GUM AND FLAX FROM THE WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 354, 1 March 1866, Page 1

GUM AND FLAX FROM THE WAIKATO.

“At this time there are upwards of two hundred natives buisily engaged digging for kauri gum in Waikato. It is spread thickly over the low grounds, and in many places within the distance of one mile from the river Horotiu. It is said that one active and industrious Maori can if not called off by any other business, dig from two to three hundred weight daily, immediately upon the banks of the Mangawara Creek. On the borders of the swamps the soil is of a spongy dark color, except here and there insulated patches of manukau (tea-tree). This kind of land contains the heaviest gum, a superior quality. The Mangawara possesses great advantages over all other creeks in this whole district, by reason of its uniformity of breadth and depth. It runs in a westerly direction into the Waikato, at the foot of Mount Taupiri. Flax, which engrossed the chief attention of the old traders, abounds in the district, more particularly the Tihore, the fibre of which, when properly cleaned, is considered equal for its length and fineness to any grown in the north of New Zealand, Little has yet been done by the natives since the breaking out of the late war at producing dressed flax for sale. Some natives have now turned their attention to the preparation of this article, which promises at some future time to become 6ne of our main exports. It is the opinion of persons who have been for many years familiar with the flax trade, that it may be prosecuted to great advantage in Waikato, providing sufficient encouragement is given to the natives. At Maungatftutari great labor is besto wed by the natives on thecleaning process, which is done by scraping off the cuter skin of the flax by means of a piece of iron hoop attached to a wooden-horse —constructed especially for the purpose of flaxdressing. “ Mr J. W. Young and Co.'s river steamer Waipa the other day took down a large quantity of kauri gum to the Bluff from Ngaruawalua, dug in the district. The natives, it is said, have already sold one hundred and seventy pounds worth of gum to the traders on the river Horotiu. Mr Simpson’s store at Ngaruawahiu has been doing a brisk business in the flour trade with the gum-diggers since their eommenceme at. The natives of the district conduct themselves in a most straightforward manner in ell their dealings, and express a wish to continue to live on friendly terms with the storekeepers, wh > do the.r utmost to give satisfaction.”—Comnq ondent of the Daily Southern Cm*.

THE POLITICAL POSITION of VICTORIA. (From the Wanganui Times, 16th February.) Oue Melbourne files are to the 25th January, and principally occupied with electioneering reports* There is, however, one subject which engrosses the attention of the entire colony, and by which the elections are being entirely influenced, and that is no less than a direct conflict with the Home Government. Our readers will remember that the dispute between the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament were referred for the decision of Her Majesty’s Government. That decision is opposed to the course taken by the Ministry and sanctioned by the Governor. Previous to the arrival of Mr Cardwell’s despatch, Sir Charles Darling had appealed to the country, writs were issued, andtbecolony was in a state of political excitement when the despatch was received and published. This decided the elections. An overwhelming majority of the electors at once declared their intention to support the Ministry and the Governor against the Upper House and the Home Government. None but Ministerial candidates could obtain a hearing, now towards the close of the elections it is found that ninetenths of those elected support the Ministry. Where now will the conflict end? Will SirCharles Darling, in defiance of the opinions expressed in Mr Cardwell’s despatch still support the Ministry ? He appealed to the country and the overwhelming majority returned to support the Ministry in direct defiance of Mr Cardwell’s opinions, places the Governor in an awkward position. The parliament will shortly meet, and the Ministry express their determination not to yield a single point. On the other hand, tho Upper House, supported as it is by the Home Government, will mantpin their constitutional privileges, and as there ar? no nominees in that House, the Ministry cannot pack it so as to command a majority. The A r g us in commenting upon the opinions of the homo press upon the political conflict in Victoria says : “ Whatever may have been their own dicta upon the subject, and however equivocal the rulings of Mr Speaker Murphy, Ministers have now been told by the highest authorities in the mother country that the tacking of the Tariff to the Appropriation Act was, as we have ever contended, unconstitutional, and an invasion of the privileges of the Upper House. The public press, from one end of the kingdom to the other —from the Laud’s End to John o’ Groat’s House—have denounced the conduct of tho Ministry in dispensing with the annual Appropriation Act, and in resorting to surreptitious means to obtain the public moneys, in order to carry on without restriction the business of Government. Our countrymen at homo too are amazed at the trickery and audacity shown by the Attorney-General in disregarding the judge* ments of the Supreme Court, and in interposing a purely vexatious appeal to the Privy Council with a view to deprive suitors against the Crown of undoubted legal rights. “ They have seen that the Ministry hold as of no account, any opposition which may be shown to their policy. Neither the judges, the Upper House, tho independent press of the colony, nor the opinion of the minority of the electors, however large relatively, and however superior in importance from their intelligence, weigh with tho Ministery when resolved to carry out their ill-con-ceived aad dangerous policy. Having succeeded so far, by false pleas and dishonorable means, in securing a majority in tho Assembly, they even imperil the British connection itself, and involve the colony in anarchy and chaotic confusion, rather than modify their policy, or pledge themselves strictly to adhere to constitutional usage.' The Argus, however, has no influence over the* masses of tho people in Victoria. For many years past that ably-conducted paper has been looked upon as the organ of the squatters and capitalists, and the persistency with which those classes so long resisted the passing of any Land Act favorable to the bona, fide settlement of tho people oa the land render them obnoxious to the general body of electors. Having now obtained the upper hand, democracy rushes into extremes, and the opposition of tho Argus is of the greatest possible support to “ the People’s Ministry.” However, the conflict may end in Victoria, the people of this colony would do well to profit by their experience. For many years they were governed by a dominant class, and subjected to the injustice and annoyance of class legislation; the people having now gained the ascendancy ruthlessly retaliate, and many of the ablest men iu Victoria are excluded from the House of Assembly, whilst mere stump orators and political adventurers go in at tho head of the poll. Class legislation in this colony has long passed unnoticed and unchallenged, but the large influx of population from other colonies will no longer allow it to predominate. It will bo well for the future prosperity of New Zealand if our legislators will, during the revision of the tariff and the imposition of additional taxation, guard against favoring any one class of the community at the expense of another. The New Zealand House of Bepresentatives has hitherto been composed of a class of men, as a whole, much superior to tho cognate branches of the Victoria or New South Wales legislatures, and it is desirable that the standard of efficiency should be raised rather than diminished. No* doubt those two colonies have some as able men. as any in New Zealand, but our remarks apply to the members taken as a whole, and to that class legislation which has drawn the neighboring colonies into their present position, and which, if not n ii rawly looked to here, may eventually befol.o wed by similar resultk