THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 307, 28 September 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1860.

The sun-dial, which records ' bright hours' alone,' as the inscription on some Italian dial reminds us, was certainly never meant to register the greater hours of New Zealand life. Far nearer to the mark, as counting the moments .of true colonial action^ was that ingenious candle-clock of King Alfred, which measured only the lapse of the hours unattended with success, and consequent gloom. Yet that ought not to be. exactly the true measure of advance/of a people who have left a home on England's strand to seek in this hemisphere, the glorious opportunity.of founding a nation and secure the blessedness of an enlightened and just civilization.

It is at onee f the weakness and the peculiarity of the English character that many of the best qualities have a tendency to hybernate for long periods together in inaccessible dens of lethargic custom and habit, needing the cruellest lashing in order tp be brought out again in active vigor. And so it happens that those who believe strongly in the 'powers that;be,' perpetuate the chains which they do not feel; while those who believe weakly are glad to lean, like the poor cab horse, on the shafts of opinion into which they are so carefully harnessed, feeling that if they were not held up by strong assertion and plausible promise they might drop altogether under their burden. We call this a weakness^ because a more

constant and habitual activity of the great qualities so often quite latent in an English- | man's breast would have prevented half the evils which these same qualities when fairly roused are strung up so painfully to exterminate. Guards that are awakened only by imminent peril must fight hand to hand with a foe whose advance they might jonce: have checked. ~ . ' ;l,| U Now it is impossible not to feel,? as our' heart mourns over the present lamentable aspect of affairs at Taranaki, which constant blunders and adverse circumstances reveal, that,the whole business justly deserves the imputation of a want of ordinary sagacity, and common sense; and has changed the issue of a mere squabble for a piece of land to what we fear is fast approaching by its growing complications, a war of .the two races-at present dwelling on these islands. Thus far as we are able to learn the present direful dilemma of. both Governor and his responsible advisers is one in which they have placed themselves by their vacillating and inconsistent conduct respecting the aborigines whom they affect especially to protect, and whose interest, civilisation and benefit they are ostensibly seeking. We do not attribute any dishonorable conduct to either—we can only vindicate their honesty at the expense of their statesmanship and; foresight: and to this view every disclosure of J experimental legislation pauses us still to adhere. No doubt' meaning well in ' the adoption of a threatening and warlike attitude against a contumacious native chief— a member of the continually increasing atiti-land-selling league, we believe that the Government is not entirely free from the charge of a narrowness of political vision, produced by too great a conversance with j the exigencies of party warfare, and top little knowledge of the ramifications of the i)iiori national movement. ' ; ; : ~ ' i We cannot help thinking that the best course, politically as well as honestly, would have been to nave stated that such an impediment to the successful carrying out of their policy existed, that for the present it would be as Well for some interested agitators for spoliation and extermination of native subjects of the Queen quietly to wait and chew the cud of their disappointment, instead of involving themselves since in great apparent inconsistency of language and action, by putting on the matter the gloss of an absolute necessity for war, and exposing themselves to the attack of able adversaries. ■ If Government must rush" into deadly conflict with the native subjects, what was requisite was, simply firmness and decision. The slightest appearance of vacillation only rendered the rebellion more and more formidable.

The case is a simple one enough. The war policy ought either never to have been introduced, or, if introduced, it ought to have been carried on, so far as the ministerial power and military strength were sufficient for the purpose, with vigor and promptness. This was. not done at first, and we fear that ' the cloud not bigger than a man's hand has become a multitude.' Now, instead of glory and renown, they must be left to bear their own burden of public reprobation.

The circumstances of the present moment obviously explain the origin of the conflict. Would our space allow we might go more into particulars: we may do this ere long. The idea is and has been for the last few months, that our military establishment is thoroughly inefficient to cope with the predatory mode of warfare pursued by the natives. The ' great man-slaying profession,' as Carlyle called it—the only pursuit in which that wise writer could detect the trace of ancient virtue—has shared the fate of the other pretenders and shams which he so vigorously denounced. It seems to kill and be killed, but it is difficult to see what follows or why it should do either. And yet from one's own confidential breast it leaks out that, instead of being our protectors, to the military are owing in reality our difficulties, our mischances, and our present doubts of a safe and speedy termination of the war while there is a well supplied Commissariat Chest. : .........

The now steamer Rapid, it will be seen by advertisement, ?is for sale' at a moderate price. As the Tasmanian Maid is likely tb be retained in her present service for.a length of time, this seems to be a good opportunity of supplying the hiatus caused, by the appropriation of that vessel from commercial to martial purposes. We: do not pretend to be sufficiently cm fait in these matters to speak of the capabilities or peculiar qualifications of the Rapid. While mentioning this subject it is matter of congratulation that the smart little cutterf Wave is laid on for. the Pelorus, between' which place and Nelson a constant and regular communication is intended to be kept up, should sufficient inducement offer. This is a matter, we think, where asmall sum of money from the Provincial Governments might be well applied; as indeed in all cases where small craft undertake to supply the wants of the inhabitants in,out-of-the-way places. •■.."■. ■;;

Caution to Boys.—ln the Magistrate's Court, on Wednesday, a charge was preferred against a lad: of twelve years, for wilfully damaging tyro mimosa trees, the property of W. L. Wrey, Esq^, who on this occasion proceeded against the offender in consequence of the frequency of the loss he sustained by similar means. The Resident Magistrate inflicted a fine of ten shillings and costs (9s. (3d.), promising lour teen, days' incarceration if riot paid, and very properly commented on the wantonness, displayed, and the salutary, effect that a good whipping would probably produce upon the mischievous juvenile. We have frequently had to remark upon the audacity with which gardens are invaded, palings broken, and property damaged o^v pillaged by boys whose ideas of menrii and teum appear to be so* obscured, or whose parents are-. 80: careless of insisting upon a better observance of it, that jit would be well if the castigation process were really put into practice, or the fines inflicted oftener upon the heads of , s families who appear indifferent to the bad influence that unchecked petty thieving may have upon the after career, of thfeir children. ;. ""■',