MR. WHITE AND THE WANGANUI BENCH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 237, 10 March 1865, Page 3

MR. WHITE AND THE WANGANUI BENCH.

(From the Chronicle, Ist March.) Again the friendly natives have done their work and done it well. Europeans who had been beside them came down for the Gundagai and two Armstrong guns, and a party of soldiers, and in their absence the natives went at it in their own way, and accomplished the work without the o=s of a man. The pa was a strong one, garrisoned by hau ban fanatics ; but as.the defended, ot post a her post were driven back or killed their Hearts began to fail them and they were more afraid of a few hundred of their own race than they would have been of as many thousands of soldiers. Whether the diplomacy of the * inonoly natives is equal to their bravery remains to be seen ; whether they will be able to resist the influence of Pehi and Mamaku and hold the advantage tney have gained seems from anythin** toat lias as yet been heard to be doubtful. More alter the fight than before it did they require an ff Tvf er f tlloy had im P licit confidence. Hitherto Mr White, E.M., has enjoyed that confidence ; but wtthm these few days, by a procedure which seems to us extraordinary, and is certainly exceedingly ill-timed, that confidence has been entirely destroyed. Hence there is no one acquainted with them of sufficient experience to advise and guide them. What may happen in these circumstances it is impossible to say. If icy retSin the prisoners, the effect on the coast natives will be most salutary, and may lead to their (lisheartenment and submission, ‘if Pehi’s sophisms have prevailed, a continuation of the contest may bo looked upon as certain. Thus the balance of peace or war may be turned by the slightest circumstance. J

4 s ' ,;c this critical state of matters is mainly owing to the interference with Mr White’s duties which compelled him to send in his resignation. \vnether Mr White had done anything or omitted to do anything, the doing or omission ot wnich would have been a sufficient reason for reprimand or dismissal, we do not know. Whether the gentleman who prompted the interference had authority from the Government which justilied Ins stepping in we do not know. In the ortner case it is equally to blame in not dismissmg mm directly if and when they were certain he had acted imprudently. But if, as ia out as we scarcely cau‘ believe, the interlerencc with Mr White’s duties as Native KesKleut magistrate took place without-any authority, but simply because certain irresponsible P£T S . OUS t , llou S ! 't dial- they knew better than Mr .y into went should be done, and in their superior wisdom took the matter out of his hands, then we say most distinctly that whether Mr White has been right or wrong in his general dealings wita tne natives, or in this particular case there snoincl do a most distinct and unequivocal assertion by the Government (in this case in a practical way) that its officers will be upheld by it m t-e performance of their duty to the best of their judgment and ability, and that no usurpation ot their functions will be permitted. Unless tins is distinctly understood no man of any selfrespect or value wdl take office under it, and the whole administration of affairs will get into inextricable confusion. That any private person, however respectable and however well versed in the circumstances of the case, should be allowed by the crovern.uent to constitute himself their officer, and supersede an individual whom the Government has appoin ted, is monstrous, even thougu he should be backed by half-a-dozen d.i’. g. in another column there is an allusion to the rour rais-govermnonts under which this island groans ; but if this sort of thing is to be permitted every man will take the law into his own hands, and the anarchy will be universal. Wo make these remarks, let it be understood, knowing nothing more Ilian is known generally of this case. if Mr White had merely coordinate authority with the other magistrates in ?ne administration of native affairs, that alters the case. If Mr White received any notice that he was under the control of any officer in the district whose authority he has set at nought, tlmt alters the case. If Mr White was informed officially that he was superseded by the gentle-* man or gentlemen who haye, as is generally understood, unduly interfered—that alters the case. -But the public do not believe any of these things, and the general impression is that the whole affair is as devoid of authority as it is of common sense.

We have referred to this matter because it is one of great importance in principle as well as in tact. Irrespective of the serious issues it mav involve, it should be cleared up, and the result made public because of its inherent importance as a precedent. For anything that is known at present, the principle involved in it is that anv man wno thinks himself superior to a stipendiary magistrate has a right to set him aside and take Jus place if authorised to do so bv not fewer than tour Justices of the Peace. If such .powers are vested in these magistrates, they do not seem to nave been hitherto exercised. But if such powers are not possessed, but have 'been assumed by tacra, those who have presumed to exercise them should in the most direct and practical way be informed that they have overstepped their authority. The Government mav have erred in appointing Mr White to the office which he has held for nearly three years j but certainly, in deference to the office, if not to the man, some decent mode of ejecting him should have been adopted, if it was resolved to dispense ■with lus services. *