The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2353, 17 October 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1870.

The Northern journals have so frequently sounded needless alarms, that we in the South hardly know whether to accept the account of Te Kooti’s doings as true. But if Native threats are to terrify us, ill-will appears to exist in other Maori tribes equally as in that of Te Kooti, Although we have no great faith in these minors, they should have their uses, and not the least should lie to keep us constantly in mind of the risk we are continually in of another Maori insurrection. We are by no means certain that the Natives who have been professedly Te KooTi-hunting have been very earnest or zealous in the matter. Had they caught him, their reward would have been earned, and their vocation gone. Savages delight in cunningly outwitting civilised men; and it is sometimes better to close one’s eyes and let them chuckle over their fancied triumph, than to undeceive them. On the whole, it is much cheaper to pay them for not catching him, than it would bo to have them fighting against us. But there must be an end to it some time, and it is within the range of jmsibility that a wide-spread insurrection may be organised that will not b3 very easily dealt with. In the absence of danger wc are inclined to sleep at our posts, and, in spite of past experience, to allow matters to remain as they are. But it should not be for-

gotten that our present comparative peacefulness is based upon personal influence and skilful diplomacy. Savages very soon forget past miseries, especially when opportunity of plunder or revenge presents itself. A successful surprise or two, or a victory by Te Kooti, might prove a most expensive affair ; for in all likelihood, in such a case, his force might swell tenfold. It is for us, then, to determine that the Middle Island revenues shall not be used for North Island war purposes. Parliament Avas allowed to separate without allocation of the war expenditure on the North Island alone. We are quite unable to And out why. It is told us by those honorable members Avho have spoken to their constituents, that had the question of financial or insular Separation been pressed upon the Government, it would have so embarrassed them that they could not have carried their public works resolutions. Not being on the spot, nor acquainted personally with the members, avc cannot say that this is untrue. But we cannot believe that at any time Mr Vogel had any serious idea that at any rate a financial adjustment, on fair and equitable terms, Avould have endangered his resolutions. But it is useless to discuss that question now. The Acts based upon them were passed; so that danger is removed. We are quite prepared to admit that an additional difficulty to insular Separation has been placed in the Avay by this scheme of borroAving for Avar and railway purposes. The loans will be secured on the faith of the two islands remaining one Colony, and that is no doubt a serious and strong reason why they should remain united, federally or othenvise. We are not at this time going to examine Avhat is implied in that notion, beyond stating that the political can be altogether separated from the financial view of the question. The continuance of political relationship does not necessarily imply the absorption of South Island revenues by the North. The financial security would remain the same by a federal union, whether the larger or smaller proportion of the expense of a Maori war was borne by the North or the South Island. There is nothing in the nature of things Avhy the South Island revenues should be swallowed up by the North. It is quite as competent for Parliament to vote that the North shall bear its own burdens, as that the South shall pay for Northern wars. The difficulty has been altogether in our own hands, and nothing but a most astounding apathy can account for the patience Avith which the majority and Avealth of the Province have been content to alloAV the minority to dictate how the revenue shall be spent. The property that Ave are so heavily taxed to defend was comparatively valueless at first, and was occupied mainly because it Avas cheap through the presence of Natives rendering possession insecure. If it is now worth money, it is because of value added to it through Southern revenues. The enormous sum already spent by the South for the defence of the North would have constructed railroads through the length and breadth of the Middle Island, aucl added tenfold to the value of its occupied lands j whereas it has been wasted in the North Island, Such places as Auckland, Napier, and Wellington Avould have been as secure as they are uoav—perhaps more so—and avc in the South should have been reaping the benefit of improved internal communication. AH this, instead of reducing the value of Colonial loans, would have added to them, because of the Avealth, prosperity, and advancement of the Middle Island, It must be remembered that the series of politic il meetings of which we have liad the beginning is the alarm note of a new election. I,t is the people’s opportunity for speaking out, and there must be no beating about the bush in the matter. There must be a decided and emphatic intimation to every candidate that the condition of support must be that he will oppose any Government that continues to expend Southern revenues on Northern needs.