THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1599, 4 August 1874, Page 310

THE Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1874.

If there is one member of the Government whose duties are more particularly of a domestic character than those of his colleagues, and whose presence in the Colony might be considered of special importance, it is, we imagine, the Native Minister. Yet while disturbing influences are rife, and questions of importance agitate " the native mind," this important member of the Cabinet, attended by some of his satellites, takes a holiday trip of some month's duration to the neighboring colonies. He draws his salary, with travelling allowances added, but on what important business of state he is engaged ' we know not. In fact, all we hear of him is from the letters of his inseparable companion the intelligent Ropata, published in that most unique official Gazette, Te Waka Maori. From them we learn how Mr McLean, Col. St John, and Ropata, travelled in excursion trains, how they went to the races, where the wily chief won £2 at " euchre"—and, in fact enjoyed themselves generally. The Assembly meets, but the Native Minister shows no sign of returning to his duties. While affairs of state are discussed in our own Parliament, we learn by telegram that our Native Minister is accommodated with a seat on the floor of the Melbourne Assembly, from whence he listens to the deliberations of that august body. Is it to be wondered at that the New Zealand press has commented on Mr McLean's conduct in terms more emphatic than complimentary ?■ But now Mr McLean has returned and taken his place he has treated the House with anything but courtesy. The last Native Lands Act being found both incomprehensible and unworkable, the Government sought the advice of Judges of the Lands Court and others connected with its working, as to the changes required. The members naturally wished, before considering any further amendments, to have the valuable information thus obtained laid before them; but to this reasonable re-

quest the Native Minister returned a point-blank refusal. The Government, he stated, had fully availed themselves of the information thus obtained in preparing the amended Bill which would shortly be laid before the members; and,)moreover, the answers received were so crude as to be of very little practical value. After this treatment, the House might have been excused if it had scrutinized somewhat narrowly the estimates in Mr McLean's department, and not have allowed him to pass them quite so " merrily," with neither amendment nor abridgment. It says little for the nature of the policy of Mr McLean that he has found it necessary for so many years to surround it with a veil of the deepest secrecy. In the dark recesses of the Native Office abuses and corruption have flourished unchecked and unseen, and anyone who raises the veil, and lets in light upon them is deserving of public gratitude. Nothing short of the absolute abolition of the Native Office and Native Minister will prove of service, and when the cancer which has so long preyed on the vitals of the Colony is .extirpated, we may look for a healthier state of things. We have already mentioned a speech delivered in the Auckland Provincial Council by Mr Eoche, which.will give some idea of how things are carried on under Mr McLean's paternal management. Mr Roche, of course, paid the penalty of his boldness —his motion was shelved, and though he was supported by Mr Carleton and Mr Lundon, and his opinions " endorsed " by Mr Byron, he was snubbed and " sat upon " by the other members. No sooner was lie seated than Mr Crispe crisply " expressed satisfaction with the present administration of native affairs by the Hon. Mr McLean." As Mr Roche's statements have never been contradicted, and throw a flood of light on Mr McLean's system of administration, we append a report of his speech : —■ Mr Speaker, in supporting this resolution, I should like to state to hon. members that I have nothing to say against the officials in that department. It is against the system I speak, and its abuses. I have lived on the frontier of the Waikato for ten years, and I narrowly watched the workings of the Native Department up there, and for a time I was in favor of it; but now I think it can be done without, and the sooner the system is abolished the beter. I know it will be a difficult matter to do away with, as numbers are drawing large salaries, and it would not answer those officials to loose their billets, but the country has to pay for all this. Look at what the Native Department has cost the Colony; in fact, the defence of the Colony costs nearly half a million a-year, and I believe more than that is spent in the Native Department —uselessly spent. Look'at the large salaries officials are paid. For instance, in the Waikato, the cost of the department there is a very large item indeed. Now, for the information of hon. members present, I shall just state a few of these items. We will commence with the head office in Cambridge. First, we have a General Government Agent at a large salary, but we will say he is required ; but he has a large number of clerks employed at large salaries, when members of the Armed Constabulary could do the work, which would save the Colony a pretty fair sum. Next comes the actual natives themselves, seventy of whom receive £IOO per annum as soldiers, with their officers receiving from two to four 'hundred a-year. Of course hon. members will say we had their work, but I can assure you that ten men would have done more work in the time; and so far as fighting goes, those men have more than once distinctly stated they will not fight for the pakehas, but they would only defend themselves. The Europeans there won't trust them. I believe myself if there was a row they would give every information to the enemy. Now, I ask hon. members is it right or just to keep those men on it at 6s a-day, when we can get plenty of Europeans who are willing to work, and men that can be depended upon, for the same money. Then, again, we employ a European as Native Magistrate, at a salary of £IOO per annum, with extras, for which, I may say, he does little or nothing—in fact he has nothing to do ; the Resident Magistrate is quite competent and able to do the work, and so save that item. We also employ in that department a lady who receives £1 per day to glean information for the General Government Agent. I may also state when the. Hon. Mr McLean was up there, he sent her Royal Highness the Princess a present of a saddle, which cost the Government £7 10s, but she would not take it, and sent it back as it was not good enough. The consequence was, they sent to Auckland and paid £l4 for the best saddle they could get in town. I have known natives, when they stated'they were Hauhaus, to ask for ploughs and carts, and get them too, and then take those articles a little way out of the settlements and sell them to Europeans for a little more than half the cost. I may also state that there is a certain school in the Waikato taught by a native master. This school, I believe, costs the Government over £SOO per annum. £lO per annum is paid by the Government to the master for each child, and I have been told by good authority that, as soon as a child comes into the world, it is placed on the school roll In fact, the present mail boy is now on the school books. I ask hon. members if this system is not a disgrace to the Colony ? And, to show how far their bribery has gone, when some Maoris stole some cattle

from some of the settlers, the Native Department gave them (the natives) almost the value o' the cattle to bring them back. Now this is what I say encourages the Mi oris to do the same again. I tell you candidly it is a disgrace to a Britislj Colony, and a mass of bribery and coiruption which ought to be done away] with. If a chief when he is hard hp gets up and says, ' Cease road-makifg,' immediately the telegraph wires are at work, and two or three native officials fly up and bribe him ; and the faci is, the native did it as he knew he wjiuld get something. I will just conduct by saying that, as long as we havesa Native Office, we will have a nativf question to trouble the public mind. 1 . I would impress this on the minds of those lion, members who attend the Assembly. rfr ■ Some people have an extraordinary—almost superstitious respect for " vested rights." Whatever reform may be proposed, whatevei abuse is sought to be swept away, thq phantom of " vested rights " is sure to make its appearance. As if difficulties enough did not arise already on this score, the Government have sought in their proposed amendments to the Licensing Act now in force, to create a i( vested interest" in a public-house, licence, never before recognized by English law. An instance of the singular tenderness with which these supposed rights are sometimes regarded is to be found in the debate on Mr Bradshaw's proposition the hours during which children might be employed in manufactories might be limited by legislation. Mr Brown hoped the subject might be dealt with early, before vested rights had grown up. It would seem as though any offence against the rights of society, if only tolerated for a time, may be held to become a vested right of the offender, who is to be entitled to some compensation if his privilege is abridged or removed. Such a doctrine should meet with most thorough reprobation. The want of something like an organized Opposition is greatly felt in Wellington. " The estimates," says the New Zealand Times of the 29th July, "were passed through committee last night with unparalleled . celerity, and reported to the House at ten minutes past nine o'clock. They have thus passed the trying ordeal of the Committee of Supply in two short sittings !" And again—" It was anticipated that the only 'battle of the estimates' for the session would be over the figures of the native department, but the Hon. the Native Minister found very little difficulty indeed in marching his estimates through the House as merrily as the men of Harlech marched." What consideration could have been given to items, when a whole year's estimates were "marched merrily through the House," in double-quick time, during two short sittings ? The total absence of effective opposition seems to have made the Government exceedingly careless of those measures which were looked upon as their cherished plans. One after another, their pet projects have been quietly dropped over, to the surprise both of their friends and opponents. The Qualification of Electors Bill, the South Sea Island scheme, and the State Forests Bill, are instances in point; and doubtless the Licensing Amendment Act (which no sane person could expect to pass in the form in which it was introduced), would have shared the same fate had it not been for Mr Fox's amendments. It would really appear as though these abortive measures—the preparation of which has involved much official labor and great expense to the Colony—were simply brought down as bones of contention to distract members from the real business of the session the granting of supplies. Having triumphantly carried their estimates, the Government trouble themselves very little about anything else, — the great business of the session is at an end. ■■■♦ We have received from Wellington a copy of the Licensing Amendment Bill of the Government; and we marvel greatly that any Government could be so wanting in self-respect as to identify themselves with such a measure. We have spoken of the English bill as retrogressive, but our New Zealand bill is far more so. Its object appears to be to encourage and extend the liquor traffic in order to increase the revenue, and to move the publican practically beyond the reach of the police or public control. All licences illegally granted are validated; renewals; of license are not to be given as a matter of course, no option of refusal being allowed the Court, and no personal attendance or householder's certificate being required. Every facility for transfer,. permanent or temporary, is given. Licensing meetings are to be held quarterly, and a three months' licence may be given for a proportionate fee. The R.M. of any district may at any time grant a publican a week's licence to sell at voknteer encampments, races, fairs/ games, regattas, cricketgrounds, theatres, music-halls, or any other place of public amusement. On the occasion of a ball, dinner, or other festivity in a licensed house, the R.M. may authorize keeping open till after midnight. In case of any objection against a license being considered, frivolous by the Court, costs may be given against the objection. The Bill might have been drawn by a committee of wholesale and retail liquor-dealers ; but we do not think the House has fallen so low as to pass it in anything like its present form. ■» " - A north-east wind with heavy sea has prevailed during the last day or two. One of the test groins recently erected has " travelled" considerably, having been removed from its place and deposited on the Western Spit; thus testing the question of the effect of the action of the waves in a way gnot anticipated,

In our first page we give two very interesting letters of Dr Livingtone's, which give a vivid picture of the hardship and sufferings undergone by the great explorer, on account of the treachery of those whom he terms the "slave-dealing ring." They are also valuable as showing the nature of his discoveries. Several passages are almost word for word the same in both letters—a fact which is to be accounted. on the supposition that he thought either of them might miscarry or be suppressed or destroyed by his enemies, like so many of his valuable despatches which had preceded them. A violent and cowardly assault was committed by three men, believed to be recent arrivals, on Saturday nightMr G. Ashley,' clerk, was in Miltonjoad on the night in question, when the three ruffians jostled him and challenged him to tight, and upon hi< refusal, knocked him down, kicked him, jumped upon him, breaking several of his ribs and otherwise injuring him, leaving him insensible. There is some clue lo the perpelratois, and we hope they may be (nought lo justice, and punished as they deserve. Meanwhile, this circumstance should suggest caution to those who may lie called abroad after dark, as a very undesirable element would appear to have been recently added to our population. The quarterly election of officers in the Napier Pioneer Lodge, 1.0.G.T., took place last Friday evening. The following are the new officers : —Bro. M. Troy, P.W.0.T.; Brother R. C. Harding, W.C.T.; Brother H. Wall, W.V.T.t Sister Troy, W. Sec.; Bro. Rolleston, Assistant Sec.; Brother M. Spriggs, W. Chaplain; Brother J. J. Woods, Financial Sec; Sister Harding, W. Treasurer; Bro. W. Charlton, W. M.; Bro. J. Eccles, W.1.G.; Bro. Boggs, W.0.G.; Sister Stuart, W.R. H.S.; Sister Charlton, W.L.H.S. A number of visiting brothers and sisters from the Vanguard Lodge were present; also several visiting brothers, members of English lodges, newly arrived per Winchester. The ceremony of installation takes place next Friday. The installation of the officers of the Vanguard Lodge, 1.0.G.T., Clive, took place on Saturday evening. " The ceremony was conducted by Bro. R. P. Brydone, L. D. of the Napier Pioneer Lodge, Bro. Ballantine, the new Lodge Deputy of the Vanguard Lodge, not' having yet received his commission. The weather was very unfavorable, but there was a fair attendance. The following is a list of the officers:— P.W.C.T., Sister Ballantine; W.C.T., Bro. R. Hatch ; W.V.T., Bro. Hawken ; W.F.S., Bro. Martin; W.T., Bro. Fritchley; W.C., Sister Devonport; W.M., Bro. Thomas; W.1.G., Bro. Devonport; W.A.S., Bro. Drummond; W.R.H.S., Bro. Algar, W.L.H.S, Sister H. Howell; W.D.M., Bro. H. Howell; W.0.G., Bro. Kite. In the Resident Magistrate Court yesterday morning, the Inspector of Police reported that there had < luring the past few weeks been a great increase of Sunday drunkenness. The same thing has been frequently noticed lately. Formerly a drunken man in the street on Sunday was a I'arity ; now there is more drunkenness to be seen on Sundays than week-days. The Inspector gave no reason for the fact, but we lave heard it attributed to a recent decision, in our Resident Magistrate Court to the effect that a lodger in a licensed house might lawfully purchase drink, and therewith treat his friends if so inclined, during prohibited hours. This decision affords another loophole for Sunday trading, and reduces the chances of the police obtaining a conviction to a minimum. If our Resident Magistrate has rightly construed the law, an amendment is urgently required. On Friday, in the Resident Magis t rate's Court, Charles. King, a seaman belonging to the Halcioue, was sent to prison for four weeks with hard labor for disobedience of orders Tanki v. Bishop.—Plaintiff, a German, a journey man baker, having been dismissed, claimed a week's wages, £3, in lieu of notice; defendant being only willing to pay for the half-week he had served.— Judgment for plaintiff, for£l 10s, with 2s. costs. On Saturday six seamen belonging to the Winchester, named J. Gilbert, T. Sandon, Eric Blomqvist, T. Harris, G. Crow, and E. Dixon, were sentenced to four weeks imprisonment with hard labor. Yesterday P. Murtagh was charged by Sergeant Green, A.C., with larceny of certain hay, valued at 2s, the property of the Government, from a stable at the Spit. Mr Lascelles appeared for the defence. A good deal of evidence was taken, after which the ease was adjourned till this morning, for the production of further evidence for the defence. An unusual array of drunken cases came before the Resident Magistrate yesterday morning. James Evers, drunk at 2 a.m. on Sunday, and shouting in the street, was fined ss. A. female immigrant by the Winchester—a married woman, charged with dtunkenness, admitted the offence, and was dismissed with a caution. A man named Faucett, who entered Dinwiddie, Morrison, and Co.'s shop drunk on | Saturday night, and wanted "his name ' put in the paper," making a disturbance on his request being refused, was fined 10s. Peter M'Kay, drunk on Saturday on the Spit was fined 10s. Antonio Montezuma, a Spaniard, very drunk and quarrelling on the Spit on Sunday night, who resisted the police, kicking the arresting constable on the nose, and using obscene language was fined i>2, or two weeks with hard labor. William Flynn, drunk and making a disturbance on Sunday, who, on being arrested, used bad language, became exceedingly violent, kicked Constable Smith in the chest, and on being handcuffed, hit him in the mouth with his head, besides biting Inspector Scully, was dealt with the same as the preceding offender.