THE STANDARD. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1873.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 81, 23 August 1873, Page 2

THE STANDARD.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1873.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

The letter, or rather document, which Henare Matua has written, and intended for the Chairman of the Public Meeting, recently held in Gisborne, to denounce the disturbances caused by the natives of this District in opposing the business of the Deed of Cession Commission, is one of that class which calls for instant reproof, and clearly shows that the Maoris, when left to themselves, and are not in a position to fall back upon the ready advice of their white friends, are still in a state of the most profound ignorance on matters which concern them very closely. We publish in to-day’s issue a translation of this document; it was not forwarded to anyone connected with the meeting, but tacked up outside the Court-house, thus showing, even in his last act before leaving, the contempt he has been well instructed how to display ; aud giving proof positive of how

truly he has learnt what to do, and when to do it—just keeping himself without the range of so much of the active operation of our laws, as he has evidently been told could be put in motion successfully against him. In view of the many errors which men of Henare Matua’s stamp, under the guidance of evil counsellors, frequently commit, we purpose giving him and the natives generally the opinion which is entertained of them and their proceedings from an European or pakeha point of view, through the columns of this paper.

Henare Maeua must learn once for all that the natives had no right, any more than ourselves, to give notice to the Commissioners that “ their work should stand over until after Parliament should be finished.” When Europeans want grievances to be redressed, they petition the Government, and ask (not demand) that their prayer may be attended to. If Henare Matua had wished to do good and not harm, he would have taken what we call the constitutional —that is peaceable—means of obtaining that which he is very much deluded in believing he can secure by force. The Commission was appointed for the purpose of doing justice to loyal natives, and inflicting a penalty on Hauhaus by confiscating their lands. The Commissioners had to do only what they were told to do by the Governmant; they could not let the work stand over unless the Government orded them so to do. Henare Matua is, therefore, considered to be aiding the Hauhaus in opposition to the Government, for which he must be punished if he persists in it.

Henare Mattia in his defence, exhibits an ingenious insincerity by not noticing at all (because on that point also he is defenceless) the chief cause of our complaint against him. The Commissioners exhibited the greatest amount of patience ; they paid great attention, — we think too much —to the complaints, such as they were, of Henare Mattia and those whom he put forward to obstruct the Court; and told the native objectors that if they did not want their lands to be granted to them, they should remain quiet and not oppose the inclinations of those who did. This had no effect, except that when the Commissioners attempted to investigate that Okirau Block, the Maoris proceeded to violence, insulted the Court, and said they would fight, and burn down the Court-house. Henare Matua says nothing about this, but affects to believe that the Commissioners “ were the cause of the difficulty.” Now it is high time that these insufferable proceedings should be put a stop to with a firm hand. It is the duty of the Government to let Henare Matva know in what jeopardy he stands; and how he merits punishment. The Government should accept this opportunity of letting Henare Matua and the “chiefs and the tribes and sub-tribes” of New Zealand know that they have no more right to behave riotously and oppose the functions of law and order, than the Rangatiras and large bodies of men amongst Europeans have. Ever since he left Napier, all along the Coast, Henare Matua has been gaining adherents tq the cause of repudiation, by promising the natives the treacherous assistance of his European friends in getting back the land already sold. This we now know is the reason why he influenced so many Maoris here who, even up to June last, when the Commission was postponed, were quite contented to have their claims investigated ; and we repeat that in carrying their hostility to the extent they have, Henare Matua, as their chief ruler, should be set up as an example, and be made amenable to the law the same as any European would be who transgressed it. We have now a word of advice to give. Let Henare Matua beware or he will assuredly be caught in the net that certain pakehas are spreading for him. Let him not think that because we have enemies in the Parliament, who are his friends, that might will overcome right, or that they will succeed in their evil designs. We have an old adage that “ dogs that fetch bones, also carry bones and Henare Matua has probably heard of our belief that “ no man can serve two “ masters.” It is impossible that traitors to the constitutional authorities of the land can be very sincere friends to the people who dwell in it, if they advise a course of action opposed to the principles which they have sworn to uphold and defend. Therefore it becomes

our duty, as loyal subjects, to aid the Government in quelling the disturbances which these false doctrines give rise to ; and to prove to the natives that while it is our desire to live peaceably with them, it must be upon terms* which we can accept and not as they may dictate. We should omit the principal part of our duty were we to close our remarks without reminding our native nieghbours of the fool-hardy course they have adopted in being led into grief by Henare Matua. The troubles that once hung over this District are disappearing. Europeans have come from afar to settle here. They are still coming, and with them the money which will buy the Maoris’ land and make them rich. It is the wish of the Government that the Europeans and Maoris should become one people and prosperous ; that they should live together under the same laws, and each help the other in maintaining peace ; and this cannot be done while such men as Henare Matua are permitted to do as he has recently done in Turanga. Therefore we say he should be arrested, and prevented from doing further mischief. And we can assure all those who have hitherto refused to have their claims investigated, that the Government will not listen to their complaints, and the Parliament cannot, as it has appointed the Commissioners to do so already. That they would have done all that is required there cannot be the slightest doubt. The Commissioners told them that the terms of the Crown Grants should be altered ; that if a man once hald land he could do as he liked with it, and that it should not be claimed by the tribe against his will; Shat the law of trusteeship should be amended in their case, and everything done to put their titles on a footing with those of the Europeans ; but still they spurned the gifts of kindness. Consequently there is only one thing to choose—the pakeha, who can help them, and plenty, or Henare Matua, who cannot help them, and poverty.