POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 74, 18 November 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

It will be remembered that, at the date of our last summary, the Ministry had just tendered their resignation, which was not, however, accepted by Sir Gf-eo. G-rey ; neither did he at once summon the G-ene-ral Assembly. The reason assigned for the course taken by Ministers was that they found it impossible to work amicably with His Excellency in the conduct of native affairs. The escape of the 200 prisoners was attributed to the lax supervision maintained over them by the sanction of the Governor, and it was farther asserted that lie had determined not to give effect to the line of policy marked out by the General Assembly, and which certainly met with the sanction of the country at large, viz. — to carry on the Avar with vigor until the natives should sue for peace, and to confiscate such a portion of their territory as might effectually deter them from again disturbing the peace of the Colony. They were to be shown, in short, that if they were determined to rebel, they would assuredly be punished in the most effectual manner. Some days after Ministers had tendered their resignation, His Excellency summoned the General Assembly to meet ®a the 21st instant. There was at first; some doubt as to whether the place of meeting would not be Wellington or Canterbury, but Sir G-eorge Grey decided, we think wisely, that at the present juncture it would not be politic to remove the Government from Auckland lie did not feel justified in absenting himself from that Province, and it would have been inconvenient to remove the numberless documents required by the Assembly. It was determined, therefore, that the Session should be held iv Auckland. Subsequent to the tendering of their resignation by the Ministry, but prior to the meeting of the General Assembly, j Sir Greorge Grey issued the following proclamation : — A PROCLAMATION. I By His Excellency rfir George Grey, Knight 'Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, G-overnor anJ t.\;inm:ui;ler-in-Ghief in and over Jf>-r Majesty's Oniony of NewZealand and its Dependencies, and ViceAdmiral of tho same, &<\, &c, &<:. The Governor having been authorised to extend, upon certain conditions, Her Majesty's clemency to those tribes who hare engaged in the present unhappy rebellion : Now, therefore, I, Sir George Grey, the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby notify :md proclaim that I will, in Her Majesty's name, anA on her behalf, gl'awt a pardon to all such persons implicated in the rebellion as may come in on or before the tenth day of December next, take the oath of allegiance, and make the cession of such territory as may in each instance bo fixed by the Governor and the Lieutenant-General commanding Her Majesty's forces in New Zealand. All those persons who have been engaged in the rebellion who may desire to return within any part of the ceded territory, or within, the limits of | any European settlement, will be required to deliver up any arm 3 or ammunition in their possession. The pardon promised in this proclamation -will not be extended to any person who may have been engaged in the murders of — Samuel Shaw. Samuel Ford. Robert Passmore. Parker. Pote. Dr. Hopo, Lieut. Tragget, and soldiers. (May 4, 1863.) Robert Patterson. Michael Meredith. Frederick Richard Meredith. William Corry Scott. Robert Watson. Hugh M'Lean. Sylvester Calvert. Charles Cooper. William John Jackson. Margaret Fahey. Job Hamlin Richard Trust. Nicholas Trust. James Droomgould. Henry Craim. Hugh Corbyn Hai'ris. Sarten. John Hurford. Gaffney (an Artilleryman) Richard Brown. Ephraim Coad. William Outfield King. John Hawlrin. Given under my hand, at the Government House, at Auckland, and issued under the seal of the Colony of New Zealand, this twenty-fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. By Hia Excellenoy's command. God save the Queen. It would be a difficult matter to describe in adequate terras the indignation with which. thi3 unconstitutional act of Sir G-eorge Grey has been received by all shades of politicians in the Colony. "We have here the Governor of a Colony, ostensibly under a liberal constitution secured by Act of the Imperial Parliament, talcing upon himself the sole responsibility ( of proposing terms of peace to a race with whioh that =' Colony is at war. Not only did Sir George Grey issue this proclamation without the advice and consent of his Executive Council, but in direct opposition to their strongly-expressed wish, Nor did he summon the Assembly in order that the sense, of the country might "be taken on the point. . He quarreled ■yyith his Executive^ ne^t lie issued, hi*

t and .finally he summoned the Assembly ! It is well known that the views of the war party,, as, it is rather unjustly called, have been considerably modified since the last meeting of the- Assembly, when the confiscation policy was agreed on ; and there can be little doubt that a milder course towards the Maoris would now find more favor with the representatives of the people than was the case at the commencement of the struggle. Allowance has to be made for the excitement under which the full measure of the ministerial policy was in the first place adopted— excitement induced by the brutalities practised on the European settlers by a race of savages. The altered financial circumstances of the Colony have also to be considered, and therefore, both ministers and the country generally would be willing not to press too harshly on the native race — would be willing to abate somewhat the full measure of retribution ; but neither people nor Ministry are willing that the whole of the expenditure of blood and treasure during a protracted war shall go for nothing, and that peace shall be made, leaving matters on the same footing they occupied previous to the outbreak. It is clear from the Governor's proclamation that he cares for nothing further than effecting a peace at all hazards. The word "■Confiscation is not mentioned. " Cession " is substituted in its place ; and those who know Sir George Grey, know that the meaning of his proclamation is virtually an unconditional pardon to all except the murderers whose names are appended to it. The Maoris are allowed to retain their arms, and the peculiar tenure by which the native tribes possess their lands will make the contemplated " cession " of such portions of their territory as may be required by the Governor altogether of no value. But whatever may be thought of the good policy of the terms of this proclamation, the real question which has to be decided is, after all, whether Sir George Grey had the right to treat with the natives at all, except with the consent of the Executive Council. "When Mr. Cardwell'a despatch was received in the Colony, fears were entertained lest the latitude it , gave, and the powers it bestowed on ft Governor notoriously partial to the native race, might have an injurious effect on the i commonwealth. For some time, however, it appeared as though Sir George Grey was prepared to allow the despatch only to act as a check on too eager action on the part of the Ministry ; and had he continued so to read Mr. Cardwell's recommendations and instructions, the Colony would have had no ground of complaint ; but his subsequent conduct has thoroughly disgusted both his friends and enemies throughout New Zealand, and the cry is already raised that his removal is urgently required. There are some who suppose that, apart from Mr. Cardwell's despatch, His Excellency received imperative instructions to terminate the war, and that no option was left him in the matter. We do not think that such is the case ; but, supposing it were, the right course for him to pursue would have beeu to acquaint the Ministry at once, and in the event of their resignation, the Assembly should have been summoned without delay, and the facts laid before them. Common courtesy should have suggested this to Sir George Grey, and had he adopted the plan wo have indicated, no blame could have been attached to him. Great Britain has already professedly imposed on the Colony responsibility in the government of the native race, and yet, in tlie face of that, will not permit the policy of the Colonial Ministry to be carried into effect. It is the intention of the Imperial Government, from the Ist of January, 1865, to charge New Zealand at the rate of £10 per annum for every one of the Queen's soldiers employed in the Colony ; and an opinion has been very generally expressed that it would be better that the war should be prosecuted, and peace subsequently preserved, by a Colonial force, and that the services of the Imperial army be dispensed with altogether. "Without for a moment disparaging the efficiency of the soldiers, it seems probable that in New Zealand warfare they are not of such service as irregular corps, composed of men thoroughly acquainted with the i bush, and who have also a knowledge of t Native habits. But besides this, it has been shown in an unmistakable manner, that the system under which the Queen's troops are managed has had a most detrimental effect. The power is divided between the War Office, the Horse Guards, the Governor, and the General in command ; and the consequence is that not half the work is performed which might reasonably be expected. One journal has advocated the formation of native regiments from amongst the friendly tribes, and the idea is certainly well worthy consideration — both as a matter of policy, by its tendency to create a diversity of interests amongst the Maoris, and also on account of its cheapness, native labor not being of so great a value as that of Europeans. The question will be warmly discussed in the Assembly ; but whatever decision they arrive at on that point, it is certain that they will strongly remonstrate on the system of interference by the Colonial Office. It is impossible that the native difficulty can be satisfactorily disposed of if the Aots of the Assembly and the wishes of the Executive are to be controlled by the Colonial Office, giving expression to its demands through the Governor of the Colony. It is not yefc known what effect the peace proclamation will have on the rebels. Had euch a proclamation been issued immediately after the fight at Tauranga, when the natives were broken by defeat, it might have induoed thefli to come in j but events have occurred since then which cannot fail to have produced an impression- unfavorable to European influences. The inaction of the troops 5 the escape of the prisoners; and the manner in which they hay'e been permitted to continue at large, and levy contributions on the white Bettlera, s&Ußti have lowered the power of the Oolonjata

then look on. the proclamation, as an evidence of weakness ; and should they do so, instead of a speedy termination to the war, we may look for its continuance for an indefinite period. . The much vexed question as to where the permanent Seat of Government shall, be established has beeu. finally settled by the Ooinmissioners. Wellington is to be the favored spot, much to the disgust of the inhabitants of one or two of the i other Provinces. ; V The following is the report which was made by the Seat of Q-orernment Commissioners, ...the Honorable Joseph. Dock«r, Member of the Legislative Council of New South "Wales ; tha Honorable Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the colony of Victoria ; and Ronald Campbell Q-unn, Esq., of Tasmania :— G-OYernment Buildings, N«l»on, October 5, 1864. Sir,— We have the honor to transmit to your Excellency a report upon the site of the Seat of Government o£ Neyr Zealand, in Cook's Strait ; ■; &■ Bubject which was submitted for our consideration in the commission with "which your Excellency honored us on the 29th July last. We have the honor to be, &c, FllANCia MtTEPHT, : JoSBPH DOCKER, ROITAI,!) C. GhXXK. Commissioners for selecting a Site for the Seat of Government. His Excellency Sir George Grey, G-.C.8.j &c, &c, <fee. Government Buildings, Nelson, October 3, 1864. The Commissioners, acting under the above recited instrument, have agreed to the following report : — In order to guarantee a full inquiry and an impartial decision, founded solely upon a'consideration of the advantages -which the different sites in Cook's Straits present for the administration of the Government of the whole Colony, the Commissioners determined to lay down a principle of inquiry which should be rigidly applicable in the examination of every site submitted to their investigation. This principle comprised inquiries into — Ist. The central position of the site. Its accessibility either by land or by sea from the adjoining . Provinces of New Zealand, from the various British settlements in the southern hemisphere, and from Europe and America, and also the existing and projected means of communication. 2nd. The water capabilities, comprising character of the harbor ; the approaches ; depth of water ; nature of anchorage ground : protection from prevailing winds ; rise and fall of tides ; currents, their direction and velocity ; dangers, whether hidden or visible. 3rd. Land capabilities, comprising — the extent of proposed site ; natural formation of the land ; water supply ; facilities for drajinage and sewerage ; facilities for the construction of wharves and piers ; the sanitary condition of the site and neighborhood. 4th. The resources of the surrounding country, its extent and character ; quantity of available land (whethor alienated or unalicnated) for pastoral or agricultural pursuits ; its timber for building purposes and fuel ; other building material, mineral products ; roads, and facilities of communication with proposed capital. sth. Capabilities of defence, from attack b/ land, and from attack by sea. Gfch. Natural disadvantages : whether capable of removal from the appliances of scionce ; whethor beyond control or removal. The Commissioners commenced their labors at Wellington, on the southern coast of the North Island. They collected all the information that could be laid before them, on the several heads of inquiry, and tested the information so obtained by personal examination, wherever such a course was practicable. Tho Commissioners then proceeded along the southern coast to Wanganui, and personally examined the harbor arid the surrounding country. The Commissioners then passed to the opposite shore of the strait, and directed their attention to Picton, in the Province of Marlborough, and minutely examined Q.ueen Charlotte Sound and the Tory Channel. They then proceeded iuland to Blenheim, and descending bj the Wairau River, made a personal inspection of Port Underwood, represented to be the natural harbor of this district. They also examined the pastoral districts lying to the south and east of the Wairau Valley. Leaviug Picton, tho Commissioners examined carefully the Peloru3 Souud, to the town of Havelock, in the same province, and from thence proceeded through the French Pass to Nelson. They made a personal inspection of Blind Bay, with its various harbor 3, including Croixelles on the east shore, and Massacre Bay and Astrolabe Eoadstead on the west, and visited portions of the .interior of the country. Having thus made themselves acquainted, as far as was practicable, with the character and capabilities of both shores of Cook's Straits, the Commissioners have arrived at the unanimous conclusion that Wellington, in Port Nicholson, is the site upon the shores of Cook's Straits which presents the greatest advantages for the administration of the Government of the Colony. The Commissioners cannot conclude the important mission which ha 3 been entrusted to them without recording their high sense of the valuable assistance afforded to them in pursuing their investigation by the authorities .of the various provinces, and also of the spirit of candor and impartiality which has been displayed by the gentlemen furnishing the information they required. They are desirous, also, of placing on record their acknowledgment of the courtesy and personal kindness received by them in every district which they visited. EBAifcis Murphy. Joseph Docker. Ronald C. Gunk. The'only other point of general interest is that the advisability of haying separate Governments for the two t Islands of New Zealand, is beginning again to be discussed. The movement has found friends in Otago s Canterbury,^ Nelson, Southland, and even in Auckland. ■■' ' ♦ ■■■»■ — -