THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1871.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 10, 18 October 1871, Page 2

THE Thames Guardian AND MINING RECORD. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1871.

One of the first duties of a civilized Government is to uphold the law ; but we have yet to learn that the exercise of vengeance is amongst its great prerogatives. Yet in the latest telegrams received from the South in reference to the murder of Mr Todd. Mr McLean, the Native Minister, is reported to have said, in answer to Mr Gillies, that the “ Government had not forgotten Todd’s murder, but would take their own time to ‘revenge’ it. it was vengeance delayed, not abandoned.” If this be correct, and we sec no reason to doubt the fact, it is one of the most extraordinary statements ever made by a Responsible Minister in his place in Parliament. He does not say the murderers are to be brought to justice and tried in the ordinary way, but that the Government will take its own time to “revenge” (or as another telegram states “ avenge”) the murder. What is the exact form of “ revenge” the Native Minister means we do not know.

Does lie contemplate a raid m Maori fashion into the heart'of the district for “ utu ?” Docs he intend to obtain by force some sort of equivalent for the murder? If Mr. McLean had said that efforts would be made to bring the natives supposed to be implicated in the crime, to trial in the same way that any other man —native or European, ought to be tried, he would have made a statement worthy of his position, but to cause the powers of Government to be invoked for revenge and vengeance, instead of for justice” is .beneath the dignity of any claiming to be a polititician, and the head of an Administrative Department. Even in time of war, revenge and vengeance are hardly consistent with civilised warfare, but in time of peace they ought never to be set in motion by any body, and certainly hot .by a responsible minister of the Crown. A correspondent points out to us that from the native view of the matter, the visit of Major Mail* as a peace-maker condoned Todd’s murder. We do not say it did, or ought to do anything of the kind, but it is as well to look upon both sides of the question. That there was a murder committed there can be doubt whatever, and that the perpetrators ought to be brought to justice is equally certain; but it must be in a legal manner, otherwise the effect upon the Maoris will be a very bad one, and it will be hard to tell what may be the ultimate issue of the matter. We believe in dealing with the Maori with strict justice and nothing more, but certainly with nothing less. Not to do so, is to ignore all our claims to be considered as a superior race, and the Maori is shrewd enough to know this, and will not fail to keep it in remembrance. The present Native Minister certainly does not appear to be fortunate in his treatment of native matters, and if he deals with Todd’s murder in any other way than by regular course of- law he will make one of the greatest mistakes he ever has made, and that is saying a good deal. A long time has elapsed since the murder of Todd—far too long in fact. The Government ought immediately after the murder to have insisted upon the perpetrators being given up to justice, but the authorities delayed and sent Major Mair on what the natives look upon as a peace-making expedition pedition, which thereby condoned the offence, from their point of view, and complicated matters ■ .very considerably. The best course now to be pursued is not perhaps very 010.1]’; certainly it is not so clear as it might have been had the authorities acted with more prudence; but talking of' revenge and vengeance will not mend matters, and, if carried out, it will be looked upon as an act of treachery and deceit on the part of the European, which may be disastrous to the peace of the country. Lot all means if possible be taken to bring the offenders to justice according to law, but if any other course be adopted through the ill advir»n ox miomanng'omou'L o£ +.l l o Government the Colony will suffer for it in all probability for many years to come.