THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, DEC. 26, 1861,

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 274, 26 December 1861, Page 3

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “ Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, DEC. 26, 1861,

TilE proposals made by hi-s Excellency the Governor to the Maoris for their future government, seems .to us unexceptionable sb : fair hs they go. They do, not go beyond the strict limit within which a government may be expected; to take the superintendence of its subjects. Protection to person :|ind property is all that is . proposed-'by the new regulations. There is no interference with, the matters that relate to religious dogmas. The teaching of religion is not to he undertaken by the 1 Government. It wisely leaves this part of education to those to whom it specially belongs to seek its advancement namely, those who themselves belie ve the dogmas they seek to inculcate. So at least we would understand by the conspicuous omission of all reference to churches, priests, or clergy. This ia as it should be. The manifestation of such impartiality in respect to ecclesiastical bodies ' will; effectually prevent those squabblings and heart-burn-ings which.have invariably; risen in every community in which particular religious beliefs have been sought to be promoted by the influence and money of the state. A fair field and no favour is all that religion needs, and it is pleasing to observe that the Government recognizes this principle. It may indeed be, that in the schools they propose the Government intend that religious instruction should be communicated,, There is no indication of this, hut it may be so. If this is intendthe difficulty which has been avoided in;the church -will arise in the school. Although there can be no objection to a L teaehqy of a school devoting part of his time to the instruction of his scholars in .religion, or as many of them .as the parents desire should be so instructed, yet

there is great objection to the state payi dug,.for. .such teaching. As it is proposed that the -Maoris pay part of the teacher’s salary, the difficulty may easily be avoided by causing the children who attend on religious instruction to pay for it themselves. This seems to be the only point oh which the Government may propose departing from the strict line of its functions ; and it is very possible we may be wrong in supposing that even here what js intended is not explicitly stated. The regulations seem admirably adapted for securing the end in view,—“ to assist the. Maoris to govern themselves, to make good laws, and to protect the weak against the strong.” They are not only good in themselves, but they are framed in adaptation to the peculiar circumstances of the . case. They aim at the very object for -the attainment of which the Maoris have established their runangas. They make use, for; the construction ;of the social edifice, of the rude materials the Maoris have already collected, and they employ the Maoris themselves in the work of construction. Thus engaged, the natives must take an interest in the development of the plans far their improvement^and being themselves called on to contribute part of the expence to be incurred in carrying out these plans, they will naturally be anxious for their success. Their interest is thus doubly secured, in the furtherance of the great work of civilisation and education among them. Not only so, the very considerable sum to be disbursed among them yearly must be a great inducement to them to adopt the proposals ? now made to them. It cannot but be evident that the spirit which Sir George Grey manifests is altogether different from that exhibited by his predecessor. Colonel. Browne was the stern inflexible ruler. • Sir Geo. ferey is the forgiving in-

dulgent parent.' There is great power in , kindnes3, and as in this case there is less likelihood of its source being ascribed to fear than before, seeing there is a strong rod'in "the paternal hand, it may be hoped that the result will be as is desirable. So far, then, as they go these proposals fl,re really excellent. Had they - been issued two years ago they would have been unexceptionable. At the present time, taken by themselves, there are some remarkable omissions in them. There is no direct reference to their King ; there is no reference whatever to sonae of their number having been in arms against lawful authority; there is no demand for main lines of communication through the country. These would he portentous omissions if it were known that the ae-

ceptance of these proposals is all the Goverrip'r has.Vto, Request from t the natives;. But it must he remembered, that the acceptance of these proposals is submission to British authority* and that in its wake must follow all the duties of British subjects. Those tribes that are willing to act on these regulations, by doing so profess themselves British subjects, and they are hound to permit to be done in their territories what the Queen claims a right to do in all countries under her

sway. So that thp making of roads, the giving up of their King, and everything required of British subjects, is conceded by the natives when they place themselves under these regulations. This, then, should- be clearly understood by them. Let them have no reason to say hereafter that they accepted these regulations in a different sense. The Maoris keep to a bargain-,when they thoroughly understand’ and agre,e ?to . uts ; and iict loophole of escape should be left to them to be taken advantage of hereafter in the interpretation of the present agreement. .There is no need to excite their prejudices ; but--it is very desirable that those who accede to our terms should he aware, not of part of them merely, but of-the whole. Now here is the doubt that arises in reading these proposals. Do the Maoris understand, what will be the effect of their acceptance of them as we understand it? ■ To .be otherwise than thoroughly explicit at present will only give rise to new difficulties and entangler ments.

These reflections occur to any one reading over the document which has been published for circulation among the natives. They are, , naturally occasioned by its incompleteness as an exposition of the future, policy to he followed in respect to the natives. It will very likely make the cry for. . separations which - has been begun (without any good reason) in the middle island wax louder. But it is altogether premature to pass an opinion on the policy of the Government. What they have done during their short tenure of office has shown great wisdom and prudence, and may well induce confidence in their future procedure. There can he no doubt that a bright future is before the north island, if the natives generally give an intelligent assent to these proposals, provided they are acted upon, not only as regards what they express, but also in respect to what they undoubtedly imply. The only thing still to he feared is, that they may not agree to these proposals, unable as most of them are through ignorance, to understand their excellence, or the danger which a rejection of them involves. The Governor’s - 'visit■ ‘to the Upper Waikato will decide this point, and we look with great anxiety to the intelligence which next mail may bring.