THE ARREST OF TE WHETU AND PARTY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 96, 27 July 1880, Page 2

THE ARREST OF TE WHETU AND PARTY.

• We quote from the Hawera Star the following explanation of the conduct of Te Whetu and his party, and which cnlminated in their arrest, as described in last issue : — So far as we have been able to ascertain from different sources, it appears that the road was carried through a clearing of 50 or 60 acres belonging to the natives ; that a large quantity, of potatoes and other things were stored in the clearing ; that the fences having been taken down, horses and bullocks found their way * in, and consumed a portion of the .potatoes ; that the natives asked that Chey might be allowed to erect gates on the road, but wei*e not allowed to do so, .permission, however, being given tcf leaye^the fences standing for two- or tbree days, so as to allow the natives, to fedtce'on each side of the road^ This did not appear to satisfy them,' and Te Whetu is reported to have stated that as often as the fences were reerected, he should pull them down ; aiid when Colonel Roberts, at length, seeing that no agreement was : possible, ordered the fence to be taken away, Te Whetu is reported to

have lost hia temper, and threatened to cut down the telegraph wire. The threats as to the re-erection of the fences appear tahave been strictly jfcdhered to, and culminaited in the j arrest of Te Whetu and seven of his accomplices on Monday, siiidin the arrest of two more natives yesterday. It has been asked — "Was it necessary to have carried the road through that dealing ; and if so, would it not have been wiser for the Constabulary to have fenced .bp#j sides of it?!' So fax as we have Been afele %o ascertain, it was ne^essaiy r that the. iroacl, should go in tji^ du'ectibn tliat, it lias takeii ; a#d if iji weie: npjj^forihe whoje qiies-^ tion of the right of confiscation haying^ been involved, we think it would^njort, only have been wise, but that feeCngs qf humanity should have prompted the Constabulary to erect the fences^ Simple as the putting up o£ those fences may appear, to be at first sight, there is, to our mind, a wide significance to be attached to any such action, and we feel confident that JTe Whiti is of the same opinion. .. .We do not belong to either the *" Jingoista " or the . peacei-at-any-price parties ; but we feel that the ' present crisis demands not alone firmness, but judicious action as well, from the Native Minister., :We want 1 firmness, but cast-iron tnles of*policy may be dangerous, and may cost the colony more than it can at present afford to lose. If an outbreak were, to occnu*, we have no doubt of the result : tiie superior race must prevail in the long run, but victory may be bought dearly. Those who wish to see the races plunged into war hardly calculate the consequences. There must be no rash or hasty action, and it is some satisfaction to know that we have a cool-headed officer at the head of our armed force, and one so much respected by those under his command. From the commencement of this journal, we have not failed, whenever the opportunity occurred, to commend the policy of the present Native Minister, and we think he will be found equal to the present or any occasion that may arise during his term of office. But, at the same time, cast-iron rules must not be mistaken for a wise or firm' policy. There are, at the present time, young men at Parihaka from nearly all the tribes in New Zealand, and a war on this coast might mean one of a much more general character than most people appear to imagine. We do not believe that there will be a war, so long as Te Whiti can control his followers. But that astute old prophet-chief may lose the reins, and they may fall into the hands of some fiery spirit like Te Whetu. If, that were to occur, it would not be difficult to plunge the races into a struggle, which, as we have previously said, could only have one result, but the end of it might be costly both in blood and treasure. The country "will look to the Native Minister to keep his head cool, and not allow himself to be swayed by the, " Jingoists " in the Press or on the platform. There is an extensive frontier on this island, and the lives of the settlers located on it are of far more consequence than all the bombast and braggadocio that may be either written or spoken for the next twelve months. To all the settlers on this coast, we would say — " Be cool, but be ready for any emergency that may arise ; and those of you who have abandoned your arms, the . sooner you get them back again the *better. But avoid rashness. The crack of a gun or a pistol may produce more serious consequences than you imagine. Be ready, but be patient and conscious of your own stength."