THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1880. THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2097, 12 November 1880, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1880. THE PARIHAKA BLOCK.

The views of our morning contemporary, the “ Lyttelton Times,” on the present aspect of the Native question are somewhat peculiar. It is of opinion that the Parihaka block is to he surveyed and put up for sale for the sole purpose of destroying Te Whiti’s mana, at the eminent risk of forcing on a war. Our contemporary ignores the fact that the settlement of the Parihaka Block was specially recommended by the West Coast Commission, as it was natural it should be. The whole policy of that Commission was a due attention to the legal rights of the Natives, combined with a recommendation that the land should he settled as soon as possible and as thickly as possibly; and the more thickly Parihaka itself was surrounded by colonists, the stronger would our position become. As for any shirking with regard to the settlement of the block, that was never hinted at. We could understand any journal complaining that the Government were following out too rigidly the lines laid down by tha Commission; hut to take up the position that the advice given was ignored, shows a total ignorance of the real facts of the case, and of the whole spirit of tho Commissioners’ Report. With regard to the danger |of the course adopted, we would point out that, up to tha present, the firm attitude assumed by the Government has had an admirable effect. Dreadful things was predicted when the weak policy of the late Administration was changed for Mr. Bryce’s firmer movements. The fanaticism of the Natives was reckoned on as being certain to precipitate a rupture if once the_ Waimate Plains were attempted to he surveyed. And yet a largo part of these plains has been cut up and sold and Te Whiti, wiser in his generation than he was given credit for, has bowed to the will of the European, and has not elected to trust to the arbitrament of the sword. A great step has been gained by the accomplishment of this sale, and it cannot bo wondered at that tho completion of tho policy laid out by tho Commission should have been determined upon. It is, of couso, useless to say that there is no risk in tho new move, but there has been risk throughout. When tho constabulary first crossed the Waingongoro there was a risk, and it has continued, more or loss, over since. But tho danger would not be lessened by a faltering policy, rather the contrary. The Government has not gained its present vantage point by listening to the timid counsellings of the supporters of the past Government. Tho policies of tho two Governments are as far apart as they possibly can be. That of tho present Government is consistent and firm. Founding its action on the advice of capable experts, who with every wish to do ample justice to the Natives, have pointed out a route, not without hazard indeed, but leading to the safest goal, they have gone on step by step, like skilful commanders securing their rear before a fresh move is made, until at

last they find themselves in a position to put the coping stone on their endeavours by surrounding Parihaba itself, as the Commission advised, by a ring of settlements and roads. They are, as they have been all along, prepared for the ■worst should that worst take place, but it is manifest that, as the area of Te Whiti’s operations decreases, so does his power for evil. With the Constabulary firmly placed to the seaward of Parihaka, with their communications epen, with a largo number of Te Whiti’s braves in durance vile, and with no intention whatsoever on the part of the Natives in other parts of the island, to support him, the prophet will think twice before he abandons the mysteriously safe attitude ho has hitherto thought fit to adopt. Should he lose his head, however, or be driven by the fanaticism of his followers into drawing the sword, the prestige acquired by the present Government, the strategical points they have gained, and the fact that they are now within easy striking distance of Parihaka will prove invaluable. It is evident that it would be folly for the present Government to bo bent out of its settled course by arguments founded on such a fickle basis as the possible intentions of To Whiti. However, as the “ Lyttelton Times ” seems considerably exercised over the situation, we would suggest a method by which it might gain an insight into the true position of affairs. It is a plan which will have to be carried out at once if at all, owing to circumstances over which our contemporary has no control. Its valuable and esteemed special correspondent might be instructed to hasten to the front and arrange for another interview with Mr, Kimbell Bent, and gain from him an inkling as to the intentions of the Parikaka Natives. But the affair will have to come off at once. Mr. Bent, we understand from a Northern journal, is about to proceed to Auckland owing to an unfortunate family occurrence. Not to put too fine a point upon it, his wife, a daughter of the chief Tamatawa, has taken unto herself another husband, exercising a right claimed by Maori ladies of lofty extraction, and consequently Mr. Bent is a-weary of the district, and his valuable hints on the present situation should be obtained at once. That these unfortunate matrimonial differences should deprive our contemporary of a source whence much otherwise hidden information might be brought to light is to be deplored. But still a push to the front might be made by its special correspondent without loss of time, and Kimbell Bent’s latest views might be unearthed. Those views, properly doctored, would prove a valuable addition to the sources from whence our I contemporary forms its estimate of the position of Native affairs.