The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-13 00:00:00

MR. ILLINGWORTH AT ICNARESBOII.O?v7.H.

The Liberal member for Ktiaresborough has just
been speaking on the topics likely to come up for
consideration next session. He believes that the
Ballot will be adopted by the Government,-and that
the Irish land question, although an exceedingly diffi-
cult one, will be settled. Mr. Illingworth thinks
that it will be solved so as to do justice to the
tenants, whilst no injustice will be dealt out to the
landlords. As to the reciprocity cry, ho feared from
it no injury to our free-trade principles ; but, at the
same time, he considered that when we went to
France for a renewal of the treaty, we might reason-
ably ask for a reduction of their duties in the way of
reciprocity.

TILE COLONIAL OFFICIO AND TIIE___,NEW =A/AND

GOVERNALENT.

The unfortunate 18th Regiment—the last of the
regular troops left in New Zealand—has been the sub-
ject of much diplomatic correspondence. This regi-
ment had orders to leave the colony, but had not'
sailed when this controversy arose respecting it.
On the 22nd of July the Colonial. Minister,
Mr. Fox, wrote, strongly urging the necessity
of retaining the soldiers in New Zealand to prevent a
more extensive outbreak of the Maories. The party
of the native king, lie said, had not yet risen ; but it
was known to be disaffected, and. the withdrawal of
the last body of regular troops would be tantamount
to a desertion of the field of battle in face of the enemy.
So much were the ill effects of the withdrawal
feared that the New Zealand Parliament offered to retain
the soldiers by contributing part of their expenses.
The memorandum by Mr. Fox, and this decision of
the Legislature were forwarded to the Governor.
But Sir G. F. Bowen answered that repentance had
come too late. The troops were ordered away,
and the Governor could not stop them. The
matter had been taken entirely out of his hands.
There was, indeed, great danger of a more
extensive outbreak if the troops went away ;
but he could not keep them. The colonists
got in a terrible fright on hearing this. At
last, however, General Chute, under whose orders
the regiment was, and who had been instructed to
remove it, consented to take the responsibility of
keeping it in New Zealand until news came from the
Colonial Office respecting the offer of the Cclonial
Parliament to pay the cost of the troops.
Matters have remained in this state until last
Thursday Earl Granville sent off a despatch ordering
the immediate withdrawal of the 18th Regiment
without further delay. Tho Colonial Secretary
believes that the employment of British troops, even
if the colony bore the cost of them, must be attended
with such insuperable difficulties that such a course
cannot be permitted.
"All experience, and not least the experience of Now
Zealand itself, has shevrn the fatal consequences of carrying
on war under a divided authority. It can but lead to con-
tinued differences, imperfect co-operation, interrupted en-
terprises and the other evils which are alleged to have
characterised the Maori war. The British and colonial
troops must, therefore, be placed under the same command.
But, on the one hand, her Majesty's Government are
under a responsibility for the safety and honour and disci-
pline of British troops which they cannot transfer to a
Colonial Ministry; and, on the other hand, they could not
assume the conduct of a war, to be carried on ostensibly at
the expense of the colony, 'without making themselves
chargeable for its ill success, and entitling the colonists to
expect that it would be prosecuted at the expense, it neces-
sary, of this country to a successful issue.
It might, his lordship continues, be argued dat tho
troops should be employed merely in garrisons, and
not sent on active service, and further, that their
presence alone would do infinite good in morally ro-
straining the natives. Litt this cannot be relied on.
If disasters are apprehended, it is impossible to
inippose that the British • regiment would not be
counted on by the colonists as part of the force avail-
able to avert or retrieve them. And if disasters
occur, it is practically certain that the troops rill be
used.

"The alternative will then recur which I have shown to
be inadmissible. Either this country must place ita troops
at the command of a Government not responsible to itself,
or it must assume tho responsibility of the war, cr it must
resign itself to the disasters consequent on a double
Government."

Earl Granville concludes by expressing the opinion
that the true safety of the colonists lies in deherately
measuring their own resources, and, at whatever
imxiaetliata sacrifine, of arliustinz_theiriaalica_kt