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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 39, 27 March 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

To the Editor of the Hawke's -Bay Times. Sin, —In the midst of the Hosannas from the Maori, and the distrustful murmurs of European population, with which the policy of Sir George Grey as enunciated at Waikato, lias been received, it behoves who are interested to look a little below the surface and to enquire the real meaning and probable results of the scheme by which the governor proposes to reduce to concord the jarring elements of political disunion. Tn the first place it must bo clear to all thoughtful men that the middle island, with its large and increasing European population, its great wealth only yet in the infancy of its developement, will not long remain bound by the chain of political union to the impoverished and depreciated Aorth. Setting this aside as inevitable, I will glance at the task which the governor has undertaken as dealing only with and affecting only the interests of the .North. The very Political constitution cf the island is the first difficulty which presents itself, each of the Provinces with the possible exception of Auckland which may be bribed into quiet submission by a large Government expenditure, must remain centres of irritation and opposition ; already nearly the entire waste lands at the disposal of the several Provincial Governments have passed"i'nto private hands, and the territorial revenues derived therefrom, have been expended by each in its own peculiar manner of frittering away Public Funds. To confine my observations to the youngest of the Provinces (the “Benjamin” of the family), which has in the incredibly shortspace of fouryears squandered its patrimony in riotous governing, and will shortly be reduced to the condition of the Prodigal son, and cry for crumbs from the General Government, already it is grumbling at its own crusts. The chief wealth of the Province in the shape of territory still remains in the hands of the native owners, who are reasonably enough indisposed to part with anj' portion. Accepted the Governor’s proposition, suppose the mixed population reduced to one hapu— one happy family, like the once celebrated itinerant exhibition in Trafalgar Square, how many members will the Kgatikahungungu, the jS’gatimarau, the Ngatiwareopeti, and other tribes return to Council? What portion of the revenue will they contribute ? How much per head for sheep, horses, and cattle? What royally to Government for the recognition of their chums to the land ? What language shall the members of Council speak ? The Hungarian chambers were recently in trouble on that score, how long before the IN a pier Council realize the situation ? What qualification shall entitle a Maori to a vote ? I can answer these questions, but only in one way, and that little, 1 fear, to the satisfaction of Provincialists. The men who dismembered the Province of Wellington had some deeper aim than the mere discomfiture of policical opponents, unless, indeed, they had but a shallow wit. Have the Public forgotten that Sir George Grey years ago foresaw the results, and rightly conjectured that no oue could manage the concern of the happy family but the original and spirited projector. Unfortunate Governor Browne, wit h his English instincts and abstract ideas of the dignity of the British Government, fancied ho could settle difficulties by a mere threat of the rod : it is quite certain ho knew nothing of the business. How could ho reconcile the caf and the rat with the Guinea pig and the owl ? Behold the scene change! The original conjuror, the Exeter Hall magician appears, and straight the cat and the rat eat the sponge enke, the Guinea pig trembles an rl

the owl looks on with stolid indifference. So peace is restored, the jarring elements (namely the natural instinct to fight and eat each other ) are supposed to be at rest and satisfied, and exhausted nature seeks repose—“ To Sleep, perchance to dream ; eh! there’s the nib.”—l have before noticed the dreams likely soonest to distnrb the rest of the Happy Family, and what remains—the political dissolution of Provincialism—the cake and the rod both in the hands of a strong central Government. The wanton extravagance and short sighted policy of the various Provinces have brought this prospect before them face to face. It might hero been otherwise but now, instead of population wo have sheep, instead of a sturdy and numerous yeomanry able and willing to defend their holdings, we have a small squirearchy. A subservient government under their thumb, and their dictation, urging the crazy vessel full sail upon the rocks, and all to the cry of “progress” and the “people." This a pleasant voyage perhaps to float, Like Pyrrho, on a sea of speculation ; But what if carrying sail capsize the boat ? Your wise men don’t know much of navigation: And swimming long in the abyss of Thought Is apt to tire! A calm and shallow station

Well nigh the shore, where one stoops & gathers Some pretty shell, is best for moderate bathers. Perhaps some of the wise men are already stooping for some pretty General Government shell, and calmly waiting the crash to enable them to get it. Yours &c., Q.T3TEM SABE.