POSTSCRIPT.
SATURDAY NIGHT.
The Times this morning gives some good advice touching New &ahead. The accession of that powerful organ is significant as to the drift of influen- tial public opinion. Another token is the City petition, cited by the journal. It is a remarkable document: it presents in a condensed form what we be- lieve to be the correct view of the whole affair, finishing with a demand for good government in the colony, and justice to all. The petition is signed by 115 of the first mercantile names in London: very few such firms have withheld their signature' and in ea& instance of exception the abstinence late be accounted for on distinct grounds apart from the merits of the case; for the merchants of whom we speak are of such a class that they may well have connexions in the Cabinet itself.
"When the opinion of its own Committee," observes the Time*, "is backed by such a demonstration of the opinion entertained outside the House as this, we hope that Parliament will not allow the wellbeing of a new and important colony, now compelled to depend upon this country for its prosperity and Peace, to be tampered or trifled with in order to gratify feelings of false pride, which boasts that it may be led but not driven. A victory over a troublesome body of mer- chants may he a tempting object to strive for; but though this is sport in Down- ing Street, it is death in New Zealand; and we would most respectfully hint to the ennobled Secretary, _that he might follow a graceful precedent by for- getting the Commoner's quarrels, and at the same time achieve a more magnanimous triumph than the angry passions of others can afford him scope for. • a But if this may not be—if the rapture of the Strife cannot be foregone without too great a sacrifice of feeling—we then trust that Lord John RUBSEWEI advice will be taken, and that the House will insist on doing justice to the Company and the islanders and will not suffer this object to be interfered with by the pugnacity of contending parties. The House conceded some nights ago a fair and ample allowance of time and space for personalities : if, that was not made the most of,. it is not bound to defer again the merits of the case to the demerits of the litigants." When discreet and influential persons all around, look grave and talk in this way, it is plain that they have a distinct notion of what it would be right to do. We shall see whether the test is too severe for the good seise and right feeling of those concerned. Mr. Charles Buller has announced that he will bring forward the general question of New Zealand after Easter: there is time for reflection: the recess intervenes, and Ministers will be remote from the distractions and not inexcusable asperities of nightly questioning. There is opportunity for some change. If statesmen could for once rise above Parliamentary human nature, approach the ques- tion in the spirit laudably professed by Lord John Russell, and consult together, not to exact humiliations for the past but to do the best that can be done for the future, assuredly no party would venture to keep among the petty personalities which have been hitherto selected as the ground of discussion. Neither the parties interested nor mere spectators can desire to see the mischief prolonged.
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