THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 50, 12 June 1862, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1862.

In te r - Pii o vin ci al Communication, and the most eligible means of promoting and encouraging it, have, from our first issue, been amongst the most prominent topics of on 1 ’ advocacy ; and it is only a few weeks since our readers’ attention was directed to the subject, by reference to an article from the columns of a contemporary (the Southern Cross). We have since had occasion to show that that article was based on fallacious premises, and its argument, in consequence, unsound ; and that the mere c allin rj at our port of the White Swan on her trip to Auckland is altogether insufficient for the commercial necessities of Napier, whereas the arrangements for the homeward mail by her on her return, are vicious in the extreme, and unjust to the Province at large. That some extensive alterations in the new Postal arrangements will and must be made by the General Assembly at their next meeting (be it when it may) is certain. That these alterations may tend to the benefit of Hawke's Bay, will doubtless depend greatly on the stand taken by the settlers ami their representatives. It is certain that an outlet is required for the surplus stock of the Province, and it is no less certain that this outlet is to he found in the neighboring Province of Auckland. There is a market requiring the merchandise we have for disposal, and the question for our consideration is how to avail ourselves of this market. The experience of some amongst ns is, to say the least, against the eligibility of the new postal line for' the purposes of commerce, and indeed, in any case, the conveyance of live stock by sea is attended with very considerable risk and danger of loss, which overland communication does not entail; and we have good reason to believe that, could but an available track be obtained to the Taupo Plains, barely beyond the boundary line of the Province, that, a road to Auckland, for the surplus sheep and cattle of this Province, would be quickly found, and extensively used, by the graziers of Hawke’s Bay.

This is a subject for the serious consideration of the Provincial Government, and one that the prosperity of the district urgently demands should receive this consideration. For ourselves, we are convinced that the difficulties in the way of such a scheme are few and unimportant, compared with all the advantages its execution would confer upon the community. It is tiue there is the “ Native Question” meeting us in this (as it does in every) direction, but we must not let tins always and altogether be a stumbling-block to impede our progress—and indeed there are now signs in the Political Horoscope , of the speedy, if not satisfactory, settlement of this most perplexing and vexatious question. do not now allude to the “New Policy” (although it is beyond a doubt tiiat it is the proximate cause of recent occurrences) but to certain events that have transpired-among the natives of the North, and which events seem to point to the “ beginning of the end.” The discovery of the fact that in permitting the Government to announce that the auriferous district of Coromandel was open to tne Public for prospecting purposes and gold digging, the natives had reserved that portion which is found to be the gold field from the European, was tire cause of a great deal of excitement and clandestine adventuling of some of the boldest of the miners on the forbidden ground ; and this led to more active exertions on the pan of his Excellency the Governor to make arrangements with the Lm ds of the Manor for the portion so reserved, and seeing that in the event of any great, rush, the Government would be wholly powerless to prevent the occupation of the xesened portion, tne most extravagant offers were made for the land in question—as much U 5 TEX THOUSAND POUNDS STERLING, to be paid down, and a poll tax of ten shillings per head on all diggers i n perpetuo. But°even these noble offers were refused by the poor natives, who seem resolved that they will nut permit the Government to act Ibr their good between them and the miners, and they were accordingly informed by the hon. Colonial Secictury, on the failure of Ins negociations with tneiu “that in ease of the dingers encroaching, they would be left to their own resources. ■’ We think that there can be but one meaning that can apply to a decision so unexpected by all parties on the part of the Colonial Secretary, which is that wo have alluded to above, and amounts to this ; “ This land is needed by the pakelia. Wo will buy 3l or rent it of you on any terms , your own terms. Name them, and we will agree. If not, we, (the Government), withdraw and icave you to do your best, and keep the miners off if you can.” What will result from this New Policy, it is hard to say, but the gravest fears may bo entertained that cutbieaks aim bloodsned are not far distant and the utmost anxiety will now he felt ail over the Colony for the news that each succeeding mail may bring from the Gold Fields of Coromandel. But it is not at this place alone that native made} s are fast approaching a crisis. In another direction, but still in the neighborhood of the Capital, the native race is even now at war among themselves, and by thus thinning their ranks are hastening the solution of the grand problem. The casus belli is already before our readers. A tribe that up to this period has asserted no claim to a certain parcel of land, but has permitted its sale to the Government, its settlement by Europeans, its being laid out ami extensively occupied, without remark or objection, has, after a term of years, when all this is done, now at last asserted its claim to the property, and would doubtless (if that had been sufficient to content them) by wait-, iug patiently for Sir George Grey to investigate their claim, have had it to a great extent allowed, and have received in consideration thereof a good round sum of the pakchas cash (for so such claims are usually settled). But this would not do : the ground was invaded—taken possession of. and in brief, cle-

fended by its former owners ; and for auglit we know, war is even now raging there. Tribes were mustering strong on either side, and amongst them some of those who hold the Queen’s commission and receive her pay under the new institutions of law and order for the native race, while blood on both sides had actually been shed, and still worse news anticipated. We have said that the new native policy is the proximate cause of these events. Our readers will not need to have tills connection fully traced ; it will be quite enough to mention the ruxanga system to account for the war of tribes. No chief of any note or rank will acknowledge any runanga superior to his own will. “ I have no need to go to a runanga to learn what is right’—these are their own words in reply to the Governor himself when recommending this course to settle their differences. Thu laws of Britain, if promptly and effectually enforced, they might have submitted to ; but not to laws made by native runangas, to which they hold themselves superior ; these, as may be expected, they treat with contempt and scorn. Neither is the Coromandel difficulty less connected with the concessions of the “new policy ’ than that, inasmuch us it has given the natives the right to the waste lands (of which Coromandel is a part) to sell, let, or to hold, as best may please ; at least some of the evil (if evil should arise as threatened) will be justly laid at the door of the authors and adopters of this precious policy. Greatly as we desire to see the native question decided and its difficulties at an end, we have no wish to see it done in either of tue above ways; we do not approve of their destroying - each oilier in land quarrels, nor of their being overpowered by a rush of miners. Great was the error of the imperial Government in not at the first assuming the guardianship of the waste lands, as tlfeir duty it clearly was, for the benefit of the race, and most severely have the ■colonists now to undergo the penalty of this most fatal error.