The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 267, 25 May 1866, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, MAY 25, 1866.

The coming session of the G-eneral Assembly will bean event in the history of New Zealand. At no previous period has the same necessity for calm deliberation and statesmanlike legislation arisen. It is a crisis pregnant of good or evil in proportion to the wisdom or incapacity displayed ; — every i 3 deeply interested, and should study closely the deliberation of our supreme legislators. The antagonistic position assumed by the Imperial Government, is of a character that forbids further delay in determining the actual relationship which is to exist between the colony and the Home Country. The loan question will require to be thoroughly sifted and settled ; a more systematic and comprehensive plan than lias yet been shadowed forth, initiated in order to redeem the credit and obtain the required capital to insure the progress of the colony ; — and the conditions upon which the partnership of the- nine sections of the JSTew Zealand colony are in the fnture to be based. These "although the most, important, are not the only questions that will demand consideration. The re-adjust-ment of the tariff, the proposed income tax, stamp duties, newspaper postage, and other matters of like importance will require to be debated. In this article it is not our intention to more than casually glance at the native question, believing that the settlement of the above-men-tioned subjects, if accomplished, will decide it — that if a new and equitable partnership can be obtained either by Separation or re-construction that future Native Wars, should there be any, will not financially affect the provinces of the Middle Island. The recent despatches of the Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. Cardwell) display a feeling of Imperial hostility to tbe colony as bitter as it is unmerited. All further military aid -is positively refused, a gigantic bill for past military assistance has been built up, and immediate payment demanded, in language which will bear no wilder constructiou thau that the Down-insj-street Magnates with, adamant determination have resolved to give the colony no quarter: — with :i Shy-lock-like tenacity the payment is forced, the pound of ilesh, and no thing but the pound of flesh, will satisfy the voracious maw of our boasted parental promoters of colonisation. The amount claimed is far iv excess of what is legitimately due, and should be resisted. « The Nelson Colonist, 11th May, -> in an article upon this question, says -.—The Colonial Office in l)owning-street, seems, according to Mr. Cardwell's published despatches, determined to deal scant justice to New Zealand. It rakes up old claims, such as some £70,000 for the cost of the New Zealand Fencibles in 1847 to 1849; throws doubt on what was an admitted error in the Home G-overninent' s accounts of £86,000 against the colony ; demands £30,000 on account of some road-making " in 1865, which produced no road at all ; and claims many other large sums ; and altogether acts the part of a hard creditor, refusing to accept our debentures in payment of debt, and holding them merely as collateral security, although a stroke of the pen could make them marketable at a small rate of interest, losing nothing to the Home Grovernment, and saving much to the already heavily taxed colonists of i\ r ew Zealand." This will in all probability be the one of the first 'iebates of the session, and from it probably will arise the great question of the irnancial condition of the colony ; and more or less determine the basis of the proposal for the re-construction of the Grovernment of the colony. It is the question upon which every member of the Greneral Asseaibly should most desire .to be well informed. The Staffokd Ministry appear to be carefully preparing for the work before them. What their tactics will be has not bsen divulged. That the denial of the Imperial debt in pare will be proposed there can be but little question, and the colony called upon to defend itself; that extra taxation will be shown to be a necessity, and some scheme propounded not in favor of % the Southern Provinces. The question of Separation may possibly be debated, but there does not appear a shadow of a chance of it being entertained. If we can read aright the signs of the times, an attempt will be made by the large Provinces to absorb the smaller ones. The Executive has been re-con-structed with a care that bodes danger. All the large Provinces are represented in the present Ministry, and ail the small ones — iHawke's Bay excepted — have been neglected. As now constituted, it stands thus •. — Nelsori, Mr Stafford ; Wellington, Mr Johnson; Auckland, Colone{ Hattltain ; Canterbury, Mr Jollie ; Otago, Mr Pateeson; and Napier, Colonel E.TJSSELL. ' This looks a strong Ministry, but it isa doubtful one. It is AntiSeparation, and if the very cautious shadowing forth of the future policy can be read aright, it is one of annexation — an absorption of all the Provinces instituted under the new Provinces Act by those from which they have separated, It may be desirable that Borne of the smaller Provinces should, be re-united to the parent Btem, but not unless such can be dono by mutual consent and upon fair

tion should be, if attempted, determinedly resisted. The people of Southland' more than any other, requ're to be watchful and active ; they should study the proceedings of the Assembly and be in a state of preparedness to act in unison, should they find their interests in danger. The Greneral Government has already the entire Province in pledge ; it has .no better feeling towards Southland and is not of a more amiable temperament than that which usually characterises " foster parents." It knows the incompetancy of its early administration, and acknowledge the necessity for energy aud care for the future. The strong party feeling the bitter recriminations which is now so painfully conspicuous on the part of certain sections of the community may prove fatal to the future of the Province —it may lead to its being speedily handed over to Otago unconditionally, as a quarrelsome community, unable to take care of itself. Southland united might exercise a power for good, — divided, all that is done will tend to its speedy dissolution. The errors of the past are not irredeemable. The large sales of land which have recently taken place are proof positive that if the people are true to themselves — if instead of displaying the well known propensities of the Kilkenny cats, they would work together for the advancement of the province, Southland would in a brief period overcome her difficulties and assume a position of power and prosperity. The fact that since the Southland Land Act came into operation nearly 200,000 acres have been taken uv or applied for at £l per acre is sufficient evidence that the Province must progress if all classes work in unison to promote its advancement. Let the people be a little more self-reliant, more demonstrative in their attachment to the principles of local self-government, and not cherish a cain-like spirit of jealousy and hatred, and prosperity is certain — Southland united will be strong ; Southland divided will be weak and despised.