General Summary.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 383, 7 June 1866, Page 3

General Summary.

At the date of our last summary. Major Fraser and his band of Volunteers were engaged iu the search for a reputed stronghold or pa of the rebels which was supposed to be lying in the almost inaccessible country in the vicinity of Poverty Bay. It will be remembered that the party left Wairoa towards the end of April, and had expressed a determination to traverse the difficult country lying between that settlement and Turanga, and ample details of this difficult enterprise, and its successful termination, — of the running short of provisions, owing to the party in charge of the pack-horses having lost the track and returned to Wairoa, —of the necessity of having recourse to horseflesh, &c., &c., —have been from time to time famished us by our correspondents, and much of which will be found in this summary; and although the expected pa was not found, the expedition was not without its good results. There are still, no doubt, a number of evil-disposed men amongst the natives of that district, but it is satisfactory to know that by the submission of Te Warn—one of the most bombastic of the rebel chiefs—and his party, the rebellion there may be considered as at an end. This, at all events, seems to be the opinion of the authorities, as our latest accounts from Wairoa inform us of the disbanding of the Military Settlers and other Colonial Forces there, and we only trust it may prove to he the case. We, however, must not too hastily arrive at the conclusion that the rebellion is at an end. Far from it; the main body of the rebel chiefs still hold out, and though for the present quiet, are anything but pacific. They are simply waiting the course of events, and it is to be feared that a large proportion of them seriously contemplate a renewed outbreak at Taranaki, in the form of an attack ‘upon the settlements there. They are evidently waiting the deportation of the remainder of the British troops, and are ready to take advantage of anything that may turn up in their favor. The state of tiie Colony iu this respect is much as it was supposed to be when Mr Weld enunciated lus policy of treating the question as though the rebellion was quelled and peace attained. While these native gentlemen only talk rebellion, and threaten the settlements witii their vengeance, it.is perhaps a wise coarse to let them bluster and threat; -but the Government should be well prepared to meet any rebellious acts, and show its intention and power by the summary punishment of every case of actual outbreak. Thus only will the natives as a whole be kept within bounds, and the settlers have a chance of existing in quiet. In political matters, we have to note the near approach of the meeting of the new House of Assembly. After several prorogations, it seems to be decided that a meeting will take place about the end of the present month, when the several questions that have of late agitated the Colony will be discussed, and some of them at least decided. We believe that notwithstanding the doubts thrown out by the Ministerial opponents regarding Mr Stafford’s professions of economy, that his promises will be found to be fulfilled in the main, and though we have been unable to award our approval to several instances of cheeseparing, especially in relation to advertising, we are glad to see an effort made, by the appointment of a special commission, to make enquiries into the best means of reducing the expenses of the civil service and other matters. The system of saving expense in advertising and printing, by calling for tenders, has also our approval, as it will be found to effect a con- , siderahle reduction iu the expense of this department, besides being more satisfactory than the favoritism shown of late in the preference given to certain parties. The amendment of the Constitution is another question that will occupy a great share of the attention of the Assembly, and it is one that will be attended with a vast amount of discussion. It is quite possible that the present Provincial system will be overthrown, and a new division of the colony made ; but whether it will take the form ot consolidation, and result iu the formation of a fewer number of larger provinces, having more plenary powers of legislation, controlled only in matters of general concern by the Central Government, or whether it will result iu the formation of a larger number of small municipalities and a strong Central Government, it would be premature to say. We foresee a vast deal of opposition to either scheme, and more still to the chimerical proposal of a separation of the islands. It is certain the question must be entertained, and be decided in some way.

In local politics we have to record the result of the two elections for the Provincial Council, alluded to in our summary of last month. In the first of these, which took place in the early part of the month, Mr Colenso was brought forward at the last moment, and the electors, anxious to prove to him that the return of Mr M‘Lean to the General Assembly did not indicate any diminution of their confidence in him, gracefully returned him in preference to the rival candidate, Mr Newton, whose name had been before them for some weeks. The friends of the latter gentleman, however, took the necessary measures to ensure his return on the second occasion, and were in fact successful, although it resulted in keeping out of the House for a short time a person whom many of them have been wishing to see there, and who only failed in this instance through the entire ignorance of the electors of any intention to bring him forward we allude to Mr H. C. Robjohns. A third vacancy has since taken place for one of the outlying districts, the election for which took place on the sth instant, but we have not heard the result. These three elections were not regarded as of primary importance, as the term of the present Council is fast drawing to its close, and a new roll of electors will form the basis of the next, which will shortly have to be elected. Trade continues to increase, and the Province, as well as the Colony as a whole, to progress. Favorable reports continue to be received from Turauaki respecting the progress of the petroleum companies, who have received encouraging descriptions of the article they obtain from analysts, and we hope shortly to hear that it has been obtained in quantities sufficient for exportation. The flax question still occupies much attention, and several parties have introduced simple machinery for its preparation. Either in this wa alone, or combined with handdressing, as a domestic speculation we have reason to believe that it will shortly form no mean item in the exports of the colony. An important feature in our local news is the rapid and illegal occupation of the lands constituting the lately disturbed district of Poverty Bay, and this in the face of threats held out to the unscrupulous squatters by the Government. It is to be hoped that in these instances at least a long-defied law will be brought to bear on its transgressors, and the native race shewn that the British subject is not altogether able to bid defiance to law and Government warnings with impunity. Some examples are needed if only to prove to the native race that our law is not a cypher, and the proclamations of the Government a mere sham.