THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 1862.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 73, 20 November 1862, Page 2

THE HAWKE’S BAY TIMES. NAPIER, THURSDAY, NOV. 20, 1862.

Exceedingly unwilling appear those who hold official situations in connection with the native department of the Government that the people should be made acquainted with the progress of events, or the true state of feeling entertained by the Maori towards the pakeha. Such often appear to act and write as if it 'would be well for the settler to remain in a state of false security, while the dangers to which he is subject from a crafty adversary become imminent. Some* thing of this kind was the state of affairs previous to the Taranaki war. It is now well known that that rebellion was no more than the premature explosion of an organization to entirely expel the European from these Islands, of which there is documentary evidence. Yet how profoundly ignorant was

the whole population of this, with perhaps the exception of a lev; Government officials, whose aim it seems, was rather to keep their countrymen in the dark, than by giving them the information in their power prepare them to meet the evil when it should arise. We are led to these remarks by a letter to the Editor of the Nelson Examiner, from Assistant Native Secretary Jas. Mackay, denying the truth of certain statements previously made in that Journal by another correspondent ; these statements we have already published in our issue of the Gth inst. Want of space prevents our publishing, this week, the letter to which we now refer, but we will give it a place next week, so that our readers may have an opportunity of exercising their judgment on the matter. Unsatisfactory as this denial or explanation of Mr. Mackay appears to us, this is not the point to which we now wish to direct attention, but to the doctrine laid down by Mr. Mackay;— Even admitting that the information endeavored to be conveyed was reliable, it is exceedingly bad policy to publish it in any newspaper. —And again : Doubtless one object of the Waikato in bolding out inducements for the Ngatirarua to settle in the Kawhia district, is to add their number to that of the king party. This, however, does not necessitate or justify any person in alarming the public, and informing the natives that we are not in a position to meet 10,000 natives, if such a number concentrated against our forces. —Now, we bold it to be the duty of a journalist to place the true state of affairs before the public, and not attempt to keep it in ignorance of this from any motives of temporary expediency. If it be true that “we are not in a position to meet 10,000 natives, if such a number concentrated against our forces,” when there is any, even the least probability of their so “ concentrating” it is quite necessary that the truth should bo known, that steps may be taken to remedy such a state of affairs, and the condemnation duo may rest on those who have brought it about or permitted things to arrive at such a pass. “Forewarned is forearmed.” We well remember that in the “ house,” on the occasion of Mr. Fox proposing the celebrated want of confidence in the Stafford Ministry motion, (in which by the legerdemain of substituting the New Provinces Act as th a point de nppui for the true question of the day, Iris majority of one was gained), that gentleman in reply to questions as to what was to be the policy of the proposed Government on the native question, replied—- “ We mean work,” and intimated that during the progress of Negociations, the Government would take the opportunity to arm the settlers for their own defence, in case these negociations should fail: and he severely blamed the Stafford Ministry for precipitating the Taranaki troubles, while the settlers were without the means of self-defence. The negociations have failed, the natives have become more rebellious, exacting, and insolent, have refused to abide by terms freely accepted when in trouble—have occupied in armed force a large extent of country, and may at any moment rise to “ crush the pakelui”— .the settlers are still unarmed —and the press is advised to be quiet and not inform tire natives that we arc aware of the position in which we stand. Tliat false reports and groundless alarms are occasionally published by tire press in its anxiety to place before the public the fullest and the latest information in its power, is readily admitted, yet even this (though a temporary evil) is not without its advantages as it gives to those who are able the opportunity of making satisfactory explanations, and so restore and establish public confidence, while they often, in a more indirect way serve to elicit the truth, which would not else he told, and thus Dy indirections find directions out. In any case when an explanation is made or contradiction given we have a rigid to expect that it shall be as satisfactory as circumstances will admit of, and not a pure gloss, evasion, or subterfuge, and particularly that the character of private individuals for veracity

shall not be needlessly impugned. •We are sorry to see in this explanation of Mr. Mackay s the too frequent practice of preferring the statements of the Maori to those of the pakeha when they do not agree, as though the Maori was a model of sincerity and truth. Mr. Hough has authenticated his statement with his name, and says two Maori chiefs have given him Iris information, and adds particulars. Mr. Mackay tells us who they ivere, and says they deny having stated anything of the kind, and leaves the reader to conclude that not only is the report without foundation, but also that it originated with Mr. Hough.