West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 344, 30 October 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1866.

Tkk multitude of tracts that have been issued, and the numerous opposite opinions that have been advanced, both in England and in these colonies, on the subject of the native difficulties and their effectual remedy, have been so great a.s to render it a matter of doubt whether the question has not been rather obscured than illuminated by them. One of the first difficulties that beset a " new chum" desirous of understanding the social ' and political features of the land of his adaption, and especially the ! question that has more than, any other tended to sow seeds of dissension between the colonists of North and South, and that has cost New Zealand so much, both in blood and treasure — is "the number and' diversity of the causes that have led to these cosily " difficulties," and the falsification or misstatement of facts in reference thereto, which each writer considers himself entitled to make, as his particular hobby may incline him ; and the result is that the enquiring individual, after wading through 'an almost incalculable mass of verbiage and conflicting statements, ' generally gives up the point in despair, not unmingled with disgust. Among new chums it is rare, if not impossible^ tQ. find anyone at all commonly conyersani; with native affairs ; and among the older residents of the cqlony it is almost as difficult to find two who agree in any one point on them. It is this, su,bjecl; particularly that estranges the two portions of the colony — a division that, comnTjencing on the subject of native affairs, bids fair to influence every question that arises for discussion in the colonial Parliament, and set north and south at stiljj greater variance than a.t present, til at length they each in turn becoifie merely obstructive to the progress and well-being of the other. Nor is it unreasonable that suoh should be the case : though bound together, the interests of North and South are totally at variance with each other and they present to the ' world the appearance of an ill-matcb,ed couple. The North, as the older settlement— and till lately, the richestf— possessing the seat of Government, and regarded as the head of the colony, % is prone to indulge in the idea that the N^orth ' Island is New Zealand, and claims precedence for its interests over those of the Middle Island; vvhiclj, in its turn, is. indignant at seeing itself constantly sacrificed to i^s northern neighbor, which reaps all the substantial benefits arising from the peace and industry of the south. The war question is constantly being made the subject of angry vitup ; the no*lh asserting

that its existence depends on the maintenance of a large body of troops near the disaffected districts, andehargirg the south with meanness in desiring to expose the settlers of the north to murder and rapine in order to save a few paltry pounds; and the south' accusing the north with purposely prolonging the war to pbtain the fictitious prosperity consequent on a lavish military expenditure, at the cost of the south. Whichever of these charges may be the true oiie, certain it is that t\\e North has proved a costly neighbor to the settlers of the Middle Island, and millions of debt have accrued in our endeavors to assist them — by the expenditure of i which the north has reaped the sole advantage ; the only satisfaction of the south having been the paying of the piper. It cannot, therefore, be wondered at if the determination to dispense with, the assistance of British troops, which cost so much and did so little in the late struggle, evoked at one ex. tremity of the colony such 'wholesale denunciation, while at the other the utmost satisfaction only existed. Subsequent events have iince proved, however, that the " self-reliant " policy is the true one; and if the example lately set by the settlers in Hawke's Bay be only followed in the other parts of the colony, we can wi-11 afford to smile at the frantic ebullitions of Auckland and disregard the sensational pictures drawn by her of the anarchy that would ensue on the withdrawal of the British troops. Uninviting and threadbare though the subject may be, especially to the inhabitants of Westland, who generally have little in common with the residents of the North Island— we consider that it is worthy of some consideration, especially when it be considered that this part of the colony contributes more than any other to defray the expenses of these northern troubles; and with the remembrance of the twice-increased tariff of the past three years, and the prospect of still heavier burdens for the future, we qannot but be blind to our own nterests if we pass with indifference all allusion to that oft-repeated and weai - isome subject, the "native difficulties." We admit that we should not have adverted to the topic — so uninviting does it appear — if we had not received by the last mail from England a pamphlet which, judging from the numerous and respectable critical notices accompanying it, is creating some interest at home, and which is the production of a gentleman named tlursthouse, who announces himself as a "New Zealand Co|onist." Jt is in the form of a letter to the Earl of Carnarvon, the successor of Mr Card well in the Secretaryship of State for the Colonies, and treats o. several matters of interest to the residents of this distant branch of the empire of Great Britain, the chief of which (as affecting our latest, but as events have provecj, our tru,est policy) refer to the eligibility of New Zealand as a permanent military station of the empire, and the necessity of maintaining a considerable force here for the suppression of native disturbances. One of the first things that 6trike the reader of this pamphlet is the conviction tha,t tfye writer is a. Northern I man — one who shares in the Auckj land military proclivities, together with their attendant expenditure, and therefore regards everything connected with the removal of the trqops through a medium of his own, and sees nothing but ruin in such a course. JJe alludes to Mr Card well's " peddling policy," the " mumbo-jumbo orgies " of the natives, and the " brulal Hau lluu murders," with a stress that would incline one to the belief that thus 2 orgies and murders did not take place while thousands of British troops were lying in idleness within almost a stones -throw: he characterises the South Island settlers as possessing ft crazing crotchets, like our Sewells and Fitzgeralds ;'' and accuses all -who do not agree with him — (i.e., " those who know the natives — who have lived with them, ploughed their fields, married their daughters, broke their horses, smoked their pipes, satin their councils, who see the naked truth an,d tell it ") — as being 3 " dilletanti visitors of the Gorst order," and " blinded bigots of the Hadfield type." Such alliterative epithets and violent denunciations are, of course, utterly unanswerable ; but fortunately the pamphlet contains statements that have been disproved by that last great solver of problems — time itself, among which may be quoted the following : — " That our friendly natives, those who hitherto have most effectively fought with us against their countrymen, if all the redcoats were now hurried from the scene, would be found no longer 4 friendlies ; ' but rebels toq — or, at best, neutral ;" and again : " That Mr Cardwell's wholesale withdrawal of the troops, attributed by the rebel tribes to the true cause — the little success, the great expense — and the firm belief they entertain that England will never send a force again to New Zealand, have ' heartened up,' many of them to nurse concealed thoughts of renewing the con'tlic.t when they shall have rested a. while, and when your last transport ship shall have left our shores." The V humble colonist," as the writer of this styles himself, has unintentionally, in the above, hit upon the very point that the Middle Island complains of — the " little success" and the " great ex • pense" connecced with the employment of the troops — a success, indeed, which has been so " little" that it could easily have been attained by the colonial militia, at an expense infinitesimal compared with what it has actually cost ; but as to the danger of a new war breaking out on the departure of the British, or the "secession" of the friendly tribes, the late events in the North Island have conclusively proA'ed that the first would offer an opportunity to the settlers to do what the troops always failed in doing — give a good lessou to the rebels* — while the second has proved as fallacious as such sweeping prophecies generally will do. We may give <due credit to Mr Hursthouse for all sincerity in expressing these opinions, but we are inclined to believe ,^hpt the cause of New Zealand

is not advanced by their dissemination ; and intending emigrants \y\\\ scarcely pleet to proceed to a pountry where " Exeter Hall and a' Pharisaical Savage have been suffered to hunt and to harry" the settler, and \jrhere a man's life and property is in imminent danger unless the settlement be protected by'" not less than five regiments and three sloops of war." '

Having exceeded our usual limits, we shall refer to the other subjects treated of in fhe pamphlet alluded to, in a future issue.

We again feel pompelled to exclaim against tho reprehensible practice of landing cattle at mid : day, in tho very centre of the wharf. We understood that long ago the Government had widely determined tljat vessels having cattle on board should discharge on the North Spit, at a place some cjisfcance removed from thoroughfares of the town, to prevent, if possible, any of the Queen's lieges being injured by tljose mad capers the poor brutes generally indulge in on being released from their long confinement. Yesterday a mob of bullocks \yere landed on Gibson's Quay, from the p.B. Nelson, and a crowd, as usual, assembled to indulge in the cheap excitement such an occasion would give rise to. Fortunately, the animals were a quiet lot, and conducted themselves with the utmost decorum, but had they been otherwise serious consequences would have attended the debarkation, and, perhaps, some Uiiforfunate might have been maimed for life, ifiiQt killqd outright. We trust that a space will ' be fenced in, either ou Upper Gitaon's Quay or the N.orth Spiit, and especially set apart for the reception of imported cattle. By the Albion which left yesterday, 32500z. of gold were shipped for Melbqurne by the Bank of New South Wales. The shipments per Airedale on Saturday last amounted to 4000 ozs by the Bank of New Zealand, and on the following day 8000 ozs were placed qn board her from the same Bank at Greyniouth ; both parcels being consigned to Sydney. This brings up the total amount shipped during the past week to 15,250 ozs. Amongsf the items of intelligence supplied us by the Bruce was the drowning of two miners on the 22nd instant, whilst attempting to cross a river which intersects the coast, about three miles to the northward of the Pakihi rush. The names of the unfortunate men are not known. Another fatal occurrence happened last week which resulted in the death of another miner. It appears that, accompanied by his mate, he was travelling along the coast towards the Pakihi rush from Greymouth. They arrived at the place known by the name of Jacob's Ladder, which is a high cliff th.at lias to be surmounted by the aid of a chain ladder (placed there we belive by the Nelson Government). The ascent was safely made, but in attempting to descend the other side one of the men lost his hold, fell from the giddy height, and was, killed on tfye spot. His name also had not transpired. We observe by an advertisement which appears in another column, that Mr David Jones, who for some time was an auctioneer in the Dunstan district in Otago, - has arrived in Hokitikß, where he purposes following that occupation which renders him so well known at the Dunstan. We wish Mr Jones success. We hasten to. correct a grave error which appeared in the local column of yesterday's issue. It was the brother qf Mr Geoffrey Eager, Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales, and not that gentleman himself, who was stricken by paralysis on board the Claud Hamilton on Thursday last, A notice will be found in another column, from G. S. Sale, Esq., stating that a writ has i been received for the election of a member of

the Provincial Council for the town of Hokitika., in tl^e room of Mr' B. Beeves, who has resigned his seat. The nomination of candidates isjannounced to take place on Saturday, tho 3rd proximo, and the-, poll (if necessary) will be taken on the Monday following. l' Piper's Flat, in the Waimea district, promises to tujrn out an extensive and valuable diggings, qs several hundred miners are located

there, the majority of whom can make excellent wages. The workings are daily extending, a?id some claims will give small fortunes to the lucky holders The flat lies midway between Scandinavian and Ballarat Hills, and

contains another section of that lead of gold which has already been traced for miles f o the north and south. Many members of the thieving fraternity have establisLed themselves there, and have committed several petty robberies lately. On Sunday a theft of more than ordinary magnitude watf perpetrated from the tent of one of the lucky diggers, who found himself minus a parcel of 40 ounces of gold, which he had planted in what he oonsidei'ed a secure corner. Information of the robbery was at once given to the police, and as a portion of the gold has been roughly melted, the detectives are sanguine they will succeed in finding it. A description of the lost metal has been already given to. the gold buyers in the district, and to the Banks in Hokit\ka, sufficient to ensure its recognition should an attempt be made to effect a sale. There is likely yet to be more trouble respecting the purchase of Maori lands. On oi\r latest acquisition — the Manawatu Block — the Wellington " Advertiser " remarks : — '' Several of the non selling party df the Manawatu natives are now in town/ and are, we believe, still determined no^ to s t ell. It is said that the numbers of this party are increasing daily, and that they absolutely amount to between 200 and 300. The intention of those who have come down is to make one more appeal to the Supreme Court, and if not successful then to take the matter into their own hands and not trouble the Europeans any more. Parakaia, who is o.ne of them says that a letter has been written to a Wellington paper stating the number of dissentients, but as it has not appeared in our contemporary, and we have seen nothing of it, we presume that is ia a myth. It is, however, most satisfactory to hear even a rumor that they are increasing instead of decreasing. Circulars have heen issued to all concerned ■ calling on them to appear at Parawenui on the s|th December, when the purphase money will be hande 1 over." Rich ground appears to have been lately opened in the Grey district, as the local paper informs up that there is a new discovery reported between the Teremakau and the Ahaura. Two men arrived in town on Thursday, and mado application for a prospecting claim. The Warden, however, withheld assent to the application until they could supply further and .more particular information,

but he granted them protection foj* seven days, to enable them to furnish the necessary particulars. We learn Jhat tlje sinking is about 50 feet and the prospects exceedingly good. The men brought down £0 pzs. of gold with them. We belif re the locality is not far from the Brunner Lake.

As a specimen of the high respect in which even the most friendly of our Maori brethren hold the laws pt the country (aays the Wellington " Advertiser ") we may mention that four of these gentlemen rode at full speed through the turnpike gate at Kaiwarawara, on Monday, leaving the disconsolate toll-collector gazing after them in blank amazement. They were remonstrated with by another equestrian, but said they had no right to pay, and would not do so. They kept their promise, and did no*, and will not pay. Had their skins been white, and had they enjoyed th« privilege of being « sons of Brifain, ' great would have been the outcry, and a vigUant police would already have had them in durance vile, but they were Maoris, and ipso facto, possess an immunity to do as they like. '

It appears that the port of Greymouth will be shortly provided with a steam tug, as the Grey paper, writing on the subject says :— "We are glad to be able to state that it amounts almost to a certainty that within three weeks we shall hare permanently stationed here one of the finest steam tugs at present in the colonies. Messrs Maclean, Fisher, and Co., we believe, have received information that the Despatch — a description of which was given in our last issue — is for sale, at a price that does not exceed the limits fixed by the Steam Tug Company; and that the offer of her would remain open till a reply was received. As Mr Kennedy is on his way to Melbourne, wi^i authority^to negotiate the purchase, no time will be lost in having her here and at work.

The Wellington " Advertiser" pf the 24th instant says :—-"A: — -"A most melancholy occurrence took place last evening. Mr Patten, an old gentlemen who for many years has been acting as tide-waiter in the Customs here, was found dead in the water-closet attached to the Queen's Wharf. He had completed his official duties for the day, closed his books, and was supposed, to have returned hqme, when one of th,e, workmen on the wharf went into the water-closet and there found him lying on his face on the floqr. Assistance was at once procured, and h,e was conveyed to fch.e Pier Hotel. Sergeant Crowder sent for Djt Boer, who was promptly in attendance, but declared that iOe was extinct, and had been so most likely before the unfortunate man was taken to the hotel. The cause of death is at present unknown, but a post mortem examination of tho body will be made to-day, and sui inquest will be held on it afterwards."

We learn from the " Daily Times," of the 15th irstant, that the Manuherikia district was visited by a heavy flood on the 11th inst. All communication was interrupted for forty hours. The crossing places at Beck's and Black's were impassable, and at both places much damage was done. Farms on the Ma» nuherikia Flat were totally swept away, and houses, hut», and tents demolished. The occupants had to flee for their lives. Several had \ery narrow escapes. The fluming of the Golden Gate Company, at the Gorge, and the Golden Sunahine Company's dam, were carried, away, and the flood and ta}l races flooded up. The wjiter was within two and a half feet of being on a level with Black's township. At Lower Manuherikia, the flood was equally destructive. The river rose thirty feet, and several occupants of premises were clinging all night to the rqofs.. Simmons Bridge, and Glass & Co.'s fluming were all washed away. Lester's punt broke adrift, but fouling the cable qf the Alabama Company's dredging machine, was caught. The escort with difficulty crossed the Mauuherikia at Low's, on Saturday night. The road between Clyde and Cromwell has been much damaged. It rained heavily, without intermission, from 4 a.m. till 6 p.m. the same day. Mining operations generally were suspended. The total damage done was enormous. A number of persons will be totally ruined."