THE NATIVES.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 272, 29 May 1860, Page 3

THE NATIVES.

(From the Sydnty Morning Herald.) THE REV. MR. IRONSIDE ON NEW ZEALAND. To the Editor—l am happy to find from the latsst accounts from New Zealand, that the Waikato tribes, who occupy the centre of the Northern Island, and who, from being th« most numerous, powerful and warlike of all the tribes, were the most to be feared, have determined to leave Wiremu Kingi to " work out his own work of error," m they express it. They will not "madly .interfere with that evil." . This is just what 1 expected, and stated as soon as I heard that-war: was broken out in Taranaki. I never feared that the noble Waikatos would come down to meddle in a quarrel which they think beneath them. More than twenty year* ago they conquered the whole df .the Taranaki country, took its people as lilaves into captivity to Waikato. All those foolish and headstrong rebels against the Queen's authority at Taranaki are returned ilaves. I was on a missionary tour through • that country, the present seat of war, in 1840, and from Mokau, in the north, to Gape Egmont, in the south, over ; 100 miles, I only found a miserable remrnant of some twenty natives. The whole .land wa» depopulated. Through the influence of Christianity on the Waikato chiefs these captured slaves were allowed to return home, their masten still retaining the ownership of the land., Captain Hobson, the Governor of New Zealand, recognised their title, and paid them a round sum of several hundred pounds to extinguish it. The Queen's Commissioner, appointed to - enquire into the validity of native titles, : afte,r careful investigation decided in favor Of the Waikato's claim, but recommended that iome compensation should be awarded the resident natives, and ample reserves lift for their occupation. It was a fatal error of Captain Hobson's successor in the Government, Captain Eobert Fitzoy, that he set aside the award . of the Queen's Commissioner, and gave back into the hands of these turbulent natives the lands of which they have been fairiy dispossessed, and one tenth part of which they have never been able to cultivate. The affair might have then, in 1844, been amicably settled. The most turbulent agitator among them^expressed a willingness on the part of the natives to give op all claim for some £300 or £400 of compensation. But the Governor at the time refused to allow of this settlement. From this fatal mistake of Captain Fitzroy, and One he had made a few months before, in allowing the perpetrators of the Wairau massacre to escape scot-free, may be dated the, whole, of the subsequent wars and struggles in that unfortunate country. The natives, who have been so thoroughly beaten in the affray of the 28th ultimo are among the worst natives in that country. Turbulent and disaffected, they have been the dread of the passing traveller for years. They neither feared God nor regarded man. They have hadjthe benefit of instruction from the Church; of England, Wesleyan, ajid German Missionariet; but evidently to but little good. I was acquainted with many • of them when they were in captivity in Waikato twenty years ago, and I have had many opportunities of keeping an acquaint tanoe with them. I lived in their immediate neighborhood the three last years of my residence in New Zealand, I therefore know them well. And while I pity them, and mourn ovar their sad fate, I am convinced that they needed a sharp lesson. Forbearance had passed all proper limits With them years ago. I indulge the hope that the sanguinary lesson they have received will not be without good effect, both as it regards them, and the tribes that may have been wavering in their loyalty of late. .

(Ffom the Wellington Independent.) GENERAL WAR —GENERAL RUIN.

As the war comes home to our hearths, it is not to be wondered at that it should occupy general attention, and so absorb us for the time, as to render constant political leaders impalpable. The duty of the press in such circumstances is to encourage the public mind to sink all minor differences, and lead it to take right views of the new and most important position in which this colony at present stands. Both races are equally concerned in the war, and no surprise can be felt that both laces are equally active in canvassing it. It is thought right by us to hold meetings in reference to it, and we cannot therefore feel surprised that the natives should hold meetings among themselves; but that they are meditating mischief is no logical conclusion. We need not here repeat our opinion that such is not the case, nor again reiterate that a season of so much excitement is more or less dangerous, and demands the utmost prudence on the part of those who have the conduct of affairs.

From all the information we possess, both from the province of Ahuriri and throughout this province, we believe the general jfeeling of the natives at the present moment is that of a desire for peace. Their excitement is the effect of alarm rather than intended evil. Individual instances of outrageous conduct may arise and will be magnified by report; but such cases are not the exponents of general native character. '■"'••

We care nothing for inuendos about "Maori sympathising;" conscious that if the influence we possess, in any way tends

to allay excitement, we have acted the part of genuine patriotism. And although a certain gentleman in a neighboring Province would hang: all advocates of a cautious policy as " traitors," we have no apprehension of his wrath. With all deference to this authority we cannot but recommend a cautious line of conduct, as rashness might involve us, in the very evil we would avoid. When the public mind is greatly agitated there are always to be found, men of extreme views; "and extreme views are . generally wrong. On the one hand there are those—very few we believe, bat including some of influence and position—who condemn the war in Mo ; who consider the Governor to be morally wrong in this matter. We have as yet no evidence, whatever, in proof of the correctness of these views; but we have much to confirm our opinion to the contrary. As far as the Taranaki insurgents are concerned the present contest was inevitable; indeed it would have been far better had it not been so long deferred—it would have been true humanity to themselves to have humbled their proud bearing before. They are alone responsible for all the consequences, and it is necessary that they be now thoroughly subdued, as we believe they will." The reinforcements which have arrived, furnish the means of decisive action; and as this will ba the best way of bringing the war to a termination, we anxiously await the Airedale's arrival to | confirm our hope that the march to the South, commenced a fortnight since, has been actively followed up. We agree with those who demand a severe punishment—it has been deserved and must be inflicted; nothing short of unqualified submission should be accepted. ;In this way alone can a permanent peace be effected; but there will be no such submission until the insurgents have thoroughly learnt the lesson of the superiority of British arms. On the other hand there are not a few who go to the opposite extreme ! and confound the disaffected with the entire race. The Taranaki Herald has given expression to such views, and while, like our contemporary the Spectator, we regret such a tone should have been indulged in by it, we are bound to make every allowance considering the circumstances in which that province is placed. It is nevertheless unjust and shows what may be expected whereever the war spirit may extend. The tendency of hostilities is to awaken a feeling of hatred for those to whom we are opposed, and this feeling soon spread towards the natives as a whole, finds vent in the cry for Maori extermination. A general rising is at first apprehended; by a few it may even be desired; and by many it is considered probable, if not certain. Whatever new phases the future may develope no one can prophesy. The fire when applied to a clearing, may or may not extend far beyond its limits; but at present we do not share in the opinion of the Taranaki War causing a general conflagration. It may suit adventurers to promote it; but it cannot accord with a wise policy or be sustained by right principles. Why provoke a bloody opposition on the part of the native tribes who are living side jby side with us, or in our midst, peacefully pursuing their individual occupations in common with ourselves ? Are they not, as) producers and consumers, a valuable portion of our population? Are they not men as well as ourselves and entitled to all the considerations of our common humanity ? To talk of a general war with the natives as the only means of possessing ourselves of their lands is as impolitic as it is cruel. Brainless or heartless men may entertain this view; but thinking men see in it an evil by all possible means to be avoided; Those who talk lightly of this matter connot understand what it implies. * A general War means general ruin. The present condition of the Taranaki Province, woulid be that of the whole island in in such a case. Somes must be abandoned, women and children shipped off, property sacrificed, the entire country deserted, and the towns converted into camps.- Nor would this be only for a short period. Doubtless the Maori race would ultimate!} 7 be subdued; but for a long series of years they could hold the country so that settlers would beunsafe. Our forces may clear the coasts; but it would be long before they could penetrate the dense forests and dislodge the Maori from his mountain strongholds. What in the meantime becomes of the colonial interests. To say nothing of the loss of life, the sacrifices of property and the large amount of expenditure, who among us would be the better, save a few publicans, storekeepers and contractors ? All men who will think for a moment, and especially those who have vested interests in this island, must be convinced that a general war involves nothing less than the spoliation of all their possessions—the wreck of all their prospects. It; is not less our interest than it is the duty of every one to use,all prudent means for the aversion of a calamity so great. To this end everything should be done to allay and not to excite the apprehension of the native. On this ground we have felt an objection to all military display or warlike demonstration that is not absolutely required; aud in support of the correctness of our position we need only point to the Wairarapa, from whence the inhabitants have forwarded a petition to the Governor praying that the Militia may not be called out in their district. For the same reason we advocate mutual consultations between the authorities and native chiefs, andr point to the meeting in the Countil Chamber, and in the Wanganui Vigilence Committee Room, in illustration of the means of allaying excitement and alarm to which they may be turned. We do not desire that the English population should be unarmed; on the contrary we have advocated the training of all the

Militia in this districtln their own immediate neighborhoods, not" because of any immediate danger but as a preventive of it, or protection against it, should it possibly arise. It would give a basis for public confidence, when every one knew that all the . able bodied men were able to act effectively at the word of command, and jt would, also inspire the native mind with a greater respect, for the English character, when it was knowivthat the settlers were capable of defending themselves and their homes did necessity require.