THE NELSON MARE’S NEST.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 76, 11 December 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE NELSON MARE’S NEST.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Hay Times. irom late issues of the Times just come to hand, I find that a Mr. Hough, in the Province of Nelson, has informed the public through the columns of the Nelson Examiner that the Waikato people have sent letters to their friends at Motueka, seeking their alliance against the pakeha; and Mr. Mackay, a native linguist and resident magistrate in a native district, has, in reply, denied the tacts stated. r l'o me it appears that Mr. Hough’s statement bears on the face of it the appearance of being genuine, and something more than a mere denial on the part of the natives alluded to would be needed to disprove it; unless it should appear that Mr. Hough (of whom I know nothing) is not a trustworthy person. But while admitting the probability of Mr. Hough’s statements being facts, I think the inference to be drawn from them is not nearly so serious as he appears to imagine. That Waikato, both now and during the Taranaki riot, (Governor Grey won’t have it to have been rebellion) have endeavored to secure allies is well known j that a native who takes to writing diplomatic notes is not always particular about the truth of his words we have had examples enough ; hence there is nothing improbable in the story that (finding other means fail) Waikato suggests an attack on the pakeha as an inducement to the Middle Island natives to join the alliance. At the same time there is every probability that the ablest men on the Waikato would avoid a resort to arms, if they were able to restrain their tribesmen ; but there, as in all democracies, the wisest men are not always able to direct the policy or control the actions of the more eager and thoughtless; hence there is always a possibility of a collision taking place, but at the same time every probability that when that does occur, it will be the result of accidental circumstances, not of preconcerted plans. As long as the troops in the colony aie as numerous as at present, the thinking men, the Kewis and Thompsons, will do all in their power to prevent a collision ; but they will none the less use all the means at their command to extend their influence and widen the bases of their alliance. With what other view do they keep up a continuous correspondence with tribes of whose faith they have doubts, or on whose, assistance they scarcely can count ? T„r what other reason were “ king s soldiers in uniform, or at least, in livery f sent through the country as far as this Ahnriri, except turn recruitiny party, see King to enlist, not merely the sympathies, but even the arms and weapons of their countrymen here against the pakeha ? What is this but preparing lor the inevitable struggle which is to decide whether this island is to be abandoned by the whites, or colonized, for there can scarcely be any other alternative. “ Colonization and progress or abandonment/’ A peace at any price policy never yet stood, and probably never will till the advent of the millenium ; to work it out to its only possible result is to reduce those who adopt it to slavery ; and slavery itself does not ensure peace to the individual who bows down to the yoke.—-But to return to Mr. Hough’s statement; I cannot consider the congregating of fO,OOO Maori soldiers at "\\ aikato as an unmixed evil. I have ever looked on Governor Browne's terms (intended to separate the Maori) as a political blunder ; to attempt to deal with them in detail rather than in the gross, was only increasing the difficulty of dealing with them at alf, consider that “ when the war does come,’ it will be to our advantage- that the enemy are concentrated. Does any one doubt that 20,000, or even 30,000 New Zealanders, would be very soon “ accounted for,” if our troops could get at them, although the latter were only in the proportion of one to tlnee of the former. If all the Maori race were resident in the Waikato nistrict, the “ great question'’ would be much easier to solve than it is under existing circumstances. Yours, &c., A Saxox. Nov. 27, 1860.

■P-S- Nov. 29.—Since the above was penned, your issue of the 27th has enlightened us on the subject, by means of Mr. Hough’s reply to Mr. Mackay, and a perusal of iUully justifies Mr. Hough in making the matter public ; although I do not suppose that the nominal heads of the king par ty really contemplate assuming the offensive, so loim as the Government refrains from pressing them too hard ; but a ruse may be deemed 'justifiable in Maori diplomacy as well as in that of civilized nations.—“ We need allies,” soothe Waikato chiefs, “ so wc must obtain them, if possible, by any or every means/''

To the Editor of the Hawke’s Say Times.

Sir, —It cannot, I think, be fairly denied that the natives of New Zealand have been fearfully pampered with—utterly spoilt, in fact, and that an egregious blunder has been committed in their government. The error has been committed, it little matters by whom (although it is, I believe, pretty generally known what certain section of the community had a finger in the pie), and the question that now remains to be solved is— How is that error to be rectified ? To rectify it as quickly and as effectually as possible would, without doubt, add greatly to the benefit of both races in this Colony; and, therefore, it behoves the Government to set about the task—an arduous one, no doubt, and one which requires much consideration and study—without any further delay. “A stitch in time saves nine,” is an old and quaint saying, and one not altogether inapplicable to th g present c&se, To mirsuG the same course as has been followed for the last ten or twelve years, (indeed, I might almost say from the foundation of the Colony) in the vague hope of thereby effecting a peaceable settlement of the perplexing Native Question —a question that has puzzled all our New Zealand statesmen (some of whom are able, talented, and persevering men) from the colonization of the colony up to the present day,—to continue the same path now, I say, would be an act of folly which would prove a curse to the present generation of both races in the Islands of New Zealand, if not to the next also. To try and win the confidence of the natives by gifts of flour, sugar, tobacco, &c. (as has been tried, and I need not say how successfully, in bye-gone years) would be an act of humiliation utterly unworthy of the dignity and honor of the British name ; and, were such a disgraceful course resorted to amiin, it would not only tend to increase the distrust the natives at present feel towards the Government, but would call forth much disgust and indignation among the colonists ; and moreover, it is a course that would, I feel convinced, prove utterly impracticable as regards procuring a peaceful settlement of affairs. In the House of Representatives, when it was in session, J. E. Eitzgerald, Esq., hon. member for Ellesmere, remarked, in alluding to the Native Question, “ This state of things cannot last.” He was right. This state of things cannot indeed last. The settlers of the Northern Island ol New Zealand (more especially our unfortunate follow-countrvmeu in the Province of Taranaki) have long'been living in a state of sufferance to Maori caprice ; but will they continue to live on in that same state for ever V I trow not. The sam of the day of retribution is faintly—very faintly as yet —rising in the dark and distant horizon : and when the British Lion is once fairly aroused from the dreamy stupor into which, by his own folly, he has fallen, woe be unto those so-called “ poor ignorant natives ’ of this our island home who do not really and truly acknowledge the prowess of the British Crown over the Colony of New Zealand. By insinuating that the Maories will ere long be made to suffer for their past acts, I do not mean to say that the settlers will take upon themselves the responsibility of giving them a thrashing (which they richly deserve), but I do mean to say that it is my firm belief, as well as that of many others who have watched the progress of affairs during the last two or three years, that war —and that carried on with vigour—between the natives and Her Majesty’s troops will very shortly take place. The sooner that war breaks out the better will it be for the colonists of New Zealand, fur I believe that a permanent peace will never be established until the natives are made to feel that British troops can. fight when they are put to the point. Therefore, sir, it ought to be the fervent wish of every settler in the colony (as it is mine) that with the coming summer will commence another, and it is to be hoped the last, “ War in New Zealand.” If such war does actually take place, let us all unite in sincere prayer to the Almighty for the success of our undertaking ; and may the end of the war (as yet imaginary) be followed by a lasting peace —alas I so little known in these islands of bite years. Let the war-cry of our soldiers be “ . to the . j —the murderers of our countrymen !!” I am, sir, Yours very truly, Veritas. Napier, December 2, 18G2.