The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 11, 13 January 1871, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 1871.

A few short weeks ago Aye fondly believed that, thanks to the present Ministry, the Native question had been set at rest for ever, and that henceforth war was fo cease out of the laud. Since that time, however, au unfortunate surveyor, who appears to have shared in our delusion and to have scouted the idea of danger with scorn and laughter, has been cruelly murdered by Hauhaus along with one of his men, upon confiscated ground. Nevertheless we were re-assured. The thing had no political significance. It was of no consequeuce, as Mr. Toots said, It was a mere private affair. It was because that particular piece of confiscated land was to be given to a native of a tribe with a name unpronounceable and not to be spelled by us Middle Islanders. The King party would disavow this i ct, and in due native time give up the murderers to justice. But the King party has done nothing of the sort, and seems rather to approve oi the act, than otherwise. Since then ugly rumors have thickeued. Whitiora with an armed party of natives, come on purpose to defend the murderers of Mr. Todd, is close to Alexandra, and threatens to light a fire in it to cook his breakfast. "Cooking" is rather suggestive when Maoris are on the war-path. The natives defy the Government. Tapihana is building a pa at Maugamairiri. A store has been robbed of axes and tomahawks. There is great excitement in Waikato. The settlers and militia are uuder arms. The blockhouse at Orakiu is to bo garrisoned. The settlers believe an attack imminent, but are very confident — of what, of getting the worst of it? Colonel Lyon has arrived somewhere with 15 constahuary, enough in all conscience to inspire misplaced confidence ! Reverend Missionaries have been warned not to return to their stations. Even friendlies avoid the town. Whitiora and Tapihana have joined forces. And in answer to a message sent by Colonel Lyon the latter has replied — "The Europeans are in the tapu ground. Go to the Maungatawhiri Creek. A second warning will not be sent. The road to me is now closed. Your messenger must not return." But yet the Ministry has made no sign, and therefore we are bound to look upon these rumours as "unconfirmed intelligence," Made no sign, did we say? " The Hon. Mr. Yogel leaves to-morrow for England via America." Is that no sign? Would the Hon. Mr. Yogel leave for England when war is imminent in the North Island ? Surely no ? And has not the Hon. Donald M'Lean, the Minister of Defence, issued a manifesto to the natives, a circular letter containing the compliments of the season, and some good advice which is sure to be taken, as good advice always is. The Hon. Mr. M'Lean is said to know the natives better thau any man, and we fully believe it. He is Minister of Defence now, and should have been that, according to all accounts, years ago. We have always heard that " if anything were to happen " to Mr. M'Lean, the most dismal consequences would etrsue, he being tho only man that understands how to manage the natives. Let us hope this will not ensue without anything happening to him. Mr. M'Lean knows the natives ; and to prove that he knows them the Government publishes this circular. There is no meutiou of war in it, so war must be far from tha native thoughts. It breathes only a spirit of the purest philanthropy. "Friends, salutations to you. When the cry of the riroriro is heard, I hope it will not be heard in vain." We take the riroriro to be a bird, and hope our knowledge of ornithology is not at fault. Formerly you cultivated kumara and taro, and you had better do it again. They are good to eat, and the man that makes two blades of grass grow where formerly only one grew is a benefactor to his species. "Pleiades is high in the heavens" — an interesting astronomical fact with which, we blush to own it, the natives seem to be better acquainted than ourselves. "The warm season has begun. Dr. Featherston, who bas been touring in Eupope whilst his province of Wellington was at its last financial gasp, tells us that flax dressed by you is better thp flax dressed by ourselves.. Everything done by you is in fact better. If you will take kindly to flax you shall have two prizes of fifty pounds each for the best acre of flax. Go iv aud win. I

have got £400,000 or so for Native Purposes, and you are welcome to it. That is all ; your friend, Donald M'Lean. "That is all!" Thero is some grim humor, some very excellent or very sorry fooling in these words. " That is all." No mention of poor Mr. Todd, aud his cruel death. A prize for the most neatly executed murder would seem to havo been more appropriate than a piize for fi .x. Hark ! the riroriro is at the present moment crying in the fern-brake and the flax, aud to our untutored ears its notes are sounding quite as much of war as of peace. But Mr M'Lean knows the natives ; though how he does it, is not so certain, for the natives, like-spoiled children as they are, do not know themselves or their own minds for a minute ; and so the cry of the riroriro means peace. We observe that Mr. M'Leau has gone to Aucklaud, the better, we presume, to enjoy the '' s'vveet influences "of the Pleiades in company with his native friends. That the Pleiades may exert them strenuously in the preservation of peace should be our earnest prayer.