POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 34, 18 August 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

The rumors last month -of a disagreement between His Excellency and the Ministry have not been verified ; but it is at present impossible to say what effect the despatch of the Secretary of State for the Colonies may yet have in political circles in the North. The announcement that the Home Government had sanctioned the " Confiscation Policy " of the General Assembly has been hailed with satisfaction by nearly the whole of the Colonists ; but opinions widely differ as to the restrictions which Mr. Card well has imposed on the carrying out of the Ministerial programme. It was at first thought, and not unnaturally, that Sir George Grey would take advantage of the discretion allowed him in the despatch, to revert to his old philoMaori tendencies, by rendering the Confiscation Act a sham. So far as can be gathered from the various conflicting reports which have reached us from the Northern Provinces, His Excellency is disposed to assist Ministers in carrying out the scheme which was adopted by the Assembly during the last session ; and should he continue to do so, we have little doubt that the happiest results will ensue. There are not wanting signs that the Maoris are becoming tired of the struggle, and more and more convinced that they are fighting against hope. Such being the case, it is imperative that there shall be no change in the policy hitherto pursued. Let it be followed out to its legitimate issue, and we may hoj>e to see an end to the war, even before the next meeting of the Assembly, which is named to take place in February. During the course of last month one hundred and twenty natives surrendered unconditionally, gave up their arms, and took the oath of allegiance, making, in all, about one hundred and fifty surrendered since the fight at Tauranga. The latest intelligence from the North is to the effect that a few more have surrendered, and that the tone of those still opposed to us is very considerably modified. It was also rumored that William Thompson was desirous of making his peace with the Government, but wished, in the first place, to have an interview with " Sir George Grey. The Auckland correspondent of the Otago Daily Tvtnes says : — " His Excellency the Governor appears " thoroughly impressed with the'idea that " there is no mistake about Thompson's " determination to surrender; and he is " going down to Tauranga in the Miranda, " being accompanied by General Sir D. " A. Cameron, and personal staff, con- " sisting of Lieutenant- Colonel M'Neil. " A.D.C., and Lieutenant St. Hill, " A.D.C. # * * # The *■ general staff will proceed to Tauranga " at a later day." The Colonial Secretary and the Attorney- General were also about leaving for Tauranga. The general impression seems to be, that as far as the Province of Auckland is concerned, the war is virtually at' an end, but further south there may yet be some hard fighting. The surveying of the military settlements is being pushed a-head rapidly, — webelieve not much to the satisfaction bf the Maories, who have threatened the surveyors, but have not proceeded to violence. Altogether we look on tiie position of affairs with far more confidence than we did a month since. The North Island does not stand alone in its difficulties ; the Middle Island is also in the midst of troubles, though of a different character. A want of ready money to carry on pubhc works is what the settlers of Canterbury, Otago, and Southland complain of. Erom several causes, it has been found> that 7 the New Zealand Provincial .Government securities do not command a ready sale, and it iB proposed by the Government to bring in a Bill, at the next session of the General .- Assembly, for the consolidation of the authorised loans of the Provinces with a view to -giving 'them a Colonial guarantee, and also a Bill to prevent Provincial Legislatures' from passing Loan Acts for the future, so that money to- be raised on the credit of the public revenue and property shall only be' borrowed under the sanction of an Act of jthe .General Assembly;, These Acts would, j of course, materially facilitated tß.<e .negotiating ;of loans for I^vincial^^urposes, by "giving

them a Colonial guarantee ; but it is evident that the weaker Provinces would find greater difficulty in' securing the passing of their loan bills than would the stronger or more influential ones. Should the Maori war be over when the Assembly meets, no doubt the financial positions of the various Provinces will be thoroughly examined ; the, extent of - their respective^securities 'inquired into, and the loan question placed on ampre satisfactory basis. It may be that from this discussion a question of still greater -importance, may arise, .viz., , whether ; the Provincial Governments have not already fulfilled the purpose for which they were inaugurated ; and whether the Colony as a whole would hot be benefitted by iforming eno large Province out of each of the Islands.