The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 211, 18 April 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1877.

It was mentioned in last issue flint a. sum of £-!-0(J had been p:iul by Government to Natives as an advance on the balance of Use confiscated land lying beta-eon the I’atea and the Mokoia "Reserve. The fact of money having been accepted by Native claimants to the abovenamed laud, and on the condition so clearly laid down by the Civil Commissioner, is a most satisfactory indication of progress in regard to the settlement of the confiscated land question. It lias taken some years of previous work and argument to bring the Natives to submit, and to acknowledge that they had been conquered, and must consequently give up the balance of the confiscated land. Government was prepared to deal liberally with the claimants, and whilst claiming the land by right of conquest, was so_ far willing to soften the completion of its right of conquest ns to grant the Natives some com oausalion for thou- former rights. Undoubtedly, both sides desire peace. The mutual forbearance of the two races, and a tacit understanding between those who had been bravo enemies in the iiehl, that the past should be buried between them, has contributed larg ’ly* to the

grooving snhimssion of tlic Natives to Entopeiui nil*, air! to the final carrying out of the confiscation. The appointment of Major Brown, as Civil Commissioner, has also had much to do hi bringing about the present good nndeistauding between the Natives ami Government.. .During the time or the war Major Brown had great influence over the Maoris South o! New Plymouth, it will be recollected, that, whilst the property of oilier s-Tilers was ruthlessly destroyed, that of the present Civil Commissioner was protected. He bad iu some way gained the goodwill ot a large proportion ol the Natives, and kept it. Having been appointed to bis present position, that influence has been used to firing about a belter understanding bed ween the two races, ami with, amongst others, the very satisfactory result just noted. No doubt, barbarities wore committed by the enemy during the war, wliieh some hereabouts have reason to remember painfully*, hut in the one special case recently referred to by a townsman there is reason to believe that a wrong charge was made. We regret that another settler should have taken umbrage because we declined to reiterate the charge in these columns in an aggravated form, and. refused to make the proprie.iorol this journal liable to lino and imprisonment and heavy law charges, by the publication ot a grossly libellous letter, and which, besides, had it been published, would only have helped to rekindle the hitter leellag which, in time past, existed between the two races. It is wrong to assnum, or infer, that a person is guilty of crime until it has been proved. The Native, lately* accused, was lighting on the European side at the time the murder referred to was committed, and there is strong reason to believe that lie had no hand in the crime with which he was accused. At any rate it was, to say the least of it, most injudicious at a lime when the town was tilled with Natives, to attempt to cause strife, by making an improved charge. Had the Native resented the insult iu the same manner in which such insults arc usually* resented, blood would probably have been shed \\ e trust that our fellow settlers who have met the enemy in the held will remember, that, a truly brave man is always generous to a fallen too. I’utting the question on the lower motive of expediency, wo cannot afford to make references to a past which may prove the last leather that breaks the camel’s back. Peace means security for capital,—the establishment ofindustries, and increase m our numbers, wealth and prosperity ; whilst doubt and mistrust, of which wo hope we have seen the last between Europeans and tlr. Native race, means uncertainty, isolation, a hand to mouth existence —m fact, ruin. We hope all will aid in helping on the growing good understanding between the races. Wo have conquered, and can afford to be generous. All now required Is firm and judicious treatment. The Thames Advertiser ol the nth April, referring to a crop of minor native difficulties which have lately* arisen in that district, and which, bv judicious forbearance, have been overcome, jishs the question—what is (Im native Oikicu'iy, mul what shape will it. assume / and s-qys:—"Me are told by a good many persons, who profess to know, that It will assume the shape ot a Avarlntc difficulty. inat is to say, the native race will once again attempt to wrest the country from the pakeha, and will put the question to the issue of open fight, The time may have been when such a solution of the question was possible ; hut that time has long since passed. Let anyone look to the vast strides made in the settlement of the ‘Waikato and the Upper Thames country within the last five years, and he will see, oven supposing the Maori should not see, that any* attempt to rc-take the country would result in failure. It is nob necessary to argue tliis question on the ground that it would ho ruinous to the native race. Every indication points to one result, and one only, that the natives will bo gradually adsorbed into the population.” By concessions and dalliance advantages are gained. Referring to the late war preparations on the part ot certain of the Thames Natives and the postponement of the Native Lauds Court, the y j dvertisc.r says, “ It was both wise and politic "for Judge Monro to postpone the heaving of the cases so long as the Ngatimam and Ngatitamntora tribes arc engaged in the quarrel now existing. It may seem, and doer, seem, -harsh towards the Ngatitamatera to adjourn the hearing of the cases, inasmuch as the Tc Arolia or Ngatimam people were the original offenders ; bat this cannot now be. helped. The quarrel has now gone on so far that both parties are tired, and it wants but a gentle and skilful hand to pub au end to it. That done, then wo hope that these wars and rumours of Avars, vvlt.li like reports that lut-a'c originated from them, will cease. With the return of peace, aa*c have every hope that our best and most active road makers will bo the Maoris themselves. Firm and gentle treatment will go much farther than any harsh step could do with the natives, and ave trust the County Council [ivliich body desire a road made through native land] will keep steadily to their course of Aviso pressure, but firm and gentle discussion of the situation as trie difficulties arise. Everything points to the more than probability of our Thames community again leaping to the van in the march of progress ; therefore avo say again, let no petty quarrel be raised to stop onr wav,” We repeat the concluding Avords

and say, let no petty quarrel be raised up to ston our way to a good understanding Avitli the natives iu this part of the colonv.

Since the above was written we notice that both the Wanganui papers have remarked on the case ot Ivateno and O’Sullivan. Tim Herald is inclined to justify the conduct complained of, ridicules the whole affair as of trivial importance, censures the 11.M., and says, “If avo are correctly informed, there is scarcely a resident of Patou but feels that OhSnllivan’s punishment errs on the side of severity ; and the reasons given from the Bench have caused not a little indignation.” The Herald may judge of the indignation felt in Patea at the verdict when we mention Unit a few gushing and enthusiastic friends of Mr O’Sullivan’s, started the idea, and attempted to raise a public subscription to pay the fine. Amongst the first appealed to—countrymen and personal friends —rebuffs wcie mot with: much less Averc the general public disposed to subscribe. The Chronicle appears to ha\*c gnaged public feeling on the matter about correctly. There are in town persons Avho think a smaller fine would have been sufficient, who yet have no sympathy Avitli Mr (JdSulhvan for acting in the injudicious manner ho did.