THE SIDELING POLICY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 36, 6 March 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE SIDELING POLICY.

(From the Xew Zealand Advertiser, Feb. 22.)

llic policy of the Fox Ministry, like the launchmw of the Great Eastern, is not, wo are told,*'a strait forward, but a “ sidewise” policy, and it ’is beginning to be appreciated as such by both the settlers and the natives of this Province. It is truly a one-sided policy, or, as the country said of of the post that leaned a leetle too much on one side, it is “ above upright.” The natives of Welhngton like those ot Hawke’s Pay—arc to bo taught that they have nothing to fear, but something to gain, by breaking the law. If the cattle of the settlers trespass upon native lands they can be seized and detained until the exorbitant demands for damages are satisfied. If the cattle of the natives trespass on the lands of tho settlers “• that is a horse of another color they must continue to trespass with impunity—for what is sauce for the pakeha goose is not sauce for the Maori Gander. Tho natives can use tho law for their own purposes, or break it when it docs not suit their views, and this lesson—the result of tho course adopted by the;Government at Hawke’s Pay—has been taught and acted upon by the natives in the Wairarapa. At the beginning of the present week, Mr. Bidwcll, alargeland and stock-owner in the Wairarapa who had been long and seriously injured by the trespass of cattle and horses upon his lands, determined upon sending a mob of the latter, about thirty in number, to the public pound at Fcatherston. When this determination became known threats and demonstrations of the most violent and warlike character were freely indulged in by thenath es in his neighbourhood. The horses were, notwithstanding, taken to the pound, and it quickly turned out that twenty-six of them were owned by the natives. Ten of these proceeded to Featherston armed with guns, pikes, tomahawks, &c., and demanded of tho pound-keeper the immediate liberation of the horses : at the same time flourishing their weapons and threatening death to any one who should show any resistance. Mr. Abbott very properly refused to open the pound-gate at their bidding, upon which they proceed to cut through the upper panncls, and eventually drove off the horses in triumph. Mr. McLean has been for some time amongst them trying to satisfy their extravagant demands relative to matters appertaining to his department —he has hospitably entertained them at the Greytown Hotel —and a considerable sum of money has been received amongst them as a consequence of his visit ; but is the “ sideling policy” of the Ministry to extend to the toleration of proceedings like the above, or are these proceedings a further illustration of the desire of the Maorics for peace, law, order, and good government ? We leave it to our readers to answer these questions, in the meanwhile we may notify that Mr. McLean’s visit has been the means of enabling theMaorics to take a journey to Otaki for the purposc of celebrating the anniversary of hoisting tho king flag there.