24 JULY 1869, Page 3

The New Zealand debate came on and went off on

Thursday, just as our Colonial debates usually do come on and go off in the House of Commons, without exciting the smallest general interest, lar even extracting a speech from any one Cabinet Minister. The -Colonies contain no constituents of any honourable member, and so the House of Commons is, in effect, up in an even more elevated and less visible " balloon " on Colonial subjects than the House of Lords itself on such a subject as the Irish Church. Sir C. Dilke, who for once made a rather ignorant speech, seriously proposed to send "swords and badges to the friendly natives" as his sole contribution to the solution of the difficulties of the case. Mr. Monsen, the Colonial Under Secretary, delivered a curiously weak speech, in which he took no account at all of either of the only two practical points at issue, first, the excessive pressure on the resources of the Northern island, and the complete inability of the colonists of that island to meet it without help,—especially when the Middle island is, with much more excuse, likely to follow the lead of the mother country, and wash its hands of the expense, — and secondly, and apart from all questions of help, the need- lessly and ostentatiously irritating tone of the Colonial Office's despatches. But, of course, honourable members had not read the despatches, —knew nothing about the Blue-Book, why should they? —and Mr. Monsen was quite safe, and knew he was quite safe, in the apathy and ignorance of his audience.