THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." MONDAY, JANUAIIY 13, 1862

Otago Daily Times, Issue 50, 13 January 1862, Page 2

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." MONDAY, JANUAIIY 13, 1862

To a certain extent New Zealand has become to be regarded as a military colony, and £he only questions which seem to enlist much sympathy in the General Assembly are those wliich have a bearing direct or remote on warlike subjects. Accepting tbe colony asit is without reference to the separation of its Northern and Southern divisions, of which we" are such earnest advocates, the very noticeable circinmstance is apparent that the interests of one portion are more or less identified witb war, whilst tho-e of the other are intimately bound 115) in peae We have so often exposed our disinclination to an inglorious peace, no matter wbat the m.i-ietary saving it may effect to the Southern island, that we cannot be accused of selfish views when we state tbe broad fact'thnt the South, whilst it participates in the cost of the war, does not derive a shadow of advantage from it. The North, on the contrary, especially the dominant province which enjoys the seat of Government, reaps many"advantages from the war, which we hare good reason to know are by no means unwelcome to our "canny " northern friends. The expense of military establishments is exceedingly heavy, and the money spent benefits almost entirely, the merchants and traders engaged in ftiisiness on the spot. Then there is the large increase to the'population secured by a numerous military force, and the expenditure of the pay its members are in receipt of.

Something, also, is to he credited to less substantial advantages. A town full of red coats presents a very cheerful sight, military bands are very acceptable, ami officers' society, and races, balls, and otber amusements which follow in the wake ofthe gay' sons of Mars, are very enjoyable. It is quite'trne that Sir George Grey seems determined to have "peace at any price,',' but this appears to be only in pursuance of the instructions recei' d from Home, dictated hv the opinion that Hie Colonists are inclined to have •' war at any price". The feelings'of the Imperial authorities are pithily characterised by the Times, they think New Zealand only too ready '• to fight by proxy, and pay by deputy." AYe" have, therefore, on tbe chart we have'descrihed, the representative of theriomegovernment.anxious for peace, and tlie House of Assembly mixedly representing two sections of the community with widely different views on tbe same subject. Tbe one inclining to a continuation of the-war, or, if consenting to its temporary cessation, disposed to stipulate for the power to declare it nt a future time. The other, with every motive to advocate peace, anxious that an inglorious arrangement sbould not be made which must pave the way to future disputes, and desiring only an adjustment that would once and for ever terminate the probability of

war. AVith the first, subjects pertaining to war and warlike establishments possess the leading, almost the snle, interest. With the second, the arts pertaining to peace are those with which aloneit has any direct concern. _ In matters of this kind New Zealand is woefully deficient. ilitary subjects and military expenditure have en-raged the attention of the majority of the Legislature, to the exclusion of the proper attention of both time and money to questions affecting peaceful institutions and civilising influences. We have said the majority of the Assembly, because the South—although numerically it should have a majority—is deprived of that influence by the difficulty the electoral provinces rind in procuring representatives who are willing to sacrifice both time and money in an expensive and protracted visit to the' North. Some of the Southern Provinces are compelled tn have Northern men for their' representatives, and it is not unlikely that even such -.nay not be forthcoming during the next session. According to present appearances, Otago seems likely to be quite unrepresented. Of its live members, one has already re--iiifned ; another, it is anticipated, will not be able to leave his onerous professional engagements; the third is likely to be ineligible from ;i Government appointment to which he is' iboiit brim/ gazetted ; and the other two niem:>ers are, it i;i rumoured, about to pay a visit to Europe Supposing it to be as we have stated, flu- members who think they will not be-able '.n bu prcsent-at the next session owe it to their joti'tituenoiesto resign. If by any sacrifice of other arrangements they can manage to attend to their Parliamentary duties, we believe we arc correct in saying their constituencies are amply satisfied with them ; but the loss of their votes next session would be of serious moment, and the earlier-they signify their resignation , supposing we are right in assuming rheir inability to attend, the more time will they allow to fill the vacancies. It is scarcely possible to attribute too much importance to the proper representation, not ilonc of Otago, but of all the Southern Provinces in the next session of the Assembly. The question of separation is sure to be brought on, and a desperate battle will be louslit over it. If the Southern members could carry an affirmative resolution in its favor, the Imperial Government would at once accede to it. There are besides, other questions of great importance: such as a complete remodeling of the mail service, including weekly communication between the different provinces, with at least, tort nightly mails to Sydney and Melbourne. Tlie offering inducement by subsidy and otherwise to a line of steamers to Panama is inothi-r matter wbicb should receive the most earnest attention. So also the connection of the whole of the provinces of New Zealand by a line of telegraph, including a submarine lit..- between the two Islands. Then there are besides, the amendment of tbe Gold Fields Act, the establishment of Insolvent Courts, -he revision of the Tariff; a bill to empower flu; formation of Municipalities, and other .natters of pressing moment which it is not necessary to particularise at present, bnt which require urgent attention. The Southern members, who are especially interested in rli-se non-military reforms, will find plenty of .voile cutout for them at. the next session, and it is to be hoped they will prove equal to tlie emergency.

We have carefully scanned the arguments used by our "half angry and more amused" Xorthern contemporary to ascertain whether they are of any real value, but we have failed to elicit aught but plausibility and misrepresentation. We have already allntled to his misdescription of Otago weather. We can almost fancy bis English readers being deluded into the belief that the inhabitants of Otago, like the polar bears in xVrctic regions, hvbernate during the winter. AYe will readily allow that the weather is occasionally rough, and it is for this reason, among others, tliat we like it; it is not of a negative character like the "New Zealander" and its arguments —but, there is something about it which invites to healthy action; perhaps it may assist tbe digestion of our contemporary if we inform him that it was during the past winter our miners reaped the heaviest crop of .jol.l, and experienced tbe least sickness, On this subject we leave our contemporary to ■leal with hard statistical facts, which be will find pretty handy at Auckland, compiled by the late Dr. Thomson.

AVith reference to repudiation of pecuniary responsibility while loudly demanding a vindication of the national honour, all we can say is tbat the representations of tbe Neiv Zea'atvlar arc purely imaginary. We are amused at the Editorial indignation at a spectre which he bas himself erected. Tbe gist of our argument was that the Separation ofthe Southern from the Northern Island is a matter of vital importance—-but, that, if the Governor were going manfully to pick up the gauntlet which the Vlaori has thrown at his feet, the South would be ready to join him in the conflict; on the contrary, if tbe weapons of his warfare were +o be sugar and blankets, the South would, without endorsing the inglorious peacr, avail itself of the opportunity to terminate the distasteful connection between it-elf and the North.

What mean these magniloquent sentences about Otago having been formerly content, when her revenue was a mere bagatelle, -" to share the same advantages with her richer sister Provinces." Where, let us ask. were tlieir sources of wealth, if the scat of Government and tbe military had been removed? Where were the riches which Otago shared ? we know them not, though, we will allow tbat occasionally we hud intimation by a hasty vi it from a Coleman's steamer, that the pa end anxieties* ofthe North were not dormant. We certainly bad" a resident judge in our in a icy when we did not want him, because he cost the general Government nothing; and, now that the presence of one is absolute'y necessary, we share one with a Southern sister. AYe love the virtue of gratitude so dearly that we shall be really thankful if we are presented with, an opportunity for its exhibition. We have been compared to a " fast young man entering upon life." Well,' we will candidly acknowledge that the infusion of new blood from the Australian colonies has made us ashamed of the slow pace at which, trammelled by a distant ami nnsynipathising General Government, we are obliged to travel. We desire not to. anticipate the future, but we wish to meet the requirements of the present. We indulged a hope that we were about to

enter on the argumentative part of the question of Separation, when we were chilled in finding ourselves fast bound hy allusions to "severity "and " rigour" of climate, by declarations, again reiterated, ad nauseam, of enforced inactivity from " May till October." AYe prefer a knock-down argument to those dainty little seientitle touches which scarcely draw blood;, and we will refer our opponent to the amount of land sold, anel the price which it fetched, iv order to give bim an idea of the decisions arrived at by hard-headed calculating men. We want to move on and tbe drag to be taken off. Supposing, however, we were to.be accede to the views of our Northern contemporary, and consider separation impolitic, would he strongly advocate the removal of the Government to a more central position ? Let there be no flinching—let us have an answer : Would he insist upon the vindication of the national honour by the only way in which it can be vindicated at present, the unqualified submission and allegiance of the disaffected, the spoiler, and the murderer. Let him speak out—no uncertain sounds—but a clear enunciation of purpose; if, as it is stated, tbe inspiration whicb guides the New Zealander is close to the fountain head. The more emphatic the declaration the more acceptable it will be.

AA re are quite overwhelmed with the volley of questious which concludes our contemporary's leading article; xve were reminded of Pilate's asking ' What is truth ?" and not •waiting to receive a lesson. We will answer that whether Provincial Governments, as now existing in their legislative functions continue, is beside the question ; we care not whether; the Seat of Government were at Canterbury or at Otago, so that it were near at hand ; but'1 if, before we attain '• our pinnacle of greatness" the land will be covered with electric telegraphs, we fear that these blessings will not flow from Northern sympathies, which appear to be exercised in the benevolent desire of inventing the most effective " drag." If our Northern friends hear much of the cry that we are " over governed," we can assure him that.we have no complaint to urge ofthe prevalence of such a disease; we urged as a grievance that we are not governed at all, and what is worse, are not allowed to govern ourselves. The present position of America has been adduced to deter us from striving after separation. All we say in reply is, would the Southern States of America be content, to live under a regime which depreciated their staple, and made them the despoiled under a prohibitary tariff? Are toe Southernors content to remain in the Union when the only evidence of oar confederation is the "livery of disgrace"—the chains and fetters which bind as grovelling to the earth ?