NATIVE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5614, 27 March 1879, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

, TO THE EDITOR -OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES- : Sin, —It is well, in the face of difficulties and danger, to put on a bold front, which.our -Ministers appear disposed to do in connection iylth the Maori difficulty. We learn from a "Ministerial source that in defiance of all opposition from Te Whiti, and all other Whitis, the Government have. resolved on the sale of 16,000 .acres of the disputed territory. This bit of-braggadocio on the part, of Ministers may sound very well, and will no doubt be applauded by the unthinking as “taking'the bull by thp horns but I would like to know where persons: are to he found insane enough to purchase under these circumstances. 'Tor we learn from the same organ that a Maori AvarriS i. regarded "by Ministers as being” imminent. It states—“ The land must be re-occu-pied, although we have some doubt of the -propriety.'of -sending back the surveyors unless protected by a sufficient force. Even were the survey completed, the difficulty and danger of settlers going on the land might prevent occupation. The determined attitude of the natives requires to he met by one equally determined.” Are we, then, called upon to employ force to root out Te Whiti and his followers from Parihaka ; in other words, to. strike at the head and front of the , 'mischief? :'-“No Government is anxious to rush , into’wari'if it can be prevented.” The above is a part of the advertisement of the sale of some portion of the Wairnate Plains, which,'! understand, is to he published throughout the Australian ,Colonies. Does the ..Government really expect or intend to attempt to sell land under,-these circumstances with, the idea of obtaining anything like its intrinsic value? In, the same; article it is stated as a reason for putting forth a bold front in the affair—‘l There is; one -thing, , however, which the natives respect in friend, or foe, and that is strength.” I would inform the writer that there is another .thing that, the natives respect even more” than 'strength 'in the pakeha, and that is truth,, little, of which they, can have discovered in either the Premier or the Native Minister. ’ln the event of trouble should not Parliat ment be called,together ; or are matters to be left to be further muddled by those who have contributed ’so • largely to the creation of the whole difficulty Jt On behalf of the people of this colony I dp most sincerely and earnestly pray dally for’their'early deliverance from their present administrators.- In ; addition to their general' incompetently they have raised the devil in the form of .the Maori difficulty, and they are now totally unable to lay him—hence the talk of war.. It is to be hoped that the people of this colony will demand a voice in the matter.of war, and that such a question be not left tp the decision or in the hands of the powers that be, without the approval of the people through their representatives.—l am, Ac., . ■ Patriot.