THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1860.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 317, 2 November 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1860.

Mr. Fenton then observes—* I take it for granted that the Government have no intention (without entering into the legal question of right) to abrogate by any express act the privileges already conceded to the Maoris,' &c.; and recommends that they should be allowed to administer among their own tribes, and frame by-laws to suit their peculiar customs.

'Objections,' he says, 'will be raised to this proposition, as recognising an imperium in imperio. This objection will be made with the loudest voice by that class of politicians who, while asserting the existence and supremacy of the English law and protesting against any action being taken on the 71 st clause of the Constitution Act, are ever ready to display the motto on the shield, Non-interference. Now, either law exists and operates, or there is (virtually) no law at all. Law is described by Blackstone as the "rule of action," and if it does not rule human action, it is no law at all. It is a mere myth, a spirit whose existence is believed in but cannot be felt. It is useless to pretend a belief in the reception of law by the Maoris. There exists a void, and this void the persons principally interested are anxious to fill. The English power having failed to induce the adoption of the law in a direct manner through the means of the English magistrates, is now offered the opportunity of thoroughly instituting all the ordinary laws as far as they, can be made applicable by the simple and constitutional plan of initiating them through the intervention of the Maoris themselves, the direction of which will remain with the Government.'

We wish we could find space to extract more largely than we can do from the very able and philosophical line of argument by which the writer expounds his views. We pass on to the 12th page, wherein he says —'Every day's observation and every hour's reflection confirms me more strongly inthe belief that we are entering on a new era, whether for weal or for woe remains yet to be revealed. The race of the old chiefs is passing away, having already outlived their power. The generation which succeeds and is fast growing into manhood .will have more intelligence and less moderation. The time has gone by when many .words and few pensions will suffice to postr. pone the necessity of resolutely facing the question. Professions lose their power when practice is long absent. The policy of postponement of remedies is a policy of accumulation of evils. The purchasing of tranquillity is the encouragement of turbulence. Ido not agree with ;the doctrine expressed by many men of intelligence and experience that a collision or races must eventually hapi pen; I can see nothing in.the Anglo-Saxon character [?] or in the constitution of the Maori, kind which should render such a result inevitable. No one surely will deny that duty as well as interest requires us to make every effort to avoid even the chance of a catastrophe so much to be deplored. And what have we hitherto done [towards so desirable an object] except the establiah-

ment of a few mills, hospitals, and schools ? Reflection brings to my mind no practical thing, done; no benefit supplied; no recognised, principles established. AH the rest have been professions which produce nothing! Condolences of sympathy which remedy nothing! And lor the schools the principal obligations are due to the missionary clergy!' Well may we exclaim as regards the foregoing, • 'Tis true, and pity 'tis 'tis true.' 1 The- time will come when these missionaries— the only efficient state police now existing in the country, and which has often and often been the only reliance of the Government in the time of trouble—may be unable longer to afford its assistance; and we quietly await that time without an effort to supply the vacancy. When we see the great things these men achieved, and the influence they have acquired without gifts of money, &c, we must admit that some secret existed in their system which would be valuable for Government when they are no more. • The secret is simpta They worked upon Maori with Maori (proving the truth of the adage, Similia similibus mrantur), choosing talent before birth, a new energy rather than art amcient name. • What follows is a painful illustration how intelligence and independence of mind are cramped and houghed by the1 fear of offending official indolence, imbecility, and, ignorance. He says—l am now (with an urgency that, may occasionally appear unfit for an official paper, but with a respect, that I feel constantly restraining my words and iveahening my expressions) "asking the Government to receive this secret,, to adopt this as its motto, and. to place it upon the (Government) shield instead of the word (Noninterference) which has been illustrated by no career of success, exalted by no associations of dignity. I have one more remark to make with reference to the policy of laissez-faire; and I have reserved it to the last because I wished it to be the longest remembered. If we are told that the ideas which now agitate the Maoris, some of which may appear to contain an element of evil threatening danger, will gradually fade from their minds - without producing any result, is it not our duty before consenting to sucli an evasion of our responsibilities, such aforgetfulness of our promises, such an abdication of our functions to inquire whether these ideas cannot be directed to good? And he winds up his masterpiece of eloquent appeal to the honor and philanthropic spirit which ought to actuate any man or body of men placed in authority over their fellow-creatures by saying— • 1 must again record my apology for frequent abandonment of the ordinary grave language [rather say the too often fulsome exaltation of the better judgment of those they are addressing, with the mental reservation of God forgive me for lying] of official decorum. Deep interest in the subject which ordinarily clothes ideas in a more earnest style, and a necessity of frequent resort to argument, to adapt which to official language my talents [rather, let us add, your integrity of purpose will not bend to] do not suffice, must plead mv excuse. ♦(Signed) F. D. Fenton/ For some remarks on this truthfully outspoken and almost prophetic paper, vide the dashing article headed «Latest from Auckland, in our third page.

& Lecture on Sanitary Laws advertised to take place this evening at the Freemasons ' Hall, by W. T. Doyne, Esquire, deserves the especial attention of the public of the city of Nelson; the more so, as the subject of the lecture will be •considered in relation to* town communities.' Every opportunity should be seized for the promulgation of in connection with the necessity for the utmost vigilance and attention to such considerations.

Notwithstanding it is allowed on all hands that the sternest necessity exists for a complete system of drainage in all large or gmall communities, where the population is densely packed, the deficiency is as notorious in numberless cases as the tardiness ro apply remedies is certain. We have time after time referred to this subject with respect to Nelson. The continued and serious visitation of an epidemic which has been universal in its attacks, and the cases of fever which have probably ex-r ceeded in number those of all former years, may very possibly be attributed to the neglect of enforcing goodsanitary regulations in this city. We once more earnestly commend the subject to the attention of the public. ..

Caution.—Wooden Houses.—-The Olago Witness publishes the following case and dautionary remarks':—" An instance of tbe want of caution in persons building wooden houses, without seeing that the wood-work is kept sufficiently clear of the chimneys and fire-places, occurred iv Dunedin on Thursday last, which had nearly caused the destruction of the premises lately erected by Mr. Beverley,? and those •of his neighbor, Mr. Dick; Early on'the morning in question, the inmates of both houses were alarmed by the issue of dense smoke from the partition between the respective premises. It was soon discovered that, the weatherboards which had been incautiously left at the back of the chimney of, Mr. Beverly's house were on fire. The chimney being built, entirely within the wooden case of the house, the bricks of which it was composed were in close contact with weatherboards outside. The fire was shortly extinguished, but upon examining the premises after the accident, it was evident that, had not the lower parts of Mr. Dick's premises, which was in contact with the fire, been built of stone, a conflagration, resulting in the destruction of both houses, if not more, must have beea inevitable.

" "New Coaster.—The inhabitants of.the coast |me; of the Sound will be. glad to find that another opportunity of communicating with Nelson will be offered by the placing of the new ketch, built by Mr. Jacobsen, and oAeA the Jane, upon this line. Her first trip is advertised to take place on Saturday next, when she will proceed to Havelock and Picton.