The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1855.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 310, 28 September 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1855.

Several measures now before the General Assembly, of a most important character to the welfare of the Colony, imperatively demand that the Province of Hawke’s Bay should not be unrepresented there at this time, which would be the case if the member for Napier should have returned to fill his place in the Provincial Council. In many respects it is to be regretted that he cannot he here, as the electors have so recently and plainly shewn, that he has their confidence and their warm approval of his line of action during the late session. Nevertheless, the opposition, though weakened by his absence, and that of his colleague, Mr Stuart, is in good bands. 'No measures will be allowed to pass without thorough examination ; and as the Government party has an actual working majority, even when both the absent members are present, tiieir presence would scarcely be able to effect any material difference in the character of the measures passed. In the General Assembly the case is somewhat different. We have seen how the abominable Masters and Servants Act has been modified by the efforts of the opposition ; and we know that there are several other measures hardly Jess objectionable before the House ;in particular the Press Control (or newspaper gagging) Bill, the New Militia Bill, the Representation Bill, (which gives to the South the full benefit of the proposed increase to the representation of the Colony), and the motion of pur own member respecting the pardoning, unasked, of those Maoris, among others, who hkve committed several murders, and some of whom have been actually convicted of the crime.

As we Lave said, these measures are of the utmost importance to the Colony, and there is good reason to know that the wholesome opposition made to the oppressive and unconstitutional measures of the Government by the member for Napier has, been, and may yet prove to be productive of the best possible results to the Colony. No person who has watched the progress of the Government measures through the Assembly,—who has followed the leading members in their arguments, —can have failed to perceive the animus of the Ministry against the Northern portion of the Colony, and its unfair legislation in favor of the South ; —neither can any such person wonder at its legitimate result being produced in the minds of certain members on the question of the unity of the Colony. Certain it is that the legislation of a Southern Ministry on the great question of the North—the Native, —betrays a complete incapacity to deal with the difficulties by which it is surrounded, and threatens to lead to a long andaltnost hopelessstraggle, with the rebels on the one hand and the costs on the other, —shewing plainly enough a state of matters that cannot be suffered to exist for any lengthened period of time, which, indeed, all parties must admit, however averse they may be to separation. We cannot now enter into the consideration of the development of the absurd notions of Native Government, exhibited in the Bills brought before the House by the Ministry, but we must not close this article without a passing reference to that which proposes to confer a manhood suffrage upon the native race, —a boon that has for the last quarter of a century been craved by the men of Great Britain of its Government, and craved in vain,—a privilege-not enjoyed even by the men of the Colonies, advanced as they are supposed by some to be in their state of progress. 0 no, the manhood of the Colony are eligible for the Militia and Jury lists, hut not fur the Electoral rolls. Yet this qualification —unsought, unappreciated—is thrust upon the semi-savage race of New Zealand. Now th.sis the'old mistake repeated. The grand fault of our dealings with tho New Zealanders has consisted m the making of the boons we have bestowed upon them too cheap. We give them schools before they care for education, and they must be coaxed and rewarded to attend, without avail; —build them hospitals, &c., with the same result; —and last of all, a Loo a ardently desired and earnestly sought by free-born civilised men in vain is —unneeded and unwished for—to be conferred upon them.