FREDRICK A. WELD ON NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1186, 2 July 1869, Page 3

FREDRICK A. WELD ON NEW ZEALAND.

"We extract the following from an interesting pamphlet, just published ia .London, by F. A. Weld, late Prime Minister of New Zealand, entitled " notes on New Zealand Affairs " :— " I am often asked questions as to the relative bravery of the New Zealandera and our own countrymen. The New Zealander, 1 need not say, is a finished skirmisher, besides being a good tactician, with a keen eye to country, and skilled in throwing Up such defensive works as best suit half-savage war-fare. He ia a brave man, a very brave man, but his is not the determined, steady bravery under difficulties and discouragement of our own countrymen. Amongst the whalers, boats manned by natives were never considered to be so well handled in danger as those manned by Europeans, though they were perfect boatmen and swimmers. No doubt the frenzy of the war dance, or the rush of a body of naked and excited savages, has its effect upon men unaccustomed to such sights. I have heard it gravely asserted that a thousand diciplined Maoris would meet and scatter a thousand Europeans in the open with the bayonet. Ido not believe it for an instant. "Were it possible once it would never be possible again. The rush of the Highland clans in 1745, a new and unaccustomed and terrible onset, cowed the brave hearts of men who had fought at Fontenay. It did not last ; but the Maoris are not what the Highlanders were, at least not in my estimation. Many of the old settlers who lived amongst them in the early times looked with something like contempt at a savage, working himself up into a frenzy and brandishing his tomahawk, ' bouncing,' as they call ik" # # * «Ifl am asked whether, in my opinion, the present outbreak would have occured had there been, no confiscation, I reply, undoubtedly it would. The first prophet arose before confiscation, all the greatest wars ia New Zealand oc currd before confiscation, and there is no reason to suppose that the present fanatical outbreak would have arrived at the dignity of a ' war' at all, had the Government been prepared for it. The fanatics, many of whom have lost no lands, are not fighting for the possession of any particular land ; they are fighting because their oracles tell them to drive the Europeans and peacefull natives into the sea." ********* "L do not for a moment doubt the ultimate prosperity of New Zealand. She has every possible gift of nature, and men who will, I trust, prove themselves not unworthy of their race. I once (left her shores, and as I looked back on them over a sunny sea, my eye dwelt lingering - ly on peaks and glaciers gleaming in the cloudless sky, and I hailed the omen of a prosperous voyage. Last time I staggered on deck for parting look, and, over the tumbling waves, saw afar off the last blue promontory, low down, half hid in mist and storm ; but the latter voyage was better than the first. From darkness comes oft-times light, and out of danger peace and security — so may it be with New Zealand." * * *"I cannob help feeling that England without her Colonies would be a ' Niobe of Nations ;' • ships, colonies, and commerce' have done much to make her what she is — and I should be sorry to see the day, when it could be no no longer said that the sun did not set upon her dominions. I believe too that that day would add greatly to the misery of her overcrowded population. I cannot but think that if some of our English public men and writers felt this more strongly, the bond that unites the Colonies to Great Britain would be infinitely strengthened. The Colonies are very sensitive to English

public opinion, but that sensitiveness is diminished and dies out when English opinion is hasty and formed upon insufficient grounds. A part of the public press is fond, I think unreasonably fond, of taunting colonists with supposed deficiencies, instead" of criticising in a friendly spirit. How many articles have we seen upon the incapacity of Australian politicians, and yet of the two or three Australian statesmen who have turned their attention to English politics, one is at pregeut Chancellor of the Exchequer, and another hold's the high offica of Eirst Lorcf of the Adknirality — and so in regard to JS T ew Zealand affairs." * * "I think a great national scheme of emigration is looming in the future, arid if so will it not be advisable — nay, necessary' — to cultivate the sympathies, and to' secure the cordial co-operation of the leaders of colonial policy ?"— ' European Mail.'