Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1872. THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1411, 26 August 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1872. THE POLITICAL STRUGGLE.

One of the most striking points brought, out (.luting the progress of the present debate in the General Assembly on Mr Stafford's motion of want of confidence in the Government, is the position occupied by the Native and Defence Minister, the hon. D. M'Lean. It almost appears as if the fate of the Ministry is entirely dependent on the pleasure of thi.- one num. So infatuated in his favor are the members tor the Southern Provinces-*- members, in fact, who know least about him—that it seems almost hopeless to attempt the formation of any Ministry fiom vhich he is excluded. Tim members for the Northern Provinces, with few exceptions, know him better, and it is to be observed that those, who it may be asserted, are best acquainted with the state of affairs in this island, do not yield him ssuch implicit confidence. So long as the M'Lean native policy is pursued, so long will the native mind continue unsettled ; and rather than the representative of that policy should sustain an office in any new Ministry, it would be preferable that no change should take place. We did not anticipate that Mr Stafford, after his experience of Mr M'Lean in 1869, would again try to work with him ; but it is evident that in this respect the leader of the Opposition feels himself driven into effecting a compromise mise with the Southern members, who dread, above all things else, an outbreak of the natives, and who seem to have a blind confidence in Mr M'Lean, as being the only man able to avert such a calamity—not perceiving that in reality it is the almost inevitable result of the course of policy pursued by him. There may have been another cause, not quite so apparent as the above, operating in Mr Stafford's mind. He is not likely to have forgotten the manner in which, during the troublous times of 1869, Mr M'Lean taught the natives a lesson of disobedience to constituted authority which they likewise are not likely to forget. Ropata and party of 85 Ngaliporous, had been sworn in for service on the West Coast, and arrived at Napier, en route to Wanganui, on the 9th March, in tho C.G. s..s. St "Kilda. Their presence was urgently required at the place of their destination, but Mr M'Lean brought Ropata on shore at Napiei, and with some difficulty persuaded him

Mails for Australia close at Auckland at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 28th instant. Telegrams will be received at Napier till a.m. on Wednesday. Very severe weather seems to have prevailed all over the Australian colonies during the early part of the present month. Late telegrams inform us of falls of snow having occurred in Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales.

The Evening Post says that the Wellington correspondent of the Nelson Colonist —whose identity it is not difficult to discover —has foreshadowed the coming Ministry thus: —Premier, with a seat in the Upper House, Sir D. Monro ; Colonial Secretary, Mr Stafford ; Treasurer, Mr Fitzherbert; Native Minister, Mr Gillies; Commissioner of Customs, Mr Curtis. [The correspondent referred to is, without doubt, Mr Luckie, editor of the Nelson Colonist, M.H.R. for Nelson, and a strong supporter of the present Ministry.] The Treasurer, in his Financial Statement (says the New Zealand Herald] congratulates the House upon the increase of revenue for the past year, but he did uot tell the reason of the increase, namely, the large expenditure in the shape of wages, of borrowed money. This money finds its way into the hands of importers and thence to the pockets of English manufacturers, who thus make a double profit out of New Zealand. And what will be the condition of the revenue when this expenditure ceases, the money having left the country ? We have previously had a sensation of what the state of things will be, and we fear for the future.

An industry worthy of notice has been initiated by Highland settlers at Saddle Hill, near Duaedin, viz., the manufacture of hives. The only materials employed are tussock-grass, the ever handy flax, and a wooden bodkin The grass is coiled, with stripes ,of flax, into the shape of a cone, capable of containing 60 Ihs of hon 'y. From the warmth and comfort experienced by the bees, they are much more active in culling honey. Persons who have used them affirm that one hive of this kind is worth three boxes, both for quality and quantity of honey. A man can make one per day with ease, and it sells for seven shillings.

Tbejouraeymea bakers of Christehurclfc have secured a general reduction of the hours of work, which commence at four in. the morning instead of two. The first number of the Bay of Plenty Times will be issued at Tauraaga about the 4th September. The Thames Industrial Exhibition was opened on the inst. The day was observed as*a general holiday. A sensational paragraph has beetrgofng the rounds of the New Zealand press lately recounting the kindness shown by Freemasons in New South Wales to au unfortunate man named David Cameron* who in a tale of '* moving incident by flood aud field " related how, while fighting the Maoris inNew Zealand as- ;a volunteer, he was, with two mates, made prisoner by the natives, who bound them to a tree in a state of nudity, and smeared them with kauri gum, and set fire to the same, leaving them to their fate. His two mates died, but he, after suffering most excruciating torture, managed to release himself, and wandered into the bush, where he was found by a search party, who at once attended to him. As. proof th( reof, the poor unfortunate fellow showed how his left arm was burnt off, the fingers also of his right hand almost to his knuckles, his right side and thigh completely shattered, and where the flame careered around his chest and back, most unmistakeable signs of the agony he must have endured. The Tuapeka Times says in reference to this character: —"The individual alluded to is * Doon the Burn Davie,' well-known on the gold-fields of Otago and the West Coast. He sustained his injuries by being burnt in his hut, at Tuapeka, while in a state of inebriation. The story he has told the N.S.W. folks as as a work of fiction is really excellent." Davie will probably improve as he travels.

The Evening Post says: —Military glory is of brfef duration. The men who risk their lives in our defence, who carry us safely per acuta belli are forgotten in a few short months after their servicer have been dispensed with. Our contemporary, [the Wellington Independent],.• this morning, informs us that a petition was presented to the House last night,, from " one M'D.innell," claiming consideration for services as a military settler.. " One M-Donnell! " Can this be the man upon whose account Mr Fox violently denounced Mr Stafford in 1869, the man whom Mr Fox exalted as the saviour of the country, and whom he hoped *' yet to see carrying his sword at the head of the colonial forces ? "

With reference to " the Green Harp Swindle," we take the following from the New Zealand Herald, 23rd August:— J The hearing of this ease was concluded yesterday, the defendants auswering totheir names. The whole of the evidence f was read over, and occupied about three hours and a half in its reading. His | Worship, in giving his verdict, said it I was a matter of congratulation to those f interested in this case that it was at an end. The eloquent and able address of | Mr Joy, the leading counsel for the defendants, would make it appear as if there was a very broad silver edge to the cloud which overhung the defendants, but the Court could not entertain that view of it. The evidence was sufficiently clear to prove that there was a combina- I tion to conspire. Against Gleeson there was not a particle of eviden«e, and he was discharged. Ferguson must regret the m part he had taken iu this matter, but as- jl there was no evidence against him, he also m was discharged. It was his duty there* M fore, to commit Howe, O'tteilly, Sheehan,. M Walsh, Cummins, and Sheeny to take m their trial at tiie next sessions of the m Supreme Court on a charge of conspiracy,. M bail being accepted in the same amouut M as before. Jl The New Zealand Herald says that a M melaucboly case of drowning occurred at M Port Albert ou the 18th inst. Mr Thos. II Stanley, master of the cutter Euphemia, Jj belonging to Mr J. Lamb, of Riverhead, 1J whilst swimming after the vessel's dingy. ■Jjj|| which had broken adrift, became exhaus- da ted, sank, and was drowned. The ac- M cident was observed from shore,, and m Messrs Bradburry and Piummer launched mm a boat at once, but without avail, as the jl poor fellow never came to the surface. Mfl Deceased was well-known and much rea- M pected in the Kaipara district, and leaves J a wife and family in Auckland. 9