THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 1862.
Calamities ami disasters, such as (hat of re* cent occurrence on the West Coast of this Island, in the wreck of the Lord Wordey. s.s.—are of importance beyond the mere commercial losses sustained, or the inconveniences and sufferings undergone by the unfortuate individuals concerned, in that oftentimes, as in the present instance, they serve to call attention to the state of affairs around us, and, by showing our rulers mid legislators what might have been the case under very slightly varied ■circumstances, as well as what did actually occur, lead to the adoption of appropriate remedies for existing evils. Among the circumstances connected with this unfortunate occurrence, several arc singularly opportune and should he noted. Ist; The steamer has gone ashore on almost the only part of the coast where she would not have been dashed to pieces, and every soul lost on the extensive reefs which surround the coast, and lies in a comparatively safe spot. 2nd.: She has hit upon the only spot on the coast between here and Wanganui inhabited by friendly natives, who, from all accounts, have behaved in a kind, hospitable manner to the shipwrecked people. 3rd ; The weather has been unusually line. If it had not been so, Capt. Bowden could never have got up here, and we should have been without any reliable information to the present moment; and if it had not unfortunately happened that there was no vessel to send to their aid, the passengers and crew ore this would have been here or on their way to Manukau. —Southern Cross. It is, perhaps, not necessary to enter in ■detail into the question how things might have been, as, for instance, supposing the crew and passengers had been cast ashore ■amongst the rebels ; as such considerations cannot fail to be present to the minds of the Governor and Council. As it was, the wreck occurred under the circumstances described, and these were, providentially, far more favorable than could have been supposed probable, yet they serve to chow the volcano existing, as it were, beneath cur feet, while so many are crying “ Peace, peace/’ Within fifty miles of a gonisoned town, the unfortunate passengers of this ili-futod vessel were cast on shore, and though this was made known to their fellow-settlers there by some of the natives, it was felt to te out of the question to attempt to communicate with them, or to render them any of that assistance they might need —and why? Because a body of the native race has chosen to close that part of the country to her Majesty's loyal subjects— to live in open rebellion to her laws—to treat her representative and officers with contempt, defiance, and scorn—and all this in breach of terms made with them at the cessation of hostilities. An attempt, hopeless indeed, was made by a few friends to reach the distressed company, hut “ no inducement would make the gatekeepers allow the party to pass"—and terrible must have been the anxiety and suspense felt at Taranaki on their account. At first it would not bo certainly known that,the wreck had taken place in the vicinity of friendly natives—indeed the pliabilities were to the contrary, especially as Mr. Parris (to whom the intelligence was at first conveyed) had returned from a fruitless attempt to pass the Maoris’ gate, and it was felt that assistance must be convoyed to the unfortunates by force and at all hazards, hut this step was happily rendered unnecessary by the arrival of the information that the King natives would bring the shipwrecked people on to the settlement. The report, however, of such intention reached the natives, who were highly indignant at the idea, and
assembled in force to prevent any such invasion of the King’s territory, , An apt illustration of theloyalty of “ friendly natives” was given in the conduct of the chief who had charge of the safe containing the gold, only to break it open and remove its contents, on the departure of the party, and although through the gallant conduct of Mr. Graham, his object was frustrated, so far as the gold was concerned,, the wreck itself, which was taken charge of by two friendly chiefs, who have only lately come over to the Government, was completely stripped of everything of value, including her gun and a quantity of lead. Amidst all the concessions that are day by day being granted to “ subjects in rebellion” —the abnegation of the acts of plunder, houseburning, and murder lately committed—the entire laying waste of the once-heautiful province of Taranaki—it becomes of great importance that we should know whether they are to be permitted thus to hold possession of laud the property of colonists and the Crown —to prevent all intercourse by land on that coast between the North and Wellington, in short, to act in all respects as a foreign power, an enemy and a conqueror, in the midst of a British Colony. In some of the latest despatches of Governor Browne to the Secretary of State, the formation of roads, even through the Waikato country, is regarded as only one of the national guarantees for the permanence of peace, and without which the submission of the natives would only continue during their own convenience. Great praise has been lavished on Sir George Grey for the execution of the line of road to that country; while through it, and likewise on the Taranaki coast the existing roads are completely closed against her Majesty’s mails and her Majesty's subjects. Strange as it may seem, this state of affairs is neither new nor unknown to the authorities, but has been as it now is, ever 'since'"the rc-appointment of Sir G. Grey to the governorship of the Colony twelve months ago, and during which time the partial responsiblily of minisles has been admitted and understood; that same ministry (by the way) which on assuming office declared “We mean work.” “We shall lose no time.” “If peaceful negoeiations fail, wo shall not hesitate to draw the sword"—all of which seem to have been forgotten under the resolve to submit to any and everything for the sake of peace. And now we have a change of ministers, hut still a ministry that seems to follow in the steps of their predecessors as far as action in native matters is concerned, though, • - 0 indeed, they are chary of accepting responsibility, wo yet well understand that they approve of the policy of “ concession, concession, concession” to a parly of serai-savages who can only look upon each concession as a sure sign of weakness and fear, and do not fail to strengthen their position and to increase their demands accordingly, while the temporary check in which they arc now held by the presence cf her Majesty's troops, all weak and inefficient as it is to curb their insolence, or stay them in their exactions, may at any moment be removed—as they well know—and the settlers and their property he left to their fate. But, after all, what is the reason given for this delay in dealing with the rebels—rebels who refuse to abide by terms most favorable, and freely accepted by them when in trouble ? —Only the vain hope that they, seeing the benefits conferred on the friendly natives who accept the system of the Governor, will he won over to do likewise. Sure, there never 1 was any, even the least probability, of such i an event, no parallel incident in history can he pointed to, to give grounds for such an expectation—anarchy and lawlessness are never voluntarily given up for order and law. "Why, then, should it be expected now, when even those who have professed their desire for the new system either refuse to accept it, or throw it oft immediately, as is the case with the natives of this Province of Hawke’s Bay.
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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 65, 25 September 1862, Page 3
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1,319THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 1862. Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 65, 25 September 1862, Page 3
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