INDEPENDENCE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 188, 7 August 1869, Page 6

INDEPENDENCE OF NEW ZEALAND.

Two members of the House of Eepresentatives have lately touched upon New Zealand as independent from Great Britain. Mr. Hall, in his speech in the late Want of Confidence debate, remarked :—“ I should deprecate as much as any one the severance of those ties which now bind us to Great Britain; but we must bear in mind that the present state of things is this : Great Britain, in spite of what the hon. member for the Gold Fields asserts, decidedly refuses to provide in any way for the external or internal defence of the colony. She maintains, to

protect the whole of the Australain Colonies and their trade, only four ships of war, which, in the event of war, would keep together. How, in the event of war between Great Britain and any great naval power, what would be the position of these colonies ? Should we not have these seas swarming with 1 Alabamas’ and privateers of all kinds ? Would not our trade be our harbors blockaded, and our produce seized. And why? Hot because we had a quarrel with America, France, or Prussia, but because Great Britain had, over whose political dealings we have no kind of control, and who refuses to give us assistance. We are, in duty bound, whatever our ties of sympathy may be, to think over these things, so as to be prepared for contingencies, not far distant.” Mr. Richmond, in the course of the same debate, said:—“ If what seems to me signs of the times are not misconstrued by me, I believe that before long we may have to meet here as a Constituent Assembly, not only virtually but really independent, and shall have to go into questions concerning the essential features of our Constitution, which as yet do not occupy our attention. I think it wonld be very well before that time arrives that we should clear up all extraneous matter, and deal conclusively with such struggles as those the colony is now engaged in. lam not at all ashamed of being subject to sentiment in these matters. I love the name of England as truly as any hon. member in this House, and the day will never arrive when my affections will be weaned from it. But the time is coming, and coming very fast, when the form of union will have died : ‘ The coursers of time, lashed by invisible spirits, hurry on the light car of our destiny.’ ”