SIR D. McLEAN TO VISIT THE THAMES

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1911, 5 December 1874, Page 3

SIR D. McLEAN TO VISIT THE THAMES

Ykstebday afternoon 'J'e Moananui re> ceived the following telegram "from the jNative Minister, in answer to the telegram and letter despatched on the previous day .— Auckland, December'l,lß74. Kin Te Moananui.—Kei tua o te wild, kei te Taiti ranei, au tao atu ai kia rongo i ta koutou kupu. Tu Makabini. [TBANSIiAIIOH.] ■ To To Moananui.—Some day next week— probably on Thursday—L will go thither, to bear what you all have to say. ' D. McLean,

We were rather inclined to think that Sir D. McLean would not come to the Thames at present for several reasons. The arrival of a new. Governor and the time he has been absent from the seat of Government inclined us to think that Sir D. McLean would return to Wellington with his Excellency the Marquis of Normanby. Besides, at present the natives are all in a very excited state from the events and discussions of the lato meeting. They have spoken strongly, aud are less inclined to yield than they were before the meeting begun. We refer, of course, to the non-selling party. There were also other considerations, The negotiations have hitherto been in the hands of Mr Mackay, whom' it would beimpossibleto supersede, even were the Native Minister inclined to do so, which we do not believe he is. The Native Minister, by coming here, will accept a considerate amount of responsibility. If he lisims to the complaintß of the natives, and g >es away from the district without doing anything, leaving Mr Mackay aud the natives to light out the battle, he will excite disappointment amongst both Maoris and Europeans. If betakes Mr Mackay's side strongly, the natives will growl; while if he sides with To Hira and Te Moananui, all the Europeans will strongly complain. He will be in a difficult position, and we accord him all the more credit that he has had the courage to face it, We are glad he b- s taken the resolve he has. He will see how greatly the blocking up of the country binders the progress of this dislrict, and so injures the whole colony. The natives have confidence in him, aud are inclined to listeu to bis counsel. WetUe Europeans - liuve also confidence in him to a certain extent. We believe him, beyond perhaps auy other man in New Zealand, to know the native character, and lo be able to judge how, in certain circumstances, they will act. We also believe him to be above suspicion of personal or mercenary motives, and to be honestly desirous to advance the colony. ! ur distrust comes in here—that we believe he is rather inclined to maintain the > ative Office as a great mystery, which the profane must not handle, that a very slight, difficulty on the part of a few natives appears to him as the menace of a war. In all this, he is pursuing the natural course of magnifying his office. While Sir Donald is here he will no doubt look into all the questions wi'h which natives are connected, and on which they and their white brethren do not exac' ly agree. I hereis the hid at Parawai, for instance, which Kiwai will not allow to be cut away, aud in conscquence of which the material for the water-race has to be taken round to the booms in punts, and there unloaded agaiu.

Te Moananui proposes that the natives should meet Sir Donald - McLean at Shortland, and that Te Hira and the others should come down the river for thai purpose. It is probable, however, that the choice of a plade of meeting will be left to £?ir Dorald McLean himself.