POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 17 September 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

The past month has been one of unusual dulness. In Politics there is scarcely anything to relate, except that Ministers are steadily pursuing the course they had previously marked out for themselves. We have heard of no more rumors of disagreement in the Cabinet. Our last Summary contained the intelligence that Sir George Grey was about to proceed to Tauranga, for the purpose of receiving the submission of the natives and acquainting them with the terms which would be given them. We have now to report that a meeting between the Govern@r and a large number of natives took place as previously arranged. They are to forfeit one-third of the land captured from them during the recent campaign, and the remainder is to be secured to them individually by Crown grants, a tenure which will at once materially increase its value. We are not aware whether this will do away with the regulations which forbid the purchase of native lands by Europeans, but we imagine it will. The settlement of the confiscated portion is being rapidly proceeded with, and ere long we may expect to see prosperous villages and wide expanses of cultivation, where formerly the bush and the native grasses were the only products of the soil. The Maoris are well satisfied with the arrangement, and have offered no obstructions to the new settlers, though, in a few cases, threats have been used. So far as the Province of Auckland is concerned, we look on the war as finished, but there is no evidence to show that further south we are to look for an easy settlement of the struggle. William Thomson is still in arms and did not make his appearance at the recent visit of the Governor at Tauranga, although it was known he was in the neighborhood, and had previously expressed his intention of being present. Nothing further has transpired about his movements, but it is not probable that so active a mind has been idle all this while, and time alone will show what are his intentions. If, unfortunately, we are to have more fighting, it will be in the neighborhood of Taranaki, but we have no definite information from that Province. Everywhere there is a lull, an unwillingness as it were, both on the part of the Government and of the rebels, to actively renew the struggle. Large bodies of natives, however, are still in open rebellion, and unless there is a general conference, to which all the chiefs are invited, (a measure strongly advocated by oar contemporary the Otago Daily Times) and an understanding at once come to, the war must be continued. It is quite impossible that the present state of things can last. -(The rebellion cannot be considered crushed, until a European is safe to travel in every part of the Island; until Her Majesty's mails are permitted to run in safety; until, in short, the Maoris are altogether under the law, and that is by no means the case at present. The principal topic of conversation is the threatened Avithdrawal of the troops, a measure which, at the present juncture, might be attended with the most disastrous consequences. There seems to be an impi*ession abroad that Great Britain is willing to sacrifice the interests of the Colony, being altogether tired of our affairs ; but, for our own part, we do not see much cause to fear that such is the case. Doubtless she would be glad of the termination of the war, but extreme measures, having that object in view, are not likely to be hastily adopted. The seat of Government Commissioners are still employed in their search after the spot in Cook's Straits best suited for the foundation of a capital for New Zealand-. Opinions are divided, as to what spot will find favor in their eyes. We believe that Wellington will be their choice in spite of its many disadvantages, but there is nothing to prevent the General Assembly again taking the subject in h^aia, which they are almost sure to' do, and then the same ground will be traversed again, and local animosities revived in all their bitterness. Auckland will not be called on for a long time, to surrender her position, nor does it seem politic that she should be deprived of what the close proximity to a large and savage native populationn — which will at

all times require the earnest attention of the Ministry — seems to entitle her to. The intelligence by the mail tha t the New Zealand Loan . Act has passed through the House of Commons, and been read a second time in the House of Lords, willcause satisfaction through-, out; the Colony, but enquiries -will no doubt be instituted 'as to why the j unguaranteed portion of the Three-million Loan was placed in the market^ with so little care and forethought as appears to have been exercised. Money is urgently wanted throughout the Colony, both for G-eneral Government and Provincial purposes, and unless some satisfactory arrangements are very speedily made, New Zealand will be a very great sufferer.. We must attribute the backwardness of the English capitalists in a great measure to the uncertainty which exists regarding the probable termination of the war : that obstacle being removed, money will be readily forthcoming. The next session of the G-eneral Assembly will 'be a busy one. Ministers will have to give an iaccount of their native policy, and they will have to consider the whole question of Provincial loans, wi th a view to placing them on a more secure basis for the future — two subjects which will notbe-disf posed of without a vast amount of eloquence.