The Invercargill Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 26, 6 January 1864, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1864.

;THE>question of the Separation of the two islands of New Zealand hag, in our opinion, never been quite fairly or dis- < passionately discussed. In arguing tho * matter, the Press haa too often allowed personal feel in <; to intrude itse'f; local envy and local jealousy have been too apparent throughout New Zealand as a whole has been made subservient to New Zealand in parts; each portion striving to rise on the shoulders of its neighbors, and at their expense. Such is not the view we would wish to take of the question. That the time for separating the two islands has arrived, we have no doubt ; the mode of effecting that separation in the best way for the general interests of New Zealand — not looking at it, merely in its present state, but forward to its future, when it shall have become a nation — has not yet been clearly indicated. The gri'at interests of the two Islands are entirely distinct, having nothing in common. In the North is the native question, which enters into and complicates every pursuit ; in the South, European interest, seeking its natural development. Of the Maori difficulty, of the complications incidental to amalgamating a narion having immemorial customs, habit 3 aod tradition*, with the Anglo-Saxon race ; of sroverninjj them when brought into sahmission iv the manner least likely to offend their prejudices, we know but little. The Southern members go up time after time to the General Assembly, find themselves ignorant of the subject, and consequently unable to grapple with what occupies .the greater portion of the time and attention ef the House — the nativa question. If, at the end of the session, by dint of great perseverance and industry,, some slight inkling of the subject is obtained, which, if followed v:> by hard study during the recess, might be of use at tiie next session, it is found that the time and trouble is entirely thrown away — the native difficulty has presented itself in an entirely new phase, and ngain the Southern member finds himself legislating in intense ignorance of the subject, on the most important matters, not mere'y for the preset-, .but the future of New ZeajsncJ, or rather being dictated to by the Northern members, who look upon anyinterference in th* matter with indignation- If fhe Southern members have difficulty in understanding or taking interest iv the all-absorbing topic in the General Assembly — -he native question — what shall we say of the consideration which the Northern members give to Middle Island affairs? To any one acquainted witn the subject, the two last sessions are pregnant with meaning. We -do not contend that the North intentionally ignores the interests of the South ; that, taking advantage of the pressing necessity of vindicating British honor and British power in suppressing rebellion, it is desirous of overlooking Southern claims to consideration — -of legislating in a wide and comprehensive manner for interests totally foreign and unconnected with those which are tbrust upon them in a most forcible and disagreeable way. We cannot blame a man who, seeing a fire-stick about to be appl ed to his barns, is callous as to what may happen to his neighbor's homestead. He has enough to do to look after and protect his own property without troubling himself as to what may happen to others. We merely state facts in proof of our argument that the: c is nothing in common between the North and South, and that consequently separation on a proper basis is desirable for both. Whether the time had arrived for it or not, movingthe Seat of Gov rnmentfrom Auckland to Wellington has virtually decided the question of Separation and rendered it inevitable. To inagine that Auckland will submit quietly to take up a secondary position in the North Island, after having so long enjoyed the consideration and benefits derivable from being the capital, is out of the question. If some of the cities of New Zealand, such as Dunedin, feel humiliated at holding a position second to Auckland, and consider that their growth and commercial importance entitle them to supersede her as the capital, or at any rate to be capitals themselves, how much more humiliating would it be for Auckland to be reduced to a secondary position ? Nor do we think it either just or politic that the seat of Government should be removed from her. Up to the present time, the Maories have been looked upon more as a people apart from the British, to be governed by special laws and treated in a special hardly subjects, not quite a foreign power; now they are to bd amalgamated with their British conquerors, they .are to be henceforth British subjects, amenable to the same laws, conforming to the same customs. The law hitherto a fiction amongst the Maories is to become a fact, any breach ;Of .it to meet ■ with condign punishment.. It has been difficult enough to govern them, up to the present time, when I hey have been as it were an in- ■ ' • ■'.■'."■■.■'-■

dependent- people, and interfered with as little as possible \. for the future the task will'bo much heavier, the slightest attempt at rebellion roust be crushed at once. ! There must be^np delay, admitting the smouldering" fires 'to- burst into a^bla&e. -JThis^would v r,e(juire the, presence of the Governor, and the S.iat of Government to be at Auckland. It wo ii l d never: d ohto ;:wai t for borders: fro ra i Wellington ; the delays of red-tape aie bad^enqutfh when enacted! on, tfie spot,' whan at a distance :of .hundreds ;pf miles intole rable. ] We therefore cannot for a momeh t cbncei ye thatTiri is d esicable that Auckland should be governed froai Wellington. Auckland, surrounded 'by the most powerful natiyeltnbes, within easy distance of the Maori King's capital, and commanding its position, is in ! close proximity to the great interest of the Northern isiand^— the Maori— and that interest can be better looked after, the peace of th~ Island better secured, the development of the Maori into a useful and homogeneous '•' element in British colonisation, better effected by the Seat j of Government being fixed there than in any other part of the North Island. | We do not believe that any Governor would dare to leave Auckland without a Supreme Government for any length of I time ; or who would not bitterly repent it if he did so. If the North Island cannot be governed from j Wellington, how is it possible that the South can be f If Wellington is more removed from the centre of Native influence and disturbance than Auckland, the Native difficulty is just as rampant ; the European interest is as much fused wi h the Maori. In Napifr alone, the sheepfarmers pay £10,000 a year to Maori landlords for pasturage. Mr Jerningham Wakefijld in the pamphlet he recently published, I " What wi 1 they do in the General Assembly V discloses how thoroughly the leading men in Wellington are mixed up with the Maories ; what a matter of vital importance to them are the relations established between the Natives and Europeans ; in fact, how perfectly their interest is the Native interest. To suppose that the South or Middle Island could be permanently governed from '•Veliiiit»f»n is absurd. Except that it is a few miles nearer than Auckland, we do not see in what way moving the seat of Government there would benefit the South. Our interests are just as distinct from one as the other ; our wants as little likely to be attended to. The Native question will be as much the all-absorbing topic in the General Assembly held at Wellington, as in Auckland. An Executive in the former city will be as much occupied in attending to Northern interests, as unable to listen to or redress Southern grievances, as in the latter. Legislation at Wellington would be just the same as legislation at Auckland. Southern wants, Southern interests would be just as much ignored. As far as the South is concerned, a Government at Wellington will be not the slightest benefit, though the change may seriously affect the North. There were iwc ™"»ys of bringing about Separation ; one by looking at the question calmly and opeuly, taking a comprehensive and statesmanlike view of it, and so legislating that it could be effected in a m-inner equitable to each pnrty, and beneficial to the whole of New Zealand, destroying all jealousy, healing ail envy on the part of the various Provinces, and preventing absolute Separation ; the other, by allowing it to result from so palpable a mistake, so unfair and useless au adjustment of the question, that every Province would be forced into action in the matter ; and obtain, after long bickering, with envy and hatred against one another excited by the strife, that which might have been easily effected had the matter met with the consideration it deserved. The General Assembly at its last session, took the latter course, and has virtually removed the seat of government to Wellington. Already we are beginning to reap the fruits of this action, in the bitter tone of the various journals. If it was intended by this step to prevent separation, that intention will be frustrated ; it has hastened it. If the constitution for the Islands of New Zealand is to be changed, as changed it must be >.\ow f we Would advocate the substitution of a system by which the number and com lication of existing governing bodies could be diminished, and while each Islaud would have the benefit of comph-te administration of ali its own affairs, the unity of the colony would be preserved.