NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 439, 28 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

We take the following from the New Zealander of Tuesday last;— A very general feeling of satisfaction pervades that native affairs have at last reached a crisis, whereon the Government must act resolutely, or else stand out of the way and let others perform a duty upon which the welfare and credit of the entire colony depends. The men of Hawera deserve, as they doubtless will receive, the thanks of the entire colony for taking prompt and resolute action to convince their troublesome Maori neighbors * that there is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue, and that they do not intend any longer to permit the law to be outraged with impunity. The settlers do not desire war, nor is there the slightest pretext for asserting, as some’.have done, that there has been any rashness displayed in other quarters in precipitating events tending to hostile collision. No one, save perhaps a few malcontents and mischief-mongers, desire to hear the first shot fired or hot blood shed between Europeans and Maoris, but all must generally desire that the Maori tribes should be taught that their acts of lawlessness will be punished. And the feeling is coupled with one of regret that the hesitancy ilifiplnyoil Ivy f.ho rin-on-wn ment has been construed by the natives as being the effect of timidity, and through this they have become the more

emboldened. Their is no reason to suppose that the Premier, or any of his responsible advisers, have been laggards in taking decisive measures in dealing with the native question, from any fear of ultimate success, but they have evidently held faith in “ masterly inactivity,” until everything, from their own point of view, was in readiness for action. Local opinion, however, at the scene of disturbance, viewing the pressing exigencies of the hour, has not waited lor the perfection of deliberately maturing plans of operation, but seeing the necessity for action, -has decided that it should be performed, and in performance the settlers have done well and boldly. We do not gather from the fragmentary arid slightly sensational telegrams coming to hand, that they are at all eager to do more than they have done, but that they are prepared, should emergency arise, to £ive the natives proof, by appeal to arms, that thoy are not to do as they like with impunity. This is a most satisfactory and reassuring manifestation, and will do more to settle the native difficulty than any diplomatic negotiations, in lengthened tedioysness long drawn out. The of the Hawera settlers to the natives is—Good behaviour first and always,, and then settlement of your claims in equity and good intent; but lacking the first essential, we shall teach

you a stern lesson. In this view all loyal, order loving colonists will concur, and the settlers who have thus struck while the irort'ishof may be assured of the moral, and, if need be, the active support of, the entire New Zealand community. We are glad to bo able to state positively, that'the Ministry, now fully alive to the . .urgUney'fdr ready adtioh, haye* detenuined to take the best measure for circumventing any possible strategetic tactics on the part of. the natives. '"A. Cabinet meeting was held yesterday, and the members present seemed embued with the spirit, and “iron :clad” opinion of the great warrior .Wellington, who held as the .cardinal point of successful strategy that before deciding on pounding the enemy

with their guns or rifles it was necessary to make roads leading right into the heart of : his. fortresses. The subjects debated on in the Cabinet were mainly these. At a great expense the Colony, is already, committed to maintaining in the field an array of Armed Constabu-lary—-raw levies as yet, but of good stuff—and also a volunteer force. If it came to an actual brush with the enemy, this force would, no doubt, give a good account of itself, but this is not likely to. presently ensue; and even if it were, the* country such force would have to traverse, to reconnoitre, and probably .•fight in, would make such effective force woefully weak. Rewi spoke words of suggestive warning when looking at a parade of half-fledged mounted volunteers.a few days since ; he said, “ these are not the men to fight in the bush.” So also, with equal force, applies the remark that infantry, if they have not lines of concentration, to. fall back on,

cannot do much’ except to flounder into disaster in the triangled New Zealand bush. So think the members of the Ministry, wisely advised; and this, briefly told, is the scope and purpose of their present intent. The Mountain Track, a line of road of no immediate value, except as an accommodation for local traffic,, has in its formation served the good purpose of opening up communication in the ■ direction of Parihaka, the stronghold of present Maori fanaticism and discontent. Il has also served a better purpose. It has kept a party of strong and lusty men employed in the district, and it has suggested that more road work might be done, and with infinitely good results. The Cabinet members yesterday had under consideration a proposal to carry a road, that is to cut a road line through the bush, three chains wide, with twenty feet clearing of scrub and undergrowth in the centre, so that an armed . force might, if need be, march right into the heart of Te Wbiti’s stronghold. We understand from reliable authority that ah offer has been already made to do the work. The proposing contractor, a * man of good practical experience, says “ give mo'the means to pay my then twelve shillings a day, furnish ■ each of them with a rifle and supply of ammunition, and employ your Armed, Constabulary to scout and warn them of any impending danger, and I’ll carry on as many miles of road clearing as you want, right through the’ disaffected country.” Well, the cost of this kind of work will be considerably more than if ’twere done under more peaceful auspices, but then it must be remembered that it is merely forming one of the links in the chain of internal communication already mapped out by the surveyors, and that moreover it will keep in the district a strong force Of lusty men, who, in the event of serious disturbance, would be a help in pressing trouble. The prosecution of this work will also be the best possible assurance to the beleagured settlers that the inistry have their best interests at cart, and that in their preservation and ufety they are also aiming at effect! 1 •, two other all important results—th allayment of “ Maori scares,” by the ibjugation of the natives themselves, .nd the opening up for settlement of much valuable country at present scarce known to'civilisation. •!