THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1903, 31 March 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

We alluded yesterday to the satisfactory interview which had been held betwoon the Native Commissioners and Titokowaru, and stated that the interview was a decided sot-off to the gloomy vaticinations of certain war correspondents, whose bread and butter depends on an electrically stormy condition of atmosphere. The more detailed account of the interview, which will be found in another column, proves that the first telegram on the subject was perfectly correct in calling the meeting " satisfactory." The Commissioners were welcomed by our old enemy in the most cordial manner. Sir W. Fox explained the object and scope of the Commission and placed the true position of affairs and the intentions of the Government before Titokowaru without the slightest reserve. He told him bluntly that the pakehas had the brute force in their hands, but that they wished to act justly and that the best thing was for the two races to live together in harmony, and then, says our correspondent, Sir D. Bell asked Titokowaru if he thought that the Europeans would agree to allow Te Whiti to have the control of everything in his own hands. The answer was a chorus of " Noes," followed by a sententious remark from Titokowaru—"Tho blood has all gono." Sir D. Bell said—" Although Te Whiti says the roads will never meet, you will find that they will meet." And then, after having been informed how the Government proposed to deal with the Natives in respect to their lands, Titokowaru said he was quite satisfied, and no more trouble need be apprehended from him. The remainder of the interview was carried out in tho same friendly spirit, Kokiri, a hitherto almost impracticable Native, quite agreeing with Titokowaru. This pleasing result is the outcome of firmness, combined with a conciliatory policy, and it may fairly be said that the Commissioners, and the Government that appointed them, deserve their success. Doubtless tho war correspondent of our Gloucester street contemporary has his own views on the subject. The whole affair was perhaps a blind, and Titokawaru's young mon were sharpening knives and loading muskets in the back kitchon. It will probably remind him of a similar instance of treachery that occurred among tho Choctaw Indians, when he barely escaped scalping by riding on a barebacked horse for several consecutive nights and days. But what of that? Luckily everybody does not hold such gloomy views as our friend the war correspondent.

Foe some time past the Domain and public gardens Lave been despoiled by somo persons to a very large extent. Indeed, so prevalent has the practice become tbat Mr. Armstrong does not care to put out any particularly choice plant, knowing very well that, if ho does so, it will be .abstracted. The perpetrators of these acts of vandalism are, it will be seen, very choice in their larcenies, taking only the best and rarest specimens in Mr. Armstrong's collection. Nor is this all. Not content with stealing these plants, they wantonly destroy others by pulling them, up by the roots. These practices have been going on for some time past, and, up to the present, Mr. Armstrong, despite his vigilance, has boon unable to arrest any of the offenders. Indeed, it could hardly bo expected that he would bo ablo to do so. Any one who knows the extent of the gardens which have to be kept constantly under supervision by Mr. Armstrong alone will agree with us that he has not a great deal of time to watch for theso offenders. Such a stato of things as wo havo referred to cannot, however, be allowed to exist. The gardens are designed not only for the recreation of the public, but as a nursery for plants of all sorts, and if the latter are stolon so soon as put out ono of the objects of the establishment of the gardens is defeated. It woidd seem nocossary, therefore, that, if possible, some such individual as a park - keoper should bo appointed, with a view to bringing such thieves as wo havo referred to, to justico, and of keeping somo sort of a watch over the persons who frequent the gardens, so that ladies and children might feel more thoroughly socuro while walking in them. Mr. Armstrong lias dono much good work in tho way of an am. .teur policeman, but it is ridiculous to supposo that, with his othor arduous duties, ho can bo hero, thoro, and everywhere. In other public gardens, such as tho Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, it was found necessary to havo park-keepers,

and so soon as they were appointed larrikinism and broaches of order in the gardons ceased almost entirely. "We commend this matter to the consideration of the Domain Board, in the hope that they may find it possible to take sonn steps in the matter. We are aware that the item of expense is always cropping up when such affairs have to be considered, but if the " game is worth the candle " it is often well to stretch a point to carry out a desirable reform. The present system is not altogether satisfactory. It is e; hard on Mr. Armstrong to expect him to supervise the planting and keeping in order of the gardens, and at the same time to watch the various people who may enter them. Moreover, the public loses in several ways, notably because tho nursery department of the gardens cannot be carried out properly.