SUMMARY OF NEWS

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 186, 5 August 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY OF NEWS

(From the Weekly News, July 30.) The chief topic of conversation in Auckland during the past week, was the important news brought by the English Mail, particulars of which will be found elsewhere. Expectation was on tiptoe when the steamer was signalled on Saturday last, and every one asked everyone else on Queen-street wharf—“ Is it peace or war ?” “ What about the loan ?” “ Has there been more fighting in America ?” and “ What horse won the Derby ?” Now, as it was impossible to answer these questions satisfactorily, the public were compelled to wait until the newspaper offices issued second editions, and satisfied their craving for news. The only unanswered question was that about the loan ; and although nothing appeared iu the tele-

grams on the subject, it became known Sthat the Imperial Government would recoi/iftend a guarantee of one million'sterling, aud that the Hon. Header Wood was of the opinion that the remainder of the Loan could be placed within the limits assigned by the Loan Act. We are also in a position to state that arrangements have been already entered into for sending out a first body of military settlers required for this country. The debate in the House of Commons displayed the usual ignorance of the affairs of New Zealand by English politicians, and tne usual hostility to colonists as a class. One would suppose from the tone of the professed humanitarians, that a voyage to the Antipodes changed a man’s nature, and that a person of unexceptionable reputation at home must of necessity become a blood-thirsty robber the moment he looks upon the waste lands and brown skins of an aboriginal race. This, everyone here knows is not the case, but in the face of convincing evidence to the contrary, the super-pious and Evangelical party at home—(that veiy large and very respectable class who compound for neglecting the white heathens at their own doors by exercising a cheap philanthropy in in favor of colored heathens at a distance) — maintain that this is even so. The recent debate in the House of Commons was a notable example of this. We are glad, however, that the great body of the English people are not imbued with these feelings. Their Christianity is mure hearty aud sincere, if less demonstrative, than that of those men who think it no breach of the Divine law to bear false witness against men of their own race, for the sake of appearing before their world as the supposecl-to-be-oppressed descendants of Shem and Ham. The rapid settlement of this island with families from Great Britain and Ireland will, before many years pass away, lead to a different expression of sentiment in the House of Commons than that to which we now refer. We should add, that the authorities quoted against the settlers of Auckland were Dr. Pollen, Mr. Swainson, and Mr. Stokes, (an unknown man) of Wellington; and the older settlers of Auckland are pretty well aware how much dependence is to be placed on the testimony of two of these gentlemen on native matters. From Tauranga we have news of the unconditional surrender of 150 rebels, representing the whole of the Tauranga natives. They gave up their arms, and signed a declaration of allegiance to the Queen. The King-Maker and a body of rebels are further down the valley of the Thames. They have been there since the Gate Pa affair, and include amongst them men of the Uriwera ami Ngaliporou tribes. 200 rebels’ stand of arms have come up from Tauranga. The Commissioners appointed to indicate what in their opinion is the least bad spot in the worst place in New Zealand for the capital of the country, have arrived in Auckland on their way to Cook’s straits. There appears to be little interest felt in their proceedings here, but doubtless there will be enough of that shown by the people of Wellington and other claimants for their favorable consideration. The testimonial to Colonel Gore Browne, subscribed for by the inhabitants of New Zealand, lias arrived in Auckland, and may be inspected in the stores of Messrs. Newman & Ewan. We are sure that under all the circumstances of his Governorship of New Zealand, Colonel Browne will feel greatly pleased with this handsome pnesentation. Australian telegrams inform us that the approaching elections for the new Victorian Parliament were exciting great interest. There are two statements about new territotories being opened up, one by the extension of navigation to Gipps Land Lakes, and the other an entirely new country, within the bounds of the rather stagnant colony of Western Australia, about Roebuck Bay, the explorers in which report a well watered and grassed country, equal to any in Victoria. Enterprises with such results are of great importance to the Southern hemisphere. Throughout all the Australian colonies, flour is reported to be dull of sale, with an upward tendency. We are sorry to learn that the inhabitants of the district about West Maitland are threatened with another flood—at the latest advices the river was rising rapidly. There have been so many floods of late in that locality, however, that there is not likely to be much left to destroy. Details are given of the conviction aud sentence ot the famous bushranger Gardiner. The judge, after a long address on the enormity of his crimes, and the immense evil of their influence, sentenced Gardiner, for different robberies, to thirty-two years’ imprisonment. It would be greatly for the good and reputation of New South 'Wales if Morgan and some others

could be speedily laid hold of and dealt with in the same way.