The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1865. "FRIENDLY” NATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 307, 18 September 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1865. "FRIENDLY” NATIVES.

According to a recent proclamation by tbe Responsible Government, tbe war is at an end; 'and, for the future, there is to be no more rebels, and no more enemy. By a further extension of a pleasant but fictitious theory, all the Maoris are now to be considered as friendly natives. Any of them being guiity of a breach of the law for the future are simply offenders or criminals and are to be treated as such in every respect as though they were of European descent.' This is extremely plausible, and, if it can be carried out in its integrity, will be very good, particularly as it does away with a supposed distinction between friendly natives and rebels—a distinction that never had a real existence—and leaves the socalled friendly natives' as amenable to the law as the others. Fortunately, or otherwise, as the case may be, we have not had long to wait for an opportunity of bringing this plausible theory to the test. Two very “ friendly ” natives, who had shewn much zeal in obtaining arms, &c., from the Government, that they might be enabled to de monstrate their loyalty,-—were recently sub poenaed to appear on the 12th inst.; —and they shewed what is meant by the term friendly by refusing to' appear ; their love and respect, fur the law by setting it at defiance.' Of course we shall speedily see them brought to trial as offenders, that the majesty of the law might be upheld. Shall we ? We shall see. ,