MR McLEAN’S NATIVE POLICY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 40, 22 November 1871, Page 3

MR McLEAN’S NATIVE POLICY.

(“ Nelson Examiner,” Oct. 25.) Mr McLean was highly fortunate in coming into office at a time when the neck of the native rebellion was broken, the success of Colonel Vv'liitmore having taught both Te lvooti and Titokowaru the hopelessness of their struggle, and that the most inaccessible parts of the countiy afforded them no security against the advance of the Government forces. This, with a lavish expenditure of money, enabled Mr McLean to keep the colony pretty quiet, although he could not altogether prevent or punish outrage, witness the murder of the Governmentsurveyor, Todd, whose murderers arc still at large, the Government being afraid to take measures for their capture. Titokowaru, the murderer and cannibal, has been suffered to live undisturbed—to come and go in peace at native gatherings, and meet Native Commissioners, as if he had never murdered and eaten our countrymen, burnt their homesteads, and carried of their property. Then, too, Te Kooti is still at large —hunted up and down the country it is true, always on the point of being taken, but ever giving his pursuers—European and Native —the slip, until we come to believe that like the fox that afforded such steady sport, the last thing desired by his pursuers is that he should be caught, and the pleasant game brought to an end. Such success as this is certainly worth boasting of. But let us see what the natives themselves think of Mr McLean’s native policy. Wc referred lately to a dispute, a land dispute at Ilorowhcnua, somewhere, wc believe, in the Wanganui district, and as the aggrieved party do not number amongst Mr McLean’s “ pets” they appear to have been treated with little consideration. W e print the translation of a letter on the subject, which appeared in the Evening Fast on Thursday last : « Sir,— Please publish my letter m your paper. I have made repeated visits to Wellington to request the Government to settle the Ilorowhcnua dispute, to no avail. On the 25th September, we petitioned the House of Assembly now sitting at Wellington, on that subject, and asked the House to listen to the prayer of peaceful men. The House appointed a committee to enquire into the cause of our petition. It was agreed that the committee should meet on the 14th of this month. We came. The committee met that day, and was postponed till Tuesday. On this day Watene and I attended again, but we were not allowed to be present. Taiaroa was sent for to tell us that the committee was over, and the matter settled ; that Watene had consented to move offthat the arms were being collected ; and that the investigation was to take place in December. Now, I wish the pakelia to know that the person appointed to collect these arms is this very Major Kemp, who has taken up arms against us. Watene has not consented to move off the land. I am returning very sad (pouri ) to my home, for I see this conduct is wiong, and will lead to wrong. If blood is shed, do not let the blame be thrown ou Ngatiraukawa Mr. McLean’s Government is not a Government that upholds the Queen’s laws. It is carried on by bribing the Maori with money to get them to keep quiet. This is all. “Tamiiiana te Rauparaiia. “Watene Tiwhaewae=.