Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 153, 13 May 1862, Page 4

Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1862.

The Meeting on Saturday was a great success. . The attendance was large and influential, and the feeling of the meeting in favor of the movement was unmistakably expressed. The- speakers did not perhaps individuallyopen up much ground that had not been gome over before, but each treated the subject in his own way, and it was certainly highly satisfactory to those who had the cause iit heart, to find the same result arrived at from se.many'points of view., . The first resolution affirmed the impossibility of properly governing the Middle Island from a seat of government in the Korth Island. It was shown that however the requirements of past days might have been suitably served at so long a distance from the seat of government, matters were so altered now, that it was absolutely necessary there should be a representative of the imperial authority stationed in the Middle Island,

The second resolution dwelt upon the ab-: sorbing nature of the'legislation required for the Maori race, and affirmed the injustice of subordinating the'wants of the' large population in the Middle Island to interests to which its inhabitants are wholly alien.

This part of the subject is well illustrated by' tbe immunity which the Maories enjoy from the action not only of English laws, but from the laws of civilisation. The Maories are more than on an equality, they are above European laws. It is a common fact, that the authorities do not dare to deal with the offences committed by Maories, and the scandal; was' even lately perpetrated of an advertisement being issued, stating that certain Maories who had murdered six Englishmen, would, if caught, be tried for murder. No reward was offered for their apprehension, and no one could read the document without feeling that it was meant to warn these same Maories to keep out of the way, and that it was an outrage on morality to deem it necessary to notify that murderers would be prosecuted.

The third- resolution, which was to the meeting what the character of Hamlet is to the play, propounded that the only remedy for the evils complained of was the separation of the two Islands, and the location of a Government and Governor on the Middle Island. It was also added to this resolution that the terms on which it it was desirable to grant separation should be consistent with the honorble . discharge" by the Middle Island of all liabilities to which it was a party. The la.st addendum was a contradiction by anticipation of apy attempt that might be made to refer the movement in fayor of separation to the desire to evade the liabilities incurrpd in relation to the late war, including compensation to the sufferers at Taranaki. In the course of the meeting one circumstance was very observable, especially amongst the older inhabitants —the reluctance with which they had come to the decision that separation was inevitable. The love which always grows up in the minds of an Englishman for the existing order of things; the impulse which always makes him prefer the ills he knows than fly to others' that he' knows not of, was illustrated .by the regret which the speakers expressed at the necessjtyfor separation. There was no doubt expressed as to that necessity haying arisen; and, iodeed^rio strpngej'test could have been

found of the sincerity of the speakers than that their convictions, thoroughly assured as.they were, had beenarrived at with reluctance and

pain. That reluctance we certainly ascribe more to the" involuntary desire -to cherish the past than to a.sound principle. We go so far as to say, that instead of the desire for separation being unnatural, the unnatural part was rather that the Islands should ever have been joined under one Government. It seems to us that it is in the very essence of a Colonial, or iv other words, a delegated Government that the territory governed should be within easy reach. But here we find a decided division of nature, and without reckoning other cir- , cumstances we say that it was decidedly anomalous to have ever considered the Northern Island as eligible ! for the seat from which to govern the Middle fsland. Apart from their physical division, there was every reason why they should have been separated, and no reason supplied by nature why they should have been ' joined. In population, in resources, in climate, in the conditions on which the land is held, they are divided and distinct. The Northern Island has to provide for a native race; its land depends on precarious native, bargains. The south, on the other hand, has its own peculiar characteristics ; characteristics which have made it to be considered the Great Britain of the southern hemisphere. In the very moment of the union of the two islands, the necessity for their ultimate separation should have been apparent —nay, more, was apparent to not a few far-sighted politicians. Those, then, who are reluctant to see that the necessity for the separation has arisen, are only lamenting an inevitable necessity. Their reluctance and regret do them no discredit; England and Englishmen owe much to the conservative spirit that cherishes old institutions, and consent to' their change with reluctance. But that spirit is valuable, not so much for itself, as that it supplies the guarantee that changes are not lightly or inconsiderately made. All honor then to the prejudices that have succumbed to the necessity for separation, all hail to the converts that have allowed their prejudices to yield to conviction.

We cannot doubt that the movers of the agitation for separation will feel their efforts stimulated by the success of Saturday's meeting and that their efforts, perseveringly pursued, will succeed in securing the object they have in view. As a matter of justice the people of the "Middle Island are entitled to separation from uncongenial association with a perfectly distinct country, peopled in the majority, by a distinct race. Precedent has already established :the principle of permitting the dismemberment of colonies and allowing portions that desire to do so, and have the means, to establish themselves into distinct colonies. In the present instance there arc many favorable circumstances, and none unfavorable. In regard to past liabilities the Middle Island is. ready to make itself responsible for all thatit is fennel should be assigned to it. In regard to the seat of Government —that question.the movers in the present agitation are content leave to the Imperial Government, and to the development of time. For the rest, the Middle Island is already well tried—its resources well approved i and it will start into existence as a separate colony, with means at its command, larger, we believe, than any newly-fledged colony ever had before. The Nor«h has no right to oppose the separation? perhaps it will not do so, but still if is better to be ready for the worst, and the movers in the present agitation may realise an often before realised fact—that in arming for war frequently lies the surest safeguard of peace.

Miss Harriet Gordon's benefit at the Princess Theatre, last night, was a great success. The house was crowded, and the performance went off with great eclat. In the pretty little piece entitled Jeanette's Wedding, Miss Gordon introduced the favorite songs, "Ever of thee," and • "Lo! here the gentle lark," in the latter of which, her powers of execution were displayed to great advantage.

We learn from the Southland 'Vcwsthat the body of a man, named Fearns, a bullock driver, was found hanging to a tree at the Halfway Bush on Sunday, May 4th. The deceased had been to theWakatip, but had latterly been suffering from the effects yt drink. An inquest was held, resulting in the verdict, " that the deceased hung himself when in a fit of temporary insanity."

- We are in- receipt of news from Invercargill ' to May 10. The principal matter of interest, is an inquest held upon the body of a man named Havrkius, Ji new arrival, who- committed suicide, by cutting his throat, on the beach, where he was found dead and cojd, on Saturday morning ) May 3. The man, itjippeared, bad, for BQiue time' been unwell, and had applied to be admitted into the hospital, but had been refused admission' by the Provincial surgeon, who, however, had prescribed for his complaint. The chief point ot interest in this inquest, was the fact of the Provincial' Surgeon, Pr. M'Clure, presiding in his capacity of coroner, and volunteering a statement to the jury. The verdict is thus reported in the Southland News, of May 10 :—

" That the deceased, William fl;i\vkins, met his death by his own hand, by cutting his throat, but whether in a sound or unsound state of mind at the time, there is not sufficient evidence to show. "The Jury desire to attach the following rider to their verdict: —They feel it their duty to express their unqualified disapproval of the. course adopted by the Provincial Surgeon in refusing the deceased admission to the Hospital,- it having been ascertained from the depositions of witnesses at this inquest that the deceased was a stranger in this town; that he. was, before his death, laboring under a disease to such an extent as to render him a fit subject for "in-door Hospital treatment; and. from the medical testiraony adduced, they feel that, had the deceased been examined on making application at the Hospital, and received proper medical treatment, he mijjlit not liavs committed the act which deprived him, of life. . " They cannot separate without further expressing their opinion that the offices of Provincial -Surgeon and Coroner shoul not be held by one person, it beinu; incompatible with the effectual carrying out of the duties ofsafd offices." The verdict itself having been entered by the Coroner and siqrned by the Jury, Dr. M'Clure paM,— " Gentlemen of the Jury, to your verdict you have added the rider I have just read in open Court with respect to my conduct as Provincial Surjreon. .Is it ■your wish that I should forward such rider with the verdict V The Jury replied, " Yes ; we should wish it to be forwarded to the proper authorities." The Coroner: " That will be to the Attorney-General. .It shall be done."

In the Supreme Court yesterday his Honor, on taking his peat, intimated that he would set apaat Saturday next for hearing motions and other matters in Chambers, and for preparation of civil cases for trial. His Honor gave this intimation so as to enable the professional gentlemen to prepare for and give the usual previous notice. .

By the Storm Birdwc'havo dates "from Wellington to .May 7. Sir George.Gixy was to hold an undress lcvceon the following duy.- ---' Mr. Thatcher'seritertainments continue to enjoy unabated popularity. On ■Saturday evening lie had a bumper house, and liis repertoire of local songs is so full now that he was able to confine himself almost entirely to them. ■ The facility with which Air.' Thatcher composes is something surprising. . Although the separation meeting only took place on Saturday afternoon, ho luid a long und renliy witty song ready fur the evaning^ Madame Vitelli, on the same evening, was in pur. ticularly good voice and received- several encores. Twenty-seven quarter-acre sections situated within the township of Port Chalmers, were sold ! yesterday by Mr. Short, at the Court-house there | The majority of the allotments brought high [ prices, and the sale, as a whole, was the mosj successful of any that have yet been made of Town lands at Port Chalmers. The lowest figure obtained was Ll4 10s ; the highest L3B lOs., and •the average price was Xi2l 18s. Cd. ; the total proceeds of-the sale amounting to L 692. The sections are situated at the extreme south end or .the peninsula, upon which, it is contemplated to , extend the Town of Port Chal.rers, and are at present rather difficult of approach and thickly covered with bush. On being opened np by tha construction of a road, the situation would, however be a good one.' . We are informed that the prisoner Garrett will J)C brought up for trial on Wednesday morning. Garrett has retained no professional assistance, and will defend himself. * Considerable delay has several times been caused in the Supreme Court by the witnesses in the cases before the Grand Jury being out of the way.' The Judge yesterday had occasion to comment upon this laxity of attendance on the part of the witnesses. It should bo borne in mind that all witnesses are expected to be either in Court or in the immediate"precincts, so that when called upon they may be sworn without delaying the- business of the Court.

Stupidity seems to be n chronic characteristic of a Dunedin jury. During the trial of a case yesterday, the Judge had just concluded'summing up the evidence, when the foreman of tho jury stood up and gave in avcrdiet of guilty I Whether the worthy gentleman thought that by come mysterious agency the collective opinions of the jury were cenfred in his own proper person wo know not, but evidently his fellow jurors were not inclined to consider it in that light. They preferred, at any rate, .to have the privilege of expressing their individual opinion. .