NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Southland Times, Issue 979, 3 July 1868, Page 3

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

j It would appear that another Maori "War is inevitable. The telegraphic news from Wanganui, relating the depredations committed in the Patea district, is a conI vincing proof that the North Island will never contain safe and contented settlements until a more determined war policy is adopted by the Government. The outrages that are now committed — the driving away the cattle of the settlers — the treacherous attacks that are made upon homesteads with a reckless disregard of life and property — is evidence that the fire of rebellion is not quenched, but is again showing indications of bursting forth with all its former intensity. The lenient policy, that has been hitherto pursued by the Imperial and Colonial Governments appears to have induced a firm conviction in the mind of the Maories that European threatenings are not to be feared, that the display of thousands of soldiers, who for years were supported by the colony, performing but little service, was simply an attempt to frighten them. The Maories, as a race, do not yet realise the fact that they must submit 01 face a war of extermination. The weak and vacillating policy that has year after year been adopted — a policy that has procrastinated a struggle which if sternly grappled with would have been ended years sinee — a policy dictated by enthusiastic Exeter Hall devotees, and upheld by parties interested in a war expenditure—has not only rendered the power of the Government contemptible in the eyes of the Natives, but it has lowered the prestige in which British arms were at one time held by friendly-disposed tribes. The disinclination to fight, together with the continued concessions made by the Government whenever the Maori difficulty arose, has retarded the progress of the colony, to an incalculable extent. It fs useless now to comment upon past blunders, upontheopportunities lost of terminating a strife which has led to treacherous murders, rapine, and pillage. The question is, what course is to "be adopted in order to terminate in reality — it has in name been terminated a dozen times — this vexatious and costly conflict of races. A chief of an influential tribe of the friendly natives, when appealed to by Colonel M'Donald, to aid in raising a " native contingent force," gave the basis of a policy which must sooner or later be adopted. The majority of the tribe hesitated to join the proposed company, stating that they should go, to "Wellington first, and Hour Kutgi, as a reason for his reluctance to take part in the war on the side of the British, wisely said, "it would be useless to attack the Hau-haus, and urged that they should go to Kawhai, to the Maori King, and extirpate the tree by destroying the trunk — the branches would then soon die." A keener satirical estimate of the vacillating policy of the Government, it is scarcely possible fco imagine. There cannot be a doubt that the only hope of finally disposing of the Maori difficulty, is with determined and unflinching energy to prove to all sections of the rebels that certain and condign punishment awaits any outrage of British law. There are a large number of natives ready and willing to aid in extinguishing the Maori Kingite and Hau-hau organisation, if they had a guarantee that the Government were determined to conquer the disaffected tribes. This is the only course to be adopted. The talking, flattering, bribing, and fawning policy pursued during the rule of Sir Geobge Gbet has proved a signal failure. It has not been conducive to Maori civilization, while it has been ruinous to the best nterests of the people. It is certain that the whole colony must unite to terminate this strife. The arguments that havebeen used in favor of leaving each northern province to settle its own native difficulties are untenable. Bat it is certain •that until the Southern members insist upon prompt and determined action, Maori wars will continue. It is therefore asubject of urgentnecessity, when the amount for native purposes again comes before the Assembly, that a defined and energetic policy for the suppression of rebellion should be insisted upon by the Middle Island members.