UNSETTLED STATE OF THE THAMES DISTRICT.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 472, 22 April 1867, Page 3

UNSETTLED STATE OF THE THAMES DISTRICT.

[From the Xew Zealand Herald, 13th April.] We regret to state that the return of Mr Commissioner Mackay from the Thames is accompanied by any tiling but satisfactory intelligence from that quarter. The native chiefs Tellira and Tarsi a a;v, it seems, bent on establishing an aukati at the Thame.-, that is of sending away the Europeans, and drawing an imaginary line across which uo European will bo allowed to go, on pain of death.

So long ns this state of things is allowed to continue we shall never have peace and quietness in this island. By such acts of the turbulent Han -haus the better disposed natives are cut off from contact with the European population until they become as debased as their oppressors amongst their own countrymen. The truth is for want of assistance from us those natives, who would tain remain loyal and friendly disposed towards the pakeha, are placed in the uncomfortable position of either conforming to their rebel countrymen, or of being left unassisted by- the Government to take the consequence of not doim* so. Who can wonder that the Ilau-han faith and disaffection is on the increase. When Middle Island politicians magnanimously undertook to govern without the aid of British troops it was supposed that thev would find a colonial force to preserve the peace of the country, and to lake measure? to prevent the spread of insurrectionary doctrines amongst the natives as yet friendly disposed towards us. The Southern Government lias been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Their policy of self-reliance has been found to be an empty sham. They were willing enough to get rid ot the troops, but they were not willing to assume the responsibility which such ditmissal of the troops fairly imposed upon them. We are now reaping the consequence of their imbecility and disingenuousness. Native affairs are left to drift into what position they may.

One of not the least important causes of discontent in natira districts is, wo arc informed, the presence among the natives of degraded whites who live as Maoris with the tribes, taking to themselves native women. These men it is who inflame the native mind against the Europeans, and put them up to an immense amount of mischief, xhe iekaumarua, or twelve Hau-iiau ap 'stles, are, we understand, influenced very mucli in their rabid fanaticism bv such men. It would be well could the G-overn-ment place its hands on all such characters, and give them a long rope and a short shrift.