THE EVENING MAIL. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 353, 11 June 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL. MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1877.

His Majesty King Tawhiao thinks that he would not object to meet ihe representative of the Kingdom of Great-; Britain for tliis Colony, and in order to make arrangements for so important an event he has summoned his Ministers to consider the "matter. At least, so it is rumoured. This will, no doubt, look like business to the uninitiated in Native affairs, but let them take a retrospect of the history of the Native .Office since its establishment, and it will be discovered that these longings on the part of Ta_ "whiao are periodical, and occiirimmediately preceding the meeting of Parliament. " Korei'us" would doubtless be tinm.-.'iit'v beneficial if - they eventuated, but, as a rule, they do not. "King" Tawhiao is either a veiy fickle, vacillating monarch, and objects to be at the beck and call of the manipulator of Native affairs, or tl.es:-. reputed desires for conciliation are mere canards emanating from the fertile brain of the Native Ministtr. Tne game is, however, now about played out, and the sooner some other means are resorted to in order to bolster up the most expensive and inefficient institution, to say the least of it, that this country lias ever known, the better for the boguj reputation of the "Native Department. No one would attempt to gainsay that the Native Department has been a terrible bane to the North. Island and to the whole Colony ; but we j unhesitatingly assert that unscrupulous ( -men, for the sake of personal gain, have wittingly heaped up the fuel that has I kept the fire burning. The fiasco of our Native administration has been the cause of events—at least, indirectly—that have sent a shiver throughout the length and breadth of this Colony ; and yet the Native "Minister will, we have every reason to believe, have the front to get up in the House during the coming session and indulge in self-laudation. It lias been the custom to say, "All is peace," but at what price has this peace been purchased I A suppositious boundary-line was instituted . on the termination of open hostilities between the Government and the Maoris—the effect of which has been to imbue the Native mind with an impression that up to that mark only does British authority prevail; beyond it reigns supremely that august personage, " King " Tawhiao. Roads may be urgently required, but these may not be made, otherwise the lucrative appointments held by hundreds of parisitical native officials would be lost. What about the main trunk line of railway beyond Orafeau or Alexandra ? Will this, too,, have to be abandoned ? We think ' not. The day is not far distant when it will be deemed advisable to open up and -take possession of the rich agricultural lands in the interior of the North Island, now the hotbed of Maoridom, and then the bubble will burst. We would welcome this period, were it not for the conviction with- which we are firmly impressed that a large proportion of those Native Oflice_drones. who are now obtaining money on false pretences, would make-: powder for the Maoris and otherwise ' assist them in their warfare against, their Sovereign. When the disbandment of the Native Office does come to pass, and a more dignified and decisive policy is j adopted by the Government, we- are convinced that this would be the sequel, - un- |

less stringent measures were taken to ship so corrupt a crowd out of the country, j This is a pretty state of things ; but we have stated facts. No Government policy can possibly succeed that deldgXffes to any one Minister so important a function as the control of JNTative matters. 3Ye do not -believe for one'moment that :theViJ a tives : : desire an interview with "the Governor. They wish us to leave, them alone in quiet possession of the cream of the .In ortlr ■ Island, with which Waikato-is" nuitlre'r in size heir quality of soil' to be-'compared. .Cunning tacticians like Rewi and Manuhiri, wbose advice is invariably taken by -the ''■ ve-no -such: desire~fo~"liYftke"■ such terms witli- t'lie Government. ; The .".sugar aD.a,.fl.o.urnjtQliey.lias-s&~disgusted-"these •M^i-..p 5 they have lost all respect Jor .us ; and-no wonder. We have heard it summed up in the | somewhat . following , terms by leaders amongst the Maoris when addressing Government officials : —" You give rebel natives flour, sugar, rum, to make them friendly, but when they become friendly you stop giraig:them these things. They live a vagabond'life, and die Uke dogs in your settlements of drunkenness." We hope that the'chain with' which the Native Oltice has.appeared.to;be invested will' be broken during next session of Parliament, and that the Government will make themselves better acquainted . with the transactions of one of the most important departments in the" government of the countrv. ... - ~•.•■■•