A TARANAKI VIEW OF THE NATIVE POLICY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 46, 15 May 1862, Page 3

A TARANAKI VIEW OF THE NATIVE POLICY.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —You no doubt have received contributions and ample information from Auckland, and, perhaps, in common with ourselves, are delighted to read the New Zealander's account of the satisfactory progress the Governor is everywhere making in the grand mission of pacification. Auckland is na' turally the point to which all eyes are turned, as there, probably the question of peace or war will be decided. May I assume the privilege of an old correspondent, and give you the Taranaki view of passing events and future progress ? It may be urged that the Taranaki people, from their peculiar position, are unable to give a free opinion on the question of peace or war, in that, as most of our property is swept away, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by a renewal of hostilities. But without taking into account that as a cominunity we value our lives quite as high now as before the war, —many more of which we know full well will be the inevitable price of a recommencement of war, —in addition to this, we cannot but see that our chances of further compensation for our losses will vanish altogether if the war becomes general. The thing which we of Taranaki desire above all is a peace without further appeal to arms; equitable in its terms to both races, and, as a consequence, lasting. We entirely and most conscientiously belie.ye that every exertion should be made to ward off the terrible evil for the future, for we best know what it has cost us. If fate denies this we would rather see the war of races begun and consummated in our own province, in the entire confidence that the colony would gladly bear us scathless through the ordeal as far as our prosperity is concerned, and view our pecuniary losses as a moderate per centage for assuring themselves against a like calamity. But as reasonable men we cannot but draw our own conclusions from what we see and hear around us, and the conviction is forced on us, I may say with scarely any exception, that the present peace is only a lull in the storm—that the Maoris never before had such an exalted estimate of their own prowess in the field, and capability to govern themselves—that the concessions of the Governor are looked on by them as extorted by fear—and above, pervading all their thoughts and actions, are the suspicions of his motives. They imagine that he is • attempting to sow disunion among them, and then fall upon them unawares. Not long ago a letter from Waikato reached Waitara, and the writer compared the late Governor to a hawk soaring aloft at mid day to pounce on his enemies, and the present Governor to a rat burrowing in the ground and suddenly appearing where least expected. Meanwhile their fanaticism on the King question is daily increasing in intensity. The friendly natives, who may be fairly assumed to understand their feelings, declare that no amount of bribery will lure them from their allegiance, and further that they are determined to make their Sovereign a fact. All things considered, we cannot but respect their aspirations after nationality. Albeit, we ought unrelentingly to root it out as a pestilent nuisance. Evidently Sir George belongs to that shallow school of philosophers of which Bright and Cobden are notable exponents, who believe mankind as a mass to be guided solely ny their material interests, and that most of its individual members are to be brought if you happen to know their price. But events here, and even there are repeating the lesson which has been taught in all ages to those who choose to heed it, that thereare passions in the human breast stronger than the love of gold, and the approaching contest will perhaps teach us this additional

one, that the avaricious semi-savage is an exception to this rule. A striking instance of the truth of this has lately occurred here. Ilapurona, W. King’s fighting lieutenant, in accordance with that most remarkable policy which has at all times guided the native department, and notwithstanding violent and ineffectual opposition from the friendly natives, at the conclusion of the peace in April last, was placed by Mr. M‘Lean in command of Matorikoriko, to hold it for Government. The bribe held out was not bad for a man who could scarcely claim to be a sixth rate chief. It was the good round sum of =£loo per annum, with contingencies, payable monthly, with that invariable punctuality which must so much enhance the pleasure of working for the Imperial Government. Well, this deserving public servant, with spirit of enterprise so characteristic of the race, (and which our astute Governor is so earnestly turning to account), thought it not unbecoming to eke out his salary by adding to it the profits from another branch of business which shall be nameless. He had more than one trade, yet gained by all. In brief, while the honest man, long ago, was pursuing his legitimate traffic in the natural elation resulting from his successful speculations, he wetted t’other eye rather copiously and in consequence of kicking up a row in the streets —in the course of which, in language more forcible than polite, he complimented the Queen and the whole body of Pakehas—he fell into the hands of those Philistines, the police, who took him to prison. The native department of course flew to the rescue, and bailed him out. He, however, never appeared to answer the charge, but left Matorikoriko at once for the bush, and shortly afterwards was on his way to Waikato. At Mokau, a rebel Ngatimaniapoto chief advised him to return, as it was not well for Waitara to be without him and W. King at the same time. Now, in all probability, Hapurona well knows what the public here strongly suspects, that it would require but a very small sacrifice of pride on his part for him to be again admitted into favour and his <£loo a-year, but he disdains any longer to conceal his real feelings by such a flimsy veil; and with the usual versatility of the race, with scarcely an effort, accommodates himself to the loss of his salary, and the smiles of the native department. We, in Taranaki, often ask each other, are these Eunangas, with the the expensive machinery attached, intended to be a sham or a reality ? We have a right to assume that they are established for a specific object. Now the basis of all law is force. A court of judicature without power to enforce its decisions, is a farce. Again, the king party throughout the country have established Eunangas in opposition to those of the Queen, will not these opposing bodies come into collision ? It is impossible to over-rate the importance of these questions, and it is quite incredible that Sir George Grey’s sagacity could have overlooked them before he entered the colony ; but it is quite possible he may have been mistaken in the force of the elements he had to deal with, and have placed too absolute a dependance on the emollients he is so industriously applying on all sides. And then, what if he fails ? Do the settlers who are scattered all over the North Island, from the north Cape to Wellington, ever look this alternative in the face ? It is well known to all of us that the merest chance—a Maori, say, accidentally killed by a European, or even a cause arising from the veriest trifle —may, at any moment, blow the Governor’s elaborate schemes to atoms ? The men of Taranaki have had danger staring them in the face too often in these times to think it worth while to give useless alarm ; yet, in reference to these people, I sometimes think on the picture drawn by “ One who spoke as never man spake” of the people before the flood, “ They ate, they drank, &c.” No doubt there are scattered all over the country a host of optimists who are frantically rushing about entreating people to be careful of not disturbing our relations w r ith the Maories by a shew of suspicion on their part—that confidence will beget corresponding forbearance, &c. We had them in Taranaki at the beginning of the war, and in consequence, (who will ever forget it,) one night three frightfully mangled bodies were brought in, and in the morning two little innocent boys ; a more sickening sight than the men ; and hundreds, nay, thousands, of property, might have been well secured but for the cuckoo cry of peace ; peace when there was none. The effect of recent events in Taranaki is of a very desponding character. Many of our oldest settlers, men who have stuck to the place through all its misfortunes are preparing to leave. They say truly that every-

thing indicates a return to the former imbecile native policy, and, as a conseqence, in time to a repetition of the disasters of the last two years on a wholesale scale, and they naturally recoil from the peril. In a word, they utterly disbelieve in any peace with the southern marauders which is not conquered by the strong hand. And the whole body of settlers are prepared again to second the Government in putting an end to all resistance to law at once and for ever. Assuredly nothing less than this will satisfy them. The temper of the Taranakis and Ngatiruanuis is as thoroughly opposed to any reconciliation to Government as ever, excepting of course on their own terms. Not long ago a Tataraimaka settler employed friendly natives to cut grass seed on his land : they were immediately stopped, and given to understand they had best not try it again. The seed was burnt by them, they claiming the district by right of conquest. They have settled not to allow any mail or white man to pass. The plunder they absolutely refuse to return. Not long ago they sent back a lot of Bibles the Bishop had sent them, having, I suppose, got the better of their missionary superstitions, and not to be taken in by that sort of thing now ; perhaps since the war they have adopted the materialistic theory. In all they do there is no doubt they are supported by Waikato ; yet some imagine, and this idea is supported by men in authority, that the Governor is seeking to detach Waikato from the southern tribes, and when that is effected, the severest measures will be dealt out to the southerners. It is possible Sir George Grey intends something of the sort, and, albeit, we think the plan is not very magnanimous, still, he has our perfect confidence in inflicting any amount of castigation he thinks proper. But we do not believe that simple negociations will induce the King to throw overboard his oldest and staunchest subjects, and we do not at present see much chance of Sir George Grey’s using forcible means to detach these two parties. But this of course is only opinion. In the conclusion, I do but express the whole opinion of the most competent men in this province in saying that matters to us daily appear more alarming, and that our relations with the Maories are now at their utmost tension. But I am certain, also, I shall carry with me the whole weight of public opinion when I say that should Sir George Grey succeed in tiding the Colony over the present crisis,—if he is able, without another blow, to bring the native race into complete and, above all, lasting subjection to law and order, —and everything we have been fighting for is comprised in that, —he will have gained the gratitude of this and succeeding generations of settlers, and may reasonably expect the highest honors the state can bestow ; and I say, in such a cause, God speed him. I am, &c., Oxe of T.Y.R.