THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 58, 7 August 1862, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1862.

Reluctantly we are compelled by the important intelligence received from Wellington by the Storm Bird, to defer our intended analysis of the valuable reports of Officers appointed by the Government, to inaugurate and develop the new institutions under the native policy of the late executive. We cannot, however, permit the present opportunity to pass without a brief remark or two on the subject, in order that we may compare some of the statements of the late Ministerial party, with the reports of their agents, as to the working of the system. On the 16th July, ult., in the House of Representatives, Mr. Fitzherbert, in moving for a Committee to prepare a reply to His Excellency’s address, alluded to the matter in the following words: — “He need not say that he referred to those satisfactory relations that had grown up between a portion of the Maori race and the Government. * * * * He would direct their attention particularly to the relations that are now subsisting, and are proposed to subsist, between the Native and Europeu inhabitants of the colony. * * * * The plan of the Government was to take certain irregular mootings, styled runangas, which exercised a kind of heredatory influence on the native mind, as a basis, to bring these irregular assemblies under the force of the law, and to constitute certain persons as Commissioners with certain powers, appeared to be the leading idoas of the new school. ***** They had had peace for the last twelve months. Peace had been restored (!) without compromise, of the British name (!!) and without truckling to the Natives (!!!) * * * * He could only say that on behalf of his constituents, and on his own behalf, that the peace had been most satisfactory. * * * To obtain that peace the most careful regard had been shewn, not only to the existing claims of the Europeans, but also to their respective position. To that he would pin his faith, &c.” And two days after this in the Legislative Council, Chief Justice Arney spoke highly in favor of the new institutions, he said ; “He had read the accounts from the officers of the Government, relative to their success,and he cbnsidered them Mr. Crosbie Ward had been successful in inaugurating a system at Hawke's Bay, relative to cattle trespass which had proved acceptable TO THE SETTLERS OF THAT DISTRICT.” We could readily quote much more to the same effect as the above, from the lips of other Government partizans, but this will suffice—it is sufficiently evident that the Commissioners themselves fail to see the grand amount of success, that is placed to the credit of the new system, by the Government party. Mr. Gorst’s report we have already alluded to (in our last,) and we shall not lose sight of it on a fitting occasion ; but, as to the success of Mr. Ward, in Hawke’s Bay, surely Mr. Chief Justice Arney must have been dreaming—notwithstanding that the Maories of “the district” have had their full desires granted to them in the matter of “cattle trespass,” and in a way which so far from being “acceptable to the settlers,” has been simply disgusting to them. They (the Natives) still refuse to avail themselves of Mr. Ward’s “system,” but prefer to do as before, viz: —seize on the stock of the settler, and they satisfy their avarice by this means with impunity, well knowing that no Commissioner can enforce a penalty on them" for so doing. Quite different from the verdict of Chief Justice Arney, are the words of Mr. Commissioner Russell, viz : “ Until the General Runanga sits w r e are practically without law, for notwithstanding the promises made to Mr. Ward and Mr. Fox that the seizure of cattle and such other acts would cease, they have not ceased. But no law can be enforced against the Natives without great risk, until the General Runanga assumes that responsibility, and consequently it is not easy to enforce it against the Europeans.” “ One of my most anxious objects has

been to convince the Natives that their plan of seizing horses, cattle, sheep, and even bullocks, when on a journey, will inevitably lead to bloodshed if persevered in ; as it is not to be expected that the Europeans accustomed to live under and obey the laws themselves, will much longer submit to have their property thus lawlessly assailed, but will oppose force by force. Yet at this , moment there are 40 head of Mr. Couper’s cattle in the hands of Paraone, of Te Aute, notwithstanding my having personally explained those things to him on my first visit, and subsequently by letter when this seizure was reported to me.” “ Cooper, Resident Magistrate, is now endeavouring to arrange the matter, but I have pointed out to him that it is better to mediate than adjudicate, seeing that it is but one-sided justice to convict and fine the European for trespass if we have no power to convict and fine the Natives for unlawful seizure m direct opposition to the Mamstrate.” ° But the conclusion of the whole matter is summed up by Mr. Bussell in these words, which will be endorsed by the Settlers of the piovince as a ■whole, and shews how very httle progress up to time been made, on the Native mind—even where the best effects might have been anticipated. “ The Chiefs at Pa Whakaairo evince no present desire for the introduction of the new Institutions. 2nd. That their political importance is somewhat over-rated in this Province, and that they possess but little influence north of Napier. 3rd. That I fear it may become necessary to proceed without them in the Wairoa District, but that to do so it will be necessary to modify the proposed system of Village Bunangas, as it will be difficult to carry out that idea in one Village Bunanga when the District extends over a hundred miles of the most impracticable country, and the population exceeds a thousand. 4th. That this had better not be attempted at present, but stand over until I have had an opportunity of consulting with Ministers, at the approaching meeting of the General Assembly. In conclusion, I beg tb say that I believe the desire and intention of the Natives of this Province generally is peace, but that before giving up their present position they wish to extract all they can from the Government. With regard to the future of the Native question, but little can be said at present,— notwithstanding the defeat of the Fox Ministry, -we do not see any near prospect of the adoption of a better and wiser policy with the House of Representatives, as at present constituted. It is probable that as soon as the necessary business of the session, will admit of such a step, the Assembly will be dissolved, and the Colonists afforded an opportunity of returning another, which shall represent their views on the question of the Native policy—a question which has been ventilated, and is now better understood by the electoral bod}', than it was at the time of the last election, and one which, (there is too much reason to believe) Sir George Grey has been led to suppose the Colonists regard in a light the reverse of the fact. A new Assembly elected primarally on this question would probably set him right in the matter, and (if the new system of Ministerial responsibility be not a mere pretence,) lead to the adoption of a sounder, and more successful mode of dealing with the Native race.