CORRESPONDENCE

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 18 September 1862, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

To the Editor of the SawJcds Say Times. Sin, —The despatches received from the Duke of Newcastle by the May mail appear to be the most important documents ever sent from England to the Southern hemisphere; but I must confess to having formed a different opinion regarding their contents than that adopted by the press generally. The one approving of Mr. Crosbie Ward’s conduct in this Province needs little notice, as His Grace had been informed that the course adopted ■was “ satisfactory to all parties,” and there was no little bill of costs sent home, so His Grace might well say, “if both colonists and natives are satisfied it must be all right.” Another treats of Commodore Seymour’s conduct in rendezvouing his squadron at Port Jackson, when expecting word of a declaration of war, of which our colonial “ statesmen” had been foolish enough to complain. The Commodore showed that he was alive to his duty, which was to look after the interests of the British Empire, and to obey orders ; and where could he find a fitter place for this than Port Jackson, with its splendid harbour, and telegraphic communication with the chief cities of the South, insuring the earliest information on the questions at issue ? Had he, on the contrary, allowed his ships to remain scattered about the Southern ocean, one waiting Governor Grey’s pleasure down the East Coast, another carrying a responsible incapable on a diplomatic errand to one of the out-districts of the dominions of his Cannibal Majesty King Potatau, &c., he would have proved himself to be as unfit for his post as Fox and Crosbie Ward were for theirs. Another of His Grace’s documents appears to be in reply to a direct complaint that Sir G. Grey has‘not a “ man-of-war” to convoy him to and fro at his pleasure. His Grace says plainly—lf you require a vessel for that purpose, you had belt er get one. What other answer could be expected to such a foolish complaint ? The colonists, or at anv rale an influential portion of them, have asked'to be allowed to manage their own alfairs, and what is more, certain affairs in which the British Crown and people are interested ; how can they expect British taxpayers to pay the cost ? One of the strongest arguments used against the doctrine of colonial right to manage native affairs has been connected with the expense, as those who take the responsibility can scarcely expect to escape the principal share of the cost. But the most important despatch of the number is that where His Grace distinctly disclaims all liability for the cost of making the road to Waikato, which it appears our Government had been silly enough to attempt to lay on the British Government. His Grace says, (in effect,) You have got affairs into a mess, and lay the blame on me, so for the future do as you think best, but do it at your own expense, or chiefly so. For it is still the British people who pay the the largest portion of the cost of maintaining the “armed neutrality” now existing in New Zealand. The charge of £5 per annum on every soldier, paid by the colony, is but a small shave of the actual cost of maintaining the little army. His Grace was evidently dissatisfied with the state of affairs existing here, and naturally unwilling to pledge himself that five or six thousand soldiers should be retained in the colony as witnesses, while enemies were being bought over to keep the peace by hard cash, accompanied by an extraordinary amount of soft sawder. An armistice that requires an army of observation to maintain it is but little, if any, better than actual war. Peace is not the proper name for such a state. His Grace had given a direct approval to the terms offered by Governor Browne, so ho could scarcely be expected, without some valid reason, to at once approve of a reversal of those terms. But there is another question opened up by His Grace’s surrender of Maori questions to the'colonial legislature. It is this ;if we are dragged into a war in defence of our rights and our property, are we to fight with our hands tied ? arc we to be told—you may fight the Maori, and if they prevail they will take your property as well as your lives ; but if you prevail, you must on no account touch their property ! Whether you win or lose, you only must bear the cost? Shall the natives be told beforehand—lf you fight, you may gain but shall not lose anything? This was practically the way matters stood under Governor Browne, but he was the servant of the Home Government, and responsible to them only for his actions ; but if the colony is to bear the expense of war, or even a large share of that expense, the colonists have a right to a voice in the terras, which ought to be plain and unmistakcablc, “If you beat °us, you will take or destroy all our wealth but if we beat you, “we shall make you give ulu for your conduct towards.” Yours, &c., A SAXON. August 31st, 1862.