Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 900, 23 December 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1870.

The epithet idiotic" applied by an Auckland contemporary to the action pf the Native and Defence Minister in restoring to the rebels a portion of the confiscated lands, proyes to have been singularly appropriate. If, as we suppose was the case—for we cannot imagine any other reason for the deed—it •was thought that such concession to the rebels would pacify them, or prevent outbreak, subsequent event* show how egregiousiy erroneous such supposition was.. They serve also to show that n.otwithstanding the credit giveq to Mr M'Lean by his partisans for tact and skill in dealing with the natives, he is at least as liable to make a falee move as any other man would be. The Colony has taken the Government at its word, and, while admitting that the late murder might have " no. political signification " as the Government stated was their belief to be the case, awaited with some anxiety the action that would be saken, because if it were so, the murderers would of couse b* given up at once and without demur when demanded by the Government; while, if it were not so, a demand for thein would, by its being refused, show the hostile intentions of the Maori King. Qav telegrams, published yestercjay, confirm our fears| and show that Mr Todd's murder had indeed a deep political meaning, whether the Government are willing to admit it or not. It meant fhat the rebels demand the restoration pjf the whole of the confiscated land, that no partial restoration would satisfy them, and that they were prepared to fight for their recovery, this murder according; to Maori custom only (he. initiatory act of a new rebellion. It is.indeed only wfrat those, who know the Mao 4 best would expect to follow from the! " of the disputed territory, ' h*l§ become very serjo.us, Europeans living in the vicmity of the aye. in a siate of immense anxiety, Ifijj W- kmssX fe sre s,q. E&er-

getfc a»cl detepnined peasures are required to meet the crisis, instead of which we shall doubtless.find a further development of the M'-Lean policy of concession and bribery. "What other construction can the rebels put on such conduct than that we fear them and will ultimately yield them all they demand 1 Can it be regarded as aim prising that they attribute all the concessions made to them to the dread the Government has of an encounter with them? Further telegrams received since the above was written go far to show that if the Government are unwilling to see the political meaning of these acts, the rebels at least are resolved that there shall be no mistake about it. They indicate that they are prepared to repeat and extend such acts until their meaning cannot be ignored. Under the impression that tlie Government will accept the reply of their King respecting the murderers, and his manifesto that his aukati line includes the confiscated land* as a portion of his territory, and will, in consequence, refrain from pressing the demand that the murderers be given up to justice ; they now threaten to shoot a party of Europeans who are employed at road making on Government land, no doubt expecting that the works wili be forthwith stopped and the men withdrawn in consequence of- their threats. Threats, it must be remembered, made at the very time when we are assured that they are favorably disponed towards toad making. If thi« be done—can we suppose that they will be satisfied 1 are they not rather prepared for further acts of aggression? They seem at all events resolved either to recover the confiscated lands, or. to force the Government into action whether it be willing or not.