The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 194, 8 April 1848, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not: Let all the ends tliou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy Gon's, and Truth's.

SATU R D AY, APil L B,^l 84 8.

Bardolph — My Lord, do you see these meteors ? do you behold these exhalations 1 Prince Henry — I do. Bardolph— What do you think they portend ? Ptince Henry— Hot livers and cold purses. Bardolph— Choler, my lord, if rightly taken. Prince Henry— No, if rightly taken, halter. Hen. iv, part ]_ The native question still wears a menacing and angry aspect. The portents are not without significance ; cold purses for us, — for a n outbreak would diminish the Maori traffic, without increasing Commissariat expendiditure: choler adust on the part of the unfortunates who were outwitted at Waitangi : more halters for more rebels, sent oft" to follow after " Martin Luther " by the tender mercies of martial law. As yet, however, luckily for the colony, they are only portents : neither do we believe that there is any immediate danger of these reiterated threats being ripened into action. Nevertheless, to any one acquainted with the true otate of the country, the feeling is very much like that of walking across the Solfatara, a thin crust of earth above, with fire smouldering in the hollow beneath. The declaration that bas been drawn up by the northern chiefs,claims the gravest attention, as a sign of the times. It appears to be studiously guarded in language, saying little in direct words, — unless, indeed, its figurative expressions should cover something beyond the range of European ken, — but proving that they are beginning seriously to reflect, that they mis-doubt the ultimate issue of their absorption into the British Empire, It is probable that the present declaration is merely a feeler, to be followed by another, and a more plain-spoken, should it be responded to with any degree of readiness by their kinsmen in the south. Be what it will, however, the animus is there, the increasing inclination to shake off the yoke, too plainly betrayed : even while the natives evince strong disinclination to. take the initiative in aggression , at this very moment, we are many degrees farther off from quiet amalgamation of the races, than we were two years ago. The root of the evil is now well known to all : the mischievous consequences of not having extirpated it at once were predicted again and again, and a portion of them have already come to light. That a remedy will presently arrive, which may have the effect of arresting the farther pi ogress of discontent, there is little room for doubt : the only question is, whether we shall be able to weather out the storm till then; for concession becomes valueless, when a single day too late. The chances are, that orders openly to relieve the minds of the natives from apprehension with regard to the seizure of their lands, are already on their way to the colony. We have all along maintaifled» that Lord Grey, when he attempted that gross infringement of rights between man and man, acted in error only, upon imperfect knowledge of the country he undertook to rule : that he had been misguided by the interested representations of a trading company, with which he had unfortunately linked himself in earlier days ; but that with all his vagaries, it was absurd to accuse him of a wilful breach of faith. There can be no rashness in assuming, that as soon as the true state of things should have been, laid before him, by the protests and memorials which have long since been poured in, he would instantly have addressed himself to reparation of the mistake. We conceive that Captain Grey is the most to blame. lie kne»v all, and might have saved all ; but the moral courage was wanting to disobey an ill-judged command. Precious time has been wasted ; come what may, it will now take us years to reinstate ourselves in the position which we once held in the sight of the native race; to regain the ground we have lost in their confidence and respect. One paragraph in the "Maori Bill of Rights'.' is worthy of special notice, as showing the affection which is still felt for their teachers and early guests. " The rule for our old Europeans, who dwell in our midst* is, that they are to be kindly entreated by us, upon the places that have been given to them by us," Some have already jumped, to the conclusion that the Missionaries must have had something to do with the preparation of a document which contained a notice so flattering to themselves.

We have reason, however, to think that such is not the case, We believe, on the contrary, that they have kept studiously aloof from the whole proceedings, in order to be able to pledge themselves to their society at home, that not one of them had upon ground so dangerous Would that they had always been so prudent ! What wellwisher of the Mission is there, who does not regret the charge that has been made against the Governor, of having risked the overthrow of their families, at the hands of the excitable tribes around. Such general assertions are too hard to make good— too easy to explain away. They must have been wasp-stung into forgetfulness of all reasonable caution, before they could have so completely committed themselves as to put a weapon into his Excellency's hands, which he has already not been slow to use. Whether true or false— and which it is we confess ourselves unable to decide — the accusation was almost equally rash. Possibly they thought it even-handed justice to commend his own chalice back to- his own lips ; or may perhaps have wished to revive the old pagan belief — we have Lucan for authority — that blows aimed at a sacred image would recoil back upon the striker ;—; — si robora sacra ferirent In sua credebant ledituras membra secures. The only wonder is that his Excellency was not ashamed to complain. He has not been chary or nice in his own charges against them, and need feel no surprise at their preference of thrusting to parrying— of countering to stopping the hits — of offensive, to simple defensive operations. They have acted strictly in accordance with Mosaic law; eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot ; unwisely rather than unfairly. There is a story of a practical retort, told in an old number of Black wood, which is so close a parallel to the whole affair, that we cannot resist re-prinling it. "The poor woman had borne much. The husband thought he had a second Griselda. The case of his tyranny was pretty well known ; indeed the poor wife too often bore marks that could not be concealed, of the pur.ple light of his love, his passion. The gentleman, for such was, I regret to say, his grade of life, invited a number of friends to dine with him, giving, directions to his lady that the feast should be a good one. Behold the guests assembled, grace said, and hear the dialogue. " Husband — My dear, what is that before you ? " Wife—Oh,, my dear, it is a favorite dish of yaur's— stewed eels. " Husband— Then, my love, I'll trouble you. After a pause, during which the husband endeavours in vain to cut through what is before him — then — " Husband — Why, my de,ar, what is this ? it is quite hard, I cannot get through it. " Wife— Yes, my dear, it is very hard, and I rather wished you to know how hard ; it is the horsewhip you gave me for breakfast this morning!" The gentleman; wiser than his Excellency, held his peace, suffering the witty dame to enjoy her triumph for the evening. Still,, without professing much experience in suchlike matters, we very much doubt the lady's having adopted the nvost promising means to work a cure upon her cross-grained spouse. Whether the dose of manual correction was more likely to have been doubled, or remitted, on the following day> our married readers may judge for themselves.

This is perhaps the last time that we shall address our readers through the columns of the New Zealander, the management of which, in all probability, will have been resigned before Saturday next, into abler hands. It may therefore be as well to take this opportunity of saying a few words relative to the future conduct of the Anglo-Maori Warder, wilica is now about to commence its young cateor. The novel feature in that journal will be the reservation of a column — possibly only a half or quarter column at first— for the Native race, and iv the native language ; open likewise, to communications from themselves, some of which will doubtless prove to' be of a most curious and interesting nature. W*j are not unaware of the difficulties which beset the carrying out of such a project ; of the nice discrimination that will be required in distinguishing between genuine original expressions of Maori feeling, and communications which may have been dictated to them by designing Europeans ; still however we expect to execute our intention with reasonable success. The necessary arrangements for that purpose — which in themselves are by no means the smallest difficulty, — are now so nearly complete, that a commencement may be almost promised in the first number issued ; certainly, at all events, with very small delay. The Maori column will remain of slight importance for gome while yet ; the original matter supplied will be trifling in quantity, and even that little designedly rendered common place at first; through fear of doing mischief at ease, that might be only with difficulty repaired. For all who are acquainted with natives know what tact and caution is required in dealing with them ; that a more crotchety and susceptible race does not exist. We simply intend to feel our way ; to rest satisfied with having fixed the wedge, without intending immediately to drive it home. As yet, it remains matter of experiment, though we have little doubt of ultimate success; hoping indeed at last to fill the place of the Old Maori Gazette, the over-hasty suppression of which we conceive to be one of the great

mistakes of Captain Grey's administration. Perhaps it would be difficult to find more convincing proof of the necessity for some medium of open communication with the aborigines, than that very declaratory movement in the north, which has been above alluded to. Seeing the erroneous convictions under which the natives evidently labour, it is well that means and opportunities should be afforded of explaining them away. We maybe possibly too sanguine in expectation, but still believe that the colonists may reasonably look forward to the time — and that not many years distant,— when a New Zealand Journal shall be printed in double columns of English with Maori translation side by side, on the plan which it has been found necessary to adopt, in French and German, at Strasbourg, and in Dutch and English at the Cape. The Wednesdays and Saturdays being already pre-occupied by other journals, the Warder will be published eveiy Tuesday morning. A Monday impression would be more convenient and advantageous in many ways, but for one objection, which is this ; that with whatever determination those concorned in the management of it may begin, to have all arrangements for publication complete on the Saturday afternoon ; still in practice it is found that the Sunday is certain to be trespassed upon in the printing office. Something is always found wanting at the last moment, which must be supplied. At all events, it is more prudent not to run the risk. As to the principles upon which it will be conducted, it will suffice for the present to say, that they will be identical with those which the New Zealander has hitherto professed ; perfect independence of government, com bined with every inclination to give such support as it may be honestly able to offer ; and the most strenuous resistance to merely factious opposition, or to agitation in any shape.