THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3210, 3 June 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 1879.

Thebe seems a great difference of opinion as to the actual situation in New Ply mouth between the Government and a section of the community in that district. Sir George, .Grey stated to a deputation that there was no* immediate danger, and that he had come with the Defence Minister to make enquiries and gain information respecting the several districts, the number of settlers in each, and. what means of protection they had in case of an attack. The Premier further said the , Government would be in a position to protect the settlers and their interests when required, and would notify to them if it was advisable to quit their homesteads. AH those remarks go to prove that the Government do not consider the position of affairs as very critical, pnd certainly not such as would vrarrsnt the settlers at great loss to themselves, to abandon their farms, and to leave for the centres-..of* population. From our telegrams^ received from New Plymouth the feeling of the residents would appear to be one in which the worst-r-an outbreak—might be anticipated;; and the urgent, necessity there was for means of defence being provided by' the Government; and arms and ammunition placed at tie disposal of those persons willing to defend themselves, their hearths and homes, against:.the attack of (heir Native enemies. The Taianaki Herald of Saturday's date writes as follows, suggesting the arming of a contingent of ISTgapuhi natives to enter the field against their countrymen :—" As regards the/natives, the conduct of the Government has so long been abnormal and irregtrtar that no proper or efficient machinery exists for bringing the penalties of the law to bear upon them. They have from the beginning been beyond the control of the. civil police, and the idea of their being reached to any extent by magistrate's warrants or Supreme Court injunctions ia simply ridiculous. The strong arm of the law, therefore, requires to be brought to bear upon them—that arm which is called forth by all other governments when civil processes fail to take, effect. The question .then arises: How is th's machine to be '• dbiiained?■''■-"We believe that the best and most economical method would be by raising a'native regiment of Ngapur;s, officered by Europeans. The Ngapi' is are a very super.'or people to most of the otl.jr New Zealand

tribes; for years they have been loyal to us, and, as the priices of the natives, there appears to be a fitness in their being caPed to aid us m keeping their fellow- country men in order. There would be no anomaly iv this, for our Government of Juclia Las been very materially n'.ded by fa;.tbfr.' Sepoy regiments. Something must be done, and we trust that what s necessary will be done promptly ." It is probable that the itatement made vi our telegraphic columns soma days ago has srme truth in it, flat a great dealof the excu'ement was caused by paily fce I:ng bein£ incorporated, and an incl'nation m befnlf of some person to magnify the action of the NVtives, with the object of complicating matters for the Government. It w'l' be matter for regret if suc'i should turnout to be t^e case, for wh:le such a course of aeHcn might influence the natives (o p/oce^il with their policy, and lead them to tl^'nk the pakeha wasiaAtnd of them, it may prevent on the other h?nd the Government taking the wise cpuvse of providing for p.n outbreak, from the : knowledge that a great deal is being made by those interested, and but Kui;le real dauger exists.