The Hawke's Bay Times, Published every Monday and Thursday. MONDAY, 16th JULY, 1866.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 394, 16 July 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times, Published every Monday and Thursday.

MONDAY, 16th JULY, 1866.

“NUIXIUS AUDICTVS JUSAKK IN VEKBA MAOISTS!.”

Unsatisfactory as Royal and Vice-Regal addresses proverbially are, we must admit to having felt considerable disappointment on the perusal of his Excellency’s address, given in our last issue, in that almost all the topics that are regarded with interest by the Colony are passed over without note or sign, as much as if there were no sfich matters, or as though they were not of public concern. The matters alluded to are of course all those, and, we may add, only those that could not he passed over in a speech of the kind, relating generally to the calling of the Council together, the need of supplies, and promises of economy, being as follows:

The Council is called at the earliest opportunity. The increase of its numbers will give weight to its deliberations and better represent various interests of the Colony. , The all-hut complete cessation of the rebellion. The necessity that (however) exists of acknowledging, notwisbstanding the great success of our arms, particularly of General Chute’s campaign on the West Coast, that they have not sufficed to restore tranquility. The necessity that exists to provide a sufficient force to protect the Colony from outrage on the part of natives in disaffected districts, consequent on the departure of H.M.’s troops.

A congratulation on the inauguration of the Panama Mail Service. A congratulation on increasing telegraphic communication, and on the progressive development of the gold fields and consequent population, commerce, and wealth of the Colony. As regards finance, we have next— An assertion that economy has been exercised, and a promise of its continuance; a reference to a recent disposal of a portion of the colonial loan, as showing a return of confidence ; the necessity of taking measures to maintain this confidence by, amongst other things, consolidating the various existing debts of the several provinces; and means of providing additional revenue by the revision of the tariff, and the imposition of Stamp Duties.

A reference to the recent appointment of a commission of enquiry into the position of the civil service, with a view to efficiency and economy, and an indication of measures for improving the administration of justice concludes the address.

Not the least important part of the information to he gathered from the above is the fact that the Government are alive to the position of the Colony in relation to the disaffected natives, and the necessity that exists for providing a Colonial force for its protection. Those whose eyes are open to the present state of affairs kuow that the present attitude of the rebels is that of an armed truce, to continue till her Majesty’s troops shall-have taken their departure, aud that the rebels are, or profess to he, still confident of their power to defeat the Pakeha, and recover their forfeited territory by force of arms, and there has been only too much reason to fear that this was a state of affairs ignored by the Government, and which nothing short of a few diabolical murders would bring home to its apprehension. Perhaps the late ambuscade against Major M‘Donnell has tended to convince it of the truth. This also may he the reason for the, as we believe, ill-advised removal of the Hangers, &c., from the East Coast. It may be that there is good grounds for believing that there is work on the West Coast for all the forces we can concentrate there.

It is with much regret that we see reason to believe that Mr Stafford’s beau ideal, the Income Tax, is abandoned for the present in favor of more indirect taxation, and stamp duties. We sincerely trust that this is only for a time. In fact, we are sure that the growing intelligence of the age is such that the public will not long consent to pay blindfold as at present. The question—How much do 1 pay towards the cost of Government ?—is one that comes home to the pocket of every one, and it is a question that cannot be answered so long as the present system lasts. Few will grudge their proper share of that cost if they know what it is, but it is an un English practice—albeit submitted to by Englishmen— to Lave one’s purse opened by others, and no means of knowing what is abstracted, —however laudable, or even necessary, the object may be for which this is done. From the bint given us respecting the raising of colonial credit by a consolidation of the debts of the various Provincial Governments, we conclude that any change contemplated in the constitution

will be one that will give more power to the General Government, and weaken that of the several provinces. But we must forbear to write on this matter until we shall have seen the Ministerial programme for the session.