The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1073, 14 December 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1868.

The opinion that it is necessary to the peace and progress of the colony for the North Island to be cdnstituted a Crown settlement is rapidly spreading. Meetings have been held in Auckland and other iTortbern settlements., at which resolutions were passed to petition the Imperial Government to suspend the constitution, and declare the North Island under military rule. There can be no dispute as to the fairness of the demand, and the proposal will no doubt be supported by a large majority of the Southern colonists. The Maori war is an Imperial, and not a colonial dispute. It was before responsible Government was granted, that the seeds of disaffection and rebellion were sown which have borne such bitter fruit, caused enormous loss of life, and a war expenditure that has necessitated an amount of taxation greater than any other British colony has ever been called upon to bear. The colonists, in seeking a responsible government, did so under the firm conviction that the Imperial Government would act liberally, and give the colony as prompt and effective assistance to crush out a rebellion, when necessary, as it had previously rendered to all other of its colonial possessions. It has not done this. It created a war, and has left the colonists to terminate it single handed. We have therefore a right to demand assistance in this our time of need, and it is not too much to ask the Imperial Government to take the responsibility of governing the North Island into its own hands, until such time as the insurrection its governmental interference and blundering has created, is finally crushed out. A petition (attached) embodies these views, and should receive the signature of every resident in this province. It may be argued that the colony voluntarily accepted the responsibility of governing the natives. It is true that the colonial legislature, sickened and disheartened by the interference of the horn* authorities, decided that it was better to adopt a self-reliant policy, than have to pay enormously for the presence of an Imperial army which was rendered next to useless owing to the condition — the divided responsibility — that was enforced. This may have been a mistake on the part of the* colony, but it was a noble resolve, and the energy displayed in carrying it out is creditable to the colonists. The telegraphic news published in this morning's paper is most encouraging. It shows that, unassisted by Britain, we can in fair warfare more than hold our own ; that when an emergency arises men with daring and statesmanlike minds are to be found, ready to grapple with a difficulty. The intelligence from Taranaki proves the energetic measures adopted by the Government are making a deep impression on the Maori mind, and warrants the conclusion that peace will be maintained in that district. Encouraging reports are also at hand from Auckland. The renowned warriors of the Waikato are evincing a disposition to live in peace, and leave the bloodthirsty Hau-haus to the retribution that must inevitably follow their diabolical deeds, and the success which has recently followed the attacks by the colonial forces can scarcely fail to convince the rebels on both the East and West Coast of the certain extermination that awaits them. The measures now being adopted by the Stapfoed Ministry are energetic and judicious. The reports which from time to time reach us of injudicious appointments of commanding officers should be accepted with great caution, and every support given by the people to the Government in the course it is now pursuing. While freely endorsing the sentiments expressed in the attached petition to the Throne, we would earnestly counselunited support being given to the vigorous policy that is now being satisfactorily developed. The following is the petition above alluded to, and which is for signature at the principal business places in the town : — THIS MEMORIAL OP THE TTNDEBSIGNED RESIDENTS IN SOUTHLAND NEW ZEALAND. Humbly Sbeweth:— " That some of your Majesty's subjects have been cruelly murdered in places where it was supposed that they were peaceably living under your Majesty's rule, and that it is no longer safe for any settlers to remain in the outlying districts of the Northern Island. " That though for many years there has been a Governor in the North Island as representative of the Imperial power, yet your subjects have been only living there through suffrance of the Maories, who have been really the Soverigns except in a few sea coast towns.

" That the result of eight years hostilities with the Maories has been that they are more skilled and quite as atrocious as j they were as original savages. " That New Zealand has been colonised by a peaceful class of Agricultural and Pastoral settlers who cannot by simply ( arming themselves cope with such an x enemy, in a country which is peculiarly c suited to savage warfare. t " That the local self- Government of the country which is a balance of parties for t the promotion of general interests and c the management of civil affairs, appears j not to be fitted for such an emergency. } " That the hitherto adopted plan of ] conducting the war with a slight show of j defence, in the hope that the Maories 3 may either naturally die out, or volun- ( tarily cease hostilities, is causing such a j heavy and useless expenditure, and loss , of confidence, as will be the ruin of the , country and destroy our hopes for our , children. I ] " That the peculiar interest felt in the j native race, by which too little distinc- ( tion has been made between friendly and ( hostile Maories caused such unsatisfac- , tory messures to be taken at the begin- j ning of the war, that up to the present ( time the native difficulty has been only increasing. . i " That many complications have arisen from the settlement of the North Island having been carried on amidst an unsubjugated native race, and from the | Imperial and Colonial authorities having both undertaken responsibilities in the war. " Under these circumstances your petitioners humbly pray that the present war may be considered an Imperial one, that the constitution may be for a while suspended in the North Island, and that some military ruler may be appointed who shall have full power to use all necessary measures for the complete subjugation of hostile Maories ; that the disgrace may be taken away, that we are at present under, from our countrymen having suffered such horrible cruelties."