WAIMATE PLAINS.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 544, 10 July 1880, Page 2

WAIMATE PLAINS.

WHAT’S TO BE DONE? Wo are not alarmists, and do not wish to exaggerate the danger which has long continued to menace the Europeans. To Whiti has given the order that there is to be no fighting, and this may fairly be taken to mean that his interests and those of his followers would not bo served by an outbreak of hostilities. But what is meant by this fencing of the road? We have all along pointed to this state of passive resistance as by far the most difficult to overcome, and we have not hesitated to indicate the-line of policy' which we think ought to bo followed. If the land north of Oeo has not all been given back by the Commission, it ought to be occupied. If, on the other hand, it has been given back, we cannot possibly understand what object is to be served by continuing to go on malting a road through land which we allow belongs to the Natives. Te Whiti fears no one, ami only one course. He knows that our occupation would be the actual conquest by the Europeans of the land which he claims as belonging to his tribe. He certainly has little to apprehend from the mere formation of a road, and his fencing it is a facile method of asserting his authority without actually incurring the risk of an attack. There is barely a doubt in the minds of these who know something of the Natives, that Te Whiti means mischief, and that ultimately we shall have to resolve to put him down with a strong hand. It is certain the Government cannot diminish the strength of the force now on the coast, and it is equally' certain they can ill afford to meet the expenditure for any great length of time. But maintained it must be for the present, and we want to discover the line of action which is to lead to that slate of things when a standing army' will no longer bo essential to preserve the semblance of authority on the part of the Government. We have had for sometime the display of what might be termed a vigorous policy—but the question we submit is, whither is it leading us ?