AUCKLAND MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE SEPTEMBER ENGLISH MAIL.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1721, 6 September 1862, Page 6

AUCKLAND MONTHLY SUMMARY FOR THE SEPTEMBER ENGLISH MAIL.

[FROM AUG. 6tii TO SEPT. 6t«, i ß62> j During the past month, the attention of the colonists has been concentrated upon the pr 0 ccedings of the General Assembly at WeU lingtou. The ink was hardly dry which we had written in our August sun,, mary that there were not any indications of a probable change of ministry, when the arrival of the southern mail brought the in. telligence of the resignation of Mr. Fox and his colleagues, and of the fruitless attempts which had been made to form a new cabinet out of the elements of the old war party Subsequent events proved that the opp os i* tiou to Mr. Fox was wholly of a personal and factious character.

The crisis was brought about in this wise It was pretty plainly intimated to that the opposition would not allow any i m . portant business to be proceeded with until # the relations between the Governor and his responsible advisers in reference to native affairs had been definitely settled. A series of resolutions had been proposed in the House of Representatives by Mr. Bell at the close of the last session and before the arrival of Sir George Grey, declaratory of the opinion of the House upon this matterit was admitted that the Fox ministry [ n their conduct of native affairs had guided themselves strictly iu conformity with the will of the House as expressed in these resolutions. It would have been easy f or Mr. Fox to have rested upon the former resolutions, and to have left to the opposition the task of declaring that an alteration was needed iu that scheme of Ministerial responsibility on Native affairs upon which they had themselves insisted. Had Mr. Fox taken this course, it is probable that he might have avoided the difficulty which appears to have been carefully and studiously planned for him. Yielding to what was understood to be the wish' of the House, Mr. Fox, on the 2oth July, moved the following resolution, the same in spirit and almost identicjy.. in terms with that of the last Session <' *» That this House disclaims, on u^|&|ftof the Colony, the exclusive responsibility,MJfpfept of educating, civilizing, and governing' race, while it equally disclaims liabilityjH&he principal share of the cost of suppressing insurrections of a people over whom the Imperial government has never practically established authority, it will at all times cheerfully recognize Its cnity io co-operate to the extent of its ablity and means with Great Britain for the attainment of these objects, so essential to the welfare ofahe Colony; and, in conformity with these views, it is of opinion that the interests of the Imperial Government and of the Natives themselves as well as of the Colony, require that (reserving to the Governor both the initation and the decision of questions where Imperial interests are concerned ), the ordinary conduct of Native affairs should be placed under the administration of Responsible Ministers.''

After long debate, Mi'. Curtis was put up to move the " previous question" as an amendment, which was carried upon division by the casting vote of the Speaker. On the same night the Ministry resigned.

Mr. Stafford was "sent for," but as it was perfectly well known to both sides that he could not form a Ministry, he jnrad no time in the attempt. Mr. FitzgC ft was next sent for, but declined upou pergonal aud private grounds to take office. He however offered to mediate, and named Mr. Domett, who, after a week of weary negotiation and intriguing, succeeded in scratching together a Cabinet, admitted by himself to be defective and weak, but being the best he could get. With his "lot," he attempted to get through the business, but it became evident speedily that there must be a change or a compromise; and a compromise was after some days effected, by which the ex-Trea-surer, Mr. Wood, the ex-Attorney-General, Mr. Sewell, \nd the ex-Postmaster-G-eneral, Mr. Ward, were brought back to their former offices. The arrangement appears to have been improvised upon the "floor" of the House of Representatives, and to have had some dramatic and amusing accompaniments. Mr. Fox called the sudden union a successful melodrama, of which he pronounced the epilogue, and concluded his speech with the following dignified aud truthful resume of his recent official career:—

"Sir, I retire from the ministry with entire satisfaction to myself. I consider that my mission has ended, for the present at all events. Previously to the session of 1800, I had almost retired from colonial politics, and was living in retirement on my farm in the Rangitikei. But the unhappy events of the Taranaki war forced me, on the meeting of the Assembly of that year, into tiie position of leader of a party in this House, whose business it was to stand between the natives and the great injustice which was being perpetrated upon them, and to avert, if possible, the calamities which the tiien Government was preparing for the whole population of this island. Sir, we fought that battle ou the floor of this House, and gained all the substantial fruits of victory. We exposed the falsity of the statements which Governor Browne had made to the Home Government on the events of the Waitara purchase; we denounced the unhappy war into which he had plunged the colony; we compelled the attention of the home public and the Home Government to the subject; and we take credit to ourselves fjr having been instrumental in forcing the Colonial Office, however reluctantly, to recall Governor Browne, and to replace him by the man to whom we all loofc as tbe day-star under whose guidance we are to find our way out of our present difficulties. Sir, we stayed the sword—we averted the great crime of the e of the native race, and the ruin, destruction, and beggary of the European settlements of this island, which, it appears from Governor Browne's despatch of the Oth July, 1801, it was his intention to bring upon us. Sir, this was our mission, and we accomplished it. But we did more—we rendered it impossible that such a state of things should again occur. No Government and no Governor will dare to repeat in this colony the episode of Waitara. The spirit which led to such a catastrophe has been laid. We shall hear no more on the floor of this House the roar of the British lion. I allude not to that British lion whose flag has often floated over the great commanders of our parent state, but that miserable imitation which we have seen in this House. Sir, his teeth are drawn—l trust lor ever, and his claws pared, and I firmly believe that, for the future, there is, under Providence, Do possibility of the renewal of any such policy as that which Governor Browne indicated when, in the despatch I have referred to, he urged the Home Government to enable him with fire and sword to devastate this island and exterminate the native race —tor that is what is meant by tbe document which he addressed to the Home Government the very day after the Stafford Ministry was turned out of office, and when the unpleasing prospect was before him of being controlled by advisers with other views. Sir, it was, I say, our mission—the mission of myself and those with whom I have acted since 1800, to avert those evils —we have averted them, and I repeat that for myself I retire with great satisfaction to those less onerous pursuits in which I was engaged before the emergeacy of the last unhappy war

forced me into a position of political prominence (loud cheers).” The new Ministry, constituted as follows, are now regarded as being firmly established —they have adopted substantially the policy of their predecessors, and the business marches; — The Hon. A. Domett, Colonial Secretary, “ “ Reader Wood, “ Treasurer, “ “ H. Sowell, Attorrey-General, “ “ F. Dillon Bell, Native Minister, “ “ Crosbie Ward, Posmaster General, Native affairs arc, of course, the question of the day; and if the majority of the House, terrified by pecuniary difficulties and dangers, have failed to recognise the highest principles In their dealing with this question, they have at least heard the voice of a great teacher in the person of the hon. member for Ellesmere, Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, whose splendid oration wo have reprimed from the reports in our present issue. Tao despatches from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle on the financial element of “ vigorous prosecution” have produced considerable sensation and many wry faces. The tone of the Despatches is petulant, and, in a manner, offensive to Governor Grey, who can in no sense be held to be accountable for the miserable condition of affairs with which he had to deal upon his arrival. Undoubtedly, however, the “cunning management” of the war Ministry, its small financial shifts and evasions in the early period of the Taranaki disturbance, were calculated to provoke the suspicions of the Imperial Government and to strengthen the impression which had got abroad that the war at Taranaki was a “settlers’ war.” In future, there can bo no more mistakes. The Ministerial responsibility on Native Affairs which the Assembly demanded has been accorded, too swiftly as it now appears; the pecuniary aid which the Governor asked for, viz., £25,000 per annum, for purpose's of Native Government has been secured for three years, and wo are told pretty plainly what wo have to expect in the future. The Assembly has been moved to look straightly at the position of the Colony, and we think the best possible security for a persevering peace-policy has now been attained. The financial statement made by the Colonial Treasurer, exhibits a gratifying condition of prosperity and progress. The ordinary revenue received in the financial year 1861-2, exceeded the estimated revenue by the sum of £IIO,OOO. The surplus of the year after discharging many outsanding liabilities, was £60,740. The war loan of £150,000 had been nearly expended. The following is the estimated ordinary Revenue for 1862-3 ; Customs £413,000 Postal 20^000 Judicial 14,000 Registration of Deeds 7,000 Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages 1,500 Crown Grant Fees 1,500 Miscellaneous 1,000 £458,000 The question of the removal of the seat of Government from Auckland has been formally raised in the House of Representatives by one of the Otago members. Ills motion was lost by the over-recurring “majority of one.” Auckland has still a little time to secure and maintain the position which belongs to her the Colo ly. Some day, and we hope sir'.-n, the danger of divided councils amongst the Northern representatives, and the consequent loss of power and influence in the Assembly, will bo understood, and we may see members sinking their personal projects of profit or political distinction in the larger interests of the Province which it is their duty to guard. Steam co nmunication has been liberally provided for; there are to be three lines of steam communication from Australia to New Zealand, viz., one from Melbourne to Otago, one from Sydney to Cook’s Strait, and one from Sydney to Auckland. Steam communication also between the several Provinces, by the coast line, four times a mouth. The House of Rep.esentatives, with reference to the project of steam communication with England via Panama, have adopted the following resolution, reported from the Committee of Supply:— Resolved, That this Committee recommend the appropriation of a sum not exceeding £30,000 per annum, from Ist January, 1864, for five years, as a contribution towards the Colonial portion of a subsidy for such service. Probably the most important measure which has engaged the attention of the Assembly is that relating to the disposal of Native lands. The system so long discussed and known ns the “ direct purchase” system is proposed to bo permitted and legalized, with such checks and safeguards as can bo devised. A Bill, intituled “An Act to remove the restrictions which now exist upon the sale and occupation of Native lands in New Zealand,” has been introduced by the Government. It provides for the establishment of courts, “ composed wholly or partially of persons of the Native race” under the presidency of a European Magistrate, for the purpose of ascertaining the title of tribes or individuals to land. The title or interest being settled, a survey made, and the necessary reserves taken by the Crown, a certificate sotting forth the fact is proposed to be issued by the Court. The persons named in the certificate may then dispose of the land described therein, and give a valid title to the purchaser. It is also provided that no purchase of or contract for land made prior to the issue of a certificate of title for such laud shall be recognized or have any validity. This is a step the consequences of which arc not, and cannot be, as yet fully realized. The prices which Natives will obtain for land, in the first instance at least, will put an end to all sales to the Government, and thus the system of dealing with the waste lands now in operation in this Province of Auckland must in no very long time be absolutely brought to an end. Wc do not observe that any provision for the maintenance of immigration, either by raising a revenue in the shape of tax on transfer of the land or otherwise, is contemplated in the Act now before us. A Bill to make provision for the nomination of Superintendents of Provinces had been introduced by Mr. Fitzgerald. The system of election has still some friends, although their number is diminishing, and the fate of the measure was doubtful.

From the Native districts there has been not much communication during the mouth. The staunch Kingites arc struggling gallantly against the growing embarrassments of their position, and to increase the number of the adherents of Matutaera. The incessant demand for by the "King" upon his subjects begins to tell unfavourably^

“ The Queen never asks anything, the King says always give, give.” The roads too, and the reported intention of the Governor to place a steamer on the Waikato river are sources of great uneasiness. It has been ascertained by careful survey, that a steamer of light draught would meet with no obstruction in reaching Havelock from the sea. A foolish report received currency a short time since through the columns of a contemporary, that 800 armed natives had come down and “ encamped opposite the troops” at Pokinoe. There was no foundation for the tale, and its circulation caused great annoyance to the well-disposed Natives ; a Maori lady, bearing the name of Tawera, the Morning Star, contradicted the statement roundly through our own columns, and explained to our contemporary that the only gathering of Natives which had taken place was at a lamentation for the death of the sou of the Chief Ihaka. Some movements of a suspicious character arc said to have occurred of late in the Taranaki Province, but as our files of the local journals arc not to hand wo are unable to ascertain the particulars. There is great re:.oon to fear that the Natives in many districts have suffered considerable privation during the past winter, and that owing to the great neglect of their cultivations, their prospects for the immediate future are not of the best. The discovery of a new gold field in the Otago Province has diverted the stream of diggers which was steadily setting towards Coromandel. There will of course be a “ rush” to the Hartley. Two or three vessels are already on the birth for passengers. We are glad to bo able to record that to those who understand “ quartz-reeling,” and who [have got to work at Coromandel, the attractions of the South display themselves in vain. There is an enduring and well-founded confidence in the singular richness of the Coromandel reefs, and abundant capital and systematic labour are now being applied to the work of development. Avery small portion of the peninsula has yet been explored, but wo are not without hopes that before the summer closes a sufficient number of diggers will be attracted to the place to “prospect” extensively. It is satisfactory to find that the efforts of the Waikatos to prevent the native owners of Coromandel from throwing it open to the Europeans have failed. These Natives have behaved loyally and well throughout, and relations of a very satisfactory character have been preserved between them and the diggers. Several largo blocks of land have recently been offered by them for sale to the Government.

BALANCE OF BILLS BEFORE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 1. Naturalization, in Legislative Council. 2. Crown Lands, in Committee. 3. Native Lands, discharged 12th August. 4. Superintendents, second reading to-day. 5. Marine Boards, before select Committee. 6. Lost Land Orders Act Amendment, do. do. 7. Land Revenue Appropriation 1858 Amendment, second reading to-day. 8. Native Lands (Mr. Bell's Bill) do. do. 9. Resident Magistrate Juries Extension, consideration in Committee of whole House to-day. 10. Supreme Court Amendment, to be reported today. 11. Juries Bill, second reading to day. 12. Native Reserves Act Amendment, to be reported to-day. 13. Gold Fields, further considered in Committee today. Referred to Joint i i ir i »r> • ■ I Committee on 14. Herbert Remission, / .. . . „.., , ~ i r r , ~ ~ . . < 1 rivatc Bills and 10. lvcete and others Remission i c , . , ~ 1 found to be L. ( Bills, lb'. Land Registry Amendment, for second reading to-day. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. We were enabled in our last issue to give to our readers some of the leading facts relating to recent proceedings at Wellington; our report of the debates in tho House of Representatives, which we give to-day, will supply details. It appears, then, that a Ministry, said to be " strong," has been improvised in the House itself with some startling or melo-dramatic incidents. Messrs. Ward and Wood, responsive to the voice of their country, typified by the silver tones of some honorable members who were laudably anxious to get the Session over and stop the talking, appear to have joined the new Ministry impromptu on the "floor." We do not observe that it is recorded amongst the other gushes of sentiment upon that occasion that Mr. Domett threw himself upon tho bosom of his newly-found Treasurer and executed a theatrical embrace after the renowned manner of Mr. Vincent Crummies, but the demonstration of general satisfaction upon the auspicious occasion appear to have been so vivid that the incident may have escaped the notice of the reporters, or of our " Own Correspondent." Mr. Fox himself, not unmoved amidst the storm of patriotic devotion, pronounced, in the " heavy hither" vein, a queer benediction upon the union just effected, and then made his ownadieux tooffice with great dignity and with no less truth. On the next day Mr. Sewell floated placidly back into his accustomed chair, and the Ministry was complete. For the first time since the establishment of free institutions we have a Government without a recognised, or indeed a possible, leader.

The business of the Session, however, goes on. On the 14th ult., Mr. Dillon Bell, in his capacity as Colonial Treasurer, made a very long and, under the circumstances, creditable financial statement, which, after the recent manner of Treasurers, threatens to take the separate form of a pamphlet. The copy which we have received, not being complete in the important item of figures, wo are unable to publish the speech to-day : the chief points may, however, be compressed into a nut-shell. Tho actual Revenue of 1861-2 exceeded the estimated Revenue by £IIO,OOO. The Fox Ministry were very good indeed, and, after paying off many debts, and setting the whole finarcial system in order, they left a surplus of £30,740. Of the £ 130,000 war loan nearly £12,000 remain. Wo shall take an opportunity of commending to the special attention of the war-men the several items of that little bill. The Duke of Newcastle's claim, in addition, is admitted to be £186,000. The progress of the Colony is shown, nevertheless, or therefore, to have been satisfactory, and the " deposits" in tho Hanks to have approached a million and a-half.

A million is proposed to he borrowed for the carrying out of what is called " Sir George Grey's plan of Native Government." The despatch of the Duke of Newcastle appears to have had a wonderfully sedative effect upon the " war spirit" in the Assembly. The most fierce of the old adherents of the British Lion are anxious to prove that when they insisted upon thrashing the Maories and confiscating their lands, they had no particular meaning, and that their real object was peace. As peace cannot now be attained in their fashion, they are going to try the other persuasion ; the " Asiatic" nostrum has not

been even spoken of for more than a mouth. This is, of course, very gratifying. Remembering all that used to be talked so loudly, and written so boldly about the war being an " Imperial" war, and the charges incurred iu its prosecution " Imperial" charges, and how the Imperial Government must do this, that, and the other, we read with a kind of humiliation the'abject address proposed by the New Ministry to be presented to Her Majesty by the Assembly. The address will be found in our report ; it is a relief to turn from it to the "amendments" proposed to be made by Mr. Fitzgerald, which we print below. It was thought that the business of the Session could not be brought to a close before the middle of the current month.

Mr. FitzGerald to move the following Resolutions, us an amendment to tin Address to Her Majesty to be moved by Mr. Domett —

1. That this House has taken into its most serious consideration the Despatches recently laid on its table, from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle to His Excellency Sir George Grey, especially the Despatch dated the 20th May, 1862.

2. That this House learns from the contents of those Despatches—1, That Her Majesty's Government, recognizing that the government of the Native race by the Colonial Ofliee has failed, has resolved that in fufure the powers and responsibilities of the Crown in that behalf shall be exercised and undertaken by the Queen's ordinary Government in the Colony. 2. That the Imperial Government will in future decline to contribute towards the burden of educating, civilizing, and governing the

Native race, in any other manner, or to any greater extent than by remitting the contribution towards tiie cost of maintaining the Imperial troops in the Colony, which the Colony lias undertaken to pay to the extent of live pounds a head for every man so employed. 3. That for the troops at present stationed in the Colony that contribution amounts to ahout twenty-live thousand pounds a-year; but that it is the intention of the Imperial Government shortly to recall a considerable portion of ihe troops so employed, and to that extent to diminish the amount of the Imperial aid to the Colony. 4. That no ship of war can be placed at the service of His Excellency Sir George Grey, notwithstanding that His Excellency's presence is equally needed at various points of the const in order to treat with the Native tribes; but that if such a ship of war is rerequired, it must be provided by the Colony out of its own resources. 5. That a sum amounting to nearly £200,000 advanced by the Commissariat chest for the expenses of the Militia during the last war must be forthwith repaid by the Colony to the Imperial Government. That all such expenses must in future he paid by the Colony; and that the whole cost of constructing the .Military road to the Waikato by the troops, must he refunded in like manner. 6. That the Duke of Newcastle is under the impression that the wars which have hitherto taken place in New Zealand were wars between the Settlers and the Natives, and were undertaken in accordance with the wishes and for the benefit of the Colonists. 7. That His Grace is of opinion that the Colonists of New Zealand have exhibited a disinclination to make such sacrifices as they might fairly he expected to make, in defence of their own lives and properties, and in the maintainance of the Queen's authority throughout the Colony.

',). That this House, being of opinion that, in the divided authority heretofore maintained inl the Government of the Colony, has lain one main cause of the evils under which the Colony has laboured ; learns with great pleasure tint that source of disunion and disorder has been put an end to, and that the udminstration of Native affairs will in future be conducted in the ordinary manner by the Q,ueen's Government within the Colony. 4. That, in t lie opinion of this House His Grace the Duke of Newcastle has been greatly misinformed as to the nature, origin, and objects of the wars in New Zealand, and that this House deems it right, on behalf of the Colonists, to repudiate the charge of having at any time occasioned, desired, or counselled such wars ; and to assert that such wars were undertaken wholly at the responsibility of the Queen's Representative in the Colony, at a time when he was accountable solely to the Imperial Government, and when the Legislature of the Colony had no control over his actions. 0. That, whilst this House will not shrink from the grave responsibilities now imposed upon it, it deems it right to record its opinion that an act of great injustice will be committed, if the inhabitants of a young and struggling Colony are charged with the whole cost of educating, civilizing, and governing a race over whom the Government of the Queen and the authority of the law have as yet been only very partially extended ; an act of still greater injustice if that burden be thrown on the Colony at a time when the cost, the difficulty, and the danger of the task have been vastly increased by past government in which the Colony has had no share, and for which it has been in no degree responsible. (!. That, whilst this House recognizes to the full on behalf of the colonists the duty of defending their own lives and properties, it,desires to express its conviction of the impossibility of eliciting the military ardour of a Colony under a system which places the local forces 111 a position of marked inferiority to the Queen's ordinary army, not only in the performance of military duties, but, also in the distribution of honors and rewards due to meritorious service.

7- That tliis House deems it necessary to record its strong conviction that, in a country where the adoption of any particular policy may require the «id of the Military power, it is essential thnt the Government charged with the responsibility of directing that policy should be armed with the control of the military power by which it is to he enforced. That great calamities havu already fallen upon this Colony; wars have been needlessly prolonged ; lives lost, and treasure squandered solely for the want of some local authority having power to remove inefficient and incapable Commanders, and to entrust the execution of military operations to men capable of conducting them to a .successful issue. This House is therefore of opinion that the safety of this Colony imperatively demands that the disposal and control of the whole of the Military forces within its limits should be absolutely vested in Her Majesty's Representative. 8 That, in the opinion of this House, the time has arrived when the whole of the relations between the Mother Country and the Colony as to the extent of their mutual obligations in respect of the Native race, demand a careful revision and adjustment. That such adjustment should be based upon a calculation of the whole cost of reclaiming the Native race from barbarism and completely establishing the Queen's authority throughout these Islands. That the share of this cost, to be contributed by the Mother Country and the Colony respectively, should be ascertained by a fair estimate of the interest of each in the result, and bv a consideration of the extent to which the cost and difficulty of the work has been increased by the Government of the Natives during past years. That, in consideration ol a money contribution so ascertained, the Imperial Government should be held to be discharged from all future obligation in respect to the Native race. And that in consideration of the Colony now undertaking the sole management of Native affairs, it should beheld to undertake the entire cost and responsibility of their conduct Cor the future. That if it were thought desirable that any Imperial troops should be left in the Colony, the whole cost of such troops should charged as u part of the Imperial contribution. But that this arrangement should be deemed to refer solely to the Native policy, and should be distinct from and in no wise prejudice, any arrangement which may be made between the Mother Country and tlsG Colonies generally, fur settling their joint

contributions towards the Military defence of the latter.

0. That respectful Addresses be presented to her Majesty, and to both Houses of the Imperial Parliament, setting forth the views embodied in the foregoing Resolutions. '£< 10. That a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency the Governor, praying his Excellency to support the prayer of such petitions by all the means in his power. 11. That it is desirable that a Special Commissioner or Commissioners be despatched to England to lay the said Addresses at the loot of the Throne, and before the two Houses of Parliament; and that an Act of the General Assembly be passed,, empowering the said Commissioners to act for and on behalf of the Colony, and to make all such arrangements as may bo necessary In order to carry the objects of the foregoing Resolutions into full effect, and to appear if necessary ihy Counsel before the Houses of Lords and Common*. —New Zealander , Sep. 3.