THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1881.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2338, 30 September 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1881.

native affairs. Events appear to be maturing on the West Coast of the North Island. When two Ministers abruptly take their departure for the scene it is somewhat of a stretch of imagination to declare that the situation remains absolutely unchanged. It may be unchanged from what it was a few days ago, bnt it certainly differs vastly from that which obtained a few weeks back. At the best, if the two Ministers are only going on ordinary business, the move implies that the presence of the Native Minister on the scene of action is considered of such importance that he cannot ho spared even for a few days. Indeed, without in any way wishing to take up the rule of alarmists, wo cannot help recognizing the fact that there is just cause for anxiety. It may be difficult to sift the value of the various rumors which are flying in the air, but the general tenor of them point, at all ©vents, to a feeling of distrust amongst certain of the settlers in the district, and, even when no such want of confidence is exhibited, the residents evidently consider that it is wise to he prepared for any emergency, and are laying themselves out to meet force by force if unfortunately an attack should occur and a raid ho made by the Natives on the settled districts. One aspect of the question in particular cannot be overlooked. The present state of uncertainty militates strongly against the success of the colonising of the Plains, and thus aims at a vital point of the policy which has throughout been adopted by the Government. It is needless to recapitulate at length that policy. Briefly, it laid down as a cardinal point the peaceful solution : of the Native difficulty on the West Coast by the settlement of an active and j industrious population on the parts that ( were not handed over as reserves to the , Maoris. Any disturbance, therefore, that 1 may serve to keep away population from J the Plains, or that may render their ( cultivation unlncrative, aims a blow r at the very root of the whole matter, i Indeed, it is very possible that the pre- < sent attitude of the Natives is designed ‘ by Te Whiti for the purpose of dissemi- , nating distrust, and for no other reason, i He may hope to put off, at all events, the ] evil day when the existence of a pros- • perous European community in his j immediate neighbourhood will render his , existence of comparative unimportance. ( The present attitude of the Natives may J possibly only be the first of a series of J demonstrations deliberately planned to j delay the progress of settlement in the i district. If such be the case. Ministers I have two dangers to guard against in- ! stead of one. The first is the actual , danger of hostilities breaking out; the ( second, and more subtle one, is the danger < that Te Whiti is endeavouring to sap the \ very foundation of their policy. With j regard to the first, the duty of the ] Executive is clear enough. In lies in i strengthening our force on the West j Coast, in guarding against surprise, and J in taking care that, should we draw the ( sword, the combat should bo short, sharp, < and decisive. As (o the second danger, the game they will have to play will < require more deliberation. It will * be more difficult because the initiative ’ •mil lie with them. It is evident £ that they cannot afford to let matters t remain for any length of time on their < present footing. Even apart from the - political aspect, the settlers in those parts j look to Government to see that their , tenure of the land they have lately pur- ] chased is a good one, and they have the I right to claim safety for their property ' and persons. Government, therefore, . even if the Natives do not “mean ; business,” have before them the delicate | operation of judging when they shall act decisively to put an end to a crisis which j will shortly become unbearable. They will, we feel confident, have the con- : fidence of the country to back them np. As we have previously pointed out, the ; great difference between the position at the present moment and when Mr. Bryce i proposed to march on Parihaka and seize Hiroki is that the public was not then prepared for active measures, hut is now altogether ready to back up the Ministry should it consider that the time has arrived for action.

As the stronger our position may happen to be in Taranaki the easier will be the task of the Government, it may be well to glance briefly at the number of constabulary we may he able to bring into the field, and the state of our posts around Parihaka. The latest published returns gave 522 men in the Patea and Taranaki districts. Besides these, there are the men who have joined the force from this and the North Island, and it is probable that, when all the recruiting is finished, the total force will come up to between 900 and 1000 men. The constabulary on the ground are perfectly disciplined and well armed, and are under the command of an officer in whom they have the greatest conficence. The “ New Zealand Herald,” in speaking of their distribution, says that “ they are in camps at Pungarehu, Rahotu, Egmont, Opunake and Manaia, the first-named of these being only a mile-and-a-balf from Parihaka itself. At each of these stations there are redoubts, impregnable to Maoris, and they are all connected by telegraph.” The outside estimate of the fighting men at Parihaka has been put down at 1000, but they have no discipline, are not perfectly armed, are badly provisioned, and have no reserves except in the improbable contingency of a general Native rising. At the back of our force, on the other hand, there are bodies of active volunteers who have declared their readiness to go to the front, there are the possibilities involved in the Militia Act, and there are the resources of a wealthy community. A struggle between two such forces would be of short duration. It will bo the earnest wish of every one that extreme measures may be avoided, but, should the crisis come, it is at least satisfactory that victory is a foregone conclusion.