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PEACE AND GOOD WILL!

We read as follows in a paper printed in London, whose pages are devoted to the interests or Australia and New Zealand, and which treats of the unhappy state of this country arising from the much to be regretled and ruinous strife of the tribes. ( "At the time of the discovery of New Zealand, the native population was rapidly decreasing, for their bloody feuds and endless system of retribution had at last so multiplied, that every man's band was literally against every man.V The writer then goes on to congratulate his reader that " those days have now passed," and dwells with much satisfaction on the many valuable points of the native character, "arace," be says, " full of many great and noble qualities, with an aptitude /or civilisation never before met with. Such

a race as this, independent of its real value, commercially and socially, in New Zealand, is worthy of being preserved and being trained to those nobler purposes which it is so well calculated to fulfil and which it will yet be enabled to discbarge." These are the just, the kind, and considerate sentiments of a writer situated at the opposite end of the earth; and these sentiments are precisely those of the English government and people-towards their native, brethren of New Zealand. It is the earnest desire of all classes to behold the native race advancing in arts and industry, and in the enjoyment of peace, plenty, and prosperity. We wish that we could confirm the statement of this friendly writer that the days of strife have passed away. How happy should we be that the eyes of all the tribes Were opened to their best interests here and hereafter ;*and to the conviction that the musket is the very worst instrument they can possibly employ in the redress of grievances which reason and humanity can only set at rest. • What can be more distressing than to recount the details of senseless mutual slaughter?—to listen to the wails of both parlies over their untimely slain? In these sanguinary conflicts, which side becomes the gainer? Who are to be the inheritors of the disputed soil if the work of vengeance is to have no end save with the extermination of one or more contending tribes? *lf the Government and the Europeans were not the sincere friends of the native people, instead of striving to inculcate mutual forbearance and good will, they would be apt to ibid their bands and look quietly at contests which, by weakening the native power, gives strength and augmented superiority to their own. The system of exasperating tribe against tribe has been followed in other lands. We will name ono> or two instances, to show how, with nations less scrupulous than the British, discord has been fomented amongst the native born, in order that the intruders might seize the lands and destroy the liberties of the unwise combatants. Such a system was pursued by the Spanish warrior Cortez, who invaded Mexico, a great and populous country, with a few hundred soldiers; profiuing by the mutual jealousies and animosities of the native races, he roused them to active and inveterate hostility against each other* and, when weakened by mutual slaughter, he took possession of their capital city, and held them in complete depeadance to his will.

Francisco Pizarro, another remarkable and unscrupulous Spanish leader, accomplished the conquest and occupation of Peru, in precisely the same manner. He invaded that country, teeming with gold and silver, with a mere handful of determined, desperate, men. The country wa* torn by native wars. These the Spaniards promoted and encouraged, and in the long run the unlives were stript of their lives, their lands, their liberty, and their gold, and became the slaves and the prey of their wily conquerors. How very different from this is the wish of the people and Government of New Zealand. Here, the constant and strenuous endeavour is to reconcile the contending tribes to each oilier; to demonstrate to them the wisdom of law, the insanityof war; and to urge them to peaceful cooperation in working out the best interests of all castes and classes. It is because of this chri Man desire, that we deplore the melancholy state of affairs so ruiuously existing in Taranaki —which has spread so much misery and desolation around Whakatane—and which has filled Ahuriri with lamentation* and woe. Why should these things continue ? therefore should the Maori persist in the work of extermination, forgnlul of the heavenly command— to increase and multiply.' Why should their brother's blood cry from the ground against them? Even on its grandest, and what is called its most glorious scale, war is the curse and scourge of the nations.'TuTTKese IKsnMDlcests'''are not wars 7 " They are but remorseless butcheries which lower the character and ruin the prospects of all concerned in them. Ob, that the tribes would ponder these truths; that the head men would take counsel with each other, and mediate between the opponents. * Let the kindred tribes unite for the maintenance of peace. So will the warriors of Stew Zealand prove their title to be considered great as well as good men ; and so will they elevate their country to a point of opulence and prosperity such as it is hopeless to expect it to attain whilst its dearest interests are recklessly sacrificed in indulgence of wicked and worthless revenge.

The following blocks of land have been acquired by Government:— Province of Auckland. District op Kaipara. " Te Ika-a ranganui" Block. 8,428 Acres. Boundaries. A line commencing on the North at Marunui (S. 52°, W. 37'; 37,353 links) thence in a direct line Westerly toHauparoa, Ibence crossing the tributaries of the Kaiwaka stream and on to Matawherohia, turning thence it runs (13° S. 9* W. 4061 links) and crosses the river of Kaiwaka thence on (!7±° S.W. 642b links) till it reaches the Kaitara stream at Te Koto, where it turns and runs in a Southerly direction (S.E, 37 ° f 4,450 links) to Pukenui, proceeding on thence, crossing the Mungamunga and Rota streams till it reaches Tikapuaraunui, and turning in an Easterly direction, the line running (N. G3® 30' E f > 7004 links; N.E. | 48«, 31,582 links) till it falls into the! Hakoru Rivfr: continuing on thence in the i course of the said River till ft meet the Survey Line (N. 70 o 30' W. 2,368 links) along which it runs to Marunui where the boundaries join. Province of Auckland* District op Whangaroa. Wharmtroa Block. About 8,000 Acres. The boundaries commence at Pakoka Creek adjoining the land which was given for School purposes some time since at Maiamatae Ahoaho; and on to Manukariki; and on to a Stony Point,—thence turning and crossing to Whainui, and on to Wabakihaki* and crossing to Niutu Pungarebu and Mangawhero, Ngapubi, Kainaniunama, and on to Te Kiri, thence it goes inland to Pakaraka, te Wbataipu thence on through the forest loTeOpe at the Pakibi Creek, and thence on to the Tuporotangiroa Mountain,—according to compass 50© 0*; thence on by the side of Wabatane to the land sold by HemrMatinf; and on toTe Waiwbero* wbero at Waitetuna; thence on inibeAYaitetuna river Tawataeaka; thence turning, and going on ta Wbaurimu to the dead rimer (tree); thence along the Survey Line to Patea* Pukeruru, Tukuwaru, and on to Tutaenui, thence on in the Tutaenui Creek to the boundary of Mr; Ligar's purchase; thence along the inland boundary of Mr.

Ligar's purchase to ihe Awbea; thence descending to ihe Pakoka river; thence going along ibe inland boundary or the School land and on to Mararaaiae Ahoaboy where the boundaries join*

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18580331.2.2

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 7, 31 March 1858, Page 1

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,272

PEACE AND GOOD WILL! Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 7, 31 March 1858, Page 1

PEACE AND GOOD WILL! Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 7, 31 March 1858, Page 1

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