BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1873.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume I, Issue 70, 3 May 1873, Page 3

BAY OF PLENTY TIMES. “ The spirit of the times shall teach me speed.” KING JOHN, ACT IV. SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1873.

Ix our advertising columns will be found an advertisement, signed bj Mr Moss, Secretary to the Board of Education* convening a meeting of householders for the purpose of electing a School Committee for the ensuing twelve months. We trust that the personnel of the future committee will receive ample consideration from the body of electors, Mfe can conceive no subject of greater significance to the future welfare of this naturally favoured district, than the education of its rising generation. That, hitherto, the veil-being of our youth has not received that attention which it merited, has never been denied. Too much has been left to chance, too much confidence has been . reposed in “ the powers that he.” The motto of theTauranga settlers has seemed to be Laissez aller,” which in English means “ let it rip.” Now, we cannot afford to let things rip ; everything depends on our making use of the present, and leaving nothing to chance. The meeting of householders called for next Monday evening, is convened under the Education. Act, 1872. Under one of the clauses great power is given to voters, reference has already E an made to this clause by Mr Edgcumbe, J.P., and other speakers on the Education Act, 1872, vho, one and all, seem to think that by k great inducements are offered to cliquism,” which, to quote Mr Edgcambe’s words, “ is the bane of any community.” Believing as we do, that Jhe Education Act, 1872, will be one of we principal questions of interest at the election of members for the rovincial Council (at any rate in this strict), we refrain from offering any opauons on the merits or demerits of the Act and its several clauses. While, howmcr, refraining from criticising the Act, We feel that it is our duty to do all in our j^ er impress on the householders of district the absolute necessity of exercising caution in the choice of memthe local Board. We cannot out think that those settlers who send to the District School are p e mass of men from which tho District -ommittec should be chosen, rather than ola ranks of those settlers whose

g ."' ei ' wl “>t is considered n 6 apS c a su P Grior education. hn f - h ° , former » their hearts t ivmi n /. irelyui thG work, affecting as ntorrS / IT 1 ? first and most vital in *° f ch ’ ldre «; whereas, m the case ot the latter, and on the principle of “ blood being thicker than «ater, it must naturally follow- that their brat consideration would bo for the and prosperity of their particular school, to the neglect of the what may be called its “ National School.” in making these remarks, we do not wish m any w-y to reflect on the members of last year’s School Committee. We believe that their duties, though perhaps not wisely, have at any rate been conscientiously performed; but -we must repeat that we would much prefer to see the members for the next year selected rom the ranks of settlers who, from the tact of their children being educated at the District School, are the class of men most personally interested in the wellbemg of the school. From very obvious aeasons we refrain from mentioning names or settlers suitable for members of the Hoard. We most sincerely trust that every householder will be present at the school house next Monday evening, at 7 p.m., for the purpose of electing a committee, m which case we have no doubt that the most suitable and interested settlers will be chosen for the School Committee.

The re lent unfortunate occurrence in the Waikato will no doubt be quoted by some individuals as a proof that the friendly relations supposed at present to exist between the pakeha and Maori are not fixed upon a firm basis. To those who will only take the trouble to ascertain the real tacts of the case it will be at once apparent that no political significance can be attached to the murder; and as the East Coast has hitherto aiways been associated with the native difficulty it may not, be out of place if we lay before our readers the real facts connected with the Waikato murder. It no doubt is well known to most of our settlers that some dispute relative to the native ownership of certain lands in the Waikato present in possession of Me srs Walker and Douglas, has long existed. Some portion of the land is claimed fay the Ngatihaua (William 1 hompson’s tribe), and a small party of roughs, m reality having a very small interest in the matter, determined to assert and endeavour to make themselves notorious by taking some step that should show that, though occupied, the land was still under native control. Sullivan and his mates happened to be the first unfortunates indivictuals that presented themselves after this deterruination was fixed. The result is too well known : Sullivan was killed—basely murdered, and, what is worse, mutilated. It has been reported that some personal grievance led to his death ; but we believe that any European that day would have met the same late. Whether the action of a party of roughs may or may not become a mail er of political importance has yet to be seen. A murder has been committed, and of course the Gfoverument will do all they possibly can to brincr the perpetrator to justice. If he should be. sheltered and protected by the King party, it is evident they intend to support his cause ; but for our own part we have too much faith in the common sense of the Maori “King,” let alone any repugnance he may feel to giving his countenance to a brutal murder, to imagine for one moment he will use hie assumed position, as a shelter and cover to one who must appear, even in Maori eyes, as a criminal. Nations may differ considerably on various political points—laws of extradition may be agreed upon, but when murder is the crime, even amongst savages, the criminal is looked upon with abhorrence, and if not actually given up, at all events receives no support or protection.