THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 3, 18 July 1861, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

NAPIER, THURSDAY, -JULY IS 1861.

In the great question of the present day—that of our relations with our Maori neighbors, there are several points which ought to he well understood by the colonists, mid especially by such as have the power of influencing the policy to he adopted regarding these relations. It must ho admitted that very great misconception prevails on such points in many quarters where we might expect better things ; —we allude more particularly to a document recently published in the Auckland papers, a letter from Sir W. C. Denison to Governor Browne on the policy pursued towards the Maori race, with suggestions for its alteration. Now, if this document had only come to New Zealand, and only those conversant with -the actual •state of affairs here had seen it, it might have been well to have let it alone ; but before it is made public here, it has gone to England, and probably produced its baneful influence on the minds of those who are already predisposed to take an erroneous view of the state of affairs with us.

Sir W. C. Denison, in his despatch to the Duke of Newcastle, informs him that he lias received a certain the Governor of New, Zealand, and commented thereon, sketching out a policy which he thinks calculated to remedy the evils of the existing anomalous system of dealing with the Maori race; hut in his letter to the Governor he apologises for “ interfering in a matter where he has but a partial knowledge.” We think that he should rather not have interfered in such a matter at all; or, if his friendship for the Governor induced him to offer “suggestions,” it should have ended there, and not have gone so far as to place before the Colonial Office views founded on a partial knowledge. In another part of the same letter, he reminds the Governor of a conversation they had together in 1857, on the subject of the policy to be pursued towards the Maories, and adds that the views he then entertained are unchanged now. That the Governor himself had, at the time of his arrival amongst us, a very imperfect knowledge of the character of the native race, and of the best method of dealing with them, few will be prepared to deny, and it must strike every one as something rather comical to fancy two persons discussing a question of such an important character, while each of them had an imperfect knowledge of the subject; neither could we expect a conclusion of any great value to result from such premises. We are far from asserting that the best possible policy has been pursued toward the native race, but this we maintain, that it was well the Governor had others at hand to consult with, who possessed a better knowledge than Sir W. C. Denison of the points in question. Sir W. C. Denison further tells the Governor and the Duke of Newcastle that “ the position of the natives of New Zealand as nominal subjects of the Queen brings them a variety of humiliations, and does absolutely nothing for their benefit ;” but on the other hand “prevents the introduction of more wholesome social arrangements, and tends to retain them in their position of isolated savages” Well he might say his was but a partial knowledge ; yet even he ought to have known, and might have known, that such is not the case —that, while but for the settlement of these Islands by the Anglo-Saxon race, placing before them better things, and the care of the aborigines continually manifested by the Imperial Government, in all human probability they would still have been as they were when first discovered —continually involved in tribal warfare, and sunk in all the miseries of savage life, including even nudity and cannibalism. The fact is, the contrary extreme has been constantly adopted in our- dealings with

them ; —they have been petted, bribed, flattered, &c., until they have thought and felt that what was dune for them from policy (however mistaken) was done from fear of them, and, having no idea of disinterestedness nor of gratitude, have been, and still are, quite unable to appreciate our conduct. In one point only we admit Sir W. right, and that is—“ a change in the dealing with them is urgently required, for that if the present state of tilings is allowed to continue, we shall be periodically involved in wars with them.” We must, however, he sure that this change is in the right direction, and not go further wrong, as he would have us. They must be taught that there are other principles than fear of them which have had sway with us in our dealings with them, —that those who have so long submitted to all their whims, and petted and bribed , them as spoiled children, have done all this for their benefit, —that, in fact there are such principles as benevolence and a disinterested regard for their welfare. And all this can be done without cringing to them, as all past experience shows it cannot be done with. The letter lately circulated amongst them by our Superintendent, it will be seen is such as entirely runs counter to our ideas, and the only effect of which on the native mind will be to make us appear supremely ridiculous. The natives have a great deal of perception in their composition, and understand the character and motives of the English as well as we know theirs. They can understand full well that w r e have sufficient reason to mistrust their fidelity to us from the conduct of neighboring tribes, and the, necessity we are under to prepare for such a case. In any communication -we may make to them ■we should preserve the dignity of a superior people. They are well aware that we are so, —that in our education, commerce, agriculture, manufactures, domestic life, &c., we are far in advance of them, and therefore need not stoop to make feeble and paltry excuses for our conduct.