THE PRESENT CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 29, 16 January 1862, Page 3

THE PRESENT CRISIS.

(From the Southern Cross December, 27.) For many years have we foreseen that there would be a turning point in the history of New Zealand, and we have now reached it. The Natives are on their trial, and the issue to be tried is an important one, nothing less than whether they have ever been sincere in their professions of loyalty to the Crown. Their behaviour at the present crisis will interpret their behaviour hitherto. We shall soon learn whether the Treaty of Waitangi has been a sham or a reality to the Native mind, whether the Maori has yet learnt to appreciate and understand not only the advantages which he derives from admission into the pale of the British nation, but also the duties incumbent upon him in consequence. An accidental collision may take place at any moment, and most disastrous results may ensue, but such collision, if it should occur, could only be regarded as the occassion, not as the cause, of what might subsequently follow. If the mine is already laid, and the miners are only watching their opportunity to spring it, we are in a perilous position, and nothing but countermining ond anticipating can save us : if, on the other hand, the natives mean well, and speak honestly, what Sir George Grey is at present doing will only bring the real truth to light, and prove them to be what many—we fear too sanguinely—believe them to be; men willing to live peacefully if only treated with justice” A few weeks will throw a great light on this question, and the world will have an opportunity of judging whether we unnecessarily forced on a war last year, or whether we did not rather by timely recourse to arms, anticipate a blow which might otherwise have fallen upon us in an unprepared state. The true meaning of the King movement will soon prove itself, and we shall be in a better jmsition than at present to decide whether it arose from a love of law and order—as some fondly imagine that it did—or from a fixed determination in the Native mind to keep New Zealand for New Zealanders, and to preserve their old savage customs and laws whether the Hag was hoisted in the Waikato as a rallying point for those who meant well by their countrymen, or as an intimation to the British Government that “ so far it should go and no further.” We see that the Natives have been invited to furnish a road party of three hundred men, to be paid at the rate of half-a-crown a head per day. The experiment is a critical one, but still we think that in the position in which we stand, it is wise to make it. Un(l6r ordinary circurnstunccs tind were no political considerations involved in the question, we have little hesitation in saying that the natives would—to use a common expression—jump at such an offer ; should they now hold back we fear that we shall only be able to attribute their doing so to the existence of a wider-spread spirit of disaffection and feeling of mistrust than most of ns would wish to believe in.‘ Though the rate of pay is comparatively small, there would be no objection on that ground, where

so many probably from the same tribe are to be employed. The aggregate earning would be taken into consideration, and we all know the saeritices which Natives are very willing to make when money was raised for tribal purposes. Nothing but mistrust of our intentions in making roads, or a deep-seated opposition to British rule can provent them flocking at once to the work, and we shall watch with the greatest interest the manner in which they receive the panuitanga published on Monday evening. And thus in uncertainty and suspense we return again to our ordinary avocations, after the brief Yule holiday, and look anxiously forward to the approaching new year as one in which the great questions for every New Zealand colonist must inevitably be tried ; namely, upon what tenure we are for the future to occupy the land of our adoption. (From the Southern Cross, Jan. 7,) In last month’s summary we chronicled the result of his Excellency’s visit to the north and the favourable manner in which he was received there. On the 9th December he proceeded to Kohanga, on the lower Waikato, the residence of the Very Bev. Archdeacon Maunsell, where preparations for a large meeting of the natives of that district had been made. The leading chiefs from the upper river did not attend, but his Excellency received a hearty welcome from those present and the exposition which he gave of the new policy which is to be introduced seemed to give satisfaction. No pledges, however appear to have been given by them, and it is difficult to say whether their demeanor on this occasion was the result of a sincere desire to cooperate with the Governor in the work of pacification or merely to indicate a desire on their part to refrain for the present from any distinct action which might have the effect of committing them, either with the kingites or with our own authorities. For our own part we believe that in common with many other natives who have hitherto commited no overt acts of rebellion their future conduct will depend to a great extent on circumstances ; that they are biding their time and watching narrowly every act of the government, and that any indication of weakness or want of decision on our part may cause them to throw in their lot with the enemies of British supremacy, whilst vigorous measures and a determined tone in our dealings may probably lead them to recognise the wisdom of remaining on good terms with us. Hardly had Sir George Grey returned from his visit than orders were issued to the troops to prepare for a road-making expedition to the Waikato, and in a few days the 14th, 40th, 65th, and the detachment of the 12th left the Otahuhu camp and the town by the Great South road. At present they are stationed at intervals along the Maungatawhiri road, and in the neighbourhood of Drury. Maungatawhiri is situated on European land on the banks of the Waikato, and is distant about forty-five miles from town. The road which has been open for some time but is not yet metalled leads for the last nine or ten miles through dense bush to the river which it strikes about thirty miles above its mouth on the west coast. The road is not to be carried into native land, unless circumstances should render it necessary, which considering that at present soldiers and natives are jealously watching each other, and that at any moment an accidental collision may bring on hostilities, is not at all impossible. Simultaneously with the orders issued to the military a notice was sent by his Excellency to the natives of lower Waikato iuviting them to supply a contingent workingparty” three hundred strong, to be paid at the rate of half-a-crown a day and to be under the immediate orders of their own chiefs. We have not yet heard how mauy have accepted the invitation.