AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 48, 26 February 1864, Page 6

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

(From tbe Home News ) At a public meeting of Maldon, in Essex, Mr. Chichester Fortescue, M.P., Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, made the folloAving observations Avith respect to Australian and New Zealand topics .- — " As to Australia, discontent in Australia can only arise on that question of transportation of Avhich Aye have read a good deal lately. The Australians have been alarmed by the report of a certain royal commission which has appeared lately, and they think thafc the English G-overnment and Parliament intend to revive transportation to the great Australian colo--1 nies. Such a measure, I can only say, Avould be worthy of the Stamp Act of the last century, Avhich produced the disruption of America. No Government aud no Parliament can ever think o? such a thing, and the idea is simply a misconception in the minds of our Australian friends. It is true that the G-overnment intends for the present to continue transportation to one remote and isolated colony, that of Western Australia ; but even Avith respect to that I must say for myself that I think the truth to be that such transportation can be only of a most limited and temporai*y duration; and in the long run the people of England must make up their minds to deal Avith their j criminal population at home, and to solve thafc great problem Avithin the four corners of this couutry. One Avord before I leave the colonies upon ! the subject of NeAV Zealand. The same ! able writer to Avhom I have alluded ■ has written upon that subject also, ancl has with others urged that Aye are Avaging an unjust and oppressive Avar against the natives of Ncav Zealand. I can assure you, gentlemen, that such is not the case. Thafc Avar, Avhich I regret as much as any one can do, has been forced by the misguided natives of jSTew Zealand upon the enlightened and liberal-minded Governor of the colony, Sir George Grey. The Avar has not arisen from any greed or coA retousness Avith respect to land on the part of the colonists* of Ne\v Zealand, but from the incurable suspicion which unfortunately exists on the part of the native race against the Europeans A\dio have gone to NeAV Zealand. It is very difficult to cure such "a suspicion as that. No doubt there may have been mistakes made by the G-overnment, and there may have been irritating language used by the newspapers and colonists of New Zealand, tut the Government has shoAvn no injustice towards the native race. The Maoris are in a partial state of enlightenment which is most dangerous to themselves and to the European settlers; they are not sufficiently enlightened to understand the real character and motives of the Government. They hardly understand that the G-overnment really Avishes their good, and they hardly understand that that great country is large enough both for them and for the settlers ; and the consequence is that they imagine vague shadows of future evil aud tyranny, and and take .up arms to redress their imaginary With respect to them, I can only say that the history of NeAV Zealand presented a pleasing contrast with tde history, generally speaking, of the relations between European' colonists. and native, .-tribes..- .Compare New Zealand -with the history of other, countries,- and even;of 'English settlers amongst the North American Indians, ancl I believe we -have reason, to congratulate ourselves upon the. absence

of :i; wrpttg,? .^biefte^ yvbether , committed . , by ; settlors; . upoii natives, or by natives upon settlers,. in New Zealand. lam far from, saying that there has been all tbewisdom and energy on tbe part of. the ' New Zealand \yhich we might ,desii?e> but it is seldom there is' as much wis-, dom as could be wished in any government, jfirid X believe ifc :would have j-e'qiift'eu- more than ai\. ordinary- ampxm'fc of Wisdom to have averted jthe struggle wbieb is now going oil - between the native and liiropean Danes' in ITew, ■Zealand.- We may frope tMthepiM*-sent-crisis will soon : pass aWay, and that tbe Wea/ in, which m fire engaged, ■managed as' it is by att able govsmor and a talented general,; Vill be the la&t Wnich wo abali wage in ftfew Zealand.