The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

expense and inconvenience to the colonists, but be- ,
cause a war of that kind offers such formidable ob-..
stacles to the social progress and internal develop-. ,
went of a young State. It is impossible for tralie
and commerce to thrive, for industry to prospcx,,
for agriculture to be profitably pursued, and for any'
of the arts of peace to flourish, amid the disturb-
ances and excitements of any war, more especially
of a war :with semi-savages in a half - cultivatei
State, where the suburban population have to tak e
refuge in the towns, and in which the great idea •of
the enemy is to lay in wait and to destroy. IL is
encouraging therefore to those who interest them-
selves in the future of New Zealand to learn from
Wellington that not only does the north island re-
main quiet, but that tribe after tribe continue to
send in expressions of their desire for peace, They
arc sometimes unwilling to make a formal submis-
sion, owing to the degradation which they consider
is involved in the admission of having been con-
quered, and it is not thought necessary to extort
this from them, but those on the spot feel neverthe-
less confident of their future pacific intentions.
The tone of the relations between the white men
and the natives is said to be altered, and whereas
the colonists used to complain before the war that
every one was afraid to interfere with the Maories,
who were suffered to insult and despoil them as
they liked, it is now stated that even the local
magistrates speak with authority, and insist
upon being obeyed. A strict upholding of law
and order is quite consistent with a full,
regard for the rights and privileges of the
natives, only it will be necessary to guard against
further disputes respecting the tenure of land. It
should be clearly and unmistakably decided what
districts belong to the natives, and they should be
left in undisturbed possession. It would be well
for a time at least to avoid even making any offers
to purchase the land which is native property, since
by so doing the whites are apt to get involved in
wearisome disputes as to rights of ownership and
the rival claims of tribes and families. Now that the
natives have been made to feel the strength of Euro-
peans and have been forced into submission, it is
to the interest of the colonists no less than of the
Maories to preserve the hardly-earned peace. Any
mere temporary advantage in the acquisition of
land, or any other object, will be dearly bought by
the renewal of those disturbances which not only
interfere with the trade and progress of the island,
but hinder immigration and damage the reputation
of the country. Industrial and respectable me-
chanics, artisans, and agriculturists emigrating with
their families are the very people whom New Zea-
land most wants ; but it cannot be expected that
they will be likely to select a new country that is
disturbed and unsafe, in which they will be liable
to native attacks, and may be called on to bear the
expenses of a war. An interesting incident in re-
lation to this question of immigration is mentioned
in the news just received from New Zealand. Bishop
MONRAD, formerly Prime Minister of Denmark, has
been visiting at Government House. The object of
his visit has been to settle his sons near Wellington,
and to report the advantages which the colony
offers to the many Danish families who are anxious
to avoid the results of the war in their own country.
New Zealand possesses many attractions for a quiet
pastoral people, and they would form a useful addi-
tion to the population. The colony has every pro-
spect of a fair and prosperous future, if only the
renewal of internal disturbances can be avoided,
and this we trust may be done by a wise combina-
tion of firmness and conciliation, and by strict
justice in the division of the lands.

It is quite impossible to understand the doings Of
the Emperor of ABYSSINIA, but the public will learn
with regret that the intelligence conveyed by her
MAJESTY'S steamer Victoria, on its return to Aden,
was that the Rev. Mr. STEIR and the other captives
had again been imprisoned, and that Mr. RASSAM
had also been made a prisoner. This information
is the more distressing, because it was hoped that by
this time these much-tried men were set at liberty.
The only conclusion we can arrive at is that they
must, by some means or other, have offended the
irascible potentate who now regulates their destinies.
There is an account from the Times of -India, which
records the meeting of Mr. RASSAM with the Emperor
THEODORUS. It would seem from this that the most
favourable intentions prevailed concerning the fate
of the captives, but so false and fickle are these un-
civilised people that there is really no placing any
reliance upon their doings or sayings. They are far
more to be trusted when they make vows of ven-
geance than when they make professions of friend-
ship, and so those unfortunate captives and their
friends have found to their cost. The particulars
are not given to us of the detention of Mr. RASSAM
and the prisoners who arrived subsequently to the
meeting referred to. It seems almost incredible that
this should have taken place after the flatteripg
speeches and complimentary acts here recorded.
Three miles from the camp Mr. RASSAM and his
friends received a message that his MAJESTY would
have all his officers of state to meet them, and
escort them to the court. In the interview which
subsequently took place nothing could exceed the
courteousness of the EMPEROR, who went into
details about his grievances. Exaggerated as his
statements of course were, it will readily be per-
ceived by those who dwell upon them, that great
mismanagement prevailed at the earlier stage of
this business, and that the late Government con-
- trived by their conduct to exasperate the EMPEROR
until lie scarcely seemed to know what he was about.
We can also see how mistaken was the course pur-
sued by Mr. CAMERON and the missionaries, in in-
censing the authorities as they did by their unwise
demeanour and excited language. The EMPEROR
dwelt particularly upon the indignation he felt at
their conduct, but Mr. RASSAM contrived at that
time to soothe the excitable monarch. The next
day, at another interview, the EMPEROR repeated
his against the European prisoners, but de-
clared harecdtrhgaets he was glad to see Mr. RASSAM at last.
lie also gave Mr. ItAssAm a letter he had written
to the Queen of ENGLAND in reply to one which
that gentleman had
thatbrought
hhime
hadfrom forgiven
her Majesty.
In In this epistle he said
European prisoners, and made them
theov prertoeselkinitrs.
RASSAM. The EMPEROR also received
brought to him, and expressedhissatthisaftacetxioisntetdhere
there-
upon as a token of the friendship
be-
tween him and the British nation. Mr. RASSAM
afterwards went with the KING and thearmytohine
his way to Thoraten, where he was to await
arrival of the prisoners. During this journey he
had an opportunity of witnessing the fierce disposi-
tion of the EMPEROR, for they passed two districts
which were to be destroyed, and left as a waste
and a warning to other places not to provoke his
wrath by their rebellion. During the conversation
:they had together the EMPEROR told Mr. RASSAM
why he had kept him waiting so long before seeing
wished to find out if he was different
lOn the other English he had known, but he
ha*sa•slioNSseti he- WaS patient. Several presents
were mace to Mr. RASSAM by the EMPEROR, and
they parted on the best terms, the former having
wisely prevented his MAJESTY from seeing the pri-
soners as he intended for fear of any altercation
taking place. A Court was held in the tent of Mr.
RASSAM, and all the released prisoners confessed