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Dunstan Times, Issue 578, 16 May 1873, Page 2 (Supplement)

In 1872 the Victorian alm via, mines paiil dividends to the amount of LISO.OOO, while the dividends from quartz reached the enormous sum of one million and sixty-nine thousand pounds, havinu increased to that amount from 1470,802 in 1870. Inferring to the late murder in the Waikato, the local journal says: —“Thequestions we have to consider arc Ist. What is the duty of the Government? 2nd. What is our duty os settlers ? It is clear that the day has passed when to allow murderers to escape unhanged can he productive of anything but evil. We, in common with every settler in New Zealand, should be sorry to sec a war precipitately brought about. There is, nevertheless, a boundary, beyond which patience and consideration for Maori prejudices and Maori customs should not carry us. The murderers must be brought to justice, if it involves the whole country in war. If the Anglo-Saxon is to retain his prestige, he must show that he is, as his ancestors always were, fearless of all consequences when justice demands a sacrilicc. The mutilation of a body is, according to modern Maori custom, a declaration of war. We have curtly pointed out the duty of the Government; we have now to treat of the duty of the settlers to themselves and the Colony. They must give the Government time to act; then, if nothing is done, selfpreservation may possibly compel them to take matters into their own hands. No man has yet been, and, we trust, never will be, able to accuse the Waikato settlers of cowardice. We await, with some anxiety, the movements of the Government. There is, we feel confident, no danger at present to be anticipated. Let us have no panics without reason to causa theta,”