The Evening Post. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1865.

Evening Post, Issue 210, 10 October 1865, Page 2

The Evening Post. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1865.

Mb. Brodie will move in the Ilouse of Representatives, this evening, a resolution which, if carried, will materially affect the self-reliant policy of the present Government, if not our connection with the home authorities. It is to the effect, that the Parliament having been acquainted with the views of the Imperial authorities in reference to the Native difficulty, forced upon the colony by the adoption of an Imperial policy, is of opinion " that such a result cannot be accomplished with the means which are now at the disposal of the Colonial Government, and that the assistance of the Imperial Government is absolutely necessary ; that should that assistance not be forthcoming, this House will consider itself at liberty to take such steps as may be necessary to reduce the Native race to obedience, and that it will in no wise be guided by any consideration of the policy hitherto pursued by the Imperial Government in its dealings with the Native race." It is not likely, however, that this resolution will be adopted by the House, because the principle involved in it is unsound and mischievous. The Native difficulty was not the work of the British Government, but of the colonists themselves, and any policy suggested or dictated by the home authorities was based on suggestions made by the settlers in the first instances. This is the course England has hitherto adopted towards her colonies* »nd it still pursuing towards them. Even the constitution of this colony is the work of Sir George Grey and one or two others, constructed during his first Governorship of New Zealand, On what grounds, then,

does Mr. Brodie charge the Imperial Government with being the cause of the Native difficulty P From the beginning the colonists have not been always clear about the public affairs of the colony, and were seldom agreed among themselves upon matters in which their own interests were directly involved, y^iis uncertain. y caused England mv h and hence the occasional blunders made by the home authorities. No sooner has one p licy been approved of and adopted than another has been found indinpensible for the well-being of both rac^s. This sta'e of flings continued from year to year, until at last the Native ra^e broke out in open rebellion against it. Notwithstanding, it is still persisted in, and perhaps will be, until we have thoroughly learned the science of self-government. No doubt but Mr. Brodie's object is to hasten the end of the war, but what reasonable hope can be entertained of a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the Native difficulty while we continue to tamper with it as we have hitherto done. So far as the self-reliant policy has been carried out by the Government, it has succeeded, and proved that we I aye amongst ourselves sufficient power to reduce the Native lace to obedience and make them good subjects of the Queen. Indeed, we have already a promise of the end. A goodly number of the rebels has c given in, and desire to cease fighting, and take the oath of allegiance, and this feeling is now becoming general among them. There is no necessity, therefore, for Mr. Brodie's resolution. The House know this, and are likely to commit it to the waste paper basket. To day at the Resident Magistrate's Court, before C. D. It. Ward, Ifisq., 11. VI., Joan Egan, Robert Roberts, Neil Moon, and John Johnson, were charged with refusing duty on board the ship Gizelle, and sent to gnol for forty-eight hours. Tlioimis Smith, for drunkenness, was fined 10j. Several other cas a s were set down for hearing, but owing to tip parties not bein«j i.i court they were dismissed. Yesterday eveniig tha anniversary s iree of the Primitive Metho list Church, Thorndnn, was hold in the Schoolroom adjoining the Church The room was tastefully deoorated with flowers, green branches, and bunting, for the occasion. About two hundred people sat down to tea, after which a public meeting was held, Mr. Woodward presiding. Several interesting addresses were delivered on religious subjects The report showed that the congregation was in a prosperous suite, and that (.he cause was well supported. The amount realised by the collection? at the services during the p eviuus day, und by the sale ef tickets was about £ii. The Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade will fissemble for practice this evening, at eight o'clock, at No. 3 Engine House. The Hawke's Bay Herald of the 7th inst. says :— Dr. Featherston arrived yesterday by the Ahuriri. It is said that one of his objects In visiting Napier is to benefit his health ; a second, to co-operate with Mr. M'Lean in an effort to purchase the Manawatu Block ; a third, to endeavour to get a road made through the 70- mile bush, so as to connect the two provinces by a good overland route.