The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5344, 14 May 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1878.

Probably there is no man oi body of men in all New Zealand who would not heartily rejoice to know that what is called the “ native difficulty ” had been finally and satisfactorily settled. Notwithstanding that the egotism and violence of the Premier have made this unfortunately a personal and party question, and, in regard to it, as to everything he touches, have provoked hostility and illtemper, it would have afforded us sincere pleasure if we had been able.to assure our readers that the end which all desire had been attained at the recent meeting with Tawhiao at Hikurangi. We do not think that the blindest adorer of Sir George Grey— not even our innocent contemporary the Wairarapa Standard—will believe that such a result has been actually arrived at. ■ Into the blaze of a real- triumph we should have been content to cast the record of the “ wretched “ past,” and to mete out to Sir George Grey’s exertions, unsparingly, a very different kind of award from that which ha himself, in opposition, bestowed upon the loyal exertions of his predecessors in office. What appears to us, and must we think be apparent to every unbiassed person, is that if any change has been effected in the situation by the late interchange of platitudes, it has been in favor of the natives and not of the Government. The diplomatic skill of Te Ngakad has been : more than a match for that of the Premier; and whilst Tawhiao has got the “promise” of a mansion and an annual income, and, a grant of territory, and whilst his followers have enjoyed the tangible pleasures of much flour and sugar at the colonial charge, ha has not even had the grace to give us so much as a “ promise” of any good in return. Advantages which were long ago offered to the King and his people, conditionally, they have now obtained; so far as we can judge from. the published report, without any conditions at all. The old formula, “ Waikato is ours, no roads, no surveys, “no land sales, no courts,” translated into many words, and toned down by the reporter of the Government, was set out as embodying the demands of the King, and accepted, apparently, by the Premier with due submission. This is the official report of Tawhiao’s speech : —“ This is my word : listen. We put a ‘ ‘ stake in the ground and said, that stake “is Mercer or Mangatawhiri Creek. Let “the Europeans living on this island go “ back to the opposite side of that river. “Let them have the management of their “side, and let me and the chiefs of the “ natives manage this side. This is “ another word 1 have to say : TheEiver “Waikato commences from here, and “goes wandering right down to the “ mouth of the river. It commences “ from this part, and goes over hill and “ dale to Te Wirahirahi, at Tanpo. If “ any person is desirous that roads should “be allowed to be made, I say no, I will “ not agree. I say let them first come to “ me, because the whole decision rests “with me. It can only be done by first ‘ ‘ consulting me. Look to me. . Another “thing is, if any one wishes Europeans “to survey land, I will not agree unless “ they first come to me, because I have “ the management. The last thing I “ have to say is this : If any one leases “or sells land now I will’not agree. “ That is what I have to say.” Those who will take the trouble to remember, or are curious enough to wade through the Mansard reports of 1876, will be surprised to find that Sir George Grey did not feel himself compelled by , all. the ‘.noble r motives to which ha then appealed in condemnation of the conduct: of Sir Donald McLean, to make a public demand that Winiata and the other murderers who have found an asylum with the : King should be surrendered to public justice, as the preliminary to any negotiation. There has been no word of this; on the contrary, the little operation by which beef was supplied from the herds of Mr. Walker, without the owner’s consent, for the entertainment of thePrima Minister and his friends upon their first visit, was condoned or rather compounded, and Te Ngakau’s team of bullocks which were captured by the injured settler were restored :to that chief by the friendly intervention of the Government,' whilst Winiata, Nuku, Pueukutu, and other criminals were conspicuous amongst i the entertainers of the;'Ministerial party, and took part in the food processions, the dances, and the songs without either ;fear or shame, We do not say that it would have been politic to have insisted 'upon the surrender of-'these men as .the condition precedent to any negotiation with the King ; but we desire to call attention' to : the fact that Sir George Grey sat down apparently without objection 1 or remonstrance in an assembly in which these men were not only present, but. prominent and active, and that ha was thus guilty of that disregard of public honor and of the demands of public j ustice in’respect.to allof them, which he imputed as a crime to Sir Donald McLean, untruly, with respect to one only of them, NuKii;’ in’ 1876. As we have before shown, time, and the policy of former! administrations have greatly reduced the influence of, Tawhiao for good or evil ; but ' Eewi is a real power ; the time for which he asked at Taupo last year, at his meeting with the Native Minister, in order to enable him tocomplote his airangements, having now,.lapsed, it is satisfactory to see that he is about actively to take up the work of reconciliation of the tribes, in fulfilment of the promise then made. It is with his aid that a true settlement of the native difficulty will in due time be arrived at. ' Tawhiao last year appointed the past month of March as being the time when he would be prepared to meet the Governor, ns the sign of his submission to the authority of the Queen, For this meeting “ the parliament of us two ’’—that is, of the Premier and himself—as now proposed, cannot be a satisfactory or a. safe . substitute, or command the' confidence of either Europeans or natives. . . '