POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

'When the last mail for England left the shores of New Zealand there was nothing to indicate a speedy change of Ministry. The rumors of disagreements between Sir G-eorge Grey and his Executive had died out, and it was generally thought that whatever His Excellency's individual views 1 might be, and however great the discretionary powers recently vested in him by Mr. Cardwell's now celebrated despatch, he would be willing to act amicably with Ministers in their endeavor to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the Maori diffi- | culty. It was to have been expected that, i in carrying out the policy to which they ' 6tood pledged to the Assembly, the Ministry would bear in mind the altered circumstances of the Colony since the initiation of what is known as the Confiscation | Policy, and that to a certain extent they would allow themselves to be influenced by the general feeling of the community, as constantly expressed in the New Zealand journals, which have from the first taken far broader views of the question than their contemporaries in the home country. With one or two exceptions, the Colonial Press has urged the vigorous prosecution of the Maori war to its final and legitimate issue — viz., the complete subjugation of the natives, followed by the confiscation of portions of their territory, not sufficient to deprive them of the means of subsistence, and reduce them to the position of outcasts, but extensive enough to make them feel the evil effects of their misconduct, and so selected that by the formation of semi-military settlements, the older and more civilised districts might be protected from the danger of Maori invasion. Until the arrival of Mr. Cardwell's despatch, the above line of action was. pursued, if not with unvarying success, at least with a fair prospect of it ultimately accomplishing all that was desired. The fight at Te Banga would seem to have virtually decided the issue in favor of the colonists so far as the Province of Auckland is concerned, and the public looked anxiously for the commencement of a campaign in the settlement of Taranaki. Weeks, however, past on without any definite steps being taken in that direction, and at length it begun to be rumored that Sir G-eorge Grey was, in an underhand manner, exerting himself ,to patch up a peace without due regard to the interests of the Colony, and that, whilst unwilling to assert boldly the almost unlimited authority conferred 011 him by theQolonial Office, he was nevertheless inclined to make his influence'' felt in 'an indirect and ; less cdmnieridable manner. Then came the reports of ; mis- : understandings with his ministers, to which we before alluded, and which sub" frequently died out. Gur latest news from jiuckland contains the linexpected iidtellipuce $0 tfcs Slu&try ite« te»4e*s4

theiT-^resignation, which it. is said ' His Excellency has declined for the present to accept. There is much mystery about the immediate causes which led to this ■tcp on the part of those to whom the country looked for extrication from its difficulties, and the Auckland journals contain nothing - definite on the subject. On reviewing the principal events of the month, in order to discover what may have led up to this state of things, we are inclined to believe that no one act of Sir George Grey has induced ministers to resign their posts, but a general unwillingness on his part to abide by the ministerial policy. It is but a short time since that we recorded an event which had taken place in Auckland which may have had some effect in deciding ministers. In the early part of September two hundred Maori prisoners taken during the war, effected their escape from Kawau Island, an estate belonging to Sir G-eorge G-rey, where they had for some time been confined. They have not since been captured, although their whereabouts is well known, and it is said they have made free with the herds of white settlers to supply their commisariat. The blame of this escape is attributed by some to the Governor, who had taken charge of them, and at whose instigation they were allowed a large share of liberty on the island — only five or six guards being appointed to look after them and prevent them breaking bounds. The Anti-Minis-terial party say that the fault rests with the Executive. There can be no doubt that this occurrence caused a coldness between the Governor and his advisers, and may have finally determined the re&ignation of the latter. It is also said, but we can scarcely credit the report, that the Governor has refused Crown grants for that portion of the confiscated native territory which was recently sold by auction. Until further particulars shall have been made public it is impossible to say certainly why the Ministry have resigned. We look now for the speedy calling together of the General Assembly, but all speculation as to his Excellency's future advisers is futile. The Colony, although tired of the war, is not ready for a peace which would place matters on the same footing which they occupied previous to the outbreak of hostilities. The position of the Colony is critical in the extreme. With an exhausted exchequer, an impaired credit, a hostile native race, and a Governor who has entirely lost the confidence of the Maori and European population, it would Beem that further troublesome days are in store for us. The Seat of Government Commissioners have finished their labors, but their decision is not yet made public. A very extraordinary statement has been made by one of our contemporaries, but we do not know on what authority. It is to the effect that Sir George Grey has received instructions from Mr. Cardwell leaving tho question of the seat of government for New Zealand in his hands. It is difficult to credit this. Mr. Cardwell must be aware of the course taken by the Assembly ; and as the matter is not in the least one of imperial interest, more especially as the troops will be removed from the Colony in a few months, it is not likely the astute Secretary of State for the Colonies would offer to our legislators what must, if true, be regarded as an insult. There have been no military movements of importance since the publication of our last Summary.