PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1881. THE WAY WE DO IT.

Patea Mail, 23 June 1881, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY MAIL PUBLISHED Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1881. THE WAY WE DO IT.

The report of a native dispute about a gravel pit is thus explained. A road contractor had opened a pit on native reserve near Parihaka, without instruction or permission. Some natives resisted, and on the fact being reported to Government the contractor was ordered to fill up the pit and leave it. Such is the report. Suppose the pit had been opened on the ■ Parihaka block, outside the native reserve, is it not equally probable that Te Whiti would have objected to gravel being taken out of land which he continues to claim, though his claim is not asserted by force ? Settlers on this Coast have such little cause to roly on Governments, where a native claim is set up, that settlers will hesitate to accept this Parihaka story until confirmed by independent testimony. Later report says the pit. is not reserve. We have had too much cringing and truckling to buy off every native objection. The law says, one thing: some officer of Government says another thing, and so there is or has been a practical suspension of law, in cases where Maori interests were affected. The present Government did not initiate the practice of truckling, but they have carried it far enough. Governments have to learn what every settler soon learns from personal contact with Maoris, that the tide way to win their respect, and even their friendship, is to say a thing and abide it. Don’t change your decision with each change of Government. Let the natives learn that official decisions are final and binding. The lesson taught by Governments hitherto has been this: Our decision is firm, very firm; but if you will not accept it, you are very naughty, and we will send another officer to give you all you ask, and something more.