The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1865. CONFISCATION THE TRUE METHOD OF MEETING THE WAR BILL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 309, 25 September 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1865. CONFISCATION THE TRUE METHOD OF MEETING THE WAR BILL.

Confiscation, as the means of meeting the liabilities of the Colony, was, by a late Ministry, considered as the true policy; and, indeed, it will be remembered that Sir Geo. Geey, on more than one occasion, signified his approval of the plan. It is hard to find a definite reason—certainly impossible to give a good one—why this sound principle should have been departed from. True it is that the Exeter Hall party raised a wild outcry against colonial greed; and some slight discouragement was shewn towards the execution of the scheme by the Colonial Office; but the first was quite harmless, and the other would not have resisted any show of determination on the part of the Colonial Government. The only reason we can give is to be found in the necessity anew ministry always seems to find of initiating a new policy—something different to that of their predecessors,—no matter though it may be an alteration for the worse. Be this as it may, the principle of charging the cost of subduing the rebels to the lands of the rebels has been abandoned, —and abandoned too almost without any objection on the part of the Colony, for we have sought in vain for any warm advocacy of a return to the original idea. A slight murmer here and there in the press, and a mere allusion to it by a few statesmen has been almost all that has been tried to prevent it from falling into oblivion; —and it seemed that the Colony, like a willing ass, was bending its back for the burden of from three to any number of million pounds, which must be drawn from their own blood, while the rebels themselves are made infinitely the gainers by their rebellion and the troubles they have brought on the Colony. While these thoughts have been awaiting an opportunity of expression, we are gratified to find a hon. member rises in the General Parliament of the Colony, and gives the same

idea to the public. We of course allude to the able address of Mr Ceosbie Wabd, from which we have extracted that portion bearing directly upon confiscation. Time has been when we have felt strongly opposed to the action taken by that gentleman in native matters, as, when agent for the General Government of the day, he visited our Province and inaugurated the expensive sham of Civil Commissionerism. But whatever his private views were at that time, he has long since shewn himself possessed of sound Colonial principlesas witness his able defence of the colonists, published during his mission to Great Britain, which was sufficient to atone for much that had occurred before. The opponents of confiscation seem in general to labor under much confusion of seas in relation to the scheme, as though it was beset with difficulties. Thus Mr Caedweix seems to think that it is necessary to eject the natives from the confiscated districts; to take actual possession, and to hold them by an armed force, as if, forsooth, the mere occupation of the districts, or their re-occupa-tion on the part of the natives, involved the ownership of them. This is, however, an absurdity, it being evident to any that a proclamation merely defining the districts confiscated would be sufficient, —leaving further action for the time of settlement, when acts of aggression on the occupier could be treated as breaches of the law, according to the programme of our new Native Minister. We are willing to admit that the peddling job of confiscation that has been tried has been a miserable failure from sheer mismanagement, —and that mismanagement is possible in a more comprehensive scheme; —but in what is it not possible ? It is at all events not necessary, and, therefore, should not be supposed. But the greatest objection seems to lie in the probability of injustice being done to friendly natives, as before the reply is there is no need of any such result, where their lands could be made over to them or the choice of another block of equivalent extent or value be given to them elsewhere among the lands of the Crown. Up to the present time a premium has actually been awarded to the rebels for the evils they have brought upon the Colony. They have been allowed the excitement of war when they pleased to fight; to cease and recruit themselves when they tired of it; and again to fight when they were ready. Those taken prisoners have been well cared for, clothed, fed, and sent back to their ranks to join with them in another assault at' a future time. Crimes, including even murders, are pardoned them, without their asking; for the favor: and the suffrage is thrust upon them also before they care to have it, or understand its use. They who engaged in the war with fear and trembling —not knowing: the forces that might be brought against them, or the punishment that would follow their subjugation—have leamt to despise the bravest army on earth as being unable to> conquer themthe legislators of a civilised i people as unable to rule them; —and the Governor and magistrates as unable to punish* their wrong-doing. This contempt is increased; by the action of the present Government in : the boons they now offer to them, as pearls may be cast before swine. Can it be expected that they will do other than trample them under their feet, and turn and rend the donors ?

AUCKLAND. O. O. B. BATTS ACQUITTED. —THE MURDERESS OF JOB HAMUH SENTENCED TO DEATH. The arrival of the s.s. Airedale, on Thursday morning last, has placed us in possession of papers to the 19th instant. The sedititious libel case against Mr C. O. B. Davis, which has caused no little interest throughout the Colony, had terminated on Saturday, the 16th, in the acquittal of Mr Davis. In referring to it, the Southern Cross, of the 18th, thus remarksMr Wynn delivered a lengthened address for the defence, in which he made some severe comments on the motives which had prompted the Government to enter upon the prosecution. Mr Hart spoke in reply, and adverted to the various points taken up by the counsel for the defence. His Honor summed up, read over the evidence of the principal witnesses, and stated the law bearing upon the case. The jury retired, and after an absence of twenty minutes returned with a verdict of “ Not guilty on both counts.” Hori Taka and Matin, the two aboriginal natives who, in October, 1863, were committed for trial on the charge of murdering Mr Job Hamlin, at Wairoa, Auckland, were brought up in the Supreme Court on the 18th, and after a long trial found guilty, and sentenced to death. Neither of the prisoners, it would appear, shewed any emotion on hearing the sentence. When asked by the interpreter if they had any reason why sentence of death should not he passed upon them, — Hori Taka said—l did not assist in that murder. It was Aratna Karaka, Pene, Ruatou, Te Wahu, To Paetni, Wiremn Enoka, Tamati, Nga Panaka. Matin said—l did not join in that murder. I am a stranger in this country. This sentence cannot have the slightest bearing on the two prisoners, as they constitute a portion of that large number that can set all laws at defiance; and have consequently been included in the general amnesty recently published by the Government. Will the Ministry carry their point in the face of the above ? The latest commercial news and other -matters of interest will be found elsewhere.