The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1073, 5 December 1877, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1877.

The correspondence between the Governor and Ministers, which wo publish elsewhere, will ho read with surprise and regret by all right-minded colonists. The memoranda of Ministers hear on the face of them evidence that their decision has been arrived at, not on the merits of the question, hut because they saw that in giving a refusal they would annoy, if not insult, the Secretary of State, the Governor, and at the same time reverse a resolution of the late Ministry. Our readers may remember that some time ago the question of colonial defence was largely discussed in Australia and New Zealand, and a decision arrived at that the chief towns of the colonies should he placed in a position to resist the attack of single ships or privateers. The Imperial authorities were naturally as anxious as the colonists themselves to see our harbours placed in some kind of defence, and the result was that Sir W. Jorvois and Colonel Scratchley were appointed to report on the question. They have now all but completed their task as far as the Australian Colonies are concerned, and were coming to New Zealand in January to report upon our defences. Accordingly Sir W. Jorvois communicated with the Governor, and requested that the Hinemoa might he sent to Hobart Town to bring him to New Zealand. This was refused, A curt refusal was next given to a desire expressed that the vessel might be used during the mouth oi

January for the purpose of visiting flic various ports of the colony to report upon their defences, and finally Ministers advised the Governor to communicate with Sir W. Jervois, and request him to postpone indefinitely his visit to New Zealand. The memorandum conveying this advice is characteristic of the Ministry, of which Sir G. Grey is the head. It is taken for granted that the report of Sir W. Jervois would recommend a large, expenditure on harhor defence, and as the colony's financial position will not permit of this being done at present. Ministers refuse the services of Sir W. Jervois altogether. They ignore the fact that if the works recommended are beyond our means they need not be undertaken, but the report itself would be valuable, and would cost a comparatively small sum. .more especially if file Hiuemoa were placed at the disposal of the commissioners. But unfortunately the services of Sir W. Jervois and Colonel Serai chly were obtained through the Secretary of State at the request of the late Government, and such a splendid opportunity of dealing a blow at the Secretary of State, the Governor, and the late Ministry at once was not to be let slip, whatever the consequences to the colony might be. Not content, however, with pleading our poverty as an excuse for refusing those gentlemen’s services, the credit of the colony is deliberately damaged in the same memorandum in another direction. Totally regardless of the consequences, we have a hypocritical display of anxiety on the subject of internal defence. ‘‘They might possibly,” we are told, •‘with little warning have to make pro- “ vision for resisting an internal enemy “ who might jtrove much more dangerous “ than any external foe.” Read in the light of the Statement of the Native Minister, we must come to the conclusion that Ministers are unscrupulous enough to make use of any argument, however destitute of truth, win cl i will serve their purpose. The Hon. J. Sheehan spoke in a very different tone only a few weeks ago. This is what he had to say regarding the chances of a future outbreak : Looking at the chance of a future outbreak the population in the North Island was 23,639 males, 19,769 females, distributed to a large extent north of Auckland, and on the East Coast. There was absolutely no chance of war in these places. The only possible place was in the King Country, where there were in all only a native population of 5255, of whom only 2666 were males. Against these were 25,000 friendly natives, and a European population of 40,000 men. The native popula'ion was also steadily decreasing, and all evidence the Covernment could collect pointed out that there was no longer reason to fear a native war. Even in the King Country the natives were becoming reconciled to their position, and anxious to cultivate friendly relations. Be did not think even in the King Country an armed force could now be raised against the Europeans. It was desirable that this should be known, as the Public Works scheme was not yet finished, and much more money has to be borrowed jet to complete it satisfactorily. When Ministers wove penning the memorandum from which we have quoted, they were apparently only thinking of the insult they were offering to the Secretary of State, the Governor, aud the late Ministry ; when the Hon. J. Sheehan was making ids statement, he had evidently forgotten the memorandum, aud was only anxious that their proposed four million loan should be successfully floated.