Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 781, 25 April 1870, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1870.

Naturally men seek for a new system, a new plan ; but though natural, we doubt if that resource is wise. We believe that the country would have been in a better position now if last year's plans and force had been allowed fair play. We are willing to do the present system that justice, and hope it will not be reversed, by any premature change. The European Constabulary are now being trained, if by training drilling and dressing is understood. But the training which really makes meii of any use in the Maori war (hey have not yet had, and it would be absurd to consider them unmilitary or untrustworthy, or to condemn them now that they are treated as soldiers because a silly slang phrase has been so translated, A chief objection to the course taken last year was that it was likely to take so long before it produced a fotce. We see in the Independent that 180 are now enlisted. The system before was to enlist all the men that volunteered and were physically fit, and to weed afterwards when they were put to

sie test. Drilling was regarded then as secondary to endurance of hardship and aptitude for bush fightins. Even moral excellence was not looked to in the first instance. As the urgency of the case diminished the men found to be good bush men and brave men might have been dressed and drilled, while the looser characters would have been got rid of. The weeding now is done at first, and if a man is sober and healthy and big he is supposed to be worth a few months' drilling and dressing before it is pi-oved that he is either brave or willing to bear hardship. It is a moot point, this, which we will not argue. But, having 180 highly-drilled and highly* dressed constables, we hope they will be tried before they are condemned. The native allies we do not believe in ourselves; yet we are free to admit that many do put their faith in them, and we shall be glad if they solve the enigma. As yet we do not see much improvement in our condition, but the case has been so much over-stated, and is argued so purely from a political point of view, that we are a little inclined, perhaps, to go too far the other way. If Te Kooti, now practically without any force to restrain him, his massacres, it will be evident he is still as strong as ever. If he takes shelter with the king we shall take it as a proof that his long campaign has obliged him to abate his pretensions to his own countrymen, and so far that we have advanced a little during the year. True, some will hold up the terror of the Royal Arms to frighten us; but wc are inclined to think that the soonei the king's neutrality ends, the sooner will the whole difficulty come bo a conclusion. We hope it may end by his making peace; but the alternative with all its dangers seems to us infinitely preferable to the wretched state of things his attitude has fostered and possibly created. There is every hope that the Opposition will not try to make radical changes this session. If the Government, as their organs state, has not exceeded votes, and come out decently from the trial of that publicity which must at length be given to many of .i ts proceedings hitherto concealed, theie is a prospect that no attempt will be made to displace them. It is well known they are in a minority, and not by any means united among themselves. Indeed it is said several are trying to make terms on their separate accounts with their opponents. But all this will not cause the Opposition to change its plans, and no coalition is possible.. A dissolution is required, for leading men are too embittered, and we want new blood. Out of the ordeal of an election, it is hoped by those who still care for the welfare of the Colony, we may attain a powerful party which can depend upon holding office long enough to mature and cary out its plans. This seems to be the only reasonable chance of overcoming the chronic charucter of the native difficulty.

We hope that the Maori question is approaching some sort of settlement. The incessant exertions of the Colony must have made some impression—the dropping waters have at length begun to wear a*vay the stone, But it is a weary business. The efforts made since 1860 have been earnest, and we are bound to believe our measures have been often wisely designed and energetically carried out. But the fact remains—the ulcer heals over at times, but always break* out afresh. Almost every expedient has been tried that a Christian people could employ; forbearance to the captured, to the defeated, and to the powerless has tempered and done honor to onr policy, and has even been pushed to extremes sometimes—yet the difficulty continues. "We have trusted to the red jacket, we have relied on the blue shirt, we have leaned upon the dark-skinned mercenary; .but the result has always been much the same in the end. Are we never to have peace 1 J s the present state of affairs a chronic condition, to which we must submit after all? Lately we gloried in a success for the hundredth time; and after-events have modified our triumph. Kooti seems really to be not much the worse for losing the wretched lot of prisoners Kemp or Eopata (for it is warmly denied that the latter had any share in the capture) lately secured. We hear on one side that Te Kooti is going to join the king; on the other that he Las only 19 men, and is flying for his life. Kemp and his people say Te Kooti never fought at all, nor was seen or pursued by either of the native armies. A letter published in the Southern Cross corroborates this, and says he retired with his "170 soldiers," being afraid to meet 895 men under Kemp and Eopata. The Govern meat seem to think his cause lost, and that Te Warn is dead. Other accounts cause us to doubt the correctness of either view. This is the history of the whole war—glorious triumphs and renewed disturbances; captures of Ngatapa and reappearances of Te Kooti; deaths of men of note—Kereopa, Te Kooti, and others —who shortly afterwards are felt unpleasantly again. What is to be the end of the trouble ?