CHECKS TO PROGRESS.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 313, 19 October 1860, Page 3

CHECKS TO PROGRESS.

We regret to find that Emigration to New Zealand is perceptibly falling off, id consequence of the fear inspired by the Taranaki news. While this was only to be expected, it is yet much to be regretted, and shows us that the long continuance of the war will materially check the rate of progress which, for the last five years, New Zealand has been so rapidly making. The English Emigration press endeavor to put as good a face on the war a3 possible, and though the opinions put forth by them, sometimes excites a smile in us who can read them by the events of the past few months ; yet we much doubt whether the views entertained by some of the New Zealand press at the commencement of the war, and especially after the battle of Waireka, relative to the speedy termination of the war, were not almost as sanguine as any put forth by the newspapers ia England—almost as sanguine as the following attempt made by the (London) New Zealand Examiner to support its assertion that " all well informed persons must know that long-before a person leaving England now (10th July) can find himself landed in New Zealand, the rebellion will necessarily be at an end, and the prosperity of Auckland greater than before." " It is evident, from the most recent reports, that the war in Taranaki cannot be of long duration. In the first place, though the natives were all to combine against the British Government and the British people, what is it in their power to achieve ? Absolutely nothing. But it is only a portion of the natives that is waging war against.the omnipotence of Britain. Even if the whole of the natives were to combine, they would be scattered like chaff before the wind. It is impossible intelligibly and vividly to chronicle what, after all, is a species of bush-fighting. The strength "of the natives is not in their valor, nor in their military skill, but in their acquaintance with the peculiarities of the country. When defeated, as they must again and again be defeated, they retreat from fastness to fastness, from forest to forest. But there must at last be a point from which they can no longer retreat, and when they must either submit or be annihilated. As it is, the newspapers chronicle nothing but the disasters of the natives. Their pahs have been stormed, and the Maoris have been vanquished in open fight. There has been a telegram to the effect that the insurrection was extending; but this news we must disregard as sinning against the most convincing probabilities." The stoppage of emigration from home is not the only drawback. The exodus of colonists will be a far greater one. All the Northern Provinces have felt this more or less. Very few have left Wellington; but still we have lost some of our population—principally bone and sinew. The exodus from Auckland appears to be very great, owing probably to the tears entertained by the forty acre immigrants of not being able to live peaceably in the country; and none of us can be surprised at new arrivals entertaining such fears. So great is the number of passengers for Australia that the Prince Alfred had returned to Auckland instead of the Lord Worsley, because of her large accommodation for passengers. What is Auckland's position may be ours—may be that of all the Northern Provinces. To prevent this loss of population with all the consequent ill effects on trade and property should be our great aim. Fortunately the ill effects of the present war hitherto experienced by Wellington, have been only of a negative character, and if we can but maintain our confidence (in this Province being able to tide over the native difficulty) until our barracks are re-occupied, we may reasonably hope that the increased confidence the troops will inspire, and the money the will circulate, will give us heart to believe that we have seen the worst of the present crisis. If, however, want of success is the continued result of they operations at Taranaki, then its disastrous effects will permeate the length and breadth of the Colony, in a manner none of us can attempt to foresee.— Wellington Independent. TijiAßu.—The Canterbury Standard gives anothe'" melancholy case of drowning in the Opihi River ac Arowenui.—On Monday, the 24th Sept, an iiiques* was held by Dr. Rayner, coroner of the district of Ti" maru, upon the body of James Day, bushraan, who was unfortunately drowned in the above river, on Saturday evening last. It appeared upon the evidence that the unfortunate man had been drinking in the bush, and came over the river to the Arowenui Hotel, kept by Mr Young, for more liquor, which was refused him. A dray was about crossing the river, and the deceased bein^ placed upon it, shortly after jumped off, ayjain making for Young's. A man of the name ■of Mitchell was standing upon the bank of the river, and saw deceased take two strides in, when he heard hii.n exchim "Oh ! my God!" and was washed off his feet. The man Mitchell ran to a house close to the river, and gave an alarm. Three men then ran to the Doctor's Ford, lower down and hearing a coo-ec, thought it was the man cooing, who had got out, and went home. The next morning (Sunday), a Mr. Myers was crosi-iriuj at the Doctor's Ford, and found what he thought was a dead sheep, but which turned out to bs the body of the deceased, lying in about three feet of water. The inquiry excited some interest in the locality. A verdict of " Accidental Death" was returned by the jury. The deceased was for years in the emp'.oy of Win. IJorabrook, Esq., as shepherd. Mr. i Hombrook was oa the jury, and was much, affected.