The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 431, 31 May 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, MAY 31, 1879.

The Maoris are {going to settle the native difficulties. Their evil genius is hurrying them on to their destiny. Fearing nothing, because knowing little, they are rushing forward to meet the extinction that would have overtaken them had they fled from it. When the grizzly bear, after the sawyer had escaped, insisted on trying conclusions with the circular saw revolving at full speed, and hugged it accordingly, he did just what the noble savage insists on doing now. We do not underrate the Maori’s power for mischief; they will doubtless find opportunities for inflicting dreadful calamities on the settlers by murdering, burning, and plundering. But disasters of this kind only stir up the superior race to use its power. They cannot be regarded as weakening European ranks. These little gaps, like scratches on a healthy body, soon fill up, and are forgotten. The loss that means annihilation to a waning race that is numbered by thousands, is nothing to the multiplying race that is numbered by millions. In Che crisis that seems to be now at hand, the settler, who has to bear the brunt in labor, loss, and danger, must try to lose his individuality in that of the mighty people to which he belongs. This is perhaps unpleasantly like the comfort that was administered to the man of Uz. Yet surely there is comfort in knowing that one’s own side must win. Those who may have to fight will not despise the enemy any more than they would despise a tiger. But though they might run the risk of being mauled or oaten, they would know that the result of war between their race and all the tigers on earth would be a foregone conclusion. We cannot help speaking of the struggle that appears to be at hand, as if it were inevitable. Our people, for the sake of peace, will endure being called slaves, wbilo the title is obviously ridiculous—■ what’s in a name—but to be treated as such is more than they are prepared for. There are some settlers who have courage to restrain their courage, who could submit to insults and threats rather than strike a blow that would kindle war throughout the Island. But there are a greater number who have only one kind of courage, who will resent injury, or insult, let the consequences be what they may. It is pretty certain then, that sooner or later the insolence of some fanatical Maori will procure for him a broken head, and then We have before expressed onr opinion that a resistance to Maori aggression and insolence was the true * peace policy’ lor the Government to follow. The policy of the Government, however, is not the present question. Whatever that policy should have been, it is certain that resistance is not the policy that the individual settler should adopt at the present conjuncture. Let every man who is tempted, teach the insulting barbarian what his place in the universe is ; remember what thousands of lives and what millions'of money he may throw away by losing his temper. The colonist, while certain that victory will incline to his side, has yet far more to fear from war than the savage, as a garden of cultivated fruits and flowers has more to fear from the storm than a flax bush. The Maori’s miserable pah and his patch of potatoes are the work of clays, but the European’s town, pastures, stock, fences, and commerce are the achievement of years. The object of the present trespassing of the natives on private property is no doubt to provoke resistance, to make the settlers strike the first blow, so that they might better engage the sympathy of their countrymen. It is to be hoped, therefore, that they will be defeated in this scheme, and left to force the war on themselves, or return to peace of their own accord. This latter course is not likely to be adopted by them, and if they pursue the former as earnestly, proceeding from words to deeds, as they have done of late, they will bring about the evil day soon enough to please the most impatient fire eater among us. No doubt the majority of the Maoris, while they threaten to exterminate us, think they are offering us all a reasonable alternative, namely to quit the country. As neither of these generous offers can be enternained, it will be necessary to show the Maori majority that they are not reasonable. It is because this ridiculous alternative seems reasonable, and because we seem to be rejecting fair and just offers, that this majority are able to work themselves up to a fighting pitch. The alternative to extermination, which they offer, will seem reasonable as long as extermination seems possible. It will only be by convincing the native that neither he, nor his gods, can exterminate ns,' that we shall be relieved of his pressing offers of safe conduct out of the country. When the day arrives, let us hope that in mercy to ourselves and to him, this conviction will ..be driven, somewhat roughly, into his thick head. As Mr Tfegear remarked at the settlers meeting, “We cannot return the land to the Maoris, so we must return the Maoris to the land.”

' It will be remembered that at the last meeting of the County Council, Councillor Sherwood made certain charges against Councillor King, upon which the Foreman of Works was examined by the Council. On account of the evidence given on one of the charges, Councillor Dale has given notice of motion for next meeting,' That standing orders be suspended, after the reading of the minutes, to enable him to propose the following resolution—“ That in the opinion of this Council, Councillor King acted in a manner unbecoming a Councillor, in moving resolution No. 5-10; also, for taking advantage of Councillor Dale in asking him to second it, he [CrD,] not being aware that the plans prepared by the Foreman of Works were different to the report of the Public Works Committee ; while Councillor King, by his own admission, was aware that the work proposed by him was different altogether from that authorised by the Council.” Having become industrious, we recommend Te Whiti and his followers to pay Messrs Williams and Son’s a visit. The firm have just received a shipment of double-furrow ploughs, and more work could be done if our dark bretliern took the hint.

Nomination of Commissioners and Auditors for the Patea East Road Board, close at noon to-day, at the Whennakura Schoolhoiiao. The nomination lor Patea West Road Board close at Kakaramea Town Hall, on Monday next. Tenders for Carlyle Post and Telegraph Office close to-day. Mr W. Dale will hold his usual miscellaneous sale to-day. Tenders will be received by the County Council, up to 4 p.m., on Tuesday next, for road works. Tenders for cutting scrub, &c., will be received by Mr Charles Quin, Normanby, up to Monday next. The wharf regulations of the Patea Harbour Board, having been confirmed at a special meeting, with a few amendments, are again advertised for public information. Mr Mackenzie, Sheep Inspector, having received a supply of the Sheep Act pamphlet, will oblige anyone who may have 2s to spare. We would strongly recommend the work to all sheep-owners. Air Skeot, dentist, is now at Hawera. Mr McKerrow, Assistant Surveyor-Gen-eral, visited the Heads with Mr Sherwood yesterday morning, and expressed suprise and pleasure at the works. We call attention to Mr Fairclough’ B lecture advertised elsewhere for Kakara* mea and Carlyle (Wesleyan Church), on Monday and Tuesday respectively. There being no cases for trial in the District Court, the attendance of jurors summoned for Wednesday next, is not required.