“THE SCAPEGOAT.”

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

“THE SCAPEGOAT.”

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bag Times. Snx, —From the cont ents of the Herald of the 23rd ult., we learn that some further correspondence lias passed bet ween the Governor and the Duke ot Newcastle, of which we “ heard nothing” during the lust session of the General Assembly. The subject is nothing less important than liberty of speech, developed as it is in the freedom of the Press in both our native land and the Colonies. On that subject more anon, but a present we may note that Sir George Grey finds his “peace-pur-chasing” policy is not so successful as he might wish it to be, and not liking to admit the failure he is endeavoring to lay the blame on the “colonial Press,” or at any rate that portion of the Press which will not undertake only io see, hear , and spealc, us he would hare it to do. The astute Governor, who had vanquished so many opponents whose talent for diplomacy was admitted by friends and foes, has actually undertaken more than he is able to perform. He has met one of his opponents face to face, and has boon beaten. More than (his, ho, “forgetting his usual tact,” lost his temper, and allowed his victor to see that he was piqued. To a diplomatist such a blunder would be equal to a sentence of degradation and loss of caste for life. The prestige that accompanied the name of Sir George Grey Las fled, the illusion is dispelled; a half-educated New Zealander has, on different occasions, defeated the Governor in a pitched battle, as witness the conference at Kohanga, (Waikato), shortly after his return to the colony, and still more recently, his interview with W i Tako. We might perhaps add also the meetsng at Whakaairo in April last, when a “ thirdrate chief” bullied the Governor pretty considerably, and his compeers “ patronized him.” What was actually said on that occasion was kept from the public, as was also information as to whether the “ bully” got a “saddle and bridle,” or a suit of “ broad cloth” for his conduct, at the public expense, us his colleagues the “ patronizers” got a “ mill” for theirs. Have years of care and anxiety had the same effect on Sir G. Grey as on Sir W. Martin ? Or if that surmise be wrong, are we to take the Governor's complaint about the Press as a glimmer of light thrown on his conduct towards the unfortunate settlers of Taranaki ? lie has treated them with the most shameful neglect ; he has abstained from helping them, and has not allowed them to help themselves, Ho has left them to feel the full force of the wise man’s words, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,” lie has never, by word or deed given them any encouragement, any ground to hope that-they will ever be allowed to hold and enjoy peaceably their farms and gardens, and homes. Yet he has abstained from offering them any inducement to “ emigrate,” although there is no alternative for them under the “ conciliation and submission” policy. Is it not remarkable, that while he was treating the Taranaki settlors in a manner above all others calculated to drive them to the attempt to right their wrongs by the strong arm, according to the laws of nature, he was penning despatches and speeches to the effect that he was steadily progressing in the re-cstablish-ment of law and order, although not an iota of real progress in that direction existed ? Was a deep plot laid, in which the Taranakians were to be the victims and by their sacrifice the Governor and his yielding advisers were to escape clear. How well it would would have read in Exeter Hall, “ The Governor would have established peace, and prosperity would have followed, but the settlers of Taranaki, in their impatience spoilt all, and brought on themselves a second time the scourge of war” ! Could the clever Governor have been hoping that his defeat would bo covered by a blunder on the part of the sacrifice I He has attempted an impossibility, and failed. lie has inflicted on the colony an expense that cannot yet be fully realized ; ho has laid his countrymen under a very grievous tribute, and when they ask what they obtain for their money, ho would like, a, la Napoleon , to shut their mouths. He has evidently aimed at “ whitewashing the house,” concealing the breaches, and then leaving the repairing, the real difficulty, not as ho found it, but greater tenfold, for his successor to perform. Accustomed to rule absolutely, and unable to cither coax or bully the Maori race, he would fain lay a heavier whip on the pnJceha, they must submit. Yes, “gag the Press,” is evidently in the mouth of the Dictator of the Colony, but even he feels afraid'to speak it out. And yet, why should he be afraid? Is it because he has’alrcady “on his own responsibility - ’ reversed a decision given by a former Governor, and endorsed in the most unqualified manner by the Duke of Newcastle. Had he not done this, ho could have calculated on the sanction of the Horae Government, (o the extent of a Bill of Indemnity through the Imperial Parliament if necessary, for any and every measure ho might think fit to adopt. Yours, &c., A Saxon. Ist January, 1863.