Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 136, 9 June 1879, Page 4

Referrng to the aggressive action of TeWhiti ia removing surveyors off the Waimate Plains, and the present aspect of affairs ia the district, the Taranaki Herald saya :— " Although an encounter has for the lime been avoided, the difficulty still remains looming big and shadowy in the near future, and notwithstanding the hopes raised in the minds of men who were by no means strong supporters of the Government, that they would be able by personal influence to act on the ultra Hauhau party so as to secure a really cordial co-operation on the part of the natives in all works of progress affecting land and- roads, these hopes are far from being realised. We do not blame the Government for not being able to do all that has been expected from them, but we do regret that the hopes of the Colony had been so unduly raised by too much talk of their capacity to accomplish what had hitherto been only hoped for, We do not think that any great disappointment will be occasioned in this district because the actual position in native affairs is not all thai fancy painted. Difficulties have been the normal condition of the native question at any time during the last quarter of a century, and the people consequently have been so inured to them, that they are somewhat callous and to a certain extent unbelievers when new doctors arise and announce a specific which ia to be a perfect cure. It is palpable to tbe Maoris that by abandoning their lands, and allowing roads in all directions, they will be absorbed by the European race, and as a native race disappear ; that all their old customs must be abandoned, and that they must have the arts of the pakeha, or perish. It is from this dreaded fate they shrink with a terrible repugnance, and this feeling is at the root of every native difficulty . Such being the state of the native mind, it is at once apparent how an ascendancy is gained over them by men like Te Wbiti, a prophet chief, who has gathered unto him, like David of old, € every one that was in distress, every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented-' and who, with this motley gathering, has through the influence of national faith, aided by snperstition, produced a new tribeorderly in their social relations, and more indnstrious than is usual among modern Maoris." A telegram by the San Francisco mail says :— The Panama Star and Herald tells a story of an attempted revolution there. The plot to : upset the seat of Government had been concerted. by disaffected politicians who sought to purchase the office of Columbia Guards on Isthurn. Some commander of a regiment becoming cognisant of the facts rebuked his officers, which so incensed them that Captain Obadiah assaulted! the colonel with his sabre, and was shot down by the colonel s son, aged 18, and lieutenant in the battalion. The row then became general, and continued until Colonel Garavajat and hia son, four other officers, and several men were killed, and eight to ten wounded. News of the tragedy was around town, and adherents of the Government at once decided to check attempt at a revolution and punish the crimes committed. They kept up fire on the National barracks from half past six until nearly nine the following morning, when the troops unconditionally surrendered. Thirty were killed, and as many wounded The city is quiet, and martial law has been proclaimed. The Mayor of Sydenham (Canterbury) on May 28 endeavored to show how the " unemployed »' difficulty might be overcome. He said statists showed that in the old country in tbe year 1860, tbe sum per head spent in drink was £2 18s 6d. In the year 1876 it amounted to £4 9s. In New Zealand the amount was £6 per head. Supposing it to be only £4 or £5, the amount spent in drink in Christchurch and suburbs, would be from £80,000 to £100,000 per year, the working men alone spending of this sum about £2000 or £3000 a month. The cure was in their own hands ; they had only to give up drinking for one month, and they would have £2000 amongst them, « And yet," said Mr JJootb, "we are crying out and seeking money from the General Government." The statement was not relished by some preserit, for there were cries of "Dry up j dry up "