The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1881.

Temuka Leader, Issue 342, 18 January 1881, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1881.

Thk surprise with which news of the Native Minister ((he Hon Mr Bryce's) resignation has been received by the Colony allocs that in polities (he col uists are not we.l read up. It will ■ lie remembered thai when the hun <;eutle,inan t took office it was; with the u derstundiiig that if he conl'i not reduce the Native expenditure lie woul i re.-igir... To'those, therefore, who are acquainted with the wasteful expeiidiiui'e that has been going on v> th. Native Office ever sin- e the Hon Mr H 11 b-cHine Premier, Mr Bryce's resignation will cause no surprise whatever. More than once we h.-ivu given it as our opinion that Mr Bryce was about the only just ami conscientious member in t' e Cabinet—hard woiking and earnest, he did what lie Could to save his country fiom a state or bankruptcy. His knowledge of Native affairs made it plain to him lliat the Maori could not be subdued and made ti peaceable Mibject of tr.e Queen of England by bribes of money or blankets and sugar We cat. therefore pic'ure to ourselves the iis'ltm* aiLit(iNra~vVmeir"thenoii gentleman assumed every lime that the Government applied a new dose. Wearied and disgusted he at length resolved that his n.-tme would bo no longar mixed up with tin- petti foggi'-g crew. He knows well the Maori nature and the utter impossibility of killing theii opposition by the law of kind ess, and tht recent case ot murder that took place in the North Island, of which v>e gave our opinion at the time, must have convinced him of the little value the Mauri puts upon human life. 1) übtless h came to ihe same conclusion as ourselves that Europeans .re not safe in Maoii settlements. Studying, as he doubtless ha» done, that case iu all its bearings, he has likely come to the conclusion that nothing but a thorough good thrashing of the whole lot will save the wasteful expenditure going on, and put an end to this uncertainty of human life in the North Island for ever. One can fancy the Native Minister making such a siateme t, and tiie effect it would have upon such overexalted members as the Hon. Mr Dick or Mr Rolleston. Could we but have had an opportunity of sketching their gha»tly countenances at the moment the member made the demand for vigorous aggressive measures, the picture would be something that would attract more attention th in the picture of the Loft us. nude. Doubtless Mr Bryce has shown his colleagues the wurthlessness of the present Ministerial Native Policy, but Mr Hall, as well as the other members of the Ministry, who are onjoying their ill-gotten promotion, are aware that any repressive incisures at the present moment would call forth the derisio i of those who remember many of their statements when in opposition. That the Maori is simply made a tool of by Major Atkinson to advance his purpose with regard to Tarunaki few will doubt, and we must give him credit for a certain amount of shrewdness and far-fetc'.ied scheming for the aggrandisement of this his favorite provincial district. Auckland and Taranaki are about the most contented places in the North Island, and why ? Simply because the Hall Ministry has largely redeemed its pledge giw-H for the four votts of the traitors to the Liberal cause. Expecting that the Southern Idand would keep an eye upon him in his dealings with the Aucklanders, the Premier had to wait till a lull in politics took place to enable him to forwaid his scheme. That opportunity having arisen, Auckland with Taranaki are being fed and nourished by the fruits of the Middle Island industry. Mr Bryce, like any other honest man, has a conscience that rises up against these wickednesses in high places, aud stung by it. he lesolvos to free himself of the blame; when he found he could not put a stop to the waste. The question " What shall be done with Te Whiti" seems to be in every one's mouth. Arrest him and punish him for disturbing the peace is what will have to be done with him, ami that very soon, or. life and property will be in danger every moment. The murderous crew of assissins, who still roam at large also require to be punished, and the rascals mada an exami le of in order to leach ojhei's (hot human life is not to be destroyed by them whenever they may choose to do it. The Native Policy, like the other measures of the Hall Government, i« a failure. Tens of tho'isands are being squandered every month For what 1 Practically for supplying money to the North Island speculators. That any good will come out of it, so far as settling the Native question is concerned, few believe. That it is mining the interests of the Middle Island settlers is quite patent to all. How the Middle Island electors bear with it, particularly the OUgoites, we are at a loss to account for. The time waß when it would stand no such humbug. How this, the most public spirited provincial district in the colony, can be satisfied to have sueh men as Mr Hall and Mr Rolleston to manage or rather mis-manage the business of the colony we cannot understand. Some of its lead }ng journals, having taken umbrage at Sir George Grey, turned his bitterest enemies ,&njthing but Grey consequently became u -ni'« sjir mediocre nr

tolerated in order to prevent Sir George from returning to office, encouraging this spirit of revenue however ruinous to the colony. Otago will not get oft scot free more than the other parts of the Middle Ishmd that hits suffered already so heavily Who is to succeed Mr Bryee is now the enquiry of many. It would not he easy answering that enquiry correctly The remaining members of the Ministry, partilarly its scheming party serving head, will lidely look up a partizan. We cannot but regret that Mr Bryce has been unsuccessful in his efforts to bring pressure to bear upon the Natives, as we feei sur a nothing but the most stringent measures will have the desired effect, '.hat of compelling them to respect the laws of the country. War is a horror we do not dare to encourage ; hut no war would, in our opinion, arisu by a strong armed force at once taking the field, and by patrolling every settlement, at once put down sedition and crime with a high hand. This the Hall Government we fear has not the courage to do. It would therefore be good for the colony if they would give pluce to more capable men.