The Fielding Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1883. Native Affairs.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 52, 4 October 1883, Page 2

The Fielding Star. THURSDAY , OCTOBER 4, 1883. Native Affairs.

Notwithstanding the awe believed to be inspired in the Natives by Mr Bkyck, the Native Minister, vet that feeling does not appear to be strong enough to prevent little ebullitions, which show that the moral restraint upon them is only of a very uncertain character. This is evinced every now and then by them either imprisoning intruding surveyors, breaking up and sending home road parties, removing and destroying beacons or in many other ways showing a desire to recover that perfect freedom enjoyed in the " good old times," when such a thing as a Native Policy or a Native Minister was nevr dreamed of. No sooner is the obstruction to the survey of the central line ot railway removed, or nearly simultaneously, two ol th" chiefs at Kawhia make themselves objectionable by removing the beacons erected to facilitate the navigation of that harbor, and so damage them that time and money has to be wasted in their re-erection. The chiets were requested to assist in repairing the damage, but declined on the grounds that they could not do so without instructions from Tawhiao. The characters of the chiefs in questiou are ot a somewhat turbulent nature, and it is well-known that they were concerned ia pulling up the survey pegs aleng the mad from Kawhia round to Aotea Harbor. It may safely be assumed that, in their case, the name of Tawhiao was used merely as a means of transferring what may turn out to be an unpl< •••.*-int responsibility, to a potentate, who is fonder ol strong drink than of handling the reins ol actual power, but who can temporarily shield them. We do not believe for a moment that poor Tawhiao knew anything about these matters until after they had been accomplished, and if he was consulted his opinion one way or another would cary verry little weight. From the remarkable knowledge displayed by these Native offenders of English law it is aim ist suggested to us that there are influences at work in the back ground which are put in force by certain interested Pakebas or PakehaMaoris, who have ends of their own to serve by inciting the Natives to small acts of partial rebellion. The whole history of Native troubles in NewZealand may be traced to these individuals, and their actions are generally so guarded that it is impossible to v fheet home " to any one of them a conviction ot his crime. The quick intelligence of the Maori enables him to act rapidly on the smallest hint, while the natural ingenuity of his mind assists him to avoid dangers that it would not suit him to meet, but the lapt thing he ever would dream of w uid be to give a Pakeha the blame for having incited him to follow a course of conduct that jumped with his own desires. So the very generosity as weil as the vanity ot the Maori is the sure prelection of the white traitor. The prompt action ot Mr Rkyce in sending- troops to the Kawhia to preserve order and protect the new settlers, ought to have a good effect, while the arrest (if effected) of ihe two chiefs who have given the excuse for putting armed men on the ground, may have a deterrent effect on others w*.o are similarly inclined to be treuMesome. It would have be* n much more desirable for Kawhia to have been occupied by European settlers without the necessity for 1 military protection. But this appears necessary under the cireumstauces.

We hope that the moral effect ot their presence will be sufficient to preserve c the peace. It innv be a difficult frisk allotted to the officer in comnurnd, t thnt of. steering- clear of auy collision with '.he natives It must not be tor-g-otten that the excitement of a skirmish has wonderiul attractions to the Maori during tbe warm eumui- r ( months, when the dread of tuture j consequences is put aside tor the time j ; until the cold and hunger ot the j ( winter reminds him of the blessings of peace, and teaches the policy ot sub- . mission until another and more con- , venient season. A knowledge of Mr , Bhyce's actions in the past prevents , any feeling ot uneasiness on that score. He is certain before his departure from Kawhia either to have definitely settled the whole difficult*, or he will have put affairs in such train that, it will be almost impossible for them to go wrong. He will have the satisfaction of knowing that whatever he deems wise to do will have the hearty support of a great '.sajority °l the colonists.