OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 247, 17 October 1881, Page 4

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

The Hawera correspondent of the Ifeto Zealand Herald says: — Everything is quiet, and even the ingenuity of "rumorists" is well nigh exhausted. Mr Diniells did not understand Maori gesticulations, bufc thought judgment bad come, and fled from the evil. The native trihuters at Ofcakeho are still busy on Mr Hunter's land. One tributer is Titokowara's Eister. Mr Hunter expects a handsome return in kumarae. Ho may isugh when he gets them. Mr W. L. Martyn gave the Native Minister a piece of his mind the other day on the Plains. Mr Rolleston now prefers to keep out of xeach oi the Waimate settlers. People generally have faith that tbe Government will settle the question ihis time. It is well known that Major Atkinson has all through wanted firmly to settle the question, but yielded to the majority of tha Cabinet and agreed to bide bis time, instead of resigning, as Mr Bryce did. Tbe recurrence of native troubles revived, as predicted by them, and tbe country is eager for a final settlement. The ol ajor's knowledge of this part of the Colony and his ability now come to the fore when wanted, for be is a general as well as a financier. Had he with Mr Bryce now been out of the Ministry, I Bhould look npon this element of the question aa remote. With I the Major we know the master is here. We have not the slightest doubt that the native difficulty, as iar as this coast is concerned, will in a few weeks be settled once for all, It will take time to prepare, and until then nothing of much note can be expected. The next Parihaka meeting will be on the 17th of this month. I think Te Whiti wiil be content with the flutter he bas created by his last speech, and will not pile on tbe agony this time, but will wait for a more convenient season. Major Atkinson has had this Native difficulty urged on him so ofteD, while in office and out, besides hia assurances and professions not being justified by events, that he will now be regarded by independent voters in the district aa the one man who failed to support Mr. Brycff at tha right time, and, therefore, as the one Minister who is responsible for this renewed difficulty. If he had stood by Mr. Bryce in that Ministerial crisis, the native difficulty would have been long since crushed and probably annihilated. Instead of tbat, the old indecision was allowed to prevail; and now Major Atkinson eeee another native rebellion brooding and all-hut broken out at Parihaka, and he seeß himself obliged to ask for a hundred thousand pounds as an extra vote for covering his own mistake. If we coald place his conduct in a more j frvbrable light, it would be a relief to be able to do so ; but, so far aa we can judge, it seema to us a duty to state this failure as a grievous instance of misplaced confidence. The peace and prosperity of this district are of more concern than the political favor of any Minister. Partisans may think otherwise, bufc that is their affair.— Patea Mail, There ia one position which wonld justify the Government in continuing inaction. If they can 'show that, Te Whiti and his band removed from their nest, tbe exasperation evoked would necessitate the maintenance of as large an armed force as afc present, they may contend that, as the future wouldjbe no better tban tbe present, there is nothing to be gained by action. Something would, of cours?, be gained. Te Whiti's influence would be destroyed, the danger would be removed from the settler's door, the power of the Europeans would be seen. We, therefore, do not counsel a march od Parihaka, bufc we do say that unless the Government aTe convinced that the last state of affairs would be" as bad as the first — unless they are cognisant of dangers with which the pnbiic are not familiar—then we do say that energetic steps should be taken promptly to suppress tbe long-standing nuisance oi Te Whiti and Parihaka.— -Auckland Herald. The Hawse's ABay Herald says :—- --"We do not suppose that there is any Teal danger of a Maori war. A disturbance there may be, and a few scuffles with the Armed Constabulary, and perhaps even a few shots may be fired, but we believe that the natives as a body know their own weakness too well to join in any up-rising. A strong force on the Plains to nip in the bud any attempt to retake possession of the confiscated tsrritory, would prevent any vastly serious consequences so far as the security of life and property go. But even a show of armed resistance might do us serious damage at Home, and, prevent desirable immigrants coming to our shores. New Zealand and its affairs are as yet imperfectly understood in England. The very name is to many Englishmen suggestive of savages in feathers, with hideously painted and tattooed countenances, brandishing clubs, killing women and children, and eating them afterwards and a petty local disturbance would be magnified into the danger of a general massacre of the whites. No man not blinded with political jealousy would therefore hesitate to place in the hands ©f Ministers full power to grapple with any difficulty which may present itself." The " talented specials " are at their old tricks again on the West Coast, and already the public throughout the colony are being pestered with lying telegrams of the most sensational, alarming and mischievous character. Our readers have no doubt a lively recollection of ihe scandalous length to ■which this trade in falsehood was carried on last year, when the strenuous efforts of the Government to allay excitement and establish a good understanding with tlie natives were well nigh frustrated by the audacious misrepresentations of one or two newspaper j correspondents. We pointed out then that tbe worst enemies the colony had to encounter -were not Te Whiti and the disaffected Maoris, who really had a substantial grievance, but those unprincipled Europeans who were ready j tp sacrifice anybody or anything for the

sakev of making a few-pound* orrwr&ifc-" mg a political or personal grudge. We fear that very .much the same state of things prevails no*,rr Jitaartf Herald.