AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 692, 1 December 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 1, 1852.

The maintenance of amicable relations with ihe Natives is a matter of such primary and indispensable necessity lo ihe satisfactory, or oven safe, working of a Gold Field in New Zealand, time, almost beyond every other consideration, it should engage anxious and unremitting attention. A very encouraging start has been effected through the prudence, not to say, liberality, with which the terms of agreement have been negotiated by the Government on the one hand, and on the other the confidence which the contracting tribes have been willing to repose in the integrity and equity of the conditions proposed to them. But, however judicious may be the original regulations, and however vigilant may be the officers entrusted with their local administration, very much must after all be left to the discretion and good conduct of the diggers themselves. It cannot, and should not, be concealed that gold digging in this country— conducted, as much or it must be on the property and in the prosence of a numerous aboriginal people, who are cognisant of iheir rights as JJritish subjects and lords of the soil, and yet are only partially emancipated from the thraldom of their ancient superstitions and usages — must be environed with peculiarities dematiding a caution not required in other Gold-produ-cing Jpnds. It will not be enough that generally cyul substantially the diggers should not wrong the Natives; there must be a minut' and tmevident keeping of good faith willi them, and, as far as possible, a compliance even with their prejudices. Not only should there be a strict fulfilment of the engagement that the lands of tribes not consenting to ihe Government proposal shall not be intruded jjpon f.o long as their consent is withheld— (which, however, we may confidently anticipate » ill not be long, as their

characteristic Keen-sighleilncss in mailers affecting their own interests \\ ill soon show them that by holding out they are depriving themsches of important ad\ milages enjoyed by the contracting tribes) ; -not only should the spirit as well as the letter of the condition that their \illagcs and cultivations •shall be protected as much as possible, be honourably carried out;— but the numerous apparently minor points— (we say "apparently," for though they may seem small to persons unacquainted with Maori character and customs, yet in Notice estimation they may be very important), —should be dealt with in a spirit of forbearance and conciliation, — in short with a resolution by all practicable means to maintain peace and a good understanding. Thai this is practicable, we entertain no doubt whatever. The Maories (speaking of them colleclhely) are not now a horde of untutorcJ, ferocious, and ungovernable savages. They are a people of fine and generous natural endowments, which the benign influences of Christian civilization have successfully developed and improved, and they arc generally strict in fulfilling their part of an agreement, proided they are satisfied that the parties with whom they have to do arc actuated by a corresponding disposition. Amongst the I evidences of their advancement, not the least notable is their confidence in the justice of British law, as manifested by their readiness to submit their disputes to the adjudication or arbitration of British authorities. In any difference that may arise between them and the Pakeha diggers, we arc persuaded that they would, in the vast majority of instances, be willing to submit the matter at issue to the decision of the Commissioner, — and to his decision the appeal should in every such case be promptly made. Indeed we do not hesitate to confess that any apprehension we entertain on the subject has reference rather to the white man than to the Maori ; and to the Europeans and Americans who may be drawn to this country first by Ihe attractions of a Gold Field, rather than lo those who have already taken New Zealand as their home. If there be danger of collision with the Natives, it is mainly to be dreaded from an influx of reckless adventurers such as have infested the California!! gold field, and (although hitherto in a lesser degree) the Melbourne also. From ,the members of our own comm u n i ty who knowsomclhi ng of the Natives, we are happy to anticipate, as the general rule, a considerate and conciliatory policy in their intercourse not only with the tribes generally but especially with the individual Natives who may work side by side with them as their fellow-diggers, and a hearty co-opera-tion in the suppression of everything of a disturbing character, whether it proceeds from any who may prove exceptions among their own number, or from strangers — should there be sueh — vho may come with the fatally false notion that the revolver and Lynch Law could be brought to bear upon the Maories- without ruinous consequences — for which it would be but small compensation to the public that the rash and guilty authors of the evil would probably be its first \iclims. Should our Gold Field prove continuously and extensively productive— (as we have , partly assumed in making these remarks, without, however, venturing to assert that the question is yet determined)— it will be deeply and even anxiously interesting to observe the effect which will be produced upon the Natives by the new circumstances, and the closer relations with Europeans, into which they will be brought. That they will receive a most powerful impulse towards a full participation in that kind of civilization which consists in the adoption of European modes of life, is certain ; but whether a moral deterioration in their character may not accompany this change— whether the scenes and associations, the excitements and alternate elevations and depressions, the, lo them, novel as well as hazardous trials and temptations of gold digging, may not hinder rather than promote their highest interests — may be matter of doubt and fear lo many of those by the instrumentality of whose exertions the advance already made by the race has chiefly been effected, and who believe that there arc more vitally important elements of happiness and true nobility of character, than any which gold can purchase, or conformity lo the cxtcrnalisms of civilisation ensure. The solution of this momentous problem is in the future; but the duty which it suggests is of immediate urgency. Thatduty ob\ iously is, that all who can influence the event should be watchful, zealous, and energetic in their care over this interesting people in ibis most critical si age of their history; and that especially those who may in any way be placed in contact with them in connection with the Gold Field should be assiduous in their endeavours to render the closer identification of the races which may take place a means of impressing upon the Maori a fuller resemblance— not lo what is sordid, vicious, degrading— but to what is truly enlightening, expanding, and purifying, in our boasted civilisation,