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The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870.

The unsatisfactory postal arrangements of the Colony have again made themselves manifest, by the reception of the telegraphic summary of the European news by a Newcastle collier—a circuitous route that proves the Colony might have been in possession of the correspondence from Europe days ago had proper measures been adopted. So far as the intelligence itself is concerned, there has seldom been so little directly to interest the Colony. Political relations with the Mother Country remain pretty much as they were, although an agitation appears to be getting up on the part of returned Colonists, the object of which is not very clearly defined. It seems to us that the chief good to bo gained by it is bringing prominently into notice the existence of New Zealand as a field for emigration ; but we are quite certain that to parade its miseries, and the injustice done it, is not the best way of serving the Colony. It is far more likely to do harm than good, and Mr Wilson, with the very best intentions, may be the means of frightening people who might otherwise have found their way here, and proved valuable Colonists. Wo should really like to know what is wanted by the Colony. So long as the Colonists are united, and act together, experience has proved that they arc quite able to take care of themselves. It is true that they have in the North a race who may occasionally give them a little trouble; hut as time rolls on, the whites and the Maoris are learning to understand each other, and civilisation will assert its superiority, without our being at the expense of forty pounds annually, per British soldier, to do garrison duty. Beyond having the pleasure of paying for a Governor —the remnant of British authority, and the last link that binds the Colony to the Mother Countryr-we are nearly free from her control. There are certainly some few things forbidden to Colonies —perhaps wisely. They cannot enter into independent commercial treaties with other eoun-

tries, nor make laws adverse to the laws of the realm. Practically these matters are of no moment, especially as, in commercial legislation, the parent land is so much in advance of her Colonies. We are, free to trade elsewhere—to lay duties upon British productions ; in fact, to do as we like in every respect except those alluded to. What would the agitators have ? Would they place themselves in leading strings again, and have to refer to Downing street for permission to sell a few acres of land on certain conditions, or ask the Colonial Office to provide a set of goldfields regulations for them? One good thing might be done, that nobody seems to care about at present, and that everybody that sees the day of reckoning may regret having neglected. Now that that plague of the world, European war, is scotched for a time, the goodwill among nations might be made use of to exclude Colonies from being included in the list of international enemies. This, if the true interests of the Colonies wore appreciated at Home, would bo one of the first and most earnest objects sought to bo attained. There are a few difficulties involved in the question ; but on the whole, there are none that the leading nations of the world would not agree upon, and such an arrangement would be of far more service than the visits of Flying Squadrons, the officers of which would not be one jot the less welcome because diplomacy had secured that immunity from outrage which the guns of their ships of war could not. If this? freedom from war risk were guaranteed, it would be very sensible on the part of the Colonies to request Mr Edward Wilson and others to let Earl Granville take his course. The more the difficulties of the Colony are magnified, the less likely is it to become a favorite place to emigrate to, for people want to go to a place where they can better themselves, and nobody likes to go where he is told he is likely to have his throat cut, or where ho is to be enormously taxed to pay for soldiers to prevent it. Apart from the agitation on this Colonial question, the European news is of little interest. The Suez Canal does not appear to be so unqualified ft success as wo had hoped. To limit the passage of vessels through it to those drawing only sixteen feet of water, reduces the value of the work very materially. No doubt the obstacles will be removed, but they point to the difficulty and expense of keeping open the navigation. Ireland, like the Colonies, has its land agitation. The few words pointing to the chief features of the proposed Bill indicate a recognition of the right of a tenant to compensation for improvements, and to other ameliorations of the tenant-at-will system. These are moves in the right direction, and should have been made many years ago. It is doubtful, in view of the relation that had grown up between the land-owners and their agricultural tenants, whether they will meet the whole evil complained of. It is certain that years must elapse, even under the most equitable system, before the gnawing discontent that has been planted by injustice is allayed.

Dissensions, like small streams are first begun : Scarce seen they rise, but gather as they

run. Had the simplest principles of justice been applied to Ireland when the Union was determined upon, Whiteboyisra and Fcnianism would not have been heard of at this day. Mr Gladstone may not live to witness the settling-down of discord ; but he will have had the glory of removing its causes in the abolition of the Irish Church iniquity and some of the chief grievances of the Irish tenantry. Time must do the rest.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18700201.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2103, 1 February 1870, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
985

The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2103, 1 February 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870. Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2103, 1 February 1870, Page 2

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