The Evening Star Thursday, September 8, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2290, 8 September 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star Thursday, September 8, 1870.

The comparative peace that has been enjoyed in the North Island since the assumption of office by the present Government, has not been the result of mere accident. It is the joint effect of personal influence, judicious measures, and niilitary success. We in the Middle Island cannot gather from the Northern papers any accurate knowledge of the sometimes difficult, and always delicate, task of dealing with the Native race. The information they give is generally imperfect, partly perhaps through not being in possession of the exact details, but principally no doubt because they write for a section of the Colonists to whom most of them are familiar. Then again we have comments upon the Government measures colored by political or pai'ty feeling, and are sometimes perplexed what to accept and what to reject—what to approve and what to condemn of the opinions of our con-

temporaries. The annual meeting of - Parliament throws some light on these subjects—not so much through the

debates that take place, as through the

more sober,: matter-of-fact papers laid on the table. They, however, are only thej interpreters of history. They relate to things gone by; but they were the'antecedents leading up to present ; tp, wade through the letters of Native chiefs. • Ifcris-not always possible to arrive at their meaning. We know there are admirers of the primitive and poetical of thought in which they abound,; fpr o\tr ’ own parts, we bad .have tP *lo with people who transact business more precisely and 'nedu^^y.; It requires inuch tact and tP adapt one’s mode of and expression to Native com-

pi'ehoasioilj in this respect it is Jijfyilpi the polony owes much to M‘iaa®v*liße Minister for Native Affailg.,. lie., meets the chiefs in their , own stg&a, S has extensive correspondence with' them, gathers information from every quarter, and, without committing himself, directs their opinions, and secures their confidence. Not unfrequently appeals are made by him to old associations, to personal friendships, to bygone transactions. Thus on one occasion, writing to Te Mamaku, Upper Whanganui, says : Salutations. It is now many years since 1 last saw you, on the occasion of a journey which I made down the Whanganui River. I remember the conversation wc had together in th-i evening, when you said. ‘‘ Tne moss does not grow on the .small trees or the f ores (i_on the ugaio, or on the korimoko, or other trees of no value- -the moss grows only on the totara, on the kah’katea, and on o her large trees. ” This was a simile used by .you in reference to your grey hairs. At that time 1 was a young man ; now I also have grey hair. It is for you to see the nurrow on which we shall meet again. lam surprised at the length of time which has elapsed since we last met. I have made constant enquiries after you. Writing to another chief, Pehi Turoa, lie mixes up friendship with business, and writes thus :

Friend Pehi,— Salutations to you, to Tahau, and to Topia. The report of your desires has reached me. 1 also am-very desirous that we should see each other : many years have now elapsed since we last met. It is gratifying to me to know of your desire that Whanganui shall remain in D6tlC6. There is but one thing now to cause trouble amongst n% and that is Tr. Kooti, who is going about doing his work of murder. You, however, have done right in expelling that man, as Matutuera also expelled him when he went to Waikato. My friends, do not allow murders and other violent deeds to be committed in your district, because you have hitherto been looked upon as a tribe of chiefs. It is well that we should arrange a meeting to be held in summer, rhat matters may then be talked over, and also that I may again see my former friends. It would be very easy to multiply extracts to a similar effect, but this is not needed to prove the wide difference between the plvns of the present. Government and that of Mr Stafford. He sought to conquer a peace : the present Ministry seeks to secure one. Mr M‘Lean has used his personal influence to good effect, and has rendered good service to the Colony, but a peace dependent so much on personal influence has after all only a rickety foundation.