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Evening Star, Issue 3084, 7 January 1873, Page 2

Wk wore somewhat astonished the other day by one of our leading statesmen observing in regard to the Polynesian slavetrade ” I do not see that we have anything to do with it—why should, we trouble ourselves about it?” This is indeed carrying utilitarianism to an extent for which we were not prepared ; hut it explains why the atrocities continually being brought to light connected with the trade, fail to rouse that generous indignation that wc had hoped would have led to united coudcmuation of the traffic by all the Australasian Colonies —even Queensland itself by the non-planters. It is not merely the disgrace that the renewal of the trade, under the specious form of a contract for labor, has brought upon the British Empire tlmt Jigs to be considered. That is bad enough. After twenty millions of money were nobly paid to the West Indian planters as compensation for wrong perpetrated under the sanction of British laws; after many millions more were spent in sustaining a fleet of forty vessels for several years for the suppression of the slave tratlic between Africa and the West Indies; after fifty years’ experience of the worse than uselessness of attempting to put it down by force, the British Government has supinely permitted the continued importation of shye Übor into Queensland. We suppose, therefore, only those British traders who are slave-catching for the Fijis will he considered transgressing the English laws up Jong as the others put a fair face on (be matter, and contrive to make it out they arc humanely engaging laborers for the immaculate planters of Queensland. The cry lias reached America, and the Californian journals &re using strong language. They say that the tlyitcd States have made great sacrifices tor the abolition of slavery, and that they will not stand idly by and see the islands of the Pacific depopulated, and the people degraded by being made the victims of a set of ruffians, whoso only object is to make a profit by bartering away the liberties of their fellow-men, But even in the lowest aspect of self-interest, jNcw Zealand is deeply concerned in the matter. The position, climate, and mineral resources of Nvw Zealand point to its being the factory of the Pacific. There may be countries on the borders of the basin of this vast ocean that possess mineral wealth as well as these islands j but nowhere, thus far, has equal wealth been found within so small an area, and under conditions tl.wfc racier it available for producing goods for export. Now, it must be plain, if this be the case, it js of the utmost importance to New Zealand to have the widest and nearest market for its productions, and this will he found as the inhabitants of the beautiful islands that stud the Pacific become civilised, and adopt the habits and customs of civilised man. Those best acquainted with the effects of the African slave trade express the opinion that, in the language of one of them, it desolated Africa, wholly prevented the advance in civilisation, ami encouraged the maltreatment of the negroes, by affording an unlimited supply', and making it not the planter’s interest to keep up his stock in the natural way.” This is the result of one hundred amUifty years' experience of the working of the slave traffic, in Africa, and it coincides with what wc know of (he brutalities practised by the slave-catchers of the Pacific. In the first place, as the object is to take useful laborers only, men in the prime of life are alone sought after. It is not even attempted to introduce a new race into

the Fiji Inlands and Queensland. They j do not lake families, but strong men, j who might bo the founders of families j wore they to remain at home. They buy j them so cheap that their lives are of j little value; and in ease of illness, it is cheaper to let them die than nurse them. At any rate it is clear that every adult man taken from those islands is so much withdrawn from the population and from the perpetuation of that population, Every human being abstracted from those islands is an additional cause of enmity against the white races, and an additional impediment to that civilisation which, once established, would tend to friendly intercourse and commercial advantage. What but a longing for revenge can be excited by such conduct as was practised by the ruthans of the brig Carl P To first induce a friendly visit by a number of natives, and then to prevent their escape by sinking their canoes b i y throwing lumps of iron into them, and dragging the drowning victims into the captivity of a shiver’s hold, was an act of cold-blooded treachery, which formed a fitting preamble to the tragedy that followed. But what friendly commercial intercourse can there be with human beings, whose kindly feelings have been thus outraged? What chance of that civilisation being accepted, which is offered by a race which includes in it such a set of unprincipled scoundrels ? It will he little satisfaction to the natives to learn that the blood of their murdered relatives has been expiated by the execution of some of the murderers. This, and countless similar transactions, have placed a gulf between the Polynesian and the Austral-Europeau that will not easily he healed; and for what lias this deadly feud been created F That a few cotton planters in Fiji, and sugar and cotton planters in Queensland may be enriched. Even in its lowest aspect—the money-grub-bing —the slave trade in the Pacific is robbing every Colony of hope of profit excepting Queensland and liji, and is degrading the Europeans in them by hardening them to all the higher feelings of our nature. We will venture on a prophecy that will not be realised in pur time —perhaps a century may pass before if is fulfilled—but if this slave trade is permitted to go on, the time will come when it will be found, as it was in the West Indies, that the planters cultivating their estates by slave labor will be in frequent distress, and, instead of becoming rich, their property will become almost valueless. It is a social law that has never failed, and will not in this instance.

We understand that his Excellency the Governor leaves town on his up-country tour on Fr day. On leaving Otago, he proceeds to Timaru, where advantage will be taken of his visit to get him to formally open the Rangitata Bridge. The following letter appears in a recent issue of the Jetcisk Chronicle., published in London Sir,—Your readers will be pleased t > know how their co-religionists stand in the social scale on this side of the globe, out of a population of 20,500 inhabitants. Mr P. A. Phillips is Mayor of Auckland ; Messrs C. Davis, L. D. Nathan, and E, Isaacs are Justices of the Peace ; Mr P, A . Phillips, member of the Provincial Council and the Harbor Board ; Mr L. A. Nathan, member of tiie Harbor Board ; Mr H. Isaacs, member of the City Council; Mr A, E. Isaacs, Lieutenant of Artillery ; Mr L. D, Nathan, Lieutenant of Naval Brigade; Mr (;. Phillips, Lieutenant of the liille Brigade ; MrM. Hasson, Ensign in the same brigade ; Mr B. Keesing, Ensign Cadet Corps; and Mr J. E. Isaacs, Sergeant in the same corps.” Referring to the Inter Provincial Cricket Match, the Li/lteltm Times says it promises, at present a somewhat easy victory to the Canterbury team, easier perhaps than is altogether desirable. A letter recently received from one of the selected team is indeed very strong in the opinion that a very mo le/ate lot will be got together to visit Christchurch, and goes so far as to say, “ we do nob stand a ghost of a chance against youth .a season. ’ He is satislied that neither Kettle, one of the best of Otago players, nor Collinson, the gaptain of former teams, Fulton, Macfarlan, Macdonnell, and several others can get away from business for the match. It is to be hoped, remarks opr contemporary, that future information will modify this opinion ; for although it is desirable that Canterbury should win, it is cquallv requisite that there should be good play, which cannot be if one side is so much weaker than the other. The match, we believe, will be played during the second week of February.

The annual meeting of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland takes place on Tuesday, the J4tb inst., at 7 o’clock, when the opening sermon wid be preached by the Rev. Dr, Stuart, The JSifuiiifd'mt anticipates important results from the deliberations of this meeting, which, we hope, will greatly increase the eliicit ncy of the Church. In addition to the in er> sting matters arising out of the reports of the standing committees on the state of religion, temperance, missions, sustentation fund, sanctioning of new charges, &c., special interest attaches to the reports which will be brought up respecting Sabbath schools, the employment of lay agent?, the adoption of a hymn book, and the adoption of forms of procedure. Several very important overtures will also be brought under consideration relating to the provision which is to be made for the teaching of students of theology, the administration of the ordinance of baptism, and the establishment of a fund for assisting aged and infirm ministers. These and many other matters which will demand consideration will necessitate economy in time and speech, in order to avoid unusual length of session.