THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 1881. NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2350, 14 October 1881, Page 3

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 1881. NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The increasing tension in the state of Native affairs is a subject of general remark. Since we last wrote on the question at the close ef the past month, the Maoris have continued to act in the manner which then caused the Government such grave anxiety, and, beyond the fact that no Native preparations for war appear to have been made, nothing has occurred to reassure the Ministers and the settlers. News from the front is frequently of a very contradictory nature, hut this much may be affirmed with safety; that the temper of the Natives themselves varies from day to day, that they are still devoted to their prophet, and that the Europeans in those parts are quite as much puzzled as to the solution of the present crisis as are those at a distance. In point of fact the problem is not so much what the Natives themselves may think or wish as what Te Whiti may think proper to plan. Louis XIV. with hia IS 1C tat e’est AToi, was not more autocratic than is the old schemer at Parihaka, and it ia pretty clear that, although he may have secret misgivings about the permanence of his mana, he has every intention of holding the reins of power to the last gasp. But as he ia remarkably reticent, and takes refuge in parable whenever he may happen to be pressed in argument, it is almost impossible to ascertain what the outcome of the present state of things would be if events were left to shape themselves. But the Ministry, who have hitherto acted with remarkable forbearance, are apparently determined to put a stop to a state of affairs which is harrassing to the colony, and which delays settlement on the West Coast. For it must bo remembered, as we have previously pointed out, that anything that tends to delay the settlement of a numerous population along the sea board of Taranaki aims at the very root of the Ministerial policy, inasmuch as it was one of the cardinal points in : that policy that the Native difficulty should be eventually put an end to by the smothering, as it were, of the disaffected Natives by a ring of Europeans permanently squatting on the confiscated land. Among the most decided indications of a desiro on the part of the Government to end the existing state of tension may he reckoned the circular telegram issued to the Volunteer officers in all parts of the colony, asking if their respective districts would be disposed to furnish Volunteers for service on the West Coast, the men to ha paid at tho same rate as the Armed Constabulary. Nothing hut a desire to concentrate a large force at one spot for a specific object could have dictated such a telegram. As we know there are, or will shortly he, about 1000 Armed Constabulary close up to Parihaka, of whom between 500 and 600 men are well trained. Should the Ministerial offer he accepted to any large extent, it is very evident that an overwhelming force would soon be collected, ready to take a decisive step towards bringing To Whiti and his followers to their senses. It is to ho presumed that the services of well-trained Volunteers only would bo accepted, and a contingent formed of such material would furnish valuable aid to tho regular constabulary, and would place all resistance on a large scale out of the question. Tho Volunteers, also, could he sent to their homes after the blow had been struck, and thus the grand coup would ho made as economically as possible. The various journals in the colony are exercising their ingenuity in examining the motives which may have been driving Te Whiti to act in tho incomprehensible manner which has of lata puzzled the whole country. It ia suggested that he will not be sorry to see a

large force collected in the neighbourhood of Parihaka, because ho will then be able to restrain his more turbulent followers. But, if such is the case, the necessity for decisive action of some sort is more apparent than ever, for To Whiti by such a line would confess to being impotent to restrain his believers without European aid, and one of the causes which have made the Government so careful in treating with Te Whiti is removed. If To Whiti can rule the West Coast Natives single handed, well and good. If ho cannot, but must rely on European aid, it is manifest that his value as a factor in the present complication is reduced most considerably, and the country is little likely to allow itself to be permanently disturbed by a set of fanatics ruling, rather than being ruled by, an ambitious enthusiast, however well meaning he may be at heart.

That Te Whiti himself is rather overwhelmed by the complexion of tho eventa at present occurring is evident by tho reports which como daily to hand of persons who have visited him at Parihaka. A Rev. J. Luxford was recently there, and has given to tho “ Patea Mail ” some interesting items of his sojourn at tho pah. One young chief gave him his version of the crisis. “We are at war already: it is with oar tongues. Besides, we put up a fence, and the Constabulary pull it down.” He at all events considered that extremities had already been resorted to, and had not tho slightest wish to proceed to bloodshed. The old men appeared somewhat sulky, the young men were jocular. But there were no signs of warlike preparations. Other correspondents, too, have declared that nothing practical has been done towards meeting an attack. All this leads to the belief that Te Whiti may bo trusting to the drift of circumstances to carry him out of his difficulties. But we fancy ha has not reckoned on the foelingof impatience which has of late taken strong root in the country with respect to Native affairs. The expense of keeping up a large force of Constabulary on the West Coast, and tho bar the Native obstructionists make against the settlement of the lands there, have done their work, and however the wily prophet may imagine ho can order the current of events, he may find himself carried off by the stream in a direction ho little anticipated.