THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 13, 26 September 1861, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES.

NAPIER, THURSDAY, SEPT. 26, 1861.

To all who watch the progress of events, the present period is one of intense anxiety, as, while it has become too evident that the clemency displayed by Governor Browne towards the rebel natives, in the cessation or suspension of hostilities, has tended to produce and encourage many acts of open aggression on the part of other tribes, who have until this time maintained a show of loyalty and nominally been Her Majesty's subjects, we are quite uncertain what will be the effects of the policy that may be pursued by his successor. At this present time, we have the laws openly defied, Her Majesty's representatives abused, and evil-disposed Maories annoying their pakeha neighbors, knowing no law but their own sweet will, and the magistrates utterly powerless to afford redress to the injured or inflict punishment on the aggressor.

Our readers are already acquainted with several instances which fully hear out the above remarks, as such have been reported in our columns; and as the offenders find themselves successful, and beyond the reach and fear of punishment, they are encouraged to proceed to greater and more flagrant extremities, which, when they become quite unbearable, as they shortly will, must be the occasion of measures for their cure. Bullocks that have browsed the herbage growing on the road side abutting on Native lands have been violently seized and detained for the utu for their food. Graziers, who would not become violators of the law by renting lands of Native owners, have had their stock driven away, and kept until the claims of “ our Maori rulers” should be satisfied ; nay, in cases where these demands have been submitted to—unjust, illegal, and exhorbitant as they have been, —nothing has been gained by submission, as a rival claimant has stepped in and swept away the stock, and demanded the like payments as had been made to his rivals before they could be returned.

Mr. Mason had originally allotted to him, as a portion of his run, a piece of flat land with bush ; the former Native owners afterwards claimed this spot, and (as is usual in such cases) their claim was allowed. By this act, Mr. Mason was placed in a peculiarly awkward situation, as the timber was a necessary to him for fencing, fuel, &c., &c. Yet, if he rented the land (rightfully his) of the Natives he was amenable to the law ; hut following the example of many of his neighbors, he did so, and paid certain sums in the way of rent to Karaitiaua and others ; but there is another owner, one Hupuku, who denies their right to the land, and claims from Mason the whole of what he has paid them, and in default takes off 2,000 sheep, and keeps them until his claim shall be satisfied. About a fortnight since, certain Natives of Pa Whakaairo seized six or seven head of cattle belonging to Mr. Alley, as compensation for grass consumed 011 their lands, and refused to restore them, although i-20 in cash was offered to them by Mr. Alley, but used them as their own. And on the 10th instant, some forty head of cattle belonging to certain settlers at Peta-ne were seized by their Xuaori neighbors, and de-

taiued for some days without food or water, until nearly starved, after they had been retained for ten or twelve days by the kindness of some friendly (?) Natives, who interceded on the part of the pakehas. Some of them were liberated at the rate of ten shillings iioud .ivicase money—not payment for trespass nor grass, demands for which will still be made in addition. Now, we cannot conceal the truth that those of our graziers who have illegally rented grass from the Natives are to blame, as it did not require great foresight to perceive that such must be the inevitable effect of yielding to the first illegal claim (however moderate), as by so doing they have laid themselves open to all the impositions, extravagant demands, and other evils that have followed, and any more such the Maories may choose to inflict. This view is, however, foreign to our present purpose, which is to deal with things as we find them. In another column will be found a case of a - somewhat different nature, yet showing the state of the Maori mind, at Wanganui. Not to multiply instances in point (an easy task, by the way, if necessary) we have given evidence enough to show the lawless spirit manifested by the Natives as a body, which has existed indeed for years, and only now more openly displayed because of the apparent supineness of the Government in relation to its dealings with the unpunished rebels. In view of this state of things, the present may well be a period of intense anxiety as to the course- of jiolicy which may be pursued by the now expected Governor —whether a spurious peace will be permitted, ■which will leave things much as they were previous to the commencement of the war, and which will have been so much waste of blood and treasure —life and property sacrificed in vain,—or whether, by a vigorous policy prosecuted for a time, a genuine peace will be obtained—a peace which shall elevate British law to its proper dignity, and rule supremely over-Maori passion and self-will.