BISHOP SELWYN AT THE WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 83, 22 January 1863, Page 3

BISHOP SELWYN AT THE WAIKATO.

[From the Nelson Examiner, Jan. 7.] The condition of public feeling or thought about the affairs of the Northern Island is remarkable. A great political difficulty is not a natural occupation for the minds of men in a young colony, and except when the trouble bursts into actual flame, the public goes to sleep over it. Attention turns away eagerly to the mere normal work of colonization, to subduing brute nature and unsealing her stores, from the complicated subject of the relation of colony to parent state, or even the more vividly interesting question between the two races in the North. Every colonist in his time plays necessarily so many parts—is so much a Jack-of-all-trades—that common experience as well as the wearisome stagnation of questions in set tling which we have only a partial voice, makes us glad to drop discussions which seem barren of present fruit, and which distract and waste our energies. Even the “ great” separation movement is in abeyance; whether the silver cup has been awarded or not, the public hardly knows or cares : the new Victorian element finds that the existing constitution does not bar the way to wealth, and quits, for the present, the path of political agitation. These things tell either for or against Mr. Gold win Smith and his party : they either show a want of ripeness or an emasculate condition in the colony. We have not the excuse that exists in France or America for the seeming collapse of polititical life. In France a purposeless or selfregarding despotism shuts the mouths of thoughtful men, if it does not quench their aspirations, and the French are cleverly described by their own writers as sitting in the attitude of a dog, watching which way its master’s stick may bo next thrown, in pure expectancy, and without any view of its own. In America the greatness of the convulsion makes even an ultra democracy instinctively acquiesce in absolutism of the extremes* kind. During great peril and difficulty the human mind, without reflection,

admits that a single will must guide, and is thankful if a will is granted for the emergency. Our case is different; our disease is chronic. Yet the colony sits, only with less eager watchfulness than the dog or the French nation, waiting what may be done, or rather what may fall out, next, for the question of doing there is none as yet opened, and the proceedings or no proceedings at Auckland are as inscrutable as those at the Tuilories. Governor Grey came out on a special mission, ho came to set all things square, and the Colony watched to see how he would set things square, till it has fallen asleep. The Governor’s first proceeding was elaborately to sap the character of his predecessor, and to blow a long blast in his praise. Next he attempted to fix the administration on other persons, and now, we presume, he is doing nothing in order that the position of Governor and Ministers may bo ascertained. Five hundred German immigrants sent for and to arrive in a year, and a steamer, which a sarcastic looker-on states to be undergoing a process of heavy armament to prevent her going up the Waikato, these are six months’ contribution to the cure of a terrible evil. Most of Sir George Grey’s time is said to be now spent at Kawau. Not only does a vague impression exist that nothing will be done at Taranaki but high authority is assigned, by report, for this impression. Mr. Domett’s reply to the Taranaki address confirms this. Mr. Domett is a very honest man, and a great master of style. When he says that to answer the questions from Taranaki might be inconvenient, he is using the most subjunctive possible form of the verb. Ifs in great number intervene between a might and an is. Had he said “it mag be inconvenient,” we might have fancied at least a plan was in the wind. But all appearances hang together, and the decree to do nothing seems all but published. The vastness of the discrepancy between the great cry and little wool perhaps has a stunning effect on the popular mind—acts mosmcrically. One man has, indeed, been stirring a little during the last two months—one Englishman we had almost said—but Bishop Selwyn proclaims himself a half-caste; in his desire to declare his goodwill to the Maori, thus affirming that justice and benevolence, except in the case of men of apostolic pretensions, do not overlap the boundaries of race. Bishop Selwyn has attended a great meeting convened in Waikato by William Thompson. King Matutaera, Bishop Selwyn, Thompson and a host of minor lights spoke. The Maori King’s Gazette reports the meeting, and the Bishop reports himself by aid of the Melanesian press. In what capacity he attended is not clear. He did not confine himself to the generalities which clergymen commonly bring to bear on politics; he did not attend as a spiritual adviser. His arguments are those of the political!, and his action is either authorized by the head of the civil government, or it is an impertinence. The meeting at which this agent assisted was assembled to consider whether the road which the Governor had declared he would make should be made ; whether pakehas should be expelled the king’s territory, or permitted ; whether land should be let; and whether debts to the European should be paid ; some of which points have been decided worse by civilized nations! The Bishop makes three modest propositions ; that one law should prevail for both races ; that Waitara should be adjudicated ; and that Tataraimaka should be given up to ifs owners. But his proposals seem to fall on deaf ears. Though in “ looking towards Matutaera the Bishop takes off his hat; ” though ho offers upGovernor Browne among us, and To Teira among the Maoris as the sources of evil, and so prejudicates Waitara in favour of his hearers, the native heart is obdurate, the peace-offering is not accepted. But we do not intend following the Bishop through his speech, into which the native Gazette introduces the remarkable statement; “If your hold Tataraimaka, wo and my widows must return across the sea. and leave this land a land of confusion.” It is the patience of the public which endures such proceedings almost without remonstrance, the prodigious political tolerance of tho colony, that strikes our attention, and we ask our readers’ attention to it. The patience of the colony must be debited to Sir George Grey as one of the gifts of his lucky star. If he fails to do great things for us and for his own reputation, he cannot blame the colony, which has given him more than a fair field. But it will not do for us to lie permanently on our oars. If Sir George Grey can find us no policy except waiting, while the Home Government can afford us support but for a short time, we must make our own minds up on a course. We cannot find a large defensive army, and bolster up scattered settlements indefinitely. Wc shall have to choose whether we will take up what England puts down ; whether we will have one Government for both races, or not. Wc must accept or reject Mr. Fitz Gerald’s cure ; and, if we reject it, or try it and find it fail, we must choose between conquest and a protracted state of organized and armed peace. We are not likely to consent to follow the Bishop back across the ocean en masse, but wc may have to retrench our boundaries and concentrate our strength. The hour of decision is not so remote ; nor is a remote hour to be desired, the present stupor is far from noble or healthy A mail or two hence will bring the reply of the mother country to the colony’s last appeal. If it is unfavourable, or if it .agrees to a compromise by giving a definite contribution, with real control to the colony, the Colonial Ministry will not be likely to accept the long recess allowed them, but a com-' paratively early session may be called for, to determine what is to be the colonial policy, and who its Ministers.