Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1869. THE PRESENT ASPECT OF AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 663, 11 March 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1869. THE PRESENT ASPECT OF AFFAIRS.

A VERY short time will probably suffice to disclose the extent of the danger to which the northern districts are exposed from the wavering portions of the Waikato tribes. The Auckland press speaks of the King natives as evidently being divided into two parties—one of which, headed by the King, is desirous of peace ; and another so determined on rebellion as to throw off their quasi allegiance to his Majesty, and act in opposition to his will. The same papers also draw a kind of comfort from the amicable professions of the King, particularly in that he gives assurance! to the settlers that he will not fail to let them know when they are menaced by danger from his rebellious subjects. All this is very melancholy—or, rather, we should say, humiliating. An arch-rebel against her Majesty's rule is regarded with a sublime sort of awe by her Majesty's subjects, and his slightest movement is watched as declaring for their weal or woe ; so much so that his being graciously pleased to say that he is willing to let them alone is regarded as almost a priceless boon, while it is plainly in his power by one word at any moment to scatter dismay through a large extent of British territory. Still more, it is the probability of his saying that word that makes his pacific aspect so important in the eyes of the Auckland public, and maintains the whole fabric of colonial society in a state of chronic alarm. It is of course quite true that we have quite enough to do at present with the rebels already in arms against us, and that every addition to their ranks is apparently adding to the work we have to do in quelling them ; but as it is quite possible that their ranks may be increased by the wavering, evidently we should be prepared for such a contingency ; and what is more, such contingency must be rendered for the future an impossibility. Well did the Wanganui chiefs try to impress the Government that it wa<* useless lopping off an evil branch here or there, while the root of the evil was allowed to flourish in the Waikato, and advise that the root be plucked up and destroyed, in order that the branches might die, for it at length becomes evident that while a King, or a King party, is permitted to exist, there will be no peace for the Colony. Then another act of questionable or more than questionable policy is being committed. We learn that Mr Searancke, Resident Magistrate, is endeavoring to pi'ocure arms for the friendly natives in his district. We have uniformly set ourselves against this insane practice, and we had hoped that we should have heard no more about it, until some better

system be devised than any at present adopted. Like Frankenstein, we have created a monster and given it life, and like him we find our creature too much for us, for We cannot control his movements. Officered by their own chiefs, the armed friendlies will not act under the direction of the European officer in command further than they please, and at any time, under the slightest provocation, and by the direction of their chiefs, they are liable to make a very different use of the power they have been given than that which was intended. India was conquered by native troops, and a fearful price was ultimately paid for that. It is not wise to lay ourselves at the mercy of a savage race. As disciplined troops, absorbed individually into our forces, we should find the Maori a valuable auxilliary, and ultimately, under European officeis, our forces might be mainly composed of them ; but, under the present management of their own chiefs, they will continue as they have hitherto proved—an obstruction and a danger more often than they prove of real • service to the Colony.