NATIVE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 12, 15 April 1871, Page 15

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

The telegrams in out columns to-day will doubtless excite the surprise of those who have allowed themselves to be influenced by the gloomy forebodings of a few extreme journals and the Timaru speech of the Hon. Mr Stafford. We lately took occasion to show that in asserting the country was in as great danger as ever, that the King party were quite as threatening, and our organised force as powerless as the raw levies of.his administration, Mr Stafford was speaking of things he did not and could not know. We took occasion at the same time to contradict the statement made by the " Otago Daily Times" that the Hon. the Defence Minister " had returned from Waikato, and had done no good," by emphatically asserting that he had not returned, and that he had done much good, to be made public indue time. No later than Tuesday last a contemporary indulged in the following strain :—Things are just in the old unsatisfactory state —the refractory natives masters of the situation, and endless diplomacy, and it is to be supposed large quantities of sugar and flour wasted in -vain efforts to bring them to reason. A curious little bit of information which throws some light on the secret machinery of the " native difficulty" is furnished, to the effect that Mr M'Lean accuses Mr Mackay of encouraging Te Hira in his opposition to the Government. Of course Mackay denies the allegation, but there is seldom much smoke without some fire. There is a drop of comfort in this intelligence, for it is generally the case that when certain people fall out, certain others benefit by the occurrence. Then there is to be another of those endless koreros at which Maoris gorge themselves and get drunk, and make enig matical speeches, and knock down sticks, and do all manner of absurd things (which no man, except a Native Commissioner or Minister, who is paid for suffering the infliction, would remain to look at above a quarter of an hour), and then go away, leaving things just where they were. Meanwhile, it would seem that the Waikatos occupy just as threatening an attitude as ever, and that Todd's murderer, unchallenged by the Native Minister, is encamped within miles of Alexandra. When is this monstrous farce which we call a " native policy" to come to an end, and the Government of a British colony be able to carry an important mail a few miles in spite of the opposition of three or four senile savages ?" We need not indicate the journal, whence this is extracted, any more directly than by saying that in the very next preceding column the Editor solemnly assures his readers that, " except the public step in to the rescue" of Mr Barton, now committed for libel, " no editor o£, a public journal will dare to expose aouses, however glaring." We have lately seen in opposition journals caustic criticisms of Ministers differing more or less from each other, but with regard to the Native Minister their " unanimity is wonderful." He is blamed for " leaving his office in Wellington and roaming everywhere after the natives." These wiseacres, and indeed all violent partisans (like a certain other class referred to by Tillotson,) ought to have better memories. Surely if the Native Minister would best fill his office by remaining at home, " attending to the duties of his department" (for such is the sage advice one day), then the country ought to be congratulated on the wonderful change his administration has affected, contrasting so agreeably with those dark days of terror, marching, counter* marching, panic, and imbecility, which required the absence from Wellington of two Ministers—Haultain and Kichmond. If, on the other hand, as we are solemnly assured the next day, that " the unsettled aspect of native affairs calls for more decided action by the Native Minister," where is he likely to act with most effect—in the carpeted room so well sketched by Mr Vogel for. Mr Richmond's benefit, or on the spot where the storm is brewing ? To remain in Wellington when personal inspection, active vigilance, and prompt action are required at the Manawatu or the Waikato, is (happily for New Zealand) not the ideal the Native Minister has set before him* "Wherever timely intervention can prevent growing dissent

sions, wherever individually dealing with powerful chiefs can secure them te the side of law and order, wherever outposts can be promptly strengthened, and settlers reassured by seeing active measures taken for their defence, whereever settlement can be advanced by the purchase of land, wherever the strength of the disaffected can be sapped by roads and bridle-tracks—in short, wherever native affairs require to be administered, is, he thinks, the natural and fitting place to expect the presence of the Minister charged with their administration. Except a few violent advocates of a policy which led to the escape of the Chatham Island prisoners, and " developed" Te Kooti and Titokowaru, and which was " illustrated" by massacres and atrocities ; the colony, as a whole, approves of Mr M'Lean's views and applauds his exertions, which have thus far at least secured peace and progress. The construction of the roads, lately described by us, have had already a wonderful effect directly, in a military point of view, and indirectly in promoting settlement; but no road can compare in both these respects with that reported in our telegram to-day from Tauranga, " a trunk road to Waikato." Increasing settlement, both in the East and West Coast, is daily strengthening the Pakeha and weakening the Maori influence, but nowhere will an influx of population so effectually put an end to the native difficulty as on the goldfield so long closed, and reported to-day as " determined on being opened up " A vigorous and numerous population of miners will render all further opposition futile, while the direct benefits accruing to the natives themselves on the Upper as on the Lower Thames, will reconcile them to a state of things more profitable and . more pleasant, than that which their sullen obstinacy and jealous fears have so long perpetuated. The news from the West Coast too, is very encouraging. The Pariaka- natives who have alone opposed the extension of the Telegraph to Taranaki will, as the telegram reports, " aliow the telegraph to cross their land, and the last telegraph survey peg was driven" on Monday, There is one speciality about these telegrams which we have frequently desiderated, in our native correspondence. They contain facts—not rumours. On the river Waikato '• a flotilla of canoes is in sight conveying stores. There is great excitement and rejoicings." On the debateable ground in Taranaki " the last telegraph survey peg was driven to-day.'' That there will be no more native disturbances no one is so sanguine as to believe; but that there will ever be a war under the administration of Mr McLean, of the dreadful proportions of that which lately raged both east and west, seems beyond all probability. Doubtless the Waikato will require much vigilance and perhaps occasionally prompt action ; but, if the same watchful care is exercised, there is no reason to dread any disturbances likely seriously to disturb the peace, or greatly retard the progress, of the North Island. "" Deeds not words" is the motto of the present Native Minister , and all, who have the interests of colonization at heart will deprecate any return to the official laissez venir—inevittably followed by long despatches which marked the administration of the " wretched past."