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Evening Post, Issue 91, 25 May 1865, Page 2

better for mankind. He, traced the existing war to the sordid act of those who supplied the natives with arms and the materials of war. The English Government halted between two opinions. It took in the black man, and plaj'ed the fool with its own subjects. It would not allow the colonists to manage their own affairs, but went on meddling with them, and what was the consequence ? The.c was a set of men in this country who were ever turning up their eyes, putting their palms together, and appearing to pray ; but they would sell anything — (a lau#h) — and the aborigines of New Zealand did not find it di"ficult to get muskets, percussion-caps, bullets, and gunpowder. The course to be taken by the Imperial Government wes to allow the colonists to do what they liked. Mr. Cardwell observed that when the Governor called the Assembly together, instead of occupying their time in idle discussions as to who was right and who was wrong/Jthey at once discussed what was just and expedient to do lor the welfare of the colony, and formed a new Administration upon principles which went beyond the instructions which the Governor received from home. . . . The previous arrangement by which the colony had the command ot a large force of the Queen's troops was to come to an end, unless substantial material contributions were made in the future. With regard to tha future policy, it was a happy concurrence that so many honourable members in that House agreed in their views. He sincerely believed that what had been the universal sentiment both in New Zealand and here was commended by the doctrines of sound sense and practical wisdom. Though probably not more than '2000 of the natives were in arms, he had not the least doubt from the nature of the country, that it would be impossible for even 20,000 British troops to subjugate them. Tf our troops did not attempt it, he did not think the colonists alone would have any ambition to make the effort. lie entirely disavowed, and altogether reprobated, the notion of attributing to the colonists sentiments with regard to the natives different from those which we should be unwilling to have attributed to ourselves. He believed that if we gradually withdrew our assistance, and placed the colony in a position of self-government, they would soon establish peaceful relations with the native race.

In the course of a debate on New Zealand affairs, Mr. Roebuck rose to expose what he called a sham. England, he observed, was a great colonising country, and in proportion to her colonisation had been the extension of civilisation, followed by an outcry on the part of certain parties, who accused the Government of injustice because colonisation meant dispossession, and an undying feud between the aboriginal race and the ne?v comers. New Zealand was colonised, not by Government, but in spite of the Government, and he vindicated the conduct of the original settlers, which, in the interest of England and of civilisation, was, he said, wise, right, and just. They had extended the reign of civilisation over the wild aboriginal men, whom they did right in dispossessing, for the more civilisation was advanced the