THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue XIV, 31 March 1879, Page 4

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY .

The correspondent of Iho " Taranaki j Herald" telegraphed last Wedaetsday I with reference to (he Waimale business: Mr Anderson, who is at Muturaugi, had some natives to breakfast with hitnl ] They swallowed some brandy, and then j quietly stated fb*y were going to remove him from tbe Plains. The natives are in the Lest of temper, and fall of joking, Wne_ told that the soldiers woaid return with the surveyors, tbey »«?d "All right, we will not fight,'' There is no doubt the surveyors will be put on the plains again as peaceably as ihey have been put off. Te Wbiti'a influence is considerably increased by his prophecy comiog true. Titokowrru seems anxious, and the majority of the natives seem afraid that they have gooo too far, and that the future action of the Government will make thera pay a heavy penalty in loss of reserves, etc. In the meantime the natives are busy chopping up pegs and pulling thera out of tho ground with picks. A great portion of tbe country wilt require to be re-surveyed. The " Herald's " Hnwera correspondent wires that all is quiet, and there ja not much excitement here. There is more down towards Wanganui, but the people are very anxieus to know what steps the Government intend taking. Commenting on the state of affaire, the "Herald "of this evening says—" Tbe Government seem to have made up their minds as to the correct course to pursue, that i B , to push on the aale of the first block of 16,000 acres. This decision of the Government ap* pears as bold and prompt as that of Te Whtti. But in order to make such a step effective there must be at hand that material force, without which the law, to B Maori of Te Whiti's type, is a. Very dead letter." Further oo it eaye :— "We will readily give the Governmeut 'credit for at least common sense, and knowing that they are acting under great responsibility, we do think they must see their way clear in the matter. But there is to us one patent fact, and that ts the great remissness of (he last and the present Governments in not pushing on. roads in this district, which wobW have had the effect of of the difficulty of half its terrorr. A metalled road from Hawera Jo Inglewood, instead of a mod one, as it promises to be in a month, would have surrounded tha disaffected district and made it vulnerable at any point iu the rear, while tbe coast road would have made it accessible iu front. Bat owing to portions of these reads being unfinished, they are practically as had and as unfitted for military operations as they were years ago." It concludes ca follows: — There Ib, however, B course of action open to the Governin eut which may yet retrieve the past —that is to go on with the sale, hut at the same time to push en the branch railway from Opunakej with a respectable force of say— five hundred men. We do uot exactly care what they are called— navvies or police. All that they should insist on is, that the rate are in a sufficient state of organisation to take care -of themselves oudt* any contingency, and at the same time to push on the work. The exercise of power in a reasonable way by the making of metalled or iron roadß through disaffocteddißtricts is the true ao<T only permanent solution of tbe native difficulty. Anything short of this is but of* temporary character, and dots little to promote the real paoifioalion of the native race." (rFanjnaaiiferaW.) The news from the Waimate Plains ismoch to be regretted. The simple statement of facts as contained in our telegrams shows the position to be serioup, and will require on the part of the Government prompt and decisive action. Up to the present tho survey of tho plains has been allowed to proceed without any opposition whatever; indeed much assistance, in the *ay of the sale of provisions, lias been given to tbe parties engaged in the work. A change appears to have been wrought in ih§ minds of tbe natives, and they have unmistakeably shown their dislike to tbe.survey by : forcibly removing the surveyors and tbe baggage across the boundary line. No violence has been used so far, but . the removal of the, survey parties is a practical step that forces matters to ao issue. Either the Government must consent to forego its claims to the confiscated Plains, or they must be prepared to teach theParibßka prophet that tbe Queen's authority is not an empty name. Can we view the first of these alternatives with any moderation ? Most certainly not. The Waimate Plains have been considered oolonial properly ever since the close of the war; ihey have been referred to us in glowing terms by Native Ministers \ as a very El Dorado, and tbey form a most important asset in the baliance sheet of the colony. Not only for financial reasons, but also on political grounds, must we maintain our claim How to enforce that claim is now tbe problem. To allow matters to remain in statu quo would be io leave tbe natives to believe that bumptiousness is the winning card io play, and that tho Government have surrendered. To contemplate the enforcing of tbe Government claim opens up the prospect of a possible conflict, with ail tbe disastrous consequences. Bat what else can be done ? Talking appears to have failed; and the lime has now arrived when tbe strength of the Government should be shown to the natives. We cannot help thinking that

a bold stand taken now would have n salutary t fleet, and would prevbnt the natives daring the alternative of hostilities. The whole question ia one of supreme importance to this coast in particular, and we anxiously awuit the further development of the difficulty. ( New Zealand Times ) It ie the simultaneous existence of trouble and disturbance on both sides of the ieland which forces upon ua the conviction that a very great amount of tact and good tjt nerolship will be required to localise the disturbance, Bnd to sioer us through the native difficulty, which has been dormant for awhile, but is now more active and threatening than for many yearn past. It ia wilh sincere regret that this admission ia made ; none bat a mean mind could rejoioe in the evil which has befallen the country, or would exult because the result has verified the opinions ofteu expressed that the native difficulty was ODly scotched, and cot killed. Many a report, founded upon good authority, has been suppresee I by us for fear that if it were published it might nourish hopes half dead in the breaaJs of the disiffecied, and fan the smouldering firea of discontent in the breasts of the King natives. Tbe Ministry m»at decide what courgo shall be adopted. An exact knowledge and a careful conBideration of all the surrounding eircumßtancos era required before any wise decision can be arrived a', aud that rashness be not our general is the only hope we venture to express. A burning desire to wipe out the memory of the insulting wcrds aod deeds of a savage chief puffed with self-conceit might plange the Colony into a war whioh may be yet avoided, if the hopeleßa nature of the resistance thoy offer can but be made clear to the rebellious natives. They are outnumbered aod overmatched, and begin to Bee it. Savage cations have ever looked upoo forbearance as a sign of weakness, kindness as a tribute of respect to their authority, gifts as but brbies for good behaviour, and too much palaver as an effort to cajole and humbug them. The King Maoris have once proved that they are no exception to the general tale. How far the well-known familiarity of the Native Minister with the Maoris may have bred contempt ifc is impossible to say. Judged by results, the native policy of the Ministry has been a failure, a mistake, a disappointment.