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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 47, 22 May 1862, Page 2

A great deal of fuss has been made by certain of the Government journals about two or three trifling incidents that have recently occurred in relation to the native question ; the first of these has been the accession to the ranks of the Queen's loyal subjects of a small hapu of some sixty natives, who have deserted the cause of their Iving as soon as they lost a case in the native courts 5 and another is the fact of the absence from Auckland of the Governor. With regard to the latter it is reasoned that the natives must he more peaceably inclined than hitherto or he could not have left the capital, especially he coidd not have ventured to hold the Gen-

eral Assembly at Wellington ; but it strikes us very forcibly that the simple act of withdrawing the military from their road-making operations for the winter is quite as much as was necessary to be done to ensure peace there for such a period. The adhesion of a few discontented natives is, if possible, a still weaker cause of triumph, and plainly shows the truth of the position always maintained by us—that the natives will accept the benefits offered them by Sir George Grey as far and as long as U suits their purpose , but neither farther nor longer, A hapu that deserts their chosen King and joins the (supposed) enemy at the first unpleasant occurrence is not very likely to be more true to their Queen on a like trial. References to trivial instances such as these go farther to expose the weakness of the cause of those who make them than anything that can be said by an opposing party, and renders extremely suspicious all else that is said about satisfactory progress and the like, especially when the same report is made of districts where we well know it is not true, as with our own Province and on the West Coast. To settle the native difficulty by yielding to the disaffected all their demands will not seem a work of great difficulty ; to purchase the loyalty of a semi-barbarous race by bestowing on them Government pay for nominal sei vices (and such as this is all we can expect them to yield) seems equally simple ; the wonder is, seeing to how great extent these things have been carried, that the new policy has not been fur more successful than it has. It would almost seem that there is in the breast of that tribe that has been called by one who knew them well the “ xoble Waikatos” a sentiment superior to the love of lucre—something which withholds them at all events from professions of loyalty while they are in antagonism to the British rule, though tempted by the flattering offers of the Government, and which contrasts strongly in their favor with the principles or the want of principle in those who have acted the contrary part. Yve do not fur a moment suppose that any such noble sentiment prevails to prevent the Ahuriri tribes, or those on the West Coast, from accepting Government employment and pay. We believe that, as yet, their greed is not satisfied, they seem to have an idea that better terms may be made by the exercise of a little opposition ; their past experience leads them to this conclusion. They have, as a rule, found that any claims they may make under various pretences for mistakes concerning boundaries or otherwise, have been either fully admitted, and the disputed land resigned to them, or so far admitted, as to be again paid for, to a greater or less extent, and there is no room to doubt, that if Messrs. M’Lean and Locke, or indeed, any other parties, have a sort of unlimited discretionary power to settle the disputed questions in this province, by cash payment to the natives, a good many such questions may be so settled by them. But after all, where is the credit due to the originator or follower of such a system — a system that covers over internal rotenness with the false appearance of soundness on the surface—whose balm for the diseased state of the Native mind is only gold and favor ? There is none. Far rather is credit due to a system which should assert and defend the rights of the Crown and the British settler against the ever-increasing demands of Maori covetousness. Where concession is invariably understood as showing weakness and fear, concession is thrown away. Justice, and firmness in its execution can be understood by them, and respected too, and would ultimately command their willing assent; but the contrary course, as hitherto practised, with then!, tends only to bring contempt on the Government and the settlers as a body, and to inflate the Native mind with the most insane notions of then 1 own worth, valor, skill in warfare, and general importance, as such is the only gi’ound on wliich they can possibly understand the conduct of the Pakeha.