The Evening Star WEDESDAY, JUNE 15, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2217, 15 June 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDESDAY, JUNE 15, 1870.

The Governor’s Speech is framed upon the most approved model of opening addresses. It says little that was not already known, and promises nothing. Constitutional Queen's, Kings, and Governors seem to differ from Superintendents. None of them have opportunity of addreasing the community on the topics of the day in the Senate or on the platform, and for the sake of their ministers they are obliged to say as little as possible on debateable subjects. It is only Emperors, Presidents, and Superintendents who can venture upon reviewing the past, criticising the present, and foreshadowing the future. Sir G#orge Bowen’s speech is, how-

ever, somewhat more stilted than common. The first part consists of congratulations, and certainly the present Government has been particularly fortunately in those transactions which form the theme of these rejoicings. It is said there are some men who are fortunate in everything they attempt. One would imagine that the present Ministry belong to the lucky class. For our own parts, we are of that sceptical race who believe that every tree bears its own fruit, and that success depends mainly upon the adaptation of means to ends. In this lies the difference between the present and the last Administration. ft is the difference between workers and dreamers. Mr Stafford and his Ministry were wrapt in efforts to do great things. They wanted to make Is ew Zealand powerful by centralising government. In this attempt they showed their non-appreciation of the circumstances of the country, and their inability to comprehend the necessities of new settlements. They wanted to adapt an old-fashioned dress to a newborn nation ; but they proved themselves but clumsy tailors, for they could not make it fit. The Fox Ministry wisely let the matter be. They accept the Colonial dress, although it may not be so sightly and aristocratic as the fashion of the Old World, but it was adapted to the rough-and-tumble style of a Colony, and when it is worn out the colonists will contrive one fitted to advanced and altered circumstances. And so with Native affairs. Mr Stafford was first supine, and afterwards desperate and ruthless. He first trusted the Natives too much, and then entered on a wav of extermination. Had the matter been in his hands now, the North Island would have presented no signs of pacification. Colonel Whitmore and his ragged followers might have maintained their ground, but instead of a small band of insurgents, scattered, broken, and fugitive, the fair inference from the policy adopted is, that nearly the whole ot the Native tribes would have been in arms against us. Even then we cannot doubt the ultimate success of the colonists, but it is better as ic is. Maori now keeps Maori in check, and it is better to divide the house against itself than to unite its members in a common warfare against a band of Ghoorkas or even British soldiers. The congratulations in the Speech go Oil to the postal arrangements, about which however, we may say in current phraseology, we expect “ a precious “ row.” With respect to the work of the session, barring the Estimates there is little marked out. The whole is comprised in some half dozen members of a paragraph. There are, however, some stiff subjects to be dealt with. The readjustment of the representation will not he effected without much debate : and the amendment of the law of bankruptcy will require careful dealing with, for the protection ; of creditors and of honest debtors. It is a question involved in difficulties, mainly because no settled principle has yet boon agreed upon as to the relation between debtor and creditor, ami because it involves in some degree a question of humanity as well as of right. As for vote by ballot, there ought to be no difficulty. England has tried every scheme that ingenuity could devise to secure purity of election by other means. Pains and penalties have been provided by Parliament for those who wore guilty of accepting or giving bribes, but in vain. Men have continued to bribe, intimidate, and coorco, and now they are about to adopt tho only remedy that common sense points out for the evil—tho ballot. Cm 1 Parliament is asked to do so too, and no doubt it will become law.