THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 60, 21 August 1862, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1862.

Intelligence of the success of Mr. Domett, in his endeavor to construct a Ministry calculated to take the present chaotic state of the “ native question” in hand, and to work out for the Colony the grand problem which has proved to be beyond the ability of the late Government —we were enabled (by the unlooked-for arrival of the Storm Bird, as we were about going to press) to lay before our readers in our last issue, and we have now singular gratification in resuming the subject. We cannot certainly say that we are in full possession of the views held by Mr. Domett on the various phases of the Native question, but we believe, from what has come to our knowledge, that a fitter person to take the lead in the important duties of the Government could not have been selected, and although it must be admitted that the state the question has been brought to, and left in.

by the Fox party, is such as might well deter almost any but a veritable Hercules from undertaking the labor of setting things right, we do trust that Mr. Domett will prove to be the right man in the right place. The steps already taken by the party lately in power—the concessions and promises made to the natives—the condoning of rebellion and the bribing of the disaffected for a temporary truce —-the pledges given on the part of the Government—and the expectations on that of the Maoris, will render it a work of the utmost difficulty to any one to proceed in a course that shall differ greatly (not to say an opposite course) from that which has of late been tried and found to fail, but we are bold to predict that, difficult as such a work may be, it will be done. We do not mean that any abrupt or extravagant change of policy will be exhibited—“ they have the general wish/’ as we are informed, “ to support Sir George Grey,” but the blot and disgrace to the British name that the present state of affairs is admitted to be, even by Sir George Grey himself, will be removed, and then there will be no further objection to a moderate policy. It is a very remarkable circumstance that the Duke of Newcastle’s despatch (published in a supplement to our last issue) should have reached the Colony just at the crisis of the sitting of the Assembly, and the change of Ministry, but it could scarcely have arrived at a more suitable time. A new Ministry was installed in office, and they had not at that time committed themselves to any line of policy beyond the general idea conveyed by the word “ moderate though it is sufficiently evident that if they had done so, the tenor of this document is such as must have caused its modification to a very material extent. As it is Ministers are spared the unpleasant consequences of such a course, and will, doubtless, let it have its lull influence on the construction of the scheme they will propose to the Assembly. Of one thing we may rest satisfied, that it will not admit of the extension of the wild scheme of A.s.d. loyalty. It does not seem that the noble duke, or the Imperial Government has any special objection to this expensive vagary beyond that of hearing the expense —the despatch in effect says; ‘‘Purchase their loyalty if you wish, to what extent you please, but do not charge the cost to our account.” It says further (in effect): “ Settle your affairs with the natives as quickly as possible, while the troops are in the colony, there is no saying how soon, we may deprive you of them.” “ You have now her Majesty’s permission to govern the native race according to the best of your judgment—but, let it be in whatever way you please, you must bear the expenses of their Government.” It needs no arguments of ours to show that all this must exercise a great influence on the scheme of native government which will be proposed by the new Ministry, nor that it will enforce a great change—a material modification of the system that has of late been introduced. The simple fact of the case is, —the colony cannot afford to pay the cost of a system that has hitherto produced no fruit, or none but evil fruit, and which, notwithstanding all that has been said in its favor by its apologists, promises no better result for the future. The people’s representatives in Council will demand (as they have now the right as well as the duty to do) that the public money which they are called on to supply, shall be devoted to such means as will be likely to be productive of certain, BENEFICIAL, AND PERMANENT RESULTS. We know not how the despatch alluded to may have affected the mind of Sir George Grey himself, but to us it appears altogether unlocked for and uncalled for. The general outline of the system that has been pursued, faulty as it has been—had, nevertheless, the approval of the Imperial Government from the first, as shown by a despatch of June 5, 1801, and although this despatch proceeds upon the assumption that “ the rebellion has

been first quelled, and such a conviction of our strength produced in the native mind, as may render peace, not temporary and precarious, but well-grounded and lastingand in another place, speaks of “ their being treated with as much firmness and consideration after their defeat as before,” and although the hopeless attempt was made by Sir George Grey and the Government to introduce the scheme without the groundwork of the “ conviction” referred to, this does not appear to be among the reasons for the dissatisfaction expressed in the despatch of May 26, 1862. All the reasons there given (if reasons they may be called) being based on the assumption that the colonists will leave the home Government to pay for its own mismanagement, thus arguments drawn from the purse alone ; and entirely ignores the duty of the home Government to place the affairs of the Colony on a secure and permanent basis before casting off the responsibility and the expense. Surely Justice will see that the policy pursued by Governors under the irresponsible system has been productive of sufficient evils to the Colony in cramping its resources and retarding its progress if it is left to bear this burthen after matters are made right, without leaving it to bear it in the midst of an unfinished war, and all the present existing troubles.