The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4970, 13 December 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1884.

The native policy of the late Government —or perhaps it should be said of its Minister, Mr Bryce—has been productive of much good, not only in the settlement of disputes between the races, but in opening up lands which, without vigorous measures being adopted, would have re» mained locked up for a time which can hardly be calculated upon. The pacific policy, the sugar and blanket devices, the "rum" subterfuges, and the numerous other systems from time to time adopted in an evidently palliatory spirit when dealing with Maori matters, have been all shown to be hollow shama, and —we regret to say—interested motives have not been, without reason, imputed to those entrusted with the administration of matters in the native department. The Native Minister now in office is showing a disposition to —to a certain extent —revert to a conciliatory policy, and having in view all the worthy feelings arising from humanely considering the question from the native point of vision, we must admit that too many concessions granted to agitating chiefs will only cause " confusion worse confounded " in dealing with the lands of the colony. The unreasonable behaviour of those native chiefs who are militating against the development of the colony's resources, ! should be put down with a firm hand, and no milk and water policy should intervene between the wholesome carrying out of the pre-determined measures to open up the colony's land, and any notions of misplaced philanthropy in allowing lawless behaviour on the part of a few natives who—misguided perhaps —may be urged on to obstruct settlement, by persons interested in land transactions between Maoris and Europeans. The present Native Minister (Mr Ballance) -has, as we have saul, shown a dis position to adopt a medium* course between the two extremes known in past native administration, and we cannot but admit there ia wisdom in following any line likely to bring about a rapid ■olutiou of a question, fast dwindling from that which has been a difficulty, to an ordinary matter of State government; the only fear we have is that Mrßallance in his exprfssod and apparent desire (odo every justice to the native population, may •verstep tlie maik, and undo some of the

good work his predecessor in office has accomplished. Conciliation is in certain cases necessary, and the laws of j humanity may [demand its exercise, but the thing can be overdone, and we must most fervently hope that the Native Minister will not fall into any error in such a direction. Our native neighbors, if left to themselves, would give but little trouble; the chief annoyances in tha matter of interrupting surveys and causing other obstructions to general progress in land opening has, in very numerous instances, been known and shown to have arisen from the actions of outside persons interested in land transactions, and whose removal would be an untold blessing to the Maoris. The progress of this portion of the colony has been seriously retarded by the actions of the members of the genus we allude to, and the limit of their operations has been confined a little by the administration of Mr Bryce. We must express the hope that the present Minister will follow up to a certain extent the policy of the immediately previous occupant of his office ; not err on the side of allowing settled questions to be re-opened ; not give any excuse to recalcitrant chiefs or tribes to nullify the good work done, or—in fact— do aught to impede the march of progress made in the direction of opening up the lands of the Colony, thousands of acres of which are locked up without any legitimate cause, and which by the aid of man might be turned to profitable use, and afford homes for very large numbers of the present and prospective population.