The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5177, 25 October 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25.

“ Great is Diana of the Ephesians,” was the cry some centuries ago; and where is Diana of the Ephesians now ? And what does “ posterity ” care about the" goddess who was always parading her own virtue"? Some few years have elapsed since we heard much of the “great proconsul,” who by judiciously and Micawber-like “ waiting for what might turn up,” and being for a long time fortunate, managed to acquire a great reputation. For a lengthened period this brilliant star appeared to have a well-defined orbit, but when it reached its zenith it commenced an erratic career. Great was the fall of one who, having received the thanks of his Sovereign for services rendered, was afterwards removed from office in consequence of the amiable weakness he displayed, in his official correspondence and communications with other officers of the Crown, in ascribing the worst motives for their actions, and attempting to show that he was an ill-used man, who was actuated by the most exalted and philanthropic sentiments in the interest of posterity, without the slightest approach to selfglorification or personal interest. Great as that fall was, it is as nothing in comparison with the present descent from his lofty pedestal, when recourse has to be had to the telegram of Manuhiri to bolster up his falling reputation, and lead the House to believe that the Maori people hail him as their saviour. Well, now, what is the precious telegram, and what does it say ? It states — Alexandra, 20th October. Friend, George Grey.— Greetings to you. Wo have heard you stand as one of tho Government. That is good. We shall now know some new moans of creating good between the Europeans and the natives. From Manuhiri. Taking the translation as-correct, what does it amount to? Does the crafty diplomatic old Manuhiri say, “ Friend, George Grey, we are pleased you are a part of the Government, and from our previous knowledge of you, and from your right dealing with the whole human race, we are sure you will devise some means for solving the native difficulty and pacifying the Maori and pakeha.” That perhaps is the idea which the great proconsul’s party wish to have promulgated throughout tho land, and desire to show that the glory of “Israel has not departed,” and that “ he still has mana (power) in the land.” One of our evening contemporaries has drawn attention to the question, and says : “ To the name of Sir George Grey the natives have always attached great ‘mana.’” We content ourselves with saying “ Ichabod.” Firstly, we will endeavor to arrive at the real moaning of Manuhuri’s telegram as seen from hispoint of view ; and secondly, we will request careful consideration of another report as to the views of the King party respecting tho accession of the Grey Ministry to office. Is, it not possible that Manuhiri's telegram may have a little grim irony in it? Gan it not be interpreted as follows?—“Friend, George Grey. —We are glad you are the Government of the country. You and Hone Hiana(John Sheehan) have promised us a number of things in the past. Now you are in power throw overboard all the acts of previous Governors and Governments, and in the interest of the human race come down with that policy which you are reported to have recently said you could supply in twenty-four hours, and lot, us know some new means of creating good between the Europeans and tho natives.” Is not Manuhiri poking fun at the ex great proconsul, and saying, your old schemes “ are as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.” Now let us have your great reformation policy, which is to sot everyone right, and which is to bo written in the archives of Te Kuiti and Wellington, and be handed down to posterity and history.” Assuming wo are wrong in this view of, Manuiiirx’s opinion as shown in the telegram itself, wo will endeavor to prove from other evidence that we are right. In tho New Zealand Herald of the 20th instant we see, under the heading of “ Opinions of the Kingites on tho late change of Ministry,” that a Mr. O’Connor has visited tho King natives, and has conversed with them on the ; subject.‘ (Wo have this day made inquiries, and find he actually saw Manuhiri, the sendei of the telegram to Sir George Grey). Wo quote the following from our contemporary:— “Mr. O’Connor left Auckland just at tho time tho change of Government occurred,

and was requested to ascertain the opinions of the Kingites respecting the new Ministers. When he put the question they laughed, saying that any change of Ministers was of no importance to them; that all Ministers were working for the Queen; that they would not trouble themselves whatever alterations the Europeans chose to make in their rulers ; that they had no more expectations from one set of men than from another. Mr. O'Connor asked, would it not be possible that a change of the men who had the control of the Government would make a difference to them ? They answered the question after the manner of Scotchmen, by asking ‘How?’ ‘Well,’ said Mr. O’Connor, ‘if any other man besides Sir D. McLean had been Native Minister when these murders were committed, a war might have been the result.’ To this the natives made no reply. Mr. O’Connor asked, ‘ What about Sir Getrge Grey ? Is he not well known to you all, and do you not consider him well inclined towards you ? ’ ‘ Yes, he is well-known to us all; but we consider that he caused the war in Waikato, just as Governor Browne caused the war at Taranaki.’ ” Now we maintain that this is a much clearer exposition of the feelings of the King natives than anything which is set forth in the telegram of five or six lines addressed to Sir George Grey by Manuhiri, notwithstanding that one of our evening contemporaries here gloats over it as being “ highly important.” Our opinion is corroborated by ■ our Maori correspondent, who signs himself “TxtiroMarire.” He says : “ We hear that our old opponent, who fought the whole island—that is, Sir George Grey —now comes forward as our saviour.” Is not this statement in perfect accord with Mr. O’Connor’s version of his interview with the King party? and does it not tend to demonstrate that, although the Maoris may have forgiven Sir George Grey, they have not forgotten him? We know all about Sir George Grey saying that “he would dig around the King until he fell;” but many of our readers, especially those who are new settlers, are not acquainted with a comparison said to have been made by a Maori respecting tho characters of two gentlemen who held the responsible position of Governor of this colony. “Ah ! ” said the speaker, “Governor was . straightforward. He was like a hawk soaring above, and when he saw his prey he pounced on it in daylight. But Governor is like a rat, burrowing under ground, and when you least expect to see him, ho pops out of a hidden hole and climbs up to the food store and eats our provisions secretly.” We do not for one moment wish to coiivey the impression that Sir George Grey was one of the Governors thus alluded to; but if there is any intelligible meaning in Manuhiri’s telegram it is akin to some of “ Punch’s” lectures to statesmen at Home, and may be summed up in the manner of a schoolmaster admonishing a troublesome pupil: “Now, Master George, you have been a sad trouble to me and New Zealand in past times ; but now you have got to the sixth form again.you had better turn over a new leaf.” The Premier, in the statement of his policy lately, congratulated himself in having Mr. Sheehan as Native Minister. Well, what is the opinion of the King party as to Mr. Sheehan’s accession to office, as reported by Mr. O’Connor to the “New Zealand Herald?” It is—“ Mr. O’Connor spoke of Mr. Sheehan, who was .a native of the country, and might be likely to cultivate friendly relations with them.' This they admitted, but did not seem (to expect, much.” Mr. Sheehan, clever and hardworking as he is, is not quite so well known to the Waikato and Ngatimaniapoto as he is to the Eepudiation tribe of Hawke’s Bay. He is a young man, and may, without egotism, be proud of the position he has attained in his youth; and it lie will only chalk out a straightforward and manly course for himself, and withdraw from the shadow of the deadly upas tree he now sits under,- he has ample time and opportunity to make his mark in this country, and to attain a high position in the future management of native affairs.