The Patea Mail. (Published and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1879.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 436, 18 June 1879, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1879.

The vigour and determination displayed by the settlers, in taking up arms, is already beginning to bear fruit. The effect of their own action npon the settlers themselves is very pronounced. Dissertations on the imperfections of pokers and broomsticks as weapons of warfare, disquisitions on the tremendous possibilities before the Maoris, and such questions as “ What could’nt they do,” and “ What conld we do,” have given place to dissertations on the imperfections of battered Enfields, to panegyrics on the Sneiders, to longings after target practice, to remarks about the last drill and the merits of the respective companies, and to suppositions that there will be nothing to do after all. In short, there is a much more general feeling of safety than there was a week or ten days ago. It is true that the very steps that were intended to render fear unnecessary, have, in some cases, had the effect of creating fear. Some persons on the outskirts of the settlement, who would be the first to suffer iu the event of war, had their imaginations kindled by the frequent meetings and the display of arms that took place, and have now acted with expensive and perhaps unnecessary caution. Others are afraid to put iu their crops; while others again neglect, or postpone, improvements that would otherwise be in progress. Already, we believe, numbers of men have been thrown out of employment, because employers prefer keeping their cash till they see whether there is any use in spending it. If the Government bad had the nous to send arms into the district months ago, before they were demanded in such an unmistakable manner, the process of arming would have been gone through quietly, and people would not have become excited and ready to believe the danger nearer and greater than it is. The old proverb dot bis cito dot —he gives twice who gives quickly—was never truer than in this case. A speedy supply of arms, after the surveyors were turned off the Plains, would have prevented the panic arising from precipitate arming, and would also have prevented the fear produced by the deeds of the Maoris—for it would have prevented the deeds themselves “ How oft the sight of means (or a chance) to do ill, makes ill deeds done.” A thousand rifles four months ago would have made Te Whiti’s scale kick the beam. Whether they will do so now, without cartridges, is open to question. The opinion is becoming pretty general that the Maoris are cowed by the unexpected show of force that has been made, and that they wish themselves Well out of the scrape. Speculation is even becoming rife as to the terms on which the Government will offer peace. Certainly the postponement of the “ earthquake” till September seems to indicate either that the wily prophet is nonplused and wants time to “ commune with the Invisible,” or that he is waiting to see what Parliament will do. Past experience assures him that he may dillydally and postpone as long as he likes, and send his august ultimatum when it is convenient. Possibly therefore he is waiting to see the fate of the Grey Government, as mayhap he is not prophetically gifted in that direction. Or if he is—as most of us are—he is waiting to see the temper of the new Government, which the “ Invisible ” may not have revealed to him. But what the upshot of his postponings and communings may be, we will nob be rash enough to say. If he and his followers were amenable to reason, the difficulty would vanish, and we would prophecy with confidence. It there were even a certainty that Te Whiti does not himself believe in his miraculous power, the problem of the future would be simplified considerably. He would in that case contrive to worm his way out of the present complications, without measuring his spiritual power against the casual weapons of the pakeha. But there is no such certainty. Te Whiti may be an honest fanatic; his madness may be real, though there is method in it. What then? Clearly no demonstration of force and firmness on onr part will have any effect. This is boldly stated by the adherents of the Maori prophet. One of them took up his parable at Manutahi the other day, and said : “ If the pakehas were as thick as,the stones on the road, and all had rifles, and were all marching to Parihaka, what would it matter to Te Whiti ? He would speak to the rivers, and they would overflow and drown them all. Moses drowned the Egyptians, and Te Whiti is a better man than Moses.” Some innocents appear to believe that Te Whiti can call back a ‘ million ’ of the Maoris that have gone over to the great majority, to fight the battles of their degenerate posterity. While little feats of this kind appear to be in the power of their leader, Enfields s mi- Sneiders are alike contemptible to these clear children of nature. The more

perfect our preparation, the more glorious will their triumph be. That a number of Maoris entertain this charming belief is certain. But what number, and whether that number includes Te VVhiti, arc interesting questions that time may throw some light upon.