THE Evening star. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1930, 13 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening star. TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1869.

One of the most efficient members of the new Ministry is the Hon. Mr Gisborne, the representative of the Cabinet in the Upper House. He is one of those men to whose lot it has fallen to carry out the fiat of Parliament. He has, therefore, not been brought prominently under Colonial notice; but whatever importance may be attached to the dictum of Mr Fox or Mr Vogel, Mr Gisborne’s practical knowledge of the working of the past enables him to speak with a certainty that they cannot feel. On taking his seat in the Legislative Council, he made a short but very clear statement of the present position of the Colony. In its broad outlines it did not differ much from that made in the House of Representatives by his colleagues Messrs Fox and Vogel, but he entered somewhat more into detail. There are those who have adopted an idea, that all the world’s experience during untold centuries contradicts, that, in order to secure peace, it is necessary to wage war until our opponents are crushed, cowed, or exterminated. It is, there-

fore, refreshing sometimes to be relieved from those blood - thirsty notions which indicate so plainly the workings of the savage within ns. Granted that if war is necessary it must be prosecuted to victory, the question then remains how to use the advantage. Mr Gisbobnb’s words are worth thinking over The Native “ insurrection, which about ele\ eu li months ago was confined to the ncigh- “ borhood of Patea and Poverty Pay, “ has extended along the coast to the “ north of New Plymouth, to Tau- “ ranga, to the vicinity of Napier, and “ anoTto the interior of Taupo, and the “ expenditure during that period has, “ I may safely say, increased from LIOO per diem to more than LIOOO *< per diem. This impression, painful “as it is, is also suggestive. It leads “ me to believe that the sword is not the only instrument of peace, and “ that we have to colonize as well as “ conquer, and to fight the battle of “ life as well as the battle of death. “ Each campaign which has occurred “ has left us little, if anything, in ad- “ vance on our road to conquest, while “ it has re-acted with very destructive “ effect on colonization, which affords “ us the only means which will enable “us not only to tight but actually “to exist. I think we have “ been pursuing in vain this “ phantom of conquest.” This may be taken as the basis of the scheme of government of the Fox Administration. Condemning the diimerical idea of reducing to submission an enemy whose means of escape are so many and various ; determined not to shrink from—to use Mr Gisborne’s words that “Stern retribution,” which, “ although it now proceeds with “ halting step, pursues those men” who “ murdered helpless women and chil- “ dren, and perpetrated other atroci- “ ties,” it is proposed, by maintaining “ those defensible posts which may be “ considered the keys of the out-settle- “ ments,” and by “ concentrating our “ forces, to effect great economy in our “ expenditure, and to enable the Colony “ to have some breathing time, and by “ peaceful means, and by the legitimate “ progress of industry, to augment its “ strength and its resources, so as to “ cope successfully with those difficul- “ ties which it has to encounter.” Mr Gisborne then offered a few observations on “the Colonial Standing Army,” to the maintenance of - which he objects because of the absence of the moral qualification which is characteristic of the standing armies of old countries. This he considers attributable to the “ ephemeral and exceptional nature ” of the force, on account of which those who enter the service cannot calculate upon being secure of a competency for life, or upon “ earning the appropriate rewards “of valour and distinction.” On the ground that “ the Colony can only “ hope to raise temporary levies on “ condition of their early disbandment “ it cannot hope to organise a system “ which will provide pay, half-pay, “ pensions for retirement, and also “ adequate reward for meritorious ser- “ vices, . . . This precarious

position, both with regard to officers “ and men, combined with the natural “ license of the camp, leads to a laxity “ of discipline and consequent demo- “ ralisation.” It is proposed to remedy this by substituting for a standing army an armed police force adapted to civil as well as military work, “ that “it may ultimately merge into the “ civil police force of the Colony, and “ that the members of that force will “ be qualified, by their training and “ discipline, to become good settlers, “ and hold offices of trust in other “ capacities.” Mr Gisborne expresses but very faint hopes of obtaining Imperial assistance, so far as the retention of a regiment of the line is concerned. The Ministerial idea is, “ induce the “ Home Government to allow vs to “ raise a New Zealand Regiment,” or perhaps two, “to be composed of offi- “ cers and men now in the Imperial “ service, to be enlisted for a fixed “ period of service in the Northern “ Island of New Zealand, with the “ prospect of becoming, by the exercise “ of land scrip, ultimate settlers in that “ island.” By this scheme the Ministry hope to “ obviate the objection the Im- “ perial Government has to detach a “ regiment for service in the Colony.” The rest of Mr Gisborne’s speech was nearly identical with that of Mr Fox, so far as financial arrangements are concerned. We have given the outline of his statement, because it more fully enters upon the reasons for the proposed policy of the Ministry than any other speech that has been uttered. As it appears in the Colonial “ Hansard,” it is remarkable for philosophical style of thought, lucidity of arrangement, and comprehensive knowledge of the subjects treated of. The language and turns of expression are alike classical and forcible ; and after reading it, the conclusion is irresistible that in Mr Gisborne the Fox Ministry have secured the assistance of an able and practical man.

To Correspondents.— The suggestions contained m the letter of “ One who has whistled at the Plough,’ have already appeared in the Evening Star. The Election for Mayor.— Mr R. S. Dods has, in compliance with the request contained in a requisition presented to him, consented to contest the election for Mayor We believe that his Worship the Mayor is a pa«sengcr by the Wellington, which left Wellington for the South yesterday. The Gymnasium.—We are glad to see that the Gymnasium was iv-opened today, and that in future it wid be open on Mondays. Wednesda s, and Fridays. The importance of gymnastic exercises ca not be overrated, and we trust that there will he so many and such constant subscribei’s as to render it a permanent institution. The proposed Philosophical Institotu. —Last evening the Provisional Committee of the proposed Philosophical Institute met. The business done was adopt imr resolutions rcl tivo to the constitution and rules of the Institu’e, with a view to their being laid before a general meet mg to be convened at an early day. A sub committee was appointed to put the resolutions in such a form as to allow of their being submitted to a public meeting for approval, and the meeting adjourned to Friday. Princess Theatre. —The drama of the "Harvest Home” was performed last night to a moderately attended house, the principal ma e parts being well rendered by Messrs Rayner, Joyce, Howard, and M olfe. Mr Joyce as Peregrine Peeps, the travelling showman, and Miss Cassey Matthews, as his travelling better half, played their respective parts in a manner which drew forth frequent applause from the audience; Mr Howard also came in for a well-deservt d share for bis rendering of Mr Popjoy. Mrs Jackson as Amy, ami Miss Nye as Mary Everitt, looked and played their parts well. Two or three very well executed scenes have been painted by Mr Willis, which ought in a great way add to to the success of the "Harvest Home.” The capital farce of "Family Jars” concluded the performance ; Messrs Howard and Joyce acting in their usual good style. We are again compelled to draw the attention of toe management to the great noise which is so frequently indulged in behind the scenes during the performance ; and last evening was no exception to the tule.

A meeting of the Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association will be held at the Bull and Mouth Hotel, this evening, at 8 o’clock.

We understand that Mr Levy, pawnbroker, whose estate and effects are announced for sale by public auction to-morrow, is positively about to leave the Colony. ■ ; is household iurniture, &c , will, we believe, be offered for sale on .Saturday next.

The meeting of the Horticultural Society will be held in the Long Room of the Ath emeu m to-morrow (Wednesday) evening, at seven, instead of half-past seven o’clock, as already m.ounced