The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-14 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING', OCTOBER 14, 1864.

such complete surrender, and the object of
the war may thus be said to be fully ac-
complished, since the natives have not only been
compelled to abandon their pretensions, but they
have been taught to acknowledge our superiority,
and to confess their own inadequacy to oppose it.
This is the more encouraging, as after several
triumphs we had had one or two reverses, or,
rather, we had bought our victories too dear.
Brave officers and gallant men had laid down their
lives in numbers too great for a semi-savage strife
like this, and there seemed to be reason to appre-
hend that England would have to mourn many
more valiant sons before the contest came to an
end. Its nature, too, was harassing and unsatis-
factory ; it was not like a bold encounter in an open
field nor a direct attack upon a defended city; but
it was a struggle with the bush and the marsh,
with enemies who fled and left no trace, and who
rewarded a successful assault with an empty vic-
tory. The admixture of civilisation in the Maori
race renders them most difficult to deal with, for
they are far more formidable than ordinary savages,
while they cannot be treated like Europeans.
Many wise and kind persons, in their regard for
the defenceless position of an inferior race, are in.
(lined to overlook the rights of the settlers, and the
fact that a due respect for life and property must
be seeured if the islands are to be inhabited
by eivilised human beings. Oa the other
hand, the colonists and their friends are,
in their natural indignation, perhaps too
much disposed to forget the provocations
of the natives, and the difference between their
views and our own. The authorities are not, how-
ever,
likely to show any harshness or injust!ce in
dealing with the surreddered lands ; in fact, we
learn by the very telegram which brings us the
news of the peace, that most of their lands have been
restored to the natives, only a few having been con-
fiscated, and those few, no doubt,.on clear grounds
of right and justice. By a happy combination of
lenity and firmness, the Governor has it now in his
power to effect a lasting settlement of the long-
pending dispute, and by so doing he will bs not
only conferring a blessing on the natives, who will
be slowly but surely exterminated by the continu-
,ince of the war, but he will be doing the best thing
possible for the colony, which can never flourish
under such a disadvantage. The idea of a war With
savages is quite sufficient to deter emigration, and
the insecurity of life and property cons( quent upon
the unsettled state of things counteracts the attrac-
tions of a healthy and fertile country. New Z a.
land has great capabilities as yet but half deve-
oped, and we trust, now the great stumblingblock
is removed oat of her way, to see her rise to her
proper rank umong our southern dependencies.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

%r
LREITTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

THE REPORTED LOSS OF THE
BULLDOG.

ADMIRALTY, OCT. 14, 1864..

By despatches received this morning at the
Admiralty, H.M.S. Bulldog appears to have been
at Jamaica on the 22d September.

The report of her being wrecked is, therefore,

untrue.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.
ALEXANDRIA, OCT. 13.
The Euxine left here at 4 p.m. yesterday, and

he Syria at 9 a.m. to.day.

The former may be Expected at Marseilles about
the 18th, and the latter at Southampton about the
18th instant.
OUTWARD MAIL OF 27TH SEPTEMBER

The Confederation of British North
America.

QUEBEC, OCt. 1.

The following semi-official communication rela-
tive to the Confederation of the Canadian provinces,
has been published :

QUEBEC, Sept. 23.
A good deal of public interest is felt as to the
recent visit of members of the Canadian Government

to the maritime prov;nces. People are anxious to
know the nature of the federative scheme brought
under the attention of the Charlottetown Conference,

the reception it received from the maritime dele-

gates, and the problbility of its being acceptable to
the several provinces. Bat little reserve is now
necessary as to the proceedings of the conference,
or as to the general scope of the schnne of Federa•

tion now under consideration. It is only as to details

which have y&t to be discussed and determined

and ,;).s to which diversities of opinion may arise

among the numerous contracting patties, that re-
serve is expedient. The measure cannot be framed
from any one point of view ; it trust be a work of

compromise. Objections from east, west, and cer. tre

will have to be debated and overcome ; and it would

be manifestly unwise and injurious to give publicity
to details that circumstances may hereafter cause

o be modified and abandoned.

Thus far all the proceedings of the Canadian
Government have beeci entirely unofficial and in-
formal. The provinces of Nova Scotia, Brunswick,

and Prince Edward's Island had agreed to hold a
conference at Charlottetown, the capital of Prince
Edward's Island, to consider the prapriety of

uniting their fortunes under one Government and

Legislature. The Canadian Government sought
leave to attend that conference, for the purpose of
inviting the attention of the delegates to the larger

question of a federative union of all the British

North American provinces. Consent was at once
given, and on the first thy of the confer-omen the
Canadian deputes presented themsolws at Char-
lottetown, and were mast cordially received. The
Government of NJ wfoundiand was not represented
in the conference, bat communications from it have
been received, heartily symp4thising with the
movement, and expressing a desire to take part in
any future proceedings.
The Conference commenced its deliberations on
Thursday, the Ist of September, and continued to
tit daily at Charlottetown, until the Bth, when an
adjournment took place to Saturday, the 10th, at
the city of Ile.lifax.

The proceeding of the Confererce were conducted
with closed doors; but it is understood that the
question of union in all its bearings was fully debated
and the conclusion unanimously arrived at that a
confederation of the British North Ametican
colonies would be highly advantageous to all the
provinces, provided equitable terms of union could
be agreed upon. No insurmountable obstacles were
encountered, and a formal Conference of the govern.
Entine of Cinada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Newfoundland. and Prince Edward's bland has been
summoned by his Excellency the Govrnor.General,

to meet at Quebec on the 10;1 October, for the pur-
pose of ascertaining formally cs hailer the details of
a scheme of confederation, acceptable to all, can be

arranged.
The Canadian delegates were deeply impressed
by the great material resources and the gratifying
industrial prosperity of the maritime Fravinces.

There is not one of them who does not subscribe
heartily to the conclusion arrived at by the Con-
ference, that a federation of all the provinces would
be highly advantageous.
Thus far nothing definite as to the details of the
scheme has been egreed upon; notwithstanding the
discussions of the last three weeks, every point will
be open to unfettered inquiry by the Quebec Con.
_ _

ferenoe. No one, however, could have failed to
gather from the ❑ewspapers of the Lower Provinces
the general outlines of the scheme under omaidera-

:ion at Charlotteville.

It appears to have been suggested that the
Confederation might consist for the present of
three sections, namely :—Upper Canada, Lower
Canada, and the Maritime Provinces, coming into
the Union either collectively or separately, and
hat provision might be made for the admissio❑

nto thu Uaion hereafter on equitable terms of the

North-West territory, British Columbia, and Van.
mover. The whole country might have one name,
say Canada or Arcadia.
It appears to have been suggested that each of
the provinces should have a local legislature and
Executive, charged with the control of all local
matters ; and that in a General Legislature and
Execative should be vested the control of affairs
common to the whole country. It seems to have
been held as indisputable that the functions of the
general and local governments, and the subjects
delegated to each must be clearly defined in the
Constitution, so as to prevent collision and give
security for local interests, the whole to be em-

bodied in an act of Imperial Parliament.

In regard to the construction of the General or
Federal Legislature, the representation in the
Lower House on sectional equality, the mode of

selecting the members of the Upper House is a fer-
tile subject of discussion. Some favour election for
a term of years by tho people, others prefer to have
their election vested in the Local Legislatures,

while others again advocate their appointment for I
of the day. The eoiution may be found in a solu.
Lion of these views.
The Federal Government would be constituted as
now, the representative of the Crown being advised
by an administration possessing the confidence of
Parliament.
To the Federal authority thus constituted would
obviously be committed all questions of trade, navi.
4ation, currency, banking, general taxation, bank.
ruptcy, and criminal law. It would have control
of the militia and defence, of coinage, weights and
measures, lighthouses, sea fisheries, letters patent
and copyright, naturalisation, the census, the postal
service, immigration, inter-colonial works, Be.c.
The manner in which the local Legislatures
should be constructed affords scope for debate.
There are those who advocate for each section two
Legislative Chambers, while others prefer one
Chamber. Some are for an Executive Government
responsible as at present, to the Legislature;
while others are in favour o f the Lieutenant-
Governors and other chief officials being elected by
the people. It would of course be desirab!e that
all the local Governments should be constituted on
some uniform plan, but this does not seem abso-
lutely essential, in the event of serious variance of
opinion arising.
As to the powers and duties to be committed to
the local Governments, there is also room for much
discussion. Manifestly, however, Lower Canada
will insist that all judicial and legal matters—in
fact, the whole body of civil and municipai law,
with the exception of criminal law—must be vested
in the local Legislatures. It is equally clear that
Upper Canada and New Brunswick will contend
that the wild lands of the several sections should
be vested in the local Governments. The control
of roads, bridges, and harbours—with the exception
of international works—of inland fisheries, of
education, of prisons, hospitals and charities, of
agriculture, and all other local matters would
naturally be committed to the local bodies. It has
been suggested that provision should be made for
the educational interests of the minority in each

section.
A difficulty would manifestly arise in committing
these details to the Local Legislatures from the
absence of fecal revenues to meet the necessary
expenditures. It has been suggested that an allow.
ante from the public rev,:nue might be distributed
for local purposes according to population, inasmuch
as the General Government will, by the federative
arrangement, be relieved from charges now borne
by each province, and will have absorbed all the
sources of revenua from which they are now
defrayed.

It is very fortunate that little or no difficulty
seems to present itself on the subject to the Federal
finances. On the contummation of the Union tilt
the debts and assets of the several provinces would
of course be assumed by the Federal Government;
and a close examination of the financial position of
each provioct: shows that no ioja6tica would he in-
flicted by this airangement. Thedcht and tho annual
burden now borne by the people of the st,verl pro.