The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1871.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2569, 12 May 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1871.

According to monthly custom, the Daily Times has this morning published a leader no doubt intended to be sent Home with its summary. This leader is founded on a cock-and-bull story given by one of our contemporary’s Northern correspondents. This gentleman’s letter, which was published on Monday, by any other journal would have been rejected as rigmarole. It deals in fears and surmises. It sets forth imaginary dangers with all the gravity of fact. The “ settlers” in New Plymouth are described .*s being in constant fear through the vigilance of the armed police, who are stated to be causing a shaking amongst the native nerves through such practices as “ scouring the bush.” So far as we are concerned we have witnessed so many literary antics, the product of the pen of that same Taranaki correspondent, that we know exactly what value to place upon his statements. More than once he has been the means of placing our contemporary in' most ridiculous dilemmas ; reliable accounts telling precisely an opposite story to that with which he garnishsd his budget of news. It may answer the purpose the Daily Times has in view to retain such correspondents, but it is rather too bad to invite the public to put faith in their perversions. We are not more in love with the old officials in the Native department than he is. We believe that had it been possible for the present government to have shipped the lot off, including the Taranaki correspondent, to Fiji, or anywhere else where their tongues and pens would have been perfectly harmless, the . Colony would have gained immensely by the transaction. It is such as they who unsettle both the native and the European mind. Their speeches, their writings, their actions, tend to engender suspicion and jealousy. We do not know who Mr. Inspector Noakes is, but we suppose when he takes his constabulary through the bush he has his reasons for it; either to protect those very persons who shake in their shoes at the sight of a few constables in motion, or in all probability to accustom his men, as a matter of drill, to traversing that description of country in which their services may possibly be required. The oddest feature in this correspondent’s letter is, that he not only professes to relate facts that are passing, but he is familiar with all the doings of government and the feelings of friend and foe. “ The settlers,” we are told, “ are getting very dissatisfied with “ the Government for permitting a “ divided authority to exist in the con- “ duct of Native affairs in this Pro- “ vince.” Wonderful settlers, to know so much ! The only doubt in the South is, Is it true? Then what a model population of settlers New Plymouth must possess ! Notwithstanding the wrong done the Natives in their not being employed to cut a bit of road, which the police had undertaken to do, after necessary defensive measures had been adopted—notwithstanding the curtailment of Mr Parris’s influence, respecting which we in the South ought to be devoutly thankful—notwithstanding the “ scouring of “ the bush ” by Mr Inspector Noakes —notwithstanding the terrific shaking of the nerves of the settlers—notwithstanding the suspicions of TIiOKO

Waru— notwithstanding the salutary fright with which the Natives view fixed bayonets—these Northern settlors in the Patea district, who received handsome assistance from the Government some two years ago, and probably would have no objection to another dose of the same sort at the same price, are so bumble-minded that if they .are only let alone, they will set to and propagate children until, waiting thus “ peacefully ” “ on their lands,” “ the “ population shall have out-numbered “ their enemies , and they will be better “ able to cope with them.” Were we asked to designate this kind of writing, we could give it no more expressive name than “bunkum.” Wo should not complain of this sort of thing were its effect confined to New Zealand. But our credulous contemporary no sooner reads this “ bunkum ” than he catches the infection, and forthwith fills his loading column with twaddle and sends it Home to influence the Stock Market, and to prevent immigration. Had these old-wife quakings not carried their own refutation and condemnation with them, we should have felt it onr duty to have made such inquiries as would have placed the matter in a right light before the

public. As it is, our only regret is that, through the ability with which the Daily Times was once conducted, its opinions continue to exert an influence at Home, which is damaging to the Colony. We do not say there will be no more Native difficulty, but we do confidently say that, unless past mistakes are repeated, wo are quite prepared to cope with the occasional disturbances that may occur.