THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, NOV. 14, 1861.
From the first news of the recall of Governor Browne, and the re-appointment of Sir George Grey we have feared that a temporising course would he adopted in reference to the Natives, or at all events that no strin-
gent measures would be taken until after suck a course had been tried ; though, from the vastly different circumstances under which he finds the colony as regards force, &c., from what it was during his former administration, there was certainly grounds for hoping that we might be wrong. Until we have received a statement of what his policy will be in an official form, it is perhaps premature to criticise it too closely, though, from what we hear, the pro-Maori parly will have all they desire at the expense of the Colony, which it would certainly seem was, as Bishop Selwyn has said, “ established fur the benefit of the native race/’ One thing especially might have been expected of Sir George Grey, and that was — the stringent enforcement of the land regulations, which have been, during his absence, allowed to be violated to such a great extent, and so become the source of all the evils of the grass question, now so closely brought home to the settler, and which it is to be feared, will not always end so lightly as they have hitherto done. Some vigoi'ous measures, early taken, enforcing the removal by European owners, of all stock from Native lands, under penalty of forfeiture after a certain date, would perhaps have cleared the question of some of its difficulties, and have brought the unalienated lands of the Colony into the same relation with the Government as they were previous to their illegal occupation, and have been a fitting punishment for the transgressors of the law. A searching investigation might likewise have been made into the conduct of the authorities who, by neglecting to enforce the ordinance, permitted the illegal occupation to extend as it has done, until it has resulted in the consequences we now perceive around us, and, as far as we can judge, may yet become worse. We sincerely deprecate all rash conduct on the part of any of the settlers who may be menaced by the obstreperous natives, and trust that means will be chosen to maintain a pacific course of conduct until time is allowed for the Puketapu memorial to reach his Excellency, and for his interference. On the other hand, we cannot too strongly protest against an opposite extreme, which is calculated to lead the natives to hold the opinion that they are able to inflict all and sundry penalties they may please on the settlers, and that resistance to them would be futile. The address given at the Puketapu meeting by Air. Alexander is entirely of this kind, particularly that portion which says “ that even 100 desperate natives could keep the country in such a state that 20,000 soldiers could scarcely protect the out-set-tlers,” —a most preposterous sentiment, and one we should hope made without due consideration of the effect it might produce on the mind of a people only too ready to catch at everything tending to magnify their notions of their own importance, valor, and prowess, only to find their mistake it is to be feared to their cost.
All things being considered, it is by far the best plan to pursue a dignified medium course ; as wo have waited so long for the interference of the Governor, to do so yet a little longer, feeling sure that the time is nearly come—that a few days now will most likely see steps taken for a solution of the difficulty. ,
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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 14 November 1861, Page 2
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618THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, NOV. 14, 1861. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 20, 14 November 1861, Page 2
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