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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 80, 8 January 1863, Page 3

To the Editor of the Haivke's Rag Times.

Su?.—When the general state of affairs in the Colony come carefully to be looked into at tho present day, the prosperity of the Southern Provinces daily increasing, and the comparative poverty of the Northern Provinces, (Auckland, perhaps, excepted), one, cannot help thinking that the Native Question, and that alone, holds the North down, as with an iron shackle, and prevents it from keecping pace with its more fortunate brethren “ down South.” Of the Northern Provinces, I may point to Taranaki, once, in bye-gone years, so sanguinely termed the “ Devonshire of New Zealand,” and the “ Garden of New Zealand.” The contrast between the Taranaki of 1 Sol) or before that period, and the Taranaki of 1862 is truly amazing. Its once green fields and verdant pastures have been transformed into wild, barren wastes, by the ruthless hands of a semi-civilized race. Many have been tee schemes suggested for the settlement of the vexed question, which at the present time commands the public, and many have been the speeches —some eloquent, and others indifferent—delivered at the Legislative Council, House of Representatives, and elsewhere on this important subject, on the satisfactory settlement of which rests, in a very material degree the future prosperity of the Colony. The Middle Island, having very few natives residing there, has nothing to fear. It does not matter much to them whether the native quesnot help thinking that they, in common with us of the unfortunate North Island, would like to see it finally settled as quickly as possible. Tho very grave question—“ How is the native question to be settled ?”—has often been asked, but never, to my knowledge, satisfactorily answered. Many give their opinions and ideas, but none of those opinions appear to make any impression on the “ powers that be.” Sir George Grey has an idea of winning the natives over to allegiance to her Majesty Queen Victoria, and he has persevered against many reverses in his arduous, and (to me) hopeless task. Would that his Excellency conld but see what nearly the whole of the Colony can see, viz.—the utter hopelessness of trying to win the natives to loyalty. If he does not want to give in io the natives in loco, and by so doing drive away all the settlers from the Northern Is-

land, ho must set'about active measures for con'quering the natives. It would be useless for any one to ask—“ How are they to be conquered ?” There is only one way to conquer them —proclaim war against them. Sir, this is, in my opinion, the only way to secure a permanent peace in the Colony. Certainly, in a manner speaking, wo are at peace; at the present time—and even that is disputed by some, who say it is no peace at all, but a truce —but who can say how long that “ peace” will last ? I have often long and seriously thought over the perplexing rative question, and of the best way to settle it, and, after all my considerations, I have come to the same conclusion with your correspondent “ A Saxon,” that there is but one way to obtain a sure and lasting peace in the Colony, and that can only be effected bv the use of the*SWORD. I am, Sir, 1 ours, &.c., Buixox. Napier, Dec. 29, 18G2.