The Souhtland Times. SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 62, 22 October 1864, Page 2

The Souhtland Times. SATURDAY, OCT. 22, 1864.

At no period in th© history of the Colony have its affairs be^n in such a critical j position as they occupy at present, and at j the very moment when all the energy andability of her public men are most urgently required, ■ the power f of exercising their talents for the good of the community is unfortunately found . to . have' departed. "When Mr. Cabdwell's despatch.was received in the Colony, we expressed an opinion that its effect would be iiijuriouß, not Bo^wubiv becjauw Pe' w^re ■ ia favor ; of the " Confiscation Policy "beiag earned **t to ifo* titom* limitv M4.Q& of &*

last se&sion of Assembly would permit, but because it allowed a dangerous latitude .to Sir G-eoboe Gtrey. Had the recommendations and instructions of Mr. Oabbwell been addressed to a Governor whose individual opinions coincided with the policy of , the Ministry which has recently its , resignation, there would have - been nothing to feaiy. and the despatch would have merely accomplished the purpose for which it was, penned, ,by exercising a beneficial control over those who mightrin their zeal have' pressed; harshly on the native race ;<; but comiiig, to Sir G-eoege Gket; whose philo-Mabri tendencies are notorious,, and at a time^when the British public was excited in an unusual degree against the; war; these^instructions were almbst certain to complicate matters,- _:. and , render the, return of peace within a reasonable time doubtful. Our anticipations have been fully realised, though it certainly never occurred to iis that Sir Oeobge Obey would mar his reputation as a successful Q-bvernor to the extent he has. The Northern papers have for some time . past been engaged in a bitter controversy about the escape of the Maori prisoners from the Island of Kawau. Aceoraing to one authority the -Ministry are solely to blame, whilst another will have it that the whole responsibility rests with Sir; Oeobge G-bey ; and ! ibo this latter view of the question we incline. In the House of Commons on July 14th, after the second reading of the New Zealand (G-uarantee of Loan) Bill, Mr. Cardwelii stated that a difference had arisen between Sir Geobge G-bey and his Executive as to the advisability of detaining 183 Maori prisoners (those who have now escaped), .and: he (Mr. Cabdwell) "had instructed the Governor ; to " act entirely upon his own; judgment in ' that and similar cases." It is not unreasonable to suppose that Sir G-eouge G-eey did so act, for the whole policy of the Ministry forbids the belief that, with their concurrence or advice, the Maori prisoners would be permitted the degree of liberty which they appear to have enjoyed. It is almost impossible to think that Sir Geob&e G-bey actually connived at the escape, but subsequent events are of so extraordinary a character that even that supposition ia not so absurd as it at first sight appears. There is in New Zealand a force of about ten thousand troops of all arms, a large proportion of them stationed in the Province of Auckland, and yet no steps have been taken for the recapture of these Maoris ; nay, more, they have been permitted to entrench themselves in a position described as almost inipregnible, and to levy contributions from the surrounding settlers. But worse remains to be told. These men are well supplied by this time, so say the Northern papers, with arms and ammunition, and already the supineness of the Governor, in allowing them the opportunity for escape, and afterwards to build their pah, and make free with the cattle and provisions of the white settlers, has created a strong feeling of contempt amongst the Maori tribes. The Governor is stigmatised as the " old woman," and daily the feeling is gaining ground that the " struggle in which they have been ; engaged is after all not so hopeless. There can be no question that the conduct of Sir Geobge Gbey in this matter has done a vast amount of mischief. Let us now I revert to a point where the Governor has i clearly interposed his authority to prevent the carrying out of the ministerial policy,' and in such a | manner as to excite the ridicule I both of Europeans and Maoris. Our readers will remember, that some time since a quantity of land at Ngaruawahia was advertised for sale by the Government. This was a portion of confiscated Maori territory. Publicity had been given to the intended auction some time previously, and the Governor must have been a consenting party, no proclamation or notification forbidding it having been issued by him. Now, however, without assigning any reason for such an extraordinary course, he refuses to issue the Crown grants, and leaves the purchasers to find redress as they best can. Our space will not permit us to enlarge on the numberless instances in which, during the last few months, Sir Geobge Gbey, backed by the powers conferred in Mr. Cabdwell's despatch, has thwarted the plans of the Whitakeb Ministry. It is currently reported that he proposed to make peace with the Maoris on terms to which Ministers could not give their sanction, and that subsequently he directly charged his advisers with "prolonging the war, and closing the avenues of peace." Nothing was left for the Ministry but to tender their resignation ; and this they accordingly did. The proper course then to, pursue would have been to summon the Assembly, but Sir GEOEGE adopted a different ' method of getting out of the difficulty, He refused to accept the resignation, and continues the Government virtually without an Executive. It cannot be supposed that this state of things will be permitted to remain for any lengthened period, but even when the Assembly shall be called together, it is not easy to see that the situation will be much improved. The majority will will endorse the policy of the "Whitakeb Ministry and justly account for its partial failure by the want of co-opera-tion—not to say antagonistic action-— -of Sir Geobge Gbey. v It is plain that unless the so-called constitutional institutions of New Zealand are to be so in reality, it will be better to revert to i the system of Government; by a single ruler, responsible only to the Colonial Office. A despotic Governor, of ability and firmness, might perchance see the Colony safely through the crisis, but an Assembly and a Ministry liable to be; overridden by the -" Governor, and a Governor continually; in opposition to the Assembly and h;is supposed advisors, cannot faij to invojve the^Qjony wdisasteV and discredit vfi: ; - ; ' ; '■ "**" ? w* The Provinoes Should; without delay: y»titi<B* Si* GhK>*«ra $»«* <* *u»m«*

the Assembly, and, when in* session, ft strong but respectful remonstrance should be made to the home authorities, showing what must be the inevitable consequence of this double government, and paying that the colonists may be allowed to manage their own affaire.