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Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2008, 12 October 1869, Page 2

Court Enterprise, —ln the New Zealand Gazette, of the 4th inst, Court Enterprise, No. 3990, No. 2 branch of the Otago District, Ancient Order of Foresters, is stated to be registered, and recorded under the Friendly Societies’ Act, 1867. Colonial Honors.— According to the Nelson Examiner , in a despatch received a short time since from Earl Granville, the Governor was instructed to offer the Order of St. Michael and .St. George to Colonel Whitmore and Mr Stafford, and to any third gentleman who was entitled to the distinction. Colonel Whitmore accepted the offer, which was declined by Mr Stafford. The Examiner understands that the order will he conferred on Mr Fitzherhert. Princess Theatre. —As we anticipated, there was an overflowing house last evening, every part of the house being filled. The piece de resistance was Tom Taylor’s comedy of “Still waters run deep,’ which has not been played here for many years. The John Mildmay of Mr Talbot was the best we have seen for a long time. He was ably supported by Mr Rajmer, who played Hawkoley to perfection ; by Mr Joyce as Potter, and Mrs Jackson as Mrs Sternhold. The performances concluded with the burlesque of “The Enchanted Isle.” To-night Mr Bartlett commences a short engagement with “Loudon Assurance.” The State op Dunedin..—lt is said that one has to go homo to learn news. So it would appear from the subjoined paragraph, which is taken from a recent number of the Shortland Tim»s, which our readers will confess, conveys information to them : “We notice by the late Otago papers that the number of houses and places of business in Dunedin lo let are very numerous, and are daily becoming more so. This fact evidently does not speak much for the increasing prosperity of that portion of the South Island, No doubt this is owing in a great measure to the numbers which .are being daily added to our population from that portion of the world.” The Concert To-morrow Evening. —The selection of music for the concert, to he given in the New Post-office Hall, for the benefit of the Benevolent Institute, is such as to ensure a varied entertainment. The first part comprises choice solos and choruses from the works of Calcott, Mendelsohn, and Handel. The instrumental pieces are taken from Romberg and Haydn. In the second part the music is to he secular, and includes several ballads, duets, part songs, glees, a piano and violin duet and piano solo by Miss Bell. From what we hear of the progress of the Society, there is every prospect of the concert proving a telling as a performance, as well as in the more important part of adding a good asm to the funds of the Institute. Not the least pleasing feature in the preliminary preparations is the voluntary help given by several tradesmen. We believe we are correct in saying that the posting bills have been presented gratis by the printer, Mr Dick, and that they are allowed a place free of charge on Mr Mills’s advertising hording, at the corner of Rattray street; the wood for the platform, so long as uncut and not nailed, is lent freely ; and several gentlemen have given tune and assistance in various ways. The public will appreciate these kindly helps, and will not be behind in acknowledging their sense of them by taking care that the hall is filled.

Melbourne Sporting News.— The latest news of the Cup is contained in the following extract from the leading journal of Sept. 28 :—“ The Cup wagering is almost in statu- quo , as Circassian, Traverton, Sheet Anchor, and Warrior, still occupy the positions in the order named. The only noticeable feature in the Cup betting of Sept. 27, was the advance of Barbellc. who was backed for L2OOO or 1 3000 at 100 to 3, 100 to 4, and 100 to 5 ; Strop was supported at 100 to 4, with offers to go on at that price, but the layers refused to advance beyond 100 to 5. Manuka is not mentioned.” The Troops Question. — The following passage is from a blue book issued by the Imperial Parliament The Commander-in-Chief ‘ ‘ is desirous of drawing the attention of the Secretary for the Colonies to the important question of the withdrawal of the battalion of infantry from New Zealand, and trusts they will concur with his Eoyal Highness in opinion, that it would be very prejudicial to Imperial interests to leave that important Colony without regular troops, a course that appears to havo been contemplated, but which his Eoyal Highness hopes will not be carried out.” The following is the answer :—“ Downing street, 18th Jan., 18G9. Sir —I have laid before the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos your letter of the Tth inst., enclosing a letter from the Horse Guards on the subject of the proposed withdrawal of the battalion of infantry now serving in New Zealand.' I am directed by his Grace to request that you will inform Secretary Sir John Pakington that the Colonial Ministers decline the terms offered by Her Majesty’s Government, under which one regiment would be left iu New Zealand, and that the Imperial Government cannot therefore leave the regiment consistently with the understanding arrived at with the Colony. ' Remarking on this, the Southern Cross says : a regiment on terms to be fixed by the Imperial Government, the whole force of this reply is impaired. I ho Colony, after efforts which its worst enemy must admit have been ou a very large scale for a country so young and so sparsely populated, and with the full intention of continuing to exert itself to the utmost of its resources, says to the Imperial Government that, in safety, it cannot dispense with the presence of a single

regiment, and that it is willing to take the regiment on the mother country’s own terms. The responsibility of refusing such a request would be very heavy.” Capture of the Westland Bushranger.—We take from the West Coast Times the following account of rlie re-capture of the notorious “German Charlie” alias Husldsson alias Rusnaessen, who lately escaped from Hokitika Gaol: —“ After a few days’ liberty—a liberty that must have been harder to him than imprisonment—the notorious Huskisson, alias German Charlie, has been captured. Since his escape the police and the warders of the gaol have been indefatigable in their efforts to effect his capture, and although the duty has been very arduous and irksome, it has been shirked by none. Yesterday the police came upon a “hatter's” tent in a gully up the Two-milc Creek. When they got down to the bottom of the gully, they approached the tout stealthily ; one getting one side of the breakwind, and the other the other. As they got into this position the man to whom the tentbelonged came out and saw Douglas with his revolver presented at him. Douglas motioned the man to stand aside, and he turned as if to go into the tent, but on turning round he met Mahony with his revolver also presented. On this the man stood aside, and the captors sprung into the tent, Maloney calling upon Huskisson to stand, Huskiason coolly replied, “Go to blazes,” and added some other not very complimentary terms. He then took'jhold of the flap of the tent; but his wrist was gripped by Douglas, who succeeded in getting one handcuff on. Huskisson would not raise bis arm to let the other bracelet ho put on; but, getting another pair of Handcuffs, he was safely secured and brought into town. Huskisson is in a very sad plight, and must hive suffered a good deal during his stay in the hush. On the following day he was brought before the Resident Magistrate, and had his original sentence of six years of penal servitude extended for twelve mouths. He also received a sentence of one month’s imprisonment with hard labor for stealing certain articles of wearing apparel. Sir George Bowen on the Employment of Imperial Troops. —The following passage occurs in a despatch recently published, relative to the employment of the troops :—“I am strongly inclined to agree with those who, from their long experience of the Native character, believe that if the same number of Imperial troops, in addition to the Colonial forces, were maintained in New Zealand for the next few years as was maintained here from 1816 to about 1860, during the interval between the first and second Maori wars—thit is, two battalions of the line—and if no further attempt were made to occupy lauds in the distant isolated positions, or in the immediate neighborh od of hostile tribes—this Colony would probably enjoy permanent peace and security. It will be remembered that the Native race is rapidly diminishing, while the Europeans are as rapidly increasing in numbers. In 1848, only twenty years ago, the Maoris in the North Island exceeded 100,000 ; while now, in 1868, they are under 40,000. Consequently the Maori difficulty is a question of time, probably of the next ten years. During that period every effort should be made to push roads into the interior. Experience has amply shown that the best weapon for the conquest of the Highlands of New Zealand in the 19th, as of the Highlands of Scotland in the 18th century, are the spade and the pickaxe. 1 will conclude by summing up my practical suggestions with the expression of a strong conviction that permanent peace and security may be restored to New Zealand, by adapting the following measures : —(1) The presence in addition to the colonial forces, of a garrison of two battalions of the line, to be maintained on conditions equitable to ftie mother country and to the colony. (2) The prohibition of fresh settlements in exposed and dangerous districts. (3) A peaceful arrangement, not inconsistent with the suzerainty of the Queen with the chosen chiefs of the Maoris.

We are glad to see by the advertisement that appears in another column that the Provincial Government have offered a premium for the best plan for laying out the Botanical Gardens. The varied character of the grounds affords every opportunity for the exercise of genius and taste, and we shall be glad to see them a favorite resort on account of the beauty and elegance of the arrangement.