The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1882.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3535, 6 November 1882, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1882.

Mr Brtce has experienced the disappointments of his predecessors, and once more have the King and his native followers declined the paths of civilisation. Mr Bryce has therefore returned to Auckland and withdrawn the liberal offers that he had made to Tawhiao as the price of his mock sovereignty. Wβ are not disappointed at the result. The Maoris in that part of the Island are evidently not prepared to abandon their isolation and open the gates to the Pakeha. It is better for the country, and better for the Maori tbat it is so. What should we gain by a different state of thiugs ? What benefits would have been derived either by the natives or by the colonists generrally if Mr Bryce's offers had been accepted ? The immediate result would have been to the Maoris a flood of land sharks over the whole of the country ; an inroad of pedlars, and the introduction of small stores and sly-grog shops. From none of these things would any benefit be derived by the natives, nor would civilisation be advanced one iota. Trouble of one sort or another would have inevitably ensued. Then, having the liberty to do so, the Government would have deemed it neceesary to take preliminary steps for the construction of a railway somewhere or another through the country in the I direction of Taranaki, with a view to the expenditure of the million loan authorised last session. The colony at large does not want the loan raised for that purpose, and its expenditure would certainly do the colony no good. Nor in the interests of settlement is it desirable to open up the Kiag country. There is abundance of land open for settlement of quite as good quality as Naboth's vioeyard. Till the Pakeha is pinched for room can the colony afford to wait; and when that time arrives Tawhiao or his successor will come to us with an offer. Nothing is to be gained by any effort on our part to enter in where we are not wanted ; and, howevermuch may be Mr Bryce's disappointment, we cannot but think that the colony is to be congratulated on the failure of his mission. It is to be hoped that this failure will definitely settle the question, and tbat the King natives will be permitted to rest at peace. There should be no hostility shown to them because they have chosen to please themselves. They were at liberty to do so. Mr Bryce's offer to them recognised this libsrty. If they were not tree to choose between isolation Jand interference why was any offer ever made them ? In choosing as they have done, however, it is not to be understood that Tawhiao's claims to independent sovereignty have any more force than formerly. To the Government he can be uothing more than a subject of the Queen, and any attempt on his part to assert independence can lead to but one result.