New Zealand in 1864.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 24, 6 March 1906, Page 2

New Zealand in 1864.

— o—--1 THE MAORI AVAR. CONDITION OF THE PROVINCES. The following is taken from the Southern Alonthiy of October, ’64, and will no doubt be read with interest at the present time : — The Month of September, 1864, will probably claim a certain uniqueness of position by comparison with other months that have preceded and may follow it, in many respects. The muttering sound of the thunders of war have now died away completely in the distance, and there has been a lull of that complete kind which may mean so much either of future storm or repose. There has not been even a war rumour this month to disturb our tranquillity, and the reports of excitement and alarm reaching us from England, where the Gate Pa disaster was the most recent topic of our news, sounds doubly curious to us, ■ike the distant sound of the storm to the intoxicated ear of the lotus eater. The only thing that can even be said to have a remote bearing upon the war position of the Colony, if we except the news from England, is the escape of the native prisoners from Kawau island, where they were placed, it is said, by the Governor’s special desire. These prisoners amounted to rather more than two hundred men, and were all taken in arms, fighting against Her Alajesty’s troops. For some six or seven months they were kept close prisoners in the “ Alarion ” hulk, placed with great inconsistency in the hands of the colonial authorities, who had no power whatever to say what should be done with their troublesome charge. The only reason for the colony undertaking such an onerous and expensive charge was that some considerable importance did attach,, while the conquest of the Waikato country was still in progress, to the principal chiefs being removed and in our hands. Undoubtedly thiswas an imperial concern more than a colonial. The troops fighting were mostly imperial troops. The war wasan imperial war,undertaken as Air Cardwell informed the colony, “ for imperial ends,” and therefore the prisoners ought to have been lookod upon as important pieces of Imperial property, a sort of material guarantee for what they gained at Rangiriri and elsewhere. But the end to be gained had nonethe less a deep interest for us because it was for an imperial end, and taking'advantage of this fact the whole burden and expense was cleverly shifted on our own shoulders by the agents of the imperial power. After a time, however, the object to be gained by the colony —namely, the safety to life of the settlers ensured by so large a guarantee in our hands — was clearly attained, and it was no longer our interest to maintain these men. The difficulty was bow to get rid of them.

In this difficulty the action of the Imperial Government’s representative solved the problem. The natives in coi.fim-ment were not healthy, and with that tender regard for their welfare which has been a prominent feature in Sir George Grey’s administration at all times, he wished them removed from this confinement. Hence arose the migration from the hulk Marion with its irksome captivity to the freedom of the island of Kawau. As the Colonial Government had no power to prevent theGovernor’s disposing of the imperial prisoners as he pleased, so they had no longer any wish to do so. The prisoners became prisoners no longer, being placed on a footing of perfect freedom only curtailed by the dimensions of Kawau. Not satisfied with so much freedom as this, they proceeded to take more, and early on the morning of the 11th September left the island in boats which had been left there apparently in view of such a contingency as their wishing to leave. The only one who seemed to view the matter as of consequence was the Governor himself, who was as much impressed as chagrined by the flagrant want of good taste shown by the prisoners in leaving such comfortable quarters. It is anticipated that the lost ones will yet return —not indeed to Kawau, for that island they profess to dislike for some reason—not even to the Marion hulk, for thatplace they can scarcely have liked better; but to a block of fine land near Kawau, on the mainlands where they expect to be fed and clothed at our expense, and to grow potatoes for their own profit from seed supplied by us. The notion is an acute one, but seems likely tobe just rather too understandable by the meanest capacity, and so likely to fail. That the natives will come back is exceedingly likely that they will have everything provided for them to settle on the new locality which they have obligingly pointed out, is also probable ; but it is hardly likely that the representatives of the colony will support them if it can be avoided. There has been scarcely a greater barrenness of war news than of new s of any kind affecting the colony

at large from the various provinces. Southland has made no sign worth mentioning, unless the gradual improvement of her finances may be so considered. The improvement however is very gradual indeed, and it is only worthy of note from the fact that it is a sign of the tide’s turning at last. For the future of such a province there is no need to fear anything, but ali that rash and wild speculation could effect has been done to ruin its prospects for the present. The rumours of a rich gold field, which would no doubt have put matters all right in a short time have not yet solidified into facts, and it seems doubtful whether they will do so. Otago stiil suffers from the depression which has so injuriously affected her since the beginning of winter, and which may easily be traced to the excessive activity in speculation induced by so large and so sudden a measure of prosperity as fell to her lot. Her prospects brighten, however, steadily, and the sound basis of commercial confidence which has at last been established gives better prospect than before of real and steady prosperity The gold fields are again beginning to yield larger quantities of gold, and while this is the case there is no serious fear for the credit of the province. Preparations for the Exhibition of 1865 are now being pushed forward, and the buildings, etc., are expected to be in every way suitable for the purpose for which they were designed. Canterbury is still affected by the blight of dulness which has fallen, it would seem, upon all the southern provinces of New Zealand. She too however is recovering, and having had much less reason to suffer from any extravagance of her own, her recovery is likely to be a quicker and better affair than that of her more involved sister provinces.

Of the proceedings at Marlboro’ but little is known. Gold is said to be successfully sought by a considerable population now on the diggings both in shallow and deep sinkings; and although reports of large quantities of gold being held by the diggers are not reliable, still it is probable from all the news that the Marlborough diggings will do well this summer.

Nelson lives in hopes of all sort of mineral treasures. She has not done more than prospect the skirts of her province as yet, if the expression may be used, and she has very excellent indications on all sides. Her progress however is not rapid compared with others. She may have vast treasures, but as yet they do not show. Her Buller river diggings are good, steady-going little affairs, not yieldng a great deal, but doing very regularly what they actually do. Wellington has done nothing for the last month, beyond watching the Seat of Government Commissioners, and hanging on every word the great men uttered. The great men don’t seem to have uttered many words after all, so that there is not much more than conjecture. The probabilities may be said to be in Wellington’s favour, perhaps, that the commissioners yield her the precedence over Nelson, Picton, and Wanganui. Taranaki has made no signnothing more than a faint rumour of a fabulous victory has reached the public of the colony from that quarter, and although great stores of all kinds of food and munitions of war have been sent, and still are being sent there, no one knows what will be the result, if anything. Of Auckland, little need be said. Neither excessive dulness nor the reverse has characterised her this month ; things are very quiet, without stagnation. Ngaruawahia, the rebel capital of Waikato, was partly sold early in the month, and large sums were realised for its sections