .Tames Preudergast, who also "had re-appointed as Native Minister and Minister of Defence the same Mr Brycc whose ' vigorous' policy tho Cabinet had in January declined to

sanction, but whoso views now appear to be in the ascendant." The unfairness of this way of putting tilings must be so palpable to all who have even a slight acquaintance with the true facts that we need not pause for comment. In the very next paragraph we meet Sir Arthur in quite a different character as the shrewd, clear-headed statesman. He raises the question, whether the fact that he was within the territorial limits of the colony when the proclamation was issued did not invalidate the action of Sir James Prendergast, but promptly decides the question against himself on common sense grounds—although evidently favouring its technical soundness—remarking, '' It would be so inconvenient were acts performed in good faith to be invalidated by the unknown return of the Governor to the colony that I cannot conceive it possible that the Administrator's functions should expire before he becomes aware of the fact." A remark, the good sense and reasonableness of which must at once commend themselves. He declines to judge the merits of the case until he has obtained from his Ministers a full statement on the subject, but he says, " So far as the circumstances are yet before me I am greatly disposed to share the views expressed in the enclosed extracts from the Lyttolton Times. I ; should, however, add that I believe the sentiments they express to be those of a but inconsiderable minority, and that the Cabinet Mill be supported in its ' vigorous ' action by nine-tenths of the white population of the colony." There agaiu the ''• cloven hoof '' peeps out. As usual, it is the strong wliites oppressing the poor blacks. Sir Arthur ought in fairness to have added that the policy of the Government had the heart}- approval of a large proportion of the native race as well. In a subsequent despatch he says, "The Press of the colony loudly applauds the action of the Government." He also encloses no fewer than nineteen leading articles from the Lyttelton Times, and four long letters published in the same journal.'' The New Zealand Times says that Sir Arthur Gordon's "main authorities for the ldstory of his time seem to have been the Lyttelton Times and that paper's special correspondent at Parihaka —Mr S. Crombie Brown. Now the Lyttelton Times is undoubtedly an ably-edited partizaii journal, and Mr Crombie Brown is a most ingenious, imaginative writer. But for contemporary political history it would be about as suitable to refer to either as an impartial and exact authority as it would be to ask Ouida to write a work on banking, or get Miss Braddon to solve the problem of the sun's distance by the observations on the Transit of Venus. But Lord Kiniberley and the people at Home were not supposed to know any better, and might possibly never inquire. And so the fraud was ventured on, but with damaging results to Sir Arthur Gordon's reputation henceforth, if lie has any of that article remaining in stock." The New Zealand Herald says " Sir Arthur Gordon stands convicted of garbling a despatch of oneof his Ministers, by omitting certain phrases so as to make it appear that tho only object of the Ministry was to sieze land. "Worse than this, if possible, he actually, in his despatch to the Home Government —a despatch which would bo officially published to the whole world —pens the following statement: —' Major Atkinson is reported to have expressed a hope that the Maoris would be exterminated.' It is six mouths after Ids Excellency penned the above that Major Atkinson has a chance to contradict it. The Major is said to be somewhat choleric, but we think if ho had not been the most calm and patient of men that he would, when he sawtheabove-quoted false and cowardly insinuation, have gone straight for Government House to kick Sir Arthur Gordon. His Excellency knew when he was sending Home his statement to the Privy Council of Her Majesty (ottering it, indeed, to the Queen herself) that he was insinuating a mean falsehood. Ho was bound not to make such a statement rashly about one of his Ministers, and at any time he could in five minutes have ascertained its truth or falsehood, if he had desired to do so ; but lie sent it Homo. Supposing him to bo believed—and he may be credited in England, whatever may be his fate in Fiji or New Zealand —the people of tho Mother Country must think tho colonials are a bloodthirsty, μ-recdy crew when they place in the very highest position, as a politician, a man who would give utterance to such a sentiment."

Contrary to the wishes of " Her Majesty's Opposition" the million loan has been successfully floated. It was the only hope that Mr Montgomery's party had of turning out the '' Continuous '' Ministry that the loan might prove a failure. Without the loan the Atkinson Government could not have lived a week after tho meeting of Parliament. Incapable, apparently, of devising anything but goody-goody legislation, and by no means remarkable for ability of administration, the only chance- that Ministers had of retaining office was to borrow money. The loan has been raised on eveu better terms than the most sanguine could have anticipated. " The country is saved." Mr Montgomery will retain his seat on the Opposition benches ; Sir George Grey will still look in vain for a party; Sir G. Whitmore will go on preaching on tho morals of government, oblivious of the fact that the Administration to wliich ho belonged had no virtue to boast of; and Bishop Moran may represent the Peninsula or not as the electors please, it will make no difference now. There is a million of money to be spent, and Parliament will bo the very obedient servant of the Ministry as long as there is cash in the Treasury.

The Education Board meets on Tuesday next. Warder Rcardon, of the Napier gaol, has been promoted to the gaol at Lyttelton. The New Zealand Clothing Factory branch at Wairoa has been -withdrawn, we are informed, the no-credit system, it is said, not suiting the tastes of the good people of Clyde. We arc informed that the Rev. S. Williams, as trustee for the owner of a certain section of land in this town, will dispute at law the claim of the Corporation for the cost of filling in the space for the abatement of a nuisance. The claim, we believe, is under £30. Messrs 11. Wilding-, Waipukurau, J. N. Thompson, Norsewood, and Rev. W. Robertshaw, Danevirkc, have consented to act as trustees in the administration of the Sehaeffier fund. Further contributions will be thankfully received and acknowledged. Messrs Glen dinning and Griffin, contractors for the extension of the Kuripapanga bridge, have commenced work. The three concrete piers arc to be encased with concrete, and built up to replace the trestle work supporting the roadway, and an extra span is to be added to the length of the bridge. It will be seen by advertisement that Messrs Hoadley, Lyon and Co. are inviting tenders for the erection of branch offices at Hastings. The building, which is very neatly designed, containing a warehouse and two offices, is to be erected on the section adjoining Messrs Knight Bros, and opposite the Railway Hotel. Mr Spackman, the new organist of St. .John's, commences his duties to-morrow. Mr Spackman's reputation as a musician will doubtless draw many to church who might otherwise stay away. We hear there is likely to be some changes in the choir, and that the assistance of the ladies will be asked to enable the services of the surpliced choristers to be dispensed wdth. A practical lesson on the power of steam was given a native when returning from the Wairoa races on board the Maori. The boat was crowded with passengers, and our dusky friend, in default of a better place to sit down on, selected the &team wliistle. The Maori's whistle is of the fog-horn species, and has an open pipe that afforded space to sit on. A "joker," perceiving the situation, turned on the Avhistle, and blew that nigger up. The Hawke's Bay County Council meets on Monday morning at the usual hour. We hear that Mr Sutton, the chairman, by virtue of the provision he caused to be inserted in the Counties Act Amendment Act, 1882, will give notice to move that a by-law be passed to enable the authorities to deal with pig-owners and their pigs trespassing on public roads. A pig nuisance abatement by-law will confer a boon to riders and drivers on the country roads. A question that has occasioned much heart-burning, some few blows, and a good deal of bad lauguag-e, has at last been set at rest. This momentous question was none other than the relative speeds of the fast and favorite packet steamers Manaia and Maori. Ou leaving Wairoa yesterday morning the paddle bemt crossed the bar and

waited for her rival. Captain Anderson was not long , in coming alongside, and a fair start was effected. Both engineers did their best to consume coal, and, the water ■ being smooth, an excellent opportunity was """*■< afforded for testing the speed of the boats. The Manaia gradually drew ahead of the Maori, and arrived at the breastwork about half-an-hour in advance of the other. "A Cab Driver " desires to point out that '' the kerbing round Clive Square comer, opposite the Theatre, has narrowed the roadway to the ordinary breadth of Tenny-son-street, which is none too wide for turning a cab. On nigfnts of performances, on ball nights, in winter time, or wet weather, when there are sometimes as many as twenty cabs engaged, and hanging around the Theatre entrance, there will be hardly, if any, room to turn round. Further, there will be no lighted lamp after midnight, and if no accident occurs it will be through no forethought on the part of the municipal engineer." We quite agree with "Cab Driver," and think that the kerbing he speaks of is an unnecessary work and a foolish waste of money. An unusually severe thunderstorm, ac« companied by vivid flashes of lightning, that followed each other in quick succession, broke over Napier and the surrounding neighborhood yesterday afternoon. Tho storm, which approached* from a southerlydirection, seemed to be divided into two parts, one half travelling along the Ruahine ranges and the other towards Najrier, at which latter point it concentrated. Between Havelock and Hastings a heavy shower of hail fell. So far as we can gather no serious damage resulted, although the electrical disturbance caused, its near presence to be felt in more than one locality. The " big willow " at Rissington was split in half, and Mr Waite's yard was struck, while those premises at the Spit formerly used by Mr Harding as a printing office, but now, fortunately, unoccupied, were considerably damaged, having the several windows shattered, besides other injuries to the roof and one side of the building. Of the manj' complaints in which Lactopepliiie has shown most prompt and decided success none have been more quickly relieved than the various forms of headache, including nervous and sick headache, which distressing complaints are in nine cases out """T of ten, due to inactive or sluggish liver, with constipated bowels. Lactopeptine can be obtained in handy bottles, with full instructions enclosed, of Pkifes^Wll^fopre^JVaiA well-attended - was held last night itfefclicJp^^^Bßyiall. Mr Sutton, chainttsii~of occupied the chair. " w v --.-- The chairman said that been called by Mm in tion of the County expression of opinion the advisability of abolishing t This question had been JfCouncil by the ratepayers Road Board districts would take over their disraßwjteeiJfMiitho work reqiiired. It was feKSftpRjJH, would be inconvenient to take only, and there was some reasoiT"3fe(j>--be- *\ J Keying that other districts were of the same *""" opinion as Okawa. The matter was one which the ratepayers themselves should decide ; they were best able to say what they would like to do with funds which they themselves provided. As chairman of this meeting he did not think at this stage ho should say more than this. Mr Ley land said that in his opinion the Road Boards had managed very well in the past, and that, so far as the Clive district was concerned, he did not think anything would be gained by their abolition. He therefore moved, "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is not advisable that the Road Boards should be dissolved." Mr McPhcrson seconded the motion. Mr Hollis said he also was of opinion that tho Road Board was still required, and he had reason to believe this opinion was general in the district. Mr Orr said that he thought small works that were always required to be done could be done much quicker and also much cheaper by Road Boards. The wardens of Clive had each a portion of the district to look after, and that saved much expense for inspection. He thought that, if we were taken over by the County, some small expense in collecting rates and advertising would bo saved, but the inconvenience that would result would more than balance this. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. The Chairman said that the resolution had his entire approval. The Clive Road Board, since its first formation, had been able to do useful work very cheaply, and he thought the ratepayers were "satisfied. Under tho new order of things the district was considerably enlarged; the whole of Pakowhai, Messrs Nelson's, The Grange, Clifton, and Tula Tuki had been included, and these districts all wanted road works, which, ho believed, would now be supplied. There was now no valuation for Road Boards; that was done for them by tho property Tax Department, and it was hoped that the great imevenness in valuations that . formerly existed woidd disappear. The election of Road Boards, too, was altered. The elections would now be held under the Local Elections Act, which would make it necessary for voters to vote in person. The Board would be elected for three years, but each year one-third would retire. This would give the members of the Board more time to get into their duties than if all were elected annually. There were several other alterations upon minor matters. He felt very strongly that the new Act was a great improvement in many respects, and. he ~-±, hoped the ratepayers would give it a fair' trial, and that the County Council and Road Boards would work together with one common end in view. It now became his duty to report the result of this meeting to the County Council, and, in doing so, he should, as chairman of the Road Board, have to report to himself as chairman of the County. " -, A vote of thanks to the chairma-fc-closed the meeting. -~• ■'&&''