THE Otago Daily Times. "Jnvenium viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 219, 2 September 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. " Jnvenium viam aut faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1862.

It 19 impossible after a careful perusal of the reports on the natives made to the Government by the various officials, to arrive at any other conclusion, than that, with very few exceptions, the whole Native population of the North, is more or less in a chronic state of antagonism to the authority of Her "Majesty. More tlum this—that but a spark is wanting to light the conflagration of active rebellion through the length and breadth of the island. Complaints have been made from time to time, that the various rumours of the unsatisfactory state of the relations between the Maories and the Government, have been spread by ill-i informed or badly disposed persons, desirous of embarrassing the Government, or, at the least, actuated by a bad feeling towards the Natives themselves. No such charge can be I laid at the doors of the gentlemen who,placed by the Government in an official capacity amongst j the Natives, have in the course of duty been called upon, not only to furnish complete reports concerning them, but also to give the Government the benefit of their opinions on Native jitfairs generally. These officers, most of them, have resided amongst the Natives in different capacities for many years are intimately acquainted with the various questions which have from time to time disturbed the Native mind, and in many instances are on the most friendly terms with theMaoriss and by no means likely to indulge in extravagant or exaggerated statements either way.

It is not to be wondered at that among so many, there should be a diversity of opinion j as to the abstract merits of certain questions, i or as to the events which led to the two great Native institutions, the King movement and the Land League. But, however much diversity of opinion there maybe on these rather abstruse questions, they agree without exception as to the aspect the King movement has at present assumed, and also as to the effects produced on the minds of the Native population, by the miserable results of the last Taranaki War. Written as these reports were, for the express purpose of placing Sir George Grey in possession of the most reliable facts, with respect to the difficulties he was to remove, it is a mystery how, with the knowledge of those facts, the disturbing elements were allowed to continue in existence. There can be but one opinion of the consequences of the fruitless campaign at Taranaki, and that is that our want of success, has fostered and strengthened the disaffected Natives in their insubordination. What says Mr. Turton, formerly a Missionary, and now a Resident Magistrate amongst the Natives, South of Auckland. " The remarkahje want '' of success which has attended our arms at ( 'Taranaki, and which has been construed by < the Natives into failure, has had a most de- « plorable effect on the minds and conduct of "the people generally. The entire manner in " which the war has been conducted from the •' first, and the partial successes which they "have gained, together with their continued "possession of much plunder, both in Ngati-1 "ruanui and Waikato, have led to the most i " inflated views of their own vast superiority | "over any power that has been, or can bei " brought against them. And so long as this " feeling keeps such strong possession of their "minds, it is difficult to imagine how they "will peaceably submit to the operation of "any law or government which would impose "the least restraint upon their actions." Could anything be more explicit than this,

and has not subsequent experience folly borne out Mr. Turton's opinion ? Sir George Grey's celebrated scheme of self-Government may be, and doubtless is, an excellent one for the specific purpose for which it was intended) but the question is, were the Natives in a fit state to receive it ? In the Waikato, the stronghold of the Natives and the hotbed of the King movement, Mr. Fen ton, to whom the credit of Sir George Grey's scheme has been accorded, himself states that the favorable conditions which existed for the initiation of civil institutions amongst the Natives in 1856, 1857 and 1858, were wanting—and further he says, "that favorable chance will " never happen again, in the history of the " Maori people." It is very likely that the system of self Government may have a very good effect upon the condition of the Natives themselves, but the question to our mind ia, whether, whilst the actuating caust'9 of disaffection still existed, and whilst the authority of British Law remained unvindicated, a sysiem of self-Government alone was calculated to place the relations between the Europeans and the Maorie3 on a stable foot- | ing oi security ? We think not. The Maories certainly are a very pecuiiar race of men, and differ much in their mental organization from most other aboriginal races, but they in common with all Bemi civilized races, can only be properly dealt with by the exertion of a paramount authority over them. They cannot respect an authority which does not evince <*!ie power of asserting its supremacy. Their own history bears this out The authority of their chiefs and even of their so-called King, exists so long as it conforms to their own ideas—the moment a diversity of opinion occurs, the authority ceases. The late war furnished many instances of this peculiarity. Numbers of natives from tribes whose chiefs professed staunch loyalty to the government, joined the insurgents at Taranaki, in spite of the efforts made to restrain them. So long as the power of the Government to enforce its authority, remains a matter of doubt in the minds of the native-*, there can never be any security against constantly re-* during disturbances. The Natives may he trained to the most admirable plans of governing thems'.-lves, but what protection does that afford against their revolting against liritish Authority, the moment any particular question nrises which nny unite them in antagonism to it ? Ar.d such questioaa miy arise at any future time. The extension of the colonisation of the Island, the rapid increase to the European population, and the consequent multiplication of the chances of collision, may at any time, and at a time too when there is least preparation, precipitate the colony into a general war of races. In deploring the non-exertion of the power of the Crown to assurt its authority, we are far from desirous to plunge the country iuto war. Retributive measures against thieves, a?sa?ins, and marauders, need not, and would not, endanger the-safety of the Island. But the successful accomplishment of the ends of justice, and the vindication of those laws common alike to Maories and Europeans, would have i beneficial eifect upon the whole Native population. They might then awake, rather late in the day it is true, to the fact that the authority of Queen Victoria, is a living authority, and as capable to punish as to protect. A-» it is, New Zealand presents a spectacle to the world, unequilled we fancy in the history of British Colonies. One of its most promising settlements has been converted into a desolation, and its unfortunate inhabitants reduced to indigence—and yet with a large military force, the very canaille of the Maories are permitted to defy, insult, and rob with impunity.

Another feature, and a very serious ono in 1 the present state of affairs is th.it we cannot expect to retain the present Military force in the Colony, for an indefinite time. Already the disposition has been manifested by the Imperial Government to withdraw the troops. And no wonder, for the present armed peace, h little less costly than a state of war, and hitherto nothing has been shoivu for the money. We may he accused as " firebrands" but it is not the less our opinion, that nothing but the exertion of stern determined authority over the Natives, will ever place the Colony on a footing of security. The Maories are no fools, they possess the capacity to bounce and brag very largely, but they are remarkably alive to their own interests, and we see no reason why the hughe ir of a general war, should deter the puuulr.neut of the Tar.-maki marauders. Justice calls for vengeance, on the murderers of defenceless children, —on the painted vandals who have brought desolation and death into a once happy settlement. Never let it be said in history, that its cry was unheeded by British ears, or that thejustice of British law was turned ande by questions of miserable expediency.

" Camille, which was produced at the Theatre Royal last evening, is simply the story of MLa Tmviata," done into English prose; or rather, perhaps, it is v close following out of the original of Dumas' novel, the " Dame aux Camellia*." The second title, "The fate of a Coquette," is a mild attempt to gloss over a fact, which is nevertheless unmistakable throughout the play, that Camille is not a Coquette, but is at first something worse, and afterwards jtisr the reverse of the flighty woman seeking only for flattery. Aladlle. Picolomini, with her personal fascinations, and the skill with which she j>ourtrayed the gradual decay of a young girl, under the blight of a rapid consumption, gave to La Trayiata an attractiveness aud a position which Verdi's music was happily not calculated to secure it. The censure of the subject wa3 very general and strong, and yet, we doubt not, many of even the more severe moralists, were led away to be spectators of the actress's beauty and skill. The subject is certainly not one to be praised or approved of, as the basis of any dramatic work; and this altogether apart from the question whether or not an " erring sister" is or is uot capable of thorough reformation, and of loving with the utmost purity and devotion. The plot may be thus stated :—Camille, while leading a life of "Parisian gaiety,"—of vices in fact—meets Armaud Duval. Love between them is instant ; but at first, Cainmille toys with her lover, and Armand is constantly jealous. Camille sells her jewels, plate, and furniture, to live in retirement with Armand; and they are happy until Annand's father discovers their re-

treat! 'The old man is at once impressed vrith* Camille's beauty and frankness ; and she, yielding to his entreaties, and to save Annand and his sister from disgrace, consents to. villify and degrade herself. Armani becomes distracted at Camille's retarn to one of her-old friends. They meet, and Armand, ignorant of the facts, deeply insults Camille. Agitation and grief bring to a crisis the disease under which she has lon» suffered ; and the whole of the fifth act is supposed to pass in her bed-chamber. Avmand comes at length to beg forgiveness, and to announce his father's reconciliation ; bnt death follows swiftly, and Camille expires blessing her repentant lover. As Camille Gautier, Madame Duret acted very , beautifully. There was a touchiug pathos in the recalling of childhood's days, in which Camille | indulges, when her heart has just been awakened ito true love ; and in the earlier scenes with Armand, there was a tranquil joy ousness at times, that spoke of complete, if transitory, fu!nes3 of bliss. When the sacrifice has been made, Madame Duret brought our finely the submission to her agony, which Camille recognises as her fate ; and the chamber scene was a cleverly realised conception of the rapid but painful wasting of humanity, all rendered as poetically beautiful as possible. Mr. Woltj was the Ann ml Duval, and if he lacked anything for .success, it was that rapt enthusiasm of utterance in his love passages, which must be inseparable from one of the nature and iv the situation of tha young Parisian. As Mr. Duval, the father of Aruiand, Mr. Shields was very cileetive indeed. The scene in the third act between him and Camille was decidedly the best done throughout the piece. Scarcely any of the other characters could be m*dc of importance, but several of them were respectably filled. There was much applause at the cl<>ie of the play ; and Ma-lame Duret and Mr. Woife were called before the curtain. The farce of " The Happy Man," coac'u lei the entertainments. We are told that in writing of the " Queen of the Abruzzi," as played on Saturday, we gave praise to Mr. Dale, which really belonged to Mr. O'Brien and woof course desire to do justice in the matter by stating the fact.

The " Pirates of the Pacific.." was again produced at the Royal Princess' Theatre, last night, and was as successfully rendered as on the previous occasions, Mr. Young taking the part of Ben the Boatswain, ami Mr. Tom Faweett that ofMarkltfcdelitFe. The farce of the "Pacha of Pimlico," with which the performance concluded, was performed last night for the first time. Ie is one of the most extravagantly absurd of extravaganzas, as will be undcrstool when we mention that the hero, Mr. Brjwn, who by the bye goes by the name of Bedridden Sadi, and tries to* pass himself off for a Turk, buys an English girl in Constantinople, as n Georjiaa slave ami brings her home to Pi;nUeo, although leadiug her to believe that he has taken her to Algiers. The intense absurdity of sorn-3 of the situations and the thorough abandon with which the piece was pkyc-d, kept t'\e audience in a continual roar of laughter until the fall of the curtain.

There must by a large amount of indebtedness in Dune-din at the present time, if we are to judge from the fact that over four hundred writs have been issued from the Supreme Court against debtors. Our late long winter season has beea attended all along with a commercial dep^ssion, not looked for by those engaged in the various branches of business and trade enterprise. Stocks were laid in which could not be disposed of; speculations entered uj>on which have not realised the expectations of these who hurried too much in hanging about their fulfilment; undertakings which commenced under favorable auspices, broke dotvn from the pressure of adverse circumstance, those undertaking them had neither the power to avert or control. This is a juncture at which " bear and forbear " should be the motto. With the summer will come an increase of trade, and an altered state of affairs which is likely to' bring up many arrears, and place those firm on their legs again v.ho for some time past have beeu tottering to their fall. As a general rule, creditors have been long- patient and indulgent to those deep in their books, end it is satisfactory to fed that such considerations will not have been thrown away. Our present and prospective commercial aspect has much in it that is greatly encouraging. Confidence, where it was shaken is once more Wing restored. Tradesmen now inaketbeir purchases with greater confidence of a ready tnaiket.

Much has been said and written of the magnificent scenery which surrounds Dunedin; but if those, who are admirers of the picturesque and beautiful, will, on one of our clear moonlight nights, wall; to the ascent of Stewart or Maclaggan Streets, and turning round, gaze upon the moon-iit scenery which exhibits itself before them, they will pronounce the sight well worth the slight trouble taken to witness it The distant hills present a subiue-t but distinct pencilling of magnificent outlive; the sheen on the waters of the bay, the town at the foot with its pleasing irregularities: the buildings scattered over the hills lying north and south, before and beside the' beholder, a'l combine to form a pictnre not suTpasscd for loveliness in any town or city of all the Australias.

It is saying something for the times, when such a tiling as a stout beggar, or-supj.licunt for public charity has not been known any time through the winter. The maimed, the halt and blind, can, it would appear, all find some description of employment to keep them from such a degra. datiou.

A practical farmer informs us, that the ash produced by burning flax is, when well mixed with earth and laid thinly over the land, an escelhnt manure and stimulant for garden produce of all kinds. He has, he says, tried it himeelf, with the most satisfactory results.

The custom of throwing broken bottles into the streets and public thoroughfares cannot be too strongly condemned. A very fine horse which was about starting, pack-laden, for the new diggings, on Saturday last, was so lamed by treading on a broken beer bottle, that it had to be taken back to the stable, when it was found on examination that the frog of the foot was so deeply cut, as to render the beast quite unfit to make the journey. Owners of horses complain londly of a practice fraught with so much danger.

Yesterday afternoon an American waggon, with a powerful team of seven horses, attracted some attention in Princes-street, when it was known that it was loading up with swags and goods for the diggings, It was understood that the swags were being taken at the rate of 2s. a pound. We learned afterwards that this was the fact, and that the total freight of the waggon land amounted to about LG23 ; more than is often paid for the charter of a ship. If the enterprising carrier arrives safely with his load, he will have made a pretty good haul.

The Town Board yesterday fixed the rate for the ensuing year, at Is. 3d. in the pound. There was an amendment, proposed by Dr. Hulme, to the effect that the rate be U.'GCL, but the original motioa for le. 3d. was carried.

The body of a man "W3S found yesterday a* Port Chalmers. It was much disfigured, bat is supposed to be the body of the young man, Milborn, third engineer of the Omeo, who was drowned at the Port a few weeks ago. It is at present in in charge of the police, waiting the holding of an inquest. At the meeting of the Town Board yesterday, it was arranged, after a very lengthy and desultory discussion, tliat the assessors for the ensuing year should be Messrs. Pen wick, Langlands, and Eosa. This result was not arrived at without some difficulty, the Board becoming involved in a perfect labyrinth of motions and amendments, before the desired object of removing Mr. Hardy from the assessorship couid be achieved.

The Dunedin Musical Association has for some time existed only in name, the practice meetings of the members having been discontinued for several weeks past, partly on account of the bad weather, and chiefly from the want of an appropriate room. We believe it is the intention of the committee of the association to take measures for the renewal of the rehearsals, aad for the construction of the society oa a wider basis. The Odd Fellow's Hall in George-street is spoken of as the place to be selected for the parpose of weekly practice, and the assistance of some influential ladies is to be sought in inducing the musical young laiies of the town to join the association. We heartily trust the Committee may be successfal, and that ere long Dunedin may boast as efficient and numerous a choral association as the other cities in New Zealand.

*We are informed that the little steamer, the Betsy Douglas, which plies between the Reliance Hotel, East Taieri and Clarendon on the Waihola Lake, broke dov.-n yesterday, and tliat a boat had to be sent off to her for the passengers, for Danedin, per Cobb's coach. We are not aware of the particulars of the accident.

The Nero Zealand Examiner and the Australian and New Zealand Gazette, both published in London, adopt a very unfair practice in furnishing news to th?ir readers. The papers are almost entirely made up of extracts from colonial journals, bat in many instances they are not acknowledged. This is particularly noticeable ia the New Zealand Examiner of June 12, where under the head of Otago, the intelligence is entirely extracted from the correspondent's reports in this journal, and yet they are inserted without a word of acknowledgement, and appear as having beea written by the paper's own correspondents. The intention of the editor to convey this impression is evident from the fact, that "these i copious extracts from our columns are followed by the words, " "We give the following extracts from the Otago Daily Times." Wehave no objecl tion, to Sud our columns culled so studiously, but ! we are certainly entitled to the usual courtesies of j journalism, in the acknowledgement of the extracts.