THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1861.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 418, 25 October 1861, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1861.

The comparative strength of the navies of England and France has excited warm discussions in the liouse of Commons. Lord Palmerston declared that the Government kr^aw, iipsitivehrJiJl-11—^Aa«cG-ha.d _six jrpn. ships afloat and two more begun, besides eleven floating batteries, of which two or three were powerful sea- going ships, and it was necessary that England should make equal preparations. Mi-. Lindsay and other members spoke on the occasion, and Mr. Disraeli protested against the noble lord (Palmerston) taking every opportunity to rise and declare tha!; it was on account of an emergency that great efforts were to be made to preserve our naval superiority. Mr Lindsay's motion for a vote of £250,000 as an instalment of the £2,500,000 for the building of new iron ships was then carried.

In the House ol Lords, on July 26th, Lord Lyveden asked the Secretary for tfae Colonies some questions relating to New Zealand.

Lord Lyveden asked what instructions had been given to Sir George Grey respecting the settlement ofthe tribal rights of the natives and the payment of the expenses of the war by the colony of New Zealand. The noble duke had recalled the governor, while he very wisely declined to adopt the extreme measure of suspending the constitution, which a noble earl had recommended. Sir George Grey would not return to the colony under the same favorable circumstances as when he quitted it, for he left it in a period of prosperity, and would return to it at a time of convulsion and misfortune. All the .convulsions in. New Zealand had turned upon the question of tribal rights, and he did not think it was as difficult as was imagined for the noble duke to define the tribal and individual rights of the natives, which;should be respected iii the sale and purchase of laTnds; but whether ..the noble duke couhldo so or not, it would be far better to acknowledge altogether the tribal rights ofytjije natives than to have these perpetual convulsions upon a question of so difficult and.delicate a nature. The other and more Important question was the defence of the colonies. It was important to know whether, responsible government being the rule, the mother country was to pay for the defence of ihe colonies. Id; Australia the Anglo-Saxon race 'had swept away the native tribes; but iri"New Zealand the natives were active and ambitious, and quite capable of offering strong resistance to'whatthey conceived to be injustice. .The settlers who went out were men who looked to acquire land. Tlio only property of the natives was land, and their pride iv its possession led to collisions with the settlevs. .As long asthe mother country paid there ,w6uid-be no'peace. According to the report of tlie Colonial Military Expense- Committee,' the Cost of New Zealand was J104,862. Next year-the-cost would be double, and it would be treble and quadruple :unless the mother country came to the1 resolution that the colonists should defend themselves. The line beyond which no assistance would be given must be laid-down, and it was only owing to the unwillingness of the ministry to face the difficulty that it had not been laid down before. He hoped the noble duke would state in reply whether any rule had been laid down as to the tribal 'lights, and whether Sir George Grey had been instructed that beyond a certain amount the home government would not be responsible for the cost of '.suppressing internal commotions in the colony. After eulogising Sir George Gtey^ Lord Lyveden concluded by expressing his belief that unless such instructions.had been given they would be hearing constantly of commotions in a colony which should of all others be happy, healthy, and prosperous,. ■■■ The tJuke of Newcastle did not believe that the consequences anticipated by the noble lord would 'etisue either to the native or European population. His noble friend wished to know what instructions were given to Sir George Grey in reference to the tribal rights ofthe nalives, and thought it easy for a secretary of state sitting in Downiug-street to lay down .distinct .rules as to those rights, so as to guide the governor in the exercise of his duties. When he saw eminent legal men in the colony, like Sir W. Martin and Chief Justice Arney, differing in' toto upon that question, he felt that he should be

acting most unwisely if he endeavored to settle difficult questions of law in Eugland. Those matters must be left to the judgment of men upon the spot, and all that the colonial secretary could do was-to select the best instruments in his power for the purpose. The whole question of tribal rights was most delicate, intricate, and difficult, and it should be recollected that Sir George Grey expressed an opinion, expressed by others before him, that it was most desirable some tribunal should be constituted on the spot which should decide upon them. The opposition to such a tribunal arose from the natives. He would rather not state the particulars of the instructions, as they might reach New Zealand before the governor, which would obviously be placing him in a very unfair position. He had given general though not specificjinstructions. He had expressed opinions, but subject entirely to Sir George Grey's discretion in the application of them. In appointing a man like Sir George Grey it was not fair to him to hamper him with definite instructions, seeing that the circumstances under which they were given might have changed entirely before the time came to put them into action. He had left a larger discretion to him than to any other governor under different circumstances. As to the expenses of the war, he had come to an arrangement with the legislature previous, to its breaking out that the colony should pay £5 per head for every soldier, and also pay the expenses of the militia and volunteer force. They had also borrowed money from the commissariat chest without any arrangement for repayment, and he had told the governor that all payment for the local forces must be defrayed By the colony itself, and if money were advanced for the war it must be under guarantee that it would be repaid, which had been agreed to. The noble duke pointed out the difficulty of laying down definite rules for all colonies with full consideration of the local circumstances.

The new Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill has at last been passed, the Commons having agreed to. the amendments introduced by the lords.

On August 6th, the Commons were summoned to the bar of the House of Lords to hear the Royal speech, proroguing Parliament. The speech was read by the Lord Chancellor :—

My Lords and Gentlemen— We are commanded by her Majesty to release you from further attendance in parliament, and at the same time to convey to you her Majesty's acknowledgments for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the performance of your duties during the session of parliament now brought to a close.

Her Majesty commands us to inform you that her relations with foreign powers are friendly and satisfactory, and her Majesty trusts that there is no danger of any disturbance or the peace of Europe. , Tlie progress of events in Italy has led to the union of the greater part of that peninsula in one monarchy under King Victor Emmanuel. Her Majesty has throughout abstained from any active interference in the transactions which have led to this result, and her earnest wish as to these affairs is that they may be settled in the manner best suited to the welfare and happiness of the Italian people.

Tlie dissensions which arose some months ago in the United States of North America have, unfortunately assumed the character of open war. Her Majesty, deeply lamenting the calamitous result, has determined, in common with the other powers of Europe, to preserve a strict neutrality between the contending parties.

Her Majesty commands us to inform you that the measures adopted for the restoration of order and tranquillity in Syria, in virtue of conventions between her Majesty, the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, the King of Prussia, the Emperor of Russia, and the Sultan, having accomplished their purpose, the European troops, which, in pursuance of those conventions, were for a time stationed in Syria to co-operate with the troops and

and her Majesty trusts that the arrangements which have been made for the administration of the districts which had been disturbed will henceforward secure their internal tranquillity. Her Majesty has seen with satisfaction the rapid improvement in the internal condition of her East Indian territories, and the progress which has been made towards equalising the revenue and expenditure of that part of her empire.

Gentlemen ofthe House of CommonsIlex Majesty commands us to convey to you her warm acknowledgments for the liberal supplies which you have granted for the service of the present year; and her Majesty has seen with satisfaction that, after amply providing for the wants of the public service, you have been ablo to make a sensible diminution in the taxes levied upon her people.

My Lords and GentlemenHex Majesty commands us to express to you the deep gratification with which she has witnessed the spirit of devoted patriotism which continues to animate her volunteer forces, and the admiration with which she has observed their rapid progress in discipline and military efficiency. Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to the act for completing the number of the members of the members of the House of Commons by alloting the forfeited seats of Sudbury and St. Albans. Her Majesty trusts that the act for improving the laws relating to bankruptcy and insolvency will be productive of important advantages to the trade and commerce of her subjects. Her Majesty has given her ready assent to acts for consolidating and assimilating the criminal law of England and Ireland, and for promoting the revision of the statute law.

Her Majesty has given her assent to important acts which she trusts will have the effect of opening more largely employ ment in the public service to the European and native inhabitants of India, of improving the means of legislation, of furthering the ends of justice, and of.promoting the contentment and vyellbeing of all-classes of her Majesty's Indian subjects.

j Her Majesty has assented with pleasure to the act for the improvement of harbors on the coast of the United Kingdom and for relieving merchant ■shipping from.passing tolls, and also to the act for improving the administration of the law relating to the'.ielief and the-removal of the.poor. • Her. Majesty trusts that tho act for rendering more easy arrangements connected with the drainage of land will assist agricultural improvements in many parts'of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty has gladly given her assent to many other measures of public usefulness, the results of your labors during the session now brought to its close. .

Her Majesty lias observed with heartfelt satisfaction the spirit of loyalty, pf order, and of obedi-ence-to the law, which prevails throughout all her. dominions, and she trusts that, by wise legislation and a just administration of the law, the continuance of this happy state of things will be secured.

On returning to your respective counties you will still have important public duties to perform : and her Majesty fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God may attend your exertions, and may guide them to the attainment of the objects of her Majesty's- constant solicitude—the welfare and happiness of her people.

By the Wonga Wonga, which arrived on Wednesday, we received Wellington and Marlborough papers. The former contain later news Jrom the Otago diggings, which is no-improvement on the last. "No new goldfields have been discovered. No escort had arrived since our last account. During .the week ending the 10th October, 2957 :personshad arrived, and 799 had left. The Total quantity of gold brought by escor.t from the diggings since their commence •ment is 38,845 ounces, About 70 people returned ;o Lyttelton by the Wonga Wonga'

and about 50 to Wellington; the latter, it is said, have done pretty well. .

Concerning these diggings the latest advices from Melbourne say that«notwithstanding all attempts at a revival the Otago rush is dying out.' Some papers boldly assert that gold was sent from Victoria by shipowners and others iri order to create a trade.

Lecture.—On Tuesday last Mr. Drew delivered hia second lecture, at Spring Grove, upon Electricity, the first having been delivered ou the preceding Tuesday. On both occasions the large new schoolroom was crowded half-an-hour before the time fixed for the lecture to commence; but on the last occasion we should think nearly as many listened to the lecture outside as were able to find sitting or standing room inside. The lectures were of a highly interesting character, which was greatly enhanced by the kinduess of the Governors of the College in granting the use of their machine, by whioh the lectures were made very attractive by many practical illustrations of the power and properties of electricity; and no small amouut of fun and merriment amongst the crowd, who received several electric- shocks. The ' knocking-down ' excited great interest, and although the first victim was floored ia no very enviable manner, such a number of volunteers, afterwards-pre-sented themselves as candidates'for the same honor, that Mr. Drew was himself obliged to cry ' enough.' We were aorry to hear that Mr. Drew had the misfortune to break, on the road, a 'arge plate of glass which he had fitted up to answer the purpose of a battery ; in consequence, of which he was unable to perform some experiments that he had intended. A hearty vote of thanks, was given to Mr. Drew, for his kind: ness in consenting to favor the inhabitants of Waimea South with two such interesting lectures ; and in reply Mr. Drew promised that if ever he got up a third they should also have the benefit of it.

New Flagstaff.—The second flagstaff that has been lately put up on Britannia Heights is intended for signalling the small coasters out of this port; and masters are requested, by advertisement in this number, to send in their respective signals in order that a code may be arranged. The steamer Undine will be distinguished by a Rendezvous flag on the north end of the lower yard of the old flagstaff. Iq future both our steamers will be signalled when within six miles of the harbor.

The Undine —This steamer left the wharf on Tuesday morning last for a trial trip to Motueka, and.being her first appearance outside the harbor, much interest wasjfelt and some diversity of opinion expressed as to the build and capabilities of our homemade steamer. The only opinion that need be referred to however was a rather general one, that she was too long in the spurs aud overweighted in canvas: this has at once been set at rest by the fact that although the space forward designed for cargo was left almost empty—some pig iron having been put ou at the last minute—she has proved herself to be remarkably stiff under all sail, and not iv the least degree crank even in moderate trim. The passage back to Nelson, from the sandspifc to the Bank, was accomplished in a little over two hours aud a-lialf.. This was with a slight sea. breeze, but for want of the latter tbe passage to Motueka occupied twice the time — TTpnn arriving at —UiA.BaiiHarhank At. early ebb tide there was insufficient steam to take her inside, in consequence of the feed pump becoming choked, and the delay which it occasioned caused her to lose the tide. This is now being remedied, and a new propeller in course of construction that will give accelerated speed ; she will probably then be equal to anything of her size, and a credit and convenience: to the port. - - • •

Fatal Accident. —On Tuesday night a man who was temporarily engaged on board the steamer Undine was assisting to carry a piece of scantling along the Motueka jetty, and when but a short distance from the end he fell over on the left side into the sea, which was-only about six feet deep at that plaoej there was a strong tide running at the time, and although an endeavor was made to rescue him it' prof ed fruitless. The body was found close by the next morning. His name is said to have been Simmonds; he arrived about fourteen months since in the John Phillips, from England.

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sir,—ln the Colonist of October 15 I observed a report of a meeting to take into consideration the late 'alleged' unjust conduct of a principal public servant, Mr. N. Maitai. I think the persons who convened the meeting ought at least to have done so in a proper manner, and have invited me to attend the meeting, that I might then and there have had an opportunity of defending this alleged and so called injustice. This simple fact, to my mind, is sufficient to characterise the object. in view- by the conveners of this meeting. I am, as you are aware, an aboriginal, and am at present scarcely half-civilised. About 20 "years ago when the whity man came, I had uncontrolled liberty, no one was here then who dared to say, even in my absence, 'tis he! but oh, how changed !' True,T am changed, but why ? Since then I have undergone the civilisation treatment. Your wise men made, a law to keep me quiet, arid smooth the current of my way. You erected a board to point out and ' control' my course, and I thought all was fair and square. You could not do without me, but you gave me the refuse .of.'saccharine'and other; sickening mixtures,- and when 1 unavoidably overstepped the boundary mark placed by yourselves, you fold me to 'be off.' You drove big sticks into me, which made me uncontrollable, and under the pretext of making me straight, you stuck what you call breakwaters in my sides which caused me to run crooked.

You report that Sir Peter (the chairman of,the meeting) speaks.of me as his unhappy friend, and of my delinquencies! I can only say that as my level must always be lower than his, it cannot run upwards to his very exalted position. If he wishes my reformation he must descend a little.

One of the ancient family of the Smiths of London has predicted that in a future age some New Zealand rangatira may contemplate from, the remains of London bridge the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral,- perhaps the time is not far distant when some cockney may contemplate from the remains of Collingwood Bridge a scene of ruin arising from my unfair treatment.

; Mr. Brydges with mock gravity and painful mildness, calls me his.toe friend; I would have him to know that I can sometimes rise too early for him; but as he appears anxious to do the amende and to bury bygones, I on my part shall be glad to see him reinstated on a secure and more extended foundation than formerly. Mr. Gorilla Pylc would appear to condole with the meeting at my expense, but those who know bim are well acquainted with his monkey tricks* didn't he once pretend having been pushed into a Maity river with one Jack Winch ? And as for his ' high rate of esteem,' forsooth, what does he mean by that ? I never was the cause of any high rate, but have been rated pretty roundly. I am accused,of high gamboling and cribbage; I don't think he knows what oiihbage is if he believes two and (wq mdw four. Jf k wants to learn, let

him get upon a Beard (fourteen feet by t*vo feet)/ I should not be surprised at such a monkey trick as that after what we have seen.-lately. only fancy a Monkey and a Web-footted goose on the. same Board. • He proposes ' that the funds for repairs of the public monkey (himself) be placed under the control of the brass band (which ?) that they may be blown away to a better tune than' formerly.' A brazen proposition this, truly, when he knows tbe band would get very little of a blow out unless upon some fine occasion. Mr. Bridge Streat does not appear to feel a 1 strong tide of affection for me : well, I like candor and can on this occasion reciprocate. He saya it was no use to dam it. Dam what? I should think not. He has as much chance of blasting the Dun Mountain into smithereens. In conclusion, I should like to ask these worthies a question or two, viz :—- Have I ever failed in my duty ? Am I not aHVays on hand when wanted ? Have my crooked ways been made straight ? Have my snags been extracted ? Until these are answered in the affirmative I remain, ' The Public's disobedient servant ■ ■ NELSON MAITAI. October 15,1861.