ARCHDEACON HADFIELD and the WAR.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 295, 7 August 1865, Page 1

ARCHDEACON HADFIELD and the WAR.

[From the Now Zealand Advertiser, July 29.]

We published ia our issue of the 27tb inst., from the Nelson Colonist, an extract of a letter written by Archdeacon Hadfield, of Otaki. We have since seen the extract in the London Times, introduced to the notice of the English public by a letter from his brother, Colonel Hadfield, a member of the British Parliament. We cannot say whether or not the permission of the writer was given to the publication, but we have no hesitation in saying that it was an act which will not commend itself to any honorable mind, unless the writer is prepared to justify the accusations therein brought forward. The writer is represented as saying that the “ war is brought on because the Government ar§ determined to make a road.” We believethatuooneknowsbetter than Archdeacon Hadfield that the statement he had made was nut a fair statement—that its tendency was to mislead. If he desired that truth should prevail, and his profession leads to the conclusion that that should be his desire, then he has done much to pervert it. He should have told the British public that the district in question was the heart of the insurrection, the centre of disaffection , that its inhabitants had been guilty of atrocious murders, and the most villainous pillaging, which have cost the country not less than AIOO,OOO in compensation. He should have told them that scarcely an an acre of the land of the rebel tribes in that neighborhood had been confiscated, while tens of thousands of that belonging to the warlike Waikatos had been. The Archdeacon continues to say, “ My district is perfectly quiet, but it is impossible to foresee when it will suit the plans of the Government to provoke a war here.” It is positively humiliating and painful to see one who should preach peace and good will thus stepping out of his way to make all government impossible. We w r ould put it to to the Venerable Archdeacon himself whether his mind would be at ease were the natives,

goaded on by the circulation among them of these sentiments, to commit some overt act of treason, despoil the harmless settler, or murder his family ? We do not dispute for a single moment that Mr Hadfleld is entitled, with every other citizen, to entertain what opinion he chooses, hut we think that, considering we are living in a country where a spark might lighten up a district, and deluge. it in blood, that it would be well to Avoid such evil speaking. We believe that the Governmentis honestly and heartily engage J in the somewhat hopeless task of bringing about an honorable termination of the war—that they heartily desire it, and are disposed to do all they can to attain it; but, is it likely that the British public will believe this when men of Archdeacon Hadfields office and position spread abroad the seeds of mistrust ? Is it likely that the district of Otaki will remain quiet when they know the sentiments of one who has spent his life in their service ? We grieve to think how often the best endeavors are thwarted by those who should be their staunchest supporters. If Archdeacon Hadfield’s strictures are just, then the Government should be cast out of office, and the power of legislating for the natives resumed by the Crown. If they are not just, they should not have been published to mislead.