The Globe. FRIDAY APRIL 26, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1280, 26 April 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY APRIL 26, 1878.

The doaih of the late Bishop Selwyn lias called forth tributes of respect and admiration of his character in all quarters. Even the Melbourne Arcjus devotes some space to a history of the career of this “ genuinely missionary bishop,” and says that “ when New Zealand shall have fulfilled the prediction of Sir Robert Peel and become the Great Britain of the South, the Fronde of the 25 th century may justly designate the late Bishop Selwyn as its Augustine.” Wo observe, from an Auckland contemporary, that a very general desire is felt that a monument of some substantial kind should be provided by the people of New Zealand, in order to hand down his name and his memory to future generations. A suitable monument in stone or marble is suggested, or the endowment of a Selwyn College, or Selwyn University scholarships. What form the memorial should take might safely bo left for future consideration. But there should bo no difficulty iu providing the necessary money for such an object. Not only docs the Anglican Church owe much to his zealous labours, bi t the whole colony does. At a period in her history when the relationship between the two races was of a more hostile character than now, he devoted his energies in the cause of peace. Those of our readers who are acquainted with the incidents of the Maori wars, will remember how, at great personal sacrifice, ho used hin powerful influence with the Natives in a most unselfish and selfsacrificing manner. But it is not for ns to bring forward reasons why New Zealand should take steps to “ embalm in the minds of future generations the deeds and memory ” of one the her greatest men. They are familiar to all colonists who have the slightest acquaintance with the history of their adopted country.

The people of Timarn Ixave got £IOO,OOO to spend in harbour works, and they mean to do it. They have shown a spirit and determination which deserve success. For years they fought for a sum sufficient to commeuce the works, and finally they obtained a portion of what they asked for. They had prior to that obtained a report on the works from the eminent engineer Sir John Coode. It cost a considerable sum of money. It admitted, however, that a breakwater could be erected there, but the sum required to complete it was more than the Board were likely to have at their disposal. The report was at first received with enthusiasm in the district, but by degrees people began to come to the conclusion that the eminent engineer’s scheme was not so suitable as they at first supposed. The upshot of the whole was that fresh competitive designs were called from colonial engineers, and Sir John Goode’s plan quietly set aside. These plans were submitted to two Commissioners appointed by the Colonial Government, whose approval the Assembly insisted should be obtained before any scheme was attempted. Those Commissioners wore unable to approve of any of the plans submitted to them, but in their report made certain suggestions. Accordingly fresh plans have been drawn up, which have already received the approval of one of the Commissioners, and the Board’s engineer is now on a visit to the North to obtain that of the other. In the meantime the Government engineer has paid a visit to the colony himself. He has actually been in Timarn, and spent a day there upon the beach, but the Board have declined to have a report on the works from his pen. Of course the members do not assign as a reason tlvt they are afraid to know the whole truth as to the feasibility of such an undertaking. But such is the impression convoyed to the minds of people at a distance by their course of procedure. As the Daily Times puts it, the impression conveyed is, “ that Timarn has more confidence in the engineer than it has in the practicability of the project; and that it considered that the prospects of obtaining a shelter for vessels on its beach would be much greater without than with a personal and professional examination and report at the hands of Sir John Coode.” We cannot help thinking that there is a good deal of truth in our contemporary’s remarks. The people of Timarn appear bout upon throwing the £IOO,OOO into the sea, in the hope that when it is spent the colony may bo induced to make an effort to complete the works. Whatever the cost, they intend to have a breakwater. But the limes points out that there was danger in the planner in which they allowed Sir John Coode to while away his time at Timarn, “ For wo find,” says our contemporary, “ in the local journal ‘ that Sir John Goods spent most of the forenoon yesterday on the beach, and when he was leaving he stated that he had all the material necessary for him to report upon the proposed harbour works, and that he could write his report in Wellington as well as in Timaru, provided he was instructed to do so.’ This looks very ominous, wo would almost say threatening, and it is to be feared the Harbopr Board has been neglectful of its duty in not giving him a drive out into the country that ho might see .the magnificent rosoures of the district, instead of leaving him in this way solitarily wandering by the sad sea waves, looking at the breakers and listening to what were the wild waves saying about the difficulties of such a stupendous project.”

Shortly after the close of the Crimean yvar, wo learn from the life of the Prince Consort, prijaco Gortschakoff thought proper to read Eug’laud. a josEOii on the respect due to independent ‘Sovereign States. Iu consequence of the aiiegovernment of the King of Naples, England and France withdrew their Ministers from that Court, This is what Prince Gortschakoff had to say on the subject, in a note addressed to his agents at foreign Courts: —“To endeavour to obtain from the King of Naples concessions as regards the internal government of his States by throats, or by a menacing demonstration, is a violent usurpation of of his authority; an attempt to govern in bis stead ; it is an open declaration of the rio-hfc of the strong over the weak.” The man who wrote the above words directs tii© foreign policy of lluosxa, and is now responsible for a far move violent usurp*. iioa oi ibe attftorHy cl m lafcgeaa&ti Stutej