THE EASTERN MAORI ELECTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5707, 15 July 1879, Page 3

THE EASTERN MAORI ELECTION.

(From the Napier Daily Telegraph.)

Although the returns from all the polling places within the Eastern Maori electoral district have not yet come to hand, it is nearly safe to predict that Henare Tomoana will be elected in the room of the late member, Earaitiana Takamoana. The chief interest of this election lie's in the fact that the Government candidate, Henare Matua, has been defeated. It has been a very close contest between those two chiefs, but, prior to the poll being taken, it was generally thought that Tomoana would stand little chance against his principal opponent. Twelve months ago Matua would have had a walk over ; the result of this election shows that the political opinions of the natives have undergone as complete a change as have those of the European settlers. This fact is themoreimportantfromthecircumstance that the natives have had few or no opportunities of being guided - in their political views by the opinions expressed in the public Press. The natives have had for the most part to form their own opinions, and to base their judgment on the results of a policy affecting their own welfare. The verdict they have returned, as shown by this election, is hostile to the Ministerial native policy. Nor are we in the least surprised at it. The natives in the Eastern Maori district, with but few exceptions, for very many years have been living on terms of amity with the Europeans ; they have encouraged settlement ; they have willingly sold and leased their lands to secure the presence of the pakeha; and when the peace, of the country has been disturbed they have sacrificed their lives in the cause of the Government. They have been consistently loyal, and to the Ngatiporous and to the Hawke’s Bay natives the colony owes a debt of gratitude. The Maoris of the East Coast have only to look around their pas to see the widows and orphans of those slain in the cause of the pakeha ; and to learn from the diminished numbers of the tribes how much they have expended in the support of law and order. From the sacrifices they have made they naturally look for, and they have the right to expect, the best consideration from the Government. For nearly two years, however, they have been neglected, and the little attentions which it was the policy of the late Ministry, and that also of its predecessors, to constantly show these loyal natives have entirely ceased. Their interests have also suf T fered materially from the Government policy of locking up their land?, and debarring them from the rights of free men, to do what they like with their qwij. This is a large and important: question to them, and has been keenly discussed in every pa. Then, again, they have

feen the standing enemies of British rule and of civilisation pandered to and honored. Though the loyalty of the Fast Coast natives is too deeply rooted to be affected by the policy of bribery and cajolery adopted towards their enemies, and the enemies of tire pakeha, they cannot but feel the injustice that is thus done to themselves. To these, and other causes underlying them, may be attributed the defeat of Henare J.latua. Unquestionably he is an able man ; perhaps, the most able of all the candidates, yet, coming forward as he has done os a Government supporter, has been sufficient to give a victory to the other side. The fact is significant, and is tantamount to a vote of want of confidence in the native policy of the Government on the part of the most loyal tribes in New Zealand.