SOUTHLAND ON SEPARATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 14 June 1862, Page 5

SOUTHLAND ON SEPARATION.

(froji our southland correspondent.) Invcrcargill, June 7, 1862.

The question of the separation of the Middle Island from the North, so ably and energetically argued in the Otago Daily Times, has occupied in some measure the attention of the people of Southland, although the local " Thunderer," with its usual singular common sense, and desire to elicit and guide public opinion on matters of vital interest and importance to the community, is silent on the subject, devoting its energies to our eternal " postal derangements," or feebly remonstrating with the Town BoarJ. The people of Southland do not feel inclined to enter precipitately into this ques tion ; they do not consider it necessary to extract from their representatives the pledge that " come what will they1 must vote for separation. The question is one of such importance, the step once taken so irrevocable, the future of - Southland so implicated, they think it best to leave their representatives untrammelled, to enable them to ascertain clearly what is to be the future policy of the North in the various questions affecting the South. When it is distinctly understood that such policy is inimical to the interests and well-being of the settlements in the Middle Island, then it will be time enough for them and their constituents to consider " Whether 'tis better to bear the ills'we have than fly to others wo know not of," although to this may be replied, " Thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o'er with pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pith and moment with this regard their currents turn away, and lose the name of action."

Yet action may possibly lead communities, as well as individuals, to the dogs. In the first place, what is the policy to be pursued in the native question, at the next meeting of the General Assembly ? Who can tell ? Sir George Grey has the reputation of possessing a slight degree of reticence —a man not at all likely to unbosom himself with the amiable frankness of Dick Swiveller in his cups ; that either he or the present ministry 'will seek to saddle the Middle Island with the expense of the native administration—with finding the .sop for " Cerberus " —is by no means certain. The home government is seemingly about to throw the onus and expense of the native administratration on the responsible ministry of New Zealand, and Sir George Grey does not possess that plenary powers which it was at first supposed lie did. What then ? Does it necessarily follow that the Middle Island, instead of the homo government, is to find several thousands a year to purchase peace with the Maori ? May not Sir George Grey do what he has done before at the Cape'? tell "the home government thnt the European colonists of New Zealand will not pay to carry out the policy of pacification ; that possibly the majority of them agree with Mr. Roebuck in his statement in the House of Commons, that " when the white man places his foot alongside of the brown man, the brown man disappeared, and the sooner the better ;" that if money is to be paid, it will be found for purposes of extermination, not philanthropy ; and ask it, whether having expended millions in the emancipation of its slaves in the West Indies, it will not spare a few thousands to save from destruction the remnant of an interesting race, and work out the problem of the amalgamation of the two races, which was mooted so soon as the colonisation of the Islands of New Zealand was determined, or will consent to see enacted in these Islands the Dutch Boer scenes of slaughter in Africa, the aboriginal shot down like the pariah dog of India. Such may he the case, and the Imperial Government may take the burden, and then solve the native difficulty ; or a Lieutenant Governor be appointed in Auckland, the seat of Government being fixed in the Middle Island, or a good many tilings not half so bad for the interests of this Island as are anticipated.

The proposed Land Act smacks strongly of intense centralisation, seeking, no doubt, to denude the Provinces of any management of their waste lands ; but it does not necessarily follow, as hinted in the Daily Times of the 27th ult., " that the laud revenue is to be appropriated by the General Government;" nor is such likely to be the case. It is the one pledge by which all parties in the General Assembly of 1856 were bound, and'none more so than Mr. Sewell; that the laud fund of the Middle Island is not to be-alienated from the Provinces, in consideration of its taking the New Zealand Company's debt on its shoulders. That the gold duty is to be incorporated with the Customs cannot be be done until the Gold Fields' Act is altered. Is Auckland likely to allow this ? If her gold fields turn out anything, and that there will be paying quartz crushing seems to be generally allowed, she will be the last to coincide in such an arrangement. At the meeting of the Assembly, so soon to take place, all these matters, at present taken for granted, will transpire ; till then, Southland is content to leave its representatives unpledged and unfettered, confiding in their integrity aud ability. If the worst comes to the worst, and it is evident the north is desirous of aggrandizing itself at the expense of the south, that Separation is the only panacea, how does Southland stand ? is the question asked. It is all very well for Otago to sound the alarm and call to arms, and, like a modern Cassibianca, determine to stick to its post. To whose profit is all this to redound, suppose Separation an accomplished fact. .

" And then, God knows what next." In all probability there would have to be a reorganization of the present system of Provincial Governments in this island. The carte of Otago is silent us to the future, separation first, and the devil take the hindmost afterwards. Is the Fox asking the Stork to dinner off a platter, cr is that interesting story of "Little Red Riding Hood," which excited our youthful sympathies, to be enacted for the. benefit of our mature? years ? Separation accomplished, is it to be a scramble for the pieces? And does the strong- man, exulting in his strength, stretch forth his brawny arm, and clutch in anticipation the wished-fur spoil. Will Otago, strong in its wealth and preponderance of population, seek to re-annex Southland ? Proceed on a " broad basis;" hang all small Provinces; let's have only the three old ones. The co-operation of all the Provinces in the Middle Island is earnestly called tor by Otago, to-obtain, at any cost, Separation ; but after that, the deluge—the page is blank. Southland can easily comprehend—supposing Separation a justice due to this island—that it would, if left in its integrity, benefit by the seat of government being brought nearer to it : at present, the farthest settlement from the seat ot government, its existence is almost ignored in tho home country—its merits or demerits overlooked —the question being1, how far from the capital ? the answer having greater weight with people at home than is generally supposed here ; more particularly as regards a young settlement; being the result partiy of ignorance of localities, partly of prejudice.' Yet, still we are a Province, prosperous and fast progressing, and before joining in any change "we must be sure of the ground we tread on ; the spirit of Marcus Curtius is not rampant here.

The debt of gratitude to Otago not being considered of sufficient magnitude to induce any particular sacrifice, not only must there be a clear statement of the hereafter, but there must be also a guarantee for its fulfilment. A statement which will set forth clearly, and without ambiguity, the broad principles on which Otago will proceed—should Separation be the result of her efforts—in which she will seek the co-opera-tion of all the present Provinces of the Middle Island, declaring her views as regards the policy to be adopted in carrying on the future Government • whether the present Provincial system is to remain in its integrity.; whether to be superseded by municipal institutions ; or, shorn of all legislative functions, to be undertaken by a General Assembly and Legislative' Council at the seat of government, each Province to have left the entire control of their Land Bevenue and portion of Customs, together with management of all purely local matters. A reliable guarantee that this statement will be strictly adhered to ; a guarantee to be embodied in the Petition praying for such separation, the Act declaring it. You know Gibbon's dry witticism, " Abbe Rafe beareth testimony to this, but who will bear testimony to A, bbc Eafc" (1 trust I am quoting correctly). A purely local guarantee from Otago would, I am afraid, be considered somewhat in the position of Abbe Rafe.

If you want the co-operation of Southland you must act openly and fairly, freely acknowledging her right to have a say in all matters as an equal, not a dependent; and, above all, let her understand that in the future, her hard-earned and well-deserved freedom will be respected and ensured ; for having won it, she has proved she can use it judiciously. After all, there is not much difference between the reasons for your separation from the North and ours from you. You don't want your money to buy peace with Maories, and land for Auckland settlers ; we didn't want our money to be used in making roads in the vicinity ot Duncdin. You want Dunedin to be the capital of the Middle Island ; we wanted to have a capital of our own.