NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5710, 18 July 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

SUMMARY FOR.THE MONTH

JUNE—JULY,

For transmission by the P.M.S.C. Australia from F AiSdand on tlie 22 nd July, »m San Francisco to Europe.

Fbom a political point of view, the past month has been, without exception, the busiest which we have had since the close of last session. At one time war with the Maoris seemed almost inevitable, and at another period a general break up of the Ministry was threatened, and but for the inveterate obstinacy of the Premier, would probably have been recorded. A few days after the last mail left, some of the Maoris on the West Coast invaded the land of a Mr. Livingston, which he held under a grant from the Crown, and proceeded to plough up the lawn in front of his windows. The settlers in the district, knowing that there was a sufficient force of armed men handy to protect the inhabitants from any sudden inroad of the natives, decided not to submit to this indignity. They telegraphed down to the Premier, asking him whether he would issue any instructions to the Constabulary in the district, but at the same time, the Native Commissioner admitted that the settlers were determined to eject the trespassers at all risks, if the authorities declined to undertake these nobce duties. To the astonishment of the public the Premier deliberately washed his hands of all 'responsibility in the matter. In a most remarkable despatch, which has since become known as the County of Kent telegram, he told the settlers to do what they thought best, that he would put as favorable a construction as he could upon their actions, but that he would neither countenance their proceedings nor instruct the Constabulary to act in the matter. The whole tone of the despatch was hostile to the settlers, and the document has been most severely criticised, and has done more to damage the waning reputation of the Premier than any other recent act of his. The settlers, when left to themselves, turned off the ploughmen without difficulty or bloodshed, but the trespassers returned several times, and at last the settlers declared their determination of arresting the intruders. In one case they did so, but one of the Native Commissioners induced the captors to set the prisoners free. The hint thus rudely conveyed was taken by the Government, and at intervals during the following fortnight party after party of trespassing Maori ploughmen were apprehended by the . Armed Constabulary, and sent to prison, until about 100 are now in custody. They have in many instances been guilty of petty thefts, but in no case did they offer any violent resistance to the detachments .of the Constabulary who were told off to arrest them. This bloodless victory was a genuine surprise, because hardly any Europeans believed that the Maoris would give up their liberty without striking a blow in self-defence. Ever since Tawhiao and Rewi have declared that they had no sympathy with Tb Whiti, an opinion has been gaining ground that no war is in the least likely. Some legal questions of title in respect to the real ownorsbip- of ttlo hn'l diaj/utjcd by lliß Maoris, will probably come before the Legislature ; but it is asserted by a high judicial authority that no Court of law in New Zoaland'would be likely to uphold the method adopted by the Maoris of asserting a supposed claim to the land. Throughout the whole business the Government have acted in a weak’ and vacillating manner

appointing a commissioner one clay, withdrawing him the next, refusing arms to the settlers at one moment and granting them a few hours later. In no single instance have they assumed the initiative, and this fact became at last sc- patent that the Hawera settlers nominated Mr. to preside over the so-called Hawera Republic, and the committee acting under him adopted such measures of defence as they thought fit, quite irrespective of the acts or wishes of the Government, The public believe that the Premier, in his morbid partiality for the native race, would rather sacrifice the interests of a hundred white settlers than that a hair on the head of a Maori should be injured. His autocratic influence has been paramount throughout the whole conduct of affairs by the Government, and has resulted in a most deplorable exhibition of unfitness for the ofifice which he -holds. From one end of the colony to the other the praises of the settlers concerned have been sounded. Almost every settler capable of bearing arms has enlisted as a Yolunteer, and they have proved themselves loyal and temperate in all their actions, and have exhibited a degree of tact, fairness, and discretion, under very frying circumstances, as rare as it is admirable. A strong feeling has lately manifested itself in favor of arresting Te Whiti, who is the mad-brained author of all these disturbances, and deputations in favor of this course have waited upon the Government.

As might have been anticipated, the do-nothing policy adopted by the Premier did not command the support of all his colleagues. "Within the past month both the Attorney-General, Mr. Stout, and the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Baixance, resigned their portfolios. Mr. Stout gave up his seat in Parliament also, but Mr. Baulance is still an M.H.R. In the case of the latter a disgraceful scene took place between him and his chief, and full particulars of the unseemly quarrel found their way into-the newspapers. It was felt at the time that it would be impossible for Sir G. Grey to obtain the assistance of any men of reputation and ability to replace those who left him, or perhaps it would be more correct to say, were driven out of office by him. The truth of the prediction has been amply sustained, and the gaps have been filled with men of very second-rate character. Mr. Gisborne, who has been appointed as- Commissioner of Customs, had, it is true, served in a previous Ministry some years ago, but he then ruined his reputation as an honest politician by securing a snug billet as Commissioner of Annuities on retiring from office. Mr. Thomson, who has succeeded Mr. Stout as representing the Otago element in the Ministry, is one of the bores of the House ; he is by no means intellectually brilliant, and his oratory is of the prosiest character. As mako-shift Ministers they

were well chosen, but, the skirmishes which have already taken place have dis played a lamentable weakness on the Ministerial side of the House. For lavish extravagance and general lack of sound practical statesmanship the present Ministry stands unrivalled. Owing to a want of accord and of 'systematic organisation of the Opposition during last sessson, the present occupants of the Ministerial benches commanded the situation. All this has since been changed, and a powerful Opposition has been formed under the leadership of Sir William Fox. The Ministry will probably . be assailed to-day on the Address in "Reply to the Governor’s Speech. No attack will be made npon the very voluminous bundle of measures which have been inserted in the Ministerial programme contained in the Governor’s Speech. The confidence both of the House and of the country has been forfeited by the maladministration of the Government. "Venal appointments, unauthorised expenditure, and a general want of faith throughout their term of office, has led to the formation of one of the strongest Opposition parties ever collected under one chief. Men of all shades of political feeling have united together to oust a Ministry which has shown a fatal determination to disregard constitutional law and usage whenever it suited their political ends. As indicative of their bond of union, the party had adopted the title of the Constitutional party, and it has already scored several significant victories. The Speaker of the Lower House, Mr. O’Boeke, was appointed without opposition, by mutual agreement on all sides, but the appointment of the Chairmanship of Committees was conferred upon a candidate brought forward by the Opposition, although at the last moment the Premier seconded his appointment, because ho knew that no Government candidate would stand any chancemf election. The first division of the session cave a clear majority of nine to the new Constitutional party, and consequently a change of Ministry may be looked upon as well nigh certain.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

The fourth session of the sixth Parliament of New Zealand was formally opened by Commission on Friday ; but in consequence of a vacancy in the Speakership having taken place during the recess, the Governor’s Speech was not delivered until the Tuesday following. This was made the occasion for holiday-making by a large portion of the townspeople, and the weather having been beautifully fine for this season of the year, the ladies mustered in strong force. A battery of the Artillery Volunteers, and a considerable number of the Naval Brigade, assembled on the reclaimed land. Captain Johnson, who was in command of the Naval Brigade, soon afterwards marched his men to the Parliament Buildings, where they were drawn up in front of the Legislative Council Chamber to form a guard of honor for his Excellency the Governor; the Artillery being told off to fire the salutes. The Governor, who was attired in uniform, on entering the Chamber, was received by Sir William Fitzhekubrt and the gentlemen comprising the Commission that opened Parliament on Friday. Having taken the Speaker’s chair, his Excellency delivered the Speech, which will be found reported in full in another column, every word of which could b e distinctly heard by those present. We shall not here attempt any criticism of the Speech. There is a redundancy of promises, which should even Ottilfy tka.l lM9o.oUsa- of “slaves,” for whose enfranchisement Sir George Grey left his quiet retirement at Kawau to mix in the troubled sea of politics. How many of these promises the Premier expects to fulfil it would be difficult to imagine. There is a large number of people, however, who recollect the promises made by the Premier during his “stumping “ tour” before last session, and they find it very hard to place any faith in those nicely-rounded sentences which glitter in the Governor’s Speech. But for our own part we do not think that Sir George Grey will be permitted much longer to work either good or evil in this colony, and his retirement from public life cannot be far off.

We are glad to be able to state that the fourth of the month, which period was looked to with a great deal of misgiving, has passed off exceedingly well, and all bills of any consequence were readily met. Insolvencies are getting fewer, and for much smaller amounts ; whilst there are returning signs of prosperity in trade. A strike took place amongst the seamen employed on our coasting steamers, in consequence of a reduction of wages having been determined upon by the owners ; but the men at length accepted a reduction of £1 per month. The engineers and firemen held out, and as the employers were unable to fill their places, the former were left masters of the situation.—A strike also occurred amongst the navvies employed on a section of the Wellington-Wairarapa Railway. The men demanded Bs. a day, instead of 7s. 6d., which the contractors refused to comply with. We now learn that the men have had considerable reason to complain, although in striking, in the present state of the labor market, and in such a season of depression, . they have committed a very foolish act indeed. The “ Wairarapa Daily ” states that the wages of the workmen were six or seven weeks in arrear, and if this is the case, the men would have been quite justified in refusing to work, at all events ; but in adopting the course that they did for the assertion of their rights, they were totally in the wrong. The men have not resumed work as yet, and a few days ago they became so riotously inclined, that an extra police force had to be sent up from here. However, we are glad to be able to state that no serious disturbance has taken place. As might have been expected, the relative proportions of the European and Native races have been closely looked into during the uneasy period through which we have recently passed, and which has not been altogether got over yet. The European male population in the colony, over twenty-one years of age, at the time the last census' was taken, amounted to 116,000, and of that number 45,302 were resident in the North Island ; whilst the total number of Maoris, over twenty-one years of age, was only 16,623. If the native population could only take a calm look at facts and figures, they would easily find that to attempt another outbreak would be to court death and disaster for their race. A few words from their Prophet might even precipitate matters to that extent, as they are a hot, impulsive, warlike race. But we do not think that the few words, which might lead up to such an occurrence, will ever be spoken by Te Whzti. •We have received several batches of Maori prisoners from the disaffected districts, and a portion of the Immigration Barracks has been converted into a temporary prison, as there was not sufficient accommodation at the Armed Constabulary Barracks, where the prisoners were at first confined. The natives were very good-humored and orderly, as a rule; but on the 10th instant a 'batch of 29 prisoners came from Patea, who proved rather troublesome customers. Their chief, Whakawima, wanted the Europeans to clean out the prison in which they were placed, stating that the natives had performed the same office for the

pakehas at Parihaka. This, of course, was refused, whereupon the turbulent Whakawiuia jumped on to an iron bedstead and commenced haranguing his fellow-prisoners in an excited manner, telling them that now was the time to come down on the pakehas. Mr. Mackay, Native Commissioner, was present, and he took prompt measures for putting a stop to the threatened entente. The guard was called out, and the sight of about 75 meh in arms had the desired effect. The natives were afterwards removed to their cells, and quietly submitted to their fate.