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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 33, 13 February 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

To the Editor of the Jlawlce's Bay Times. Sir, —Can you inform me if our worthy Superintendent is an Irishman ? I ask the question for two reasons ; first, because he tells us in his address to the Council that the natives on various occasions have taken the law into their own hands by seizing cattle, and have made, before releasing them, such demands, though no doubt just, which to Englishmen were intolerable. This is something quite new. A just demand is intolerable to an Englishman. No doubt the Maories will feel thankful for the news. My second reason for the question is the herd of

Irish bulls that are driven through the aforesaid address, one only of which I will now take by the horns—“ I have perhaps called you together much earlier than may be convenient to some of you, but under the circumstances .... we could not have met sooner, although I was very anxious we should do so,” &c. This is one of the best and most genuine of bulls that I have met with for some time past.

There is one other sentiment to which I hope you will permit me to direct attention, and that is the'very great probability the Superintendent sees of a peaceful settlement of native difficulties, at the same time that he “ ventures to predict” “ frequent disturbances” between Europeans and natives, and amongst the natives themselves. If this is not another bull it is something very like one—perhaps it is a young steer. lam glad our new member could not agree with this idea of a peaceful settlement, which the Superintendent must know (for he was chairman at the late meeting) is very far from what most of us expect to be the result of the new.policy.

John Bull