The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. Native Affairs.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1063, 2 October 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. Native Affairs.

When Mr Bryce first took office as Native Minister it was ostentatiously announced that, for the future, Native affairs were to be administered on entirely new principles. The Native Department, which was supposed to be the peculiar home of mysterious iniquity, and had been styled “an Augsean stable ” times without number, was to be forthwith abolished for good and all ; the Maoris, instead of being pampered with flour, sugar and similar delicacies at the public expense, were to be severely let alone, and left to pay for their own luxuries j purchases of Native lands by th£ Government were to cease, and the bugbear of “ Native difficulties ” was to disappear for ever. In short, Native affairs, which had up to that time occupied an undue and most expensive prominence in colonial politics, were to sink into insignificance, and the colony was to be taught by practical experience how it had been deluded by a miserable imposture. Circumstances, however, have proved too strong for Mr Bryce. Making allowance for the yearly increasing strength of the colony, and the consequent augmentation of its power to keep the Maoris in subjection, combined with the effects of civilisation upon the Natives themselves, which year by year must tend to render the continuance of peace more certain and the work . of Government easier, we really do not see any material difference between the present and past administration of Native affairs. The Native Department still flourishes ; the Government is still engaged in buying Maori lands; and instead of the Natives being left alone, Mr Bryce seems to be always on the alert to push settlement farther into the heart of the Maori country, while a crop of petty Native troubles seems to be always claiming his attention. We fear indeed that his success in settling the Parihaka difficulty has awakened the aggressiveness of Mr, Bryce’s nature, and excited an inconvenient ardour in his usually staid mind. An illustration of these remarks will be found in what is now going on at Kawhia. That port has been regarded as the port of the King country. The Natives have always jealously objected to its being opened, to European commerce. Whether it is so opened or not is really a matter of very little consequence to, the colony. It is never likely to be anything but a small seaport; and the chief end to be attained by throwing it open is that such a proceeding would largely aid in breaking down the cordon by which the King Natives have; sought to guard the territory occupied by them from the encroachments of the settlers. Doubtless, years ago, when Tawhiao’s power was formidable and a standing menace to the peace of the colony, such an end was an important one and worthy the effort of a Minister to ach'eve; but Tawhiao is now better than a drunken imbecile; he ts impotent for evil; and it is but a question of time when the entire fabric of his sovereignty will sink into ruin. Hence we affirm; that whatever m a y have been the case in days gone.by, the colony must now regard the opening of Kawhia to European commerce as a matter of no moment.

Mr Bryce, however, has spent con- ® siderable time and pains in accomplish- . ing this work; but his success evidently rankles in the minds of the 3 Kingites, and a few days ago this feeling found vent in the destruction of the beacons which had been erected in the harbor by the Government. The * natural result is that Mr Bryce finds , himself obliged to vindicate the authory ity of the Government, and the Armed Constabulary are brought upon the ) scene: For, the sake of opening the port of Kawhia, the colony is hence- • forth to be laden with the expense of a military establishment there. Over ’ one hundred men, it is said, are to be ; stationed at Kawhia, and there will be of course the usual outlay in fortifying the post. The mischief is that this multiplication of military posts on the 1 Native frontier renders anything like a substantial reduction in the numbers of the Armed Constabulary impossible, i These outlying posts must be kept up to a proper degree of strength, otherwise they will, by inviting attack, become a source of danger instead of safety. Now, whatever may be the opinions and wishes of the settlers in the south-western part of the North Island, the colony, as a whole, is anxiously longing to get rid of its standing army. So long as the Armed Constabulary is kept up to a war strength, so long will Native difficulties occur to find it employment. Such at least is the general impression; and this latest move of Mr Bryce’s will tend to deepen it. We have spent far too much blood and treasure upon Maori wars to desire any more fighting; and the colonists of the Middle Island, at any rate, are content to let the Maoris open their lands to European settlement just as fast and no faster than they like. The influence of civilisation is eating into the core of Maori habits, and the let-alone policy is the cheapest and best one to pursue in dealing with our Maori fellow-subjects. An Insolent Councillor. On the occasion of the last Borough Council election we ventured to give Mr St Hill a little kindlymeant advice as to his being more careful in future in the wanton use of his tongue. Whether the Councillor in question is too selfopinionated to take notice of such counsel we know not, but at last night’s meeting he made another sorry exhibition of his lamentable failing. The object of his wrath on this occasion was ourselves, although we confess we are unable to discover any reason for his attack. In the middle of a discus- > sion on some unimportant matter Mr 1 St Hill rose in his seat and informed 1 his brother Councillors that he con- j sidered the Guardian a “ nauseous ” j paper, whose columns were made a \ “ receptacle for political filth.” Nor 1 was this all. He had evidently been I nursing his wrath to keep it warm, and 1 he went on to show that his ornithological knowledge is not limited to in- t formation concerning the habits of the r “ bright harbinger of spring.” With a f

characteristic eccentricity of pronunciation, he compared us with what die called the “ hadjutant bird of Calcutter,” a simile that he appeared to consider very crushing. Let it be understood that we have not noticed this affair upon personal grounds.

Indeed so little do we care for Mr St Hill’s , disapproval of the manner in which this journal is conducted, that we should make every effort to gain his bad opinion as a sure passport to the good opinion of those most competent to judge. Neither are we surprised at the quality of the language used. Give us the name of the animal, and it is easy to predict what kind of sound will issue from its mouth, and our previous experience told us that Mr St Hill was about the last man in the world to attempt to spoil the effect of an uncivil thing by saying it civilly—even if that were in his power. So long as he remains a simple Councillor the intemperateness of Mr St Hill is not likely to do much harm, except to his own reputation, but it is an open secret that he has an ambition to fill the Mayoral chair. His language of last evening is alone sufficient to show that it would not be creditable to the burgesses of Ashburton if at any time they should plac? him in such a

position. It may not be necessary that a Mayor should possess great ability, but he should at least know how to observe the amenities. There is a story told of the renowned Captain Jackson Barrv, who many years ago officiated as Mayor of Crqmwell, a small town in Otago. Sir George Grey, at that time Governor of the colony, was making a tour of New Zealand, and in

due course he paid a visit to Cromwell Tired out with the ceremonials attach

ing to the reception of so important a magnate, Barry took the Governor aside, saying, “Lookee ’ere, Sir George, never mind that rubbish. Come round ’ere and I’ll show yer the best pigs in New Zealand !”■ Even in the early days such a Mayor as this was reckoned an anomaly ; and how much more so would it be in these times. There is an obvious moral attaching to this little story,, which it would be well for Ashburton people to remember, if at any time Mr St Hill’? ambition should tempt him to contest the Mayoral seat