Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 771, 21 March 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1870.

When things go wrong in a family the person most concerned is often the last to hear it. What is true in the smaller is also true in larger communities. Our contemporary the Herald committed an anachronism in his endeavours to gladden the hearts of the faithful. There is now less ground than ever for the assertion that dissatisfaction with the present administration is confined to a very few settler? in this Province. Time was when, by means of active agitation and continuous misrepresentations, our settlers were almost persuaded to place a blind confidence in Mr M'Lean. The case is much altered now, and a strong current is setting in the other way. Nothing is so trying to mediocrity as place. To be thought great required Mr M'Lean to be untried. We have, unluckily, had experience of him now. In every day life how many men retain a sort of reputation by constantly evading any test of their abilities ! How many silent pass for clever men ! Mr M'Lean was a dark horse, —he is now a beaten hack. To us in the North Island the war is everything. Of what importance to ub are new lines of steamers or Government annuities 1 Peace is the one thing wanting to us, and we would gladly allow any Ministry its hobbies if it could give us that boon. In judging the Ministry, therefore, we make no excuse for considering mainly their Defence administration. Unhappily this has entirely broken down, and nothing proves it more sufficiently than the persistent repetition of the old railing at the acts of their predecessors which they used when struggling for their places. Men get tired of a monotone. We begin* to weary of this theme. When Mr Fox fails to catch Te Kooti we have a homily upon Waikarimoana ; when Mr Fox makes any other mistake, the June expenditure of 1869 is dished up afresh —and soon. But a Ministry cannot exist for ever upon Waikarimoana, and it seems an odd time just now to bring that expedition up again, when a second one has been driven back from that place at its first attempt. Better luck next time ; but, meanwhile, do not throw so many stones. We begin to weary of this way of tiding over our unfortunate failures in the field. No triumph to Mr Stafford can be more complete than this kind of vindication. It shows that his difficulties are by no means overcome by his successors, or he and his doings would be forgotten in the general joy.

Mr Stafford met the House last year with the largest monthly current expenditure he had ever incurred, for he would not starve the war to save his off Le. He had two sides of the island to consider —the present Government has only had one. If his expenditure is examined it will be found that fully one-half of the cost of his Defence department was incurred on the West Coast. The end of Mr Stafford's campaign was the subjugation of that part of the country, "and it has never since troubled Mr Fox. If, therefore, by contract work with the friendlies, and the discharge of the tried and trained men, Mr Fox does meet the House witli a current cost for that month of only £ 14,000, this economy just brings his expenditure down to half that of Mr Stafford, and as it is incurred on only one side of the island the account is not better than £27,000 for both sides. We may be misinformed, but we do hear, however, that the Government have heavy arrears to the Europeans outstanding, and have not vet paid for the costly operations under Colonel M'Donnell, either to our natives or the Taupos; that Topia's 600 men engaged at 5s per diem are not yet settled with, and, therefore, that the new system of no pay from the Ist January k rather a matter of necessity than choice. Let us hope it may succeed. There will be no bickering over the laurels, for poorly as |our contemporary may judge of the jlate administration of affairs, we 'know that the real fighting men I think differently, and are assured

that fewer weeks would have elapsed to crush Te Kooti had they not reversed the policy of their predecessors when he was on the plains between Colonel Herrick and hunger than it has taken months to drive | him back again to the TJriweras. The present administration will not evade condemnation even though Kemp or Topia should happily hunt down this inhuman outlaw, nor do we think it will be shown that the cost of these Defence experiments due and paid will fall short of the entire expenditure incurred by Mr Stafford. On the other hand, if the contract system should end in nothing, and Te Kooti is at Waikarimoana—as it is stated he is, though we doubt the fact ourselves —a place out of the path of either Ropata or Kemp, then we have left to console us —what? Why that our reliable force is gone, replaced as regards pay by a stieet police of burly fellows quite unused to undergo fatigue or hardship, and that Te Kooti is almost as strong in men, and stronger in prestige than he was at this time last year ; the King far more decidedly hostile, the armed friendlies sulky and dissatisfied, and the South Island more than probably intent on refusing war supplies. This is what we have come to. On the other hand, we have got rid of Colonel Whitmore as commandant of the constabulary, but we have Mr Branigan as Chief Commissioner with a considerable following or staff with uninilitary titles. We have got rid of one Inspector—paid only as such, with the titular rank of Lieut.-Col. —and in lieu have Inspectors Pitt and Noake, only Majors, it is true, but holding the same rank and emoluments as Lieut.-Col. St. John. Then, in lieu of Colonel Herrick, we have, or had, Colonel M'Donnell, with a much larger nnmber of staii officers. Where is the reduction?

The happy termination of the war m the West Coast enables Governaent to make a reduction of 50 per ent. Has that reduction of officers loiding rank been made 1 For our >art we regard this war against itles as a little and small-minded ittempt to pander to a morbid feeing. It is one not largely felt, ifther; the desire of our settlers, ike that of Englishmen everywhere, )eing rather to over-reward and i ono r military merit. Provided the oldier does his duty, or strive* or victory, nobody begrudges him he empty honor of a name. What!\er principle is involved is a bad >ne. Whatever may be right in :ivil go\ eminent, there can be no ,wo masters on the same field in nilitary affairs without producing ailures like Patetere. Under Mr Stafford no junior could have flaunted a written order conferring functions upon him independent of the nithority of his military superior. Che sense of the country is indeed ;hat less interference with the offi:ers in command would produce setter results. Too many owneis nterfere with the management of ;he ship to bring about a successful ;i uise. This is the real lesson of the >ast year—that Ministers and functionaries at a distance should letj officers on the spot alone, and leave! fchem to finish their own work their Dwn way. Had Ministers not judged from a non-military point of view, md solely from geographical or worse notives, the base of operations for Eaupo would not have been Napier, md the cost of supply now in sum aier time to Runanga not have been £3l per ton. The" road by Galatea would have been used by drays, and goods brought up for a trifling sum. From a local standpoint we should have lost nothing. Our only produce taken to Taupo is a very little stock, bind Hawke's Bay would always have been the place from which stock would have gone to Taupo as well as Auckland. We should also not be as we are—quoted all over New Zealand as being in the very front of danger— and property would be infinitely more valuable. The telegraph has only progressed eight miles to Tarawera in eight months, though taken forty miles to Haroto in a few weeks. We fear, therefore, that we cannot see much in the past to justify the satisfaction of our contemporary, or afford it to the country at large.

I Good News.—Sheepfarmers and graziers will be pleased to learn that at latest advices, sheep and cattle in the Auckland market were rising in value.

Native Intelligence is very meagre. We hear that a party of Mohaka natives are on a scouting expedition in the interior, and are doing some service; but that the Wairoa Maoris continue to have portentous " dreams," and utterly refuse to leave their present quarters.

New Bridge.—There has been a great deal said during the last few days in reference to the erection of a bridge from Gough Island to the Western Spit, but we cannot furnish any particulars at present. We trust, however, the idea will be realised.

The Leotard Brothers, in conjunction with Mr Harry Morgan, have given two performances in the Oddfellows' Hall, in which they fully sustained the high reputation they have already acquired in the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. We cannot afford space this morning for a detailed notice, but would recommend all who take pleasure in acrobatic feats performed with marvellous ease and grace, or who like to hear the latest popular songs well sung, to pay a visit to the Oddfellows' Hall. This evening there will be a change of programme, but we observe that the burlesque " Electrobiology," which evoked roars of laughter, is to be repeated. For further details, we refer our readers to the advertisement.

Napier Musical Society.—The first conceit of this society was given in the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening, the 17th inst., and we have no hesitation in pronouncing it a great success. The performance began with the overture to " II Bar, biere di Sevdglia," by the whole band, which was well executed, great precision being observed in the time. Next came the glee, "Awake, iEolian Lyre," admirably sung and accompanied. The next on the programme was O'Donnell's beautiful song, " Rock me to Sleep." This was sung with great power and feeling by a lady, who audience spell-bound until she had finished. Next followed some charming selections from " Martha" (violin and pianoforte), including the " Last Rose of Summer." Then a lively duett, "The Gipsy Countess," sung by a Jady and gentleman with very pleasing effect. This was succeeded by Lover's song, "Why art thou wandering alone on the Shore 1" to which full justice was done by the lady singer, whose rich full tones and clear articulation were greatly admired. This piece was loudly applauded. The first part of the programme closed with the " Angelus " from " Maritana." The second part opened with the overture to "II nozze di Figaro," by Mozart, which was followed by the brilliant glee, " Mayday." In response to long and rapturous acclamation the latter part of this piece was repeated. Then came a cornet duett, the well-known air " Si la Stanchezza," from " II Trovatore." This was beautifully executed and an encore was called for, and granted. Next came the song, " Ring the Bell, Watchman," by the same lady who in the first part, sang " Rock me to Sleep." We had not before heard this piece, and were greatly pleased with it, more especially as every word could be distinctly heard —a point to which sonie singers pay far too little attention. An encore was rather too much to ask from the singer, but on . its being called for, she obligingly repeated the two last verses. This i was followed by the beautiful air, "Yanneal mio bene'* on the violin and pianoforte, which was also encored. , Next came an air from " 11 Trovatore," by the full band; and the , whole was appropriately closed by > Mozart's grand anthem " Gloria in • Excelsis," by tbe whole vocal and i instrumental strength of the society. , The programme showed great taste > in the selection of the pieces; the , execution was all that could be de } sired; and we hope that the future - performances of the society will bo - equally successful, and as well appreciated,