Thje Nelson Evening Mail. THUHSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1870.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue v, 6 January 1870, Page 2

Thje Nelson Evening Mail. THUHSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1870.

By the last mail from England we learn that New Zealand affairs are attracting a considerable amount of attention at home, the great point of discussion being Earl Granville's- famous dispatch, a copy of which appeared in our yesterday's issue. With regard to the meaning. of this despatch there cannot be two opinions. Clearly and without possibility of misunderstanding, it couveys to us that for the future we are not to look "to Great Britain for assistance inany shape whatever — as plainly as words can speak, it says that no British troops will be permitted to remain in the colony, whilst it also insinuates in a manner equally unmistakable that no aid will be afforded in any shape, whether by money or guarantee of a loan. In order to justify this hard policy Earl Granville urges that by giving way to the appeal of the colonists for British troops, he would be encouraging the Colonial Government in a policy which the Home Government have always considered pregnant with danger, namely, the confiscation of native lands. Thislattei isa rais-statementof facts, and it has been clearly showu by those who have been fighting our battles for us at home, that this policy of confiscation not only was not " regarded as pregnant with danger by the Home Government," but that it was approved of by the Duke of Newcastle, at a dale prior to that on which the control of. native affairs was handed over to the Colonial Government. After statiug that large concessions to the natives are unavoidable, the dispatch goes on to say: — "But the abandonment of land, the recognition of Maori authority, and the maintenance of an expensive force are distasteful remedies which will not be resorted to while the colony continues to expect assistance from this country, and a decision to supply the colony with the prestige of British troops, objectionable as I have shown it to be on grounds of practical principle, would in my view, be also immediately injurious to the settlers themselves, as tending to delay their adoption of those prudent counsels on which, as I think, the restoration of the Northern Island depends." Just previous to tbis his Lordship had used as an overwhelming'argument against the employment of British troops that it would be attended with the disadvantages of double government, but here we find him gravely proposing the " recognition of Maori authority '' xby the colonists — double government by English people and Kew Zealand colonists is not to be heard of, but the existence of a separate and distinct authority wielded by a set of irreclaimable savages in the heart of a British colony is deemed quite practicable. Surely the proposer of such an alternative as this must not only be blind to the teachings of history, but deaf to the promptings of common sense. How has this recognition 'of native authority answered in our Indian empire ? What has become of the pnce powerful king of Oude, or of .the numerous minor princes whose authority was recognised in that portion of England's dominions ? Has it not been found , absolutely : necessary to denude them of all power, because it was proved that thß~~co-existence~of English 1 with native authority was found to be incompatible with the maintenance of law and order.

Then again whom are we to look upon as the representatives of this recognised Maori authority ? Titoko Waru the irreclaimable cannibal ? Te Kooti the midnight, murderer of hcl [iless women and children ? For some time these men have been in authority, and how they hnve exercised that authority needs nofc to be told here — it is only too painfully impressed on the memories of ruined settlers; it is" indelibly graveu on the aching hearts of the surviving relatives of those who have beeu cruelly murdered ; and for many years to come it is not likely to be forgotten by the taxpayers of New Zealnud. Aud yet plain logical reasoning points to one or both of these two men ss representing the "authority " that we are recommended to recognise by one of England's foremost statesmen, for, if it be true that there exists among the Maoris the desire, which we are advised to appease, for divided authority, it follows that those who wish for it must be our enemies. Friendly disposed natives are con* tent to allow matters to remain as they are, it is those who are in arms against ug who wish to be clothed with authority. And who are the men that have made themselves pre-emiuently conspicuous among those enemies ? At present Titoko Waru and Te Kooti stand without a rival, and have every claim to be considered the leaders of the disaffected natives, and if Maori authority is to be acknowledged, we must be prepared to recognise it in the persons of these two men. This is one of the " prudent counsels " on the adoption of which Earl G-ranville thinks that " the restoration of the Northern Island depends," and he objects to " supply the colony even ivith the prestige of British troops," because by such a step delay might be caused in the attainment of so desirable an object. Apart from all such considerations as these, we believe that there are few amongst us who will have perused this cruel despatch without a feeling of pain. Hitherto we have been proud of the name of Englishman, and have rejoiced in the thought that we inherited such a title, now, however, it appears that we shall soon be deprived of what we looked upon as our birthright, and that ere very long the connection between England aud her colonies will have ceased to exist. It may be that the tone, of the despatch does not represent the true feeling of the home but we feel that there are only too good grounds fof believing that the contrary is the case, if so, the end is easily foretold. "A few years of persistency iu this disposition " says the Saturday Review, "would cover half the earth with independent communities hating us with a bitterness beyond even the bitterness of the Uuired States. And then, perhaps, the ' anti-.colonial ' party would glory iu the fulfilment of their ill-omeued prophecies."