THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1860.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 327, 7 December 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1860.

The meeting which took place on Wednesr day evening at the Freemasons' Hall, by desire of some town electors, to obtain from the representatives of the province an account of their stewardship, was, at the commencement of theme eting, largely attended; but upon ascertaining that no novelties were to be obtained, the audience gradually lessened ; so that at the putting of the resolution at the close of the proceedings, the number of persons had dwindled down to a few scores. The nature and substance of the speeches have been so often repeated and so generally anticipated, that to give the details would be a work of supererogation ; for, as the absent member (Mr. Kelling) in his note to the chairman explaining his absence,' said, his presence would not elicit anything more explanatory than that given some days before at Richmond; and this may be said of the chief of the proceedings on Wednesday night. The Maori war question appeared to be the topic of general reference, and the unvarying turning point. The chair was occupied by D. Sinclair, Esq.; and the Members having been called to respond to the object of the meetingMr. Domett opened the proceedings by a reference to the Acts lately passed being likely to have a beneficial influence upon the settlement. Those acts, and the proceedings in connection with them, having been fully descanted upon, any reiteration would be useless.

Dr. Monro followed, having furnished himself with largely prepared notes, and adverted to the position of our members at the General Assembly being one .that obliged them to support the Government in order to counterbalance the ultra-oppo-sition of the Wellington members; besides, the Government since 1856 had been disposed to render every consideration to the claims and interests of this province. He approved of that Provincialism which gave to the province the legitimate expenditure of its own resources, and adverted to the present Government as having been favorable to measures which caused the saving to us of many thousands of pounds. The measure for carrying out the proposition of erecting in this province a Lunatic Asylum for the whole Colony would have probably resulted, had it not been over-ruled by the jealousy of Wellington members, who feared lest it should cause too much centralisation in favor of Nelson. The Insolvent Debtors' Act was referred to; but the chief portion of the speech took the usual channel of the Maori War, and there got lost in the windings and reiteration oi its tedious details.

An elector asked Dr. Monro whether the Stafford Ministry had not withdrawn the restrictions on the sale of fire-arms to the natives ? which was answered by Mr. Domett, to the effect that this was admitted to have been one of the chief faults of the Ministry.

Another elector asked whether it was hot chiefly owing to the advocacy of the Wellington members that the Compensation

i3ill was passed, and whether it was not owing to Dr. Monro that the country was again saddled with an expensive commission to investigate.the claims? Dr. Monro, partly evaded the question, as to

expense, and stated that the Compensation Bill was passed without any opposition, and advocated; the appointment of a properly constituted commission for that purpose (?) Another question with respect to the Solicitor-Greneralship was askedj but was stopped by the veto of the Chairman.

Mr. Curtis followed with brief comments upon financial statements. The next speech was Mr. Eban's, which also treated upon the war policy, and as it was the only thing possessing the least semblance of originality, we subjoin some portions f—

Mr. Eban said, he hoped to be excused'for making a few remarks relative to what had been ad danced by tb.3 representatives, particularly by Dp. Monro. That honorable gentleman had especially defended the present Government, and sought to justify himself and colleagues in voting in its support. He (Mr. Eban) considered that in the present emergency they had done quite right by rendering such aid, so far. deserving the approbation of the province. ,- lie also agreed with honorable gentlemen when they justified the present war, or at least the justice and propriety of employing military force in putting down native rebellion. Whatever might be said on the other side he would say that the only way now left us to win Maori respect and duty was to administer to Kingi and his race a wholesome thrashing. Such was the only remaining argument and prompt corrective of the fearful evils which.threatened the colony. Its fairness and wisdom could not .but be appreciated by the natives thempely.e^ Whatever mistaken expediency or benevolence might assert to the contrary, since force alone was the prime aboriginal title to everything in dispute, although Government had acted under the sanction of claims secured by equitable arrangements, arrangements which would be well understood and properly acknowledged after a good chastisement. But when Dr. Monro talked about a war policy, he (Mr. Eban) thought such an expression was without point or propriety. He would ask, was that: to be dignified as policy, which was utterly void of either sense or prudence ? Was that policy which, after the Wairau Massacre, and similar warnings, during 'some twenty years, leaves all our settlements entirely exposed, or nearly so, quite unprepared, destitute of amis, ammunition, and the usual defences? After all former neglects, was that to be styled policy on the part of the existing administration which had really anticipated none of the serious events of which every forewarning had been notoriously given forth ? Did that deserve the name of policy which suddenly drove hundreds of the helpless from their homes to shelter amongst us, and precipitated the colony in an expensive conflict, without giving a useless militia any arras better than flax-sticks ? Had we been blest with an administrative war policy of the right kind we should not now have had to go a begging for guns and other weapons, when the Maoris, by official folly, had,all obtained every equipment necessary for them; but we should on the contrary have been duly trained, and: have been able to send hundreds of balls through the bull's eye from hundreds of well-directed rifles. Infatuation or buagling fooling it might be, but it was rather too much to trumpet such torn-foolishness as the policy of statesmanship. Meanwhile we must all do our best to fight put; o,f the difficulty occasioned by sheer administrative unfitness and incapacity. "War policy" indeed; he (Mr. Eban) would inquire whether there were not a safer war policy-—' that of peaceful regulations and adequate provisions for the legitimate control and government of the Maori people ? It is easy enough to censure any one for raising his voice to represent native claims: but are not the fifty thousand natives our fellowsubjects ? We affirm our right to govern them ; but after Borne thirty years of Protestant and Catholic missionising, and probably the voluntary expenditure of half-a-raillion sterling to convert and civilise a brave and noble, but rapidly wasting population, we have done next to nothing in the way of creating and establishing amongst the Maoris those institutions which are our boast, and justly so. We claim preemptive right over their lands, but are they fairly sold to us, as they might easily be, at regular auction ? Do we give, rights and privileges as bonuses for the acquirement of education, character, wealth, and visible improvements? Have we by state provisions done anything of real importance in the mode of inducing natives to abandon their old customs, to settle amongst us, to affiliate with us, or to enjoy our common advantages ? Some movement in this line might at last be effected, with a clumsy grace/; but as yet what has your policy achieved ? Certainly it has paraded our arts, our skill, the benefits of our free institutions before their inquiring eyes; it has made them see our blessings, but- it has made them feel that they are daily mocked with the want of every good civil equality like ours. We fire the souls of a bold and haughty people by keeping from them, or the best of their tribes, the very rights of which we are all so proud. We have our equal laws, our juries, our electors, our representatives, our magistrates, judges, and so forth, but with all our paltry gifts of blankets and silly bribes," what have we given them besides worthy of either them or ourselves ? Nothing better than a civil or national mockery. Well may honorable lepresentatives announce a sounding war policy, for unfortunately the Government has not had the sagacity or spirit to attempt the mightier policy of an enlightened peace. Therefore it is,he (Mr. Eban) would venture to say, that, however well our members had stood by the Government in the crisis, they had not gone far enough; they had not rebuked and even lashed the general administration for omitting to execute any promptly healing measures to end present grievances: whatever may be contemplated, nothing satisfactory is done. The Government have not been equal to the occasion, notwithstanding all the pretty things stated to screen its feeble officials. Their war policy was destitute of all generalship, a sorry thing which the Maoris,deservedly laughed to scorn. •

We are greatly mistaken if'these views do not embody the chief features in the whole case of what is required for the Maori as well as for the European population. If the Government are meditating works in conformity with those suggestions, as'■■; Mr.. Domett in reply to Mr. Eban intimated, a speedy and wiße--execution-''w6ii}d^a.'mp|pe for settling these unhappy disturbances than all the collections of troops and munitions of war could possibly effect, :-. : ..-..'. Mr. C. Elliott (seconded by/Mir. John Hume), after some brief remarks, proposed a resolution thanking the members for their attendance, and the lucid explanations that they had afforded; this being ; decjared carried, a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. . .

Taranakj Relief Fund.—The officers, noncommissioned officers, and men (mounted and foot) of the police force in the Geelong district have contributed the sum of £34 17s. towards the fund for the relier of the sufferers by the Maori rebellion in New Zealand.— Geelong Advertiser.

Nelson Market.—We have to notice an increased briskness in this department of trade. Saturday last witnessed an improved attendance, increased stock, and the addition of a butcher's shop, the want of which we noticed previously. There was a good supply of turkeys, geese, fowls, ducks, &c; likewise a good display of fish and Tegetables;.for the whole of which there was a brisk demand. We noticed a dish of the finest strawberries we have seen this season.

Building Society.—This Society held its usual monthly meeting on Monday last, when the sum of£lsowastenderedfor,atapremiumof£B Os.(?d. We hear that shares are being quickly taken up in the second society now in course of formation.