THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER, “Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, JAN. 23, 1862.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 278, 23 January 1862, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER, “ Verite sans peur.” WANGANUI, JAN. 23, 1862.

The account of the remainder of the Go-, vernor’s visit to the Lower Waihato will be found in another column, and the result must be considered satisfactory. The very significant and decided mariner in which the tribes/of the lower Waikato gave expression to their loyalty Shows how judicious is the policy adopted by the Governor, which wins over to .'the position of British subjects tribes which have hitherto been considered as divided in their seutirixents, and whom a declaration of war would 7 have undoubtedly united with the rebels. The native tribes thus peaceably induced to decide in favour of the sclieriie of government submitted to them, are important iri respect to their number ; and the fact of so iriany thus declaring .their confidence an ■ the British Government must , have made a deep impression on the Kingites present at the meeting,, if if did riot convince them that their better part was to follow the course of their more civilized brethren, and accept at once what must ultimately be their choice. Indeed, from the declaration of the Governor, it would appear that they are already on the road to this conclusion, their progress to which wBl no doubt be hastened by the conciliatory yet firm bearing of his Excel-, lencv." It will be seen that in reference to Taranaki Sir Geo. Grey’s views are identical with those of his predecessor. Restoration of the plunder, and compensation in land for the injury done to the; settlement, are what he intends to de 7 - mand. These are.; two out of the three terms laid down by the late Governor, in his proclamation to the aboriginal inhabit. a,rits of Key Zealand in last,..and which were then, when people’s minds were even more, intently bent on extreme measures than now, , generally approved of, even by the portion of the colonists most clamorous for war as the only possible mode of obtaining a satisfactory and permanent peace. ;,. ;i If the Taranaki and Ngatiruanui natives adhere, to their but recently .expressed-resolu-tions they will not accede to these con* ditions, and hence it will be found necessary to use compulsory. measures to enforce compensation and restitution* But.

is/is i more-. probably that, weat#ned .by.the ’M^pbyMoh, of" the' dower;' .’tyai-v. 'lc4U>j> •tliey : ' , : : ' , wiil i: -be; oVerawed’ by ..the su- fi ■'petior force. of "the ; Goverricnf, and hot attempt to' ! ; dispute the, terms.. offered. The other condition laid down by the late Governor was “'submission without t'eserve to /"the ! Queen’s' Sovereignty and the authority of the law;”, a condition which is secured from all those whb adopt the form of - gdverhnldht offered by Sir George Grey. The late Governor defined submission to her Majesty’s - sovereignty, td be, “ That every man yields implicit’ obediende to- what the law .prescribes • for; the' public welfare ; that rights be sought, and protected through the law, and not -by a man’s' own 'will or streilgfh :• that men do not enter into combinations for this purpose of preyenting -other' men from acting, or 'from dealing with’their own property as they thirik fit; and that every man, European and Native, under, the Queen’s sovereignty, Submit to havo roads ■and bridges made on liis land, wherever the public business requires them, land only to be taken for these purposes, under lawful authority, and on payment' of a reasonable conipeiisktiqu.” : Tt will be !: seen : thatiall the, points here' qhnmer r atqd are secured by the present Governor’s •measures;'.except one.- Thatdd fhe mak-' ing of rbads; and. bridges. The Governor/' in his'proposals made to the, Natives, delegates to the Runangas the pbwer of making roads,- —“ They will also make regulations about roads; if- they wish' them and the Colonial Secretary, in the speech he is reported to have made at Hangatiki, goes further,—** the Governor will not make, roads on-Maoi*i laud against the will of the owner, but all Maori'paths' are to be open- to Europeans, and' no mails are to be stopped.” This state-, men-t of -the . Colonial Secretary, and the Other made on' the same occasion; that “ the Governor will not put down the Kfng movement by force, so long as the Queen’s, subjects are not interfered With.,” appear to be such great concessions, in comparison with Governor Browne’s demands, that, -some explanation is needed in regard to them/ We believe that this course is. token necessarily, in consequence of the Home Government absolutely Perfusing to allow of any • hostilities being' entered on to put down the King movement. The Governor and his- ministry have.undertaken the task of breaking up the King party by superior tact—by the' power which a superior intellect has over;' one inferior,; not {by main force. It would , appear that they consider the Natives to be actuated- by jealousy and distrust of Europeans, and that a frank and conbearing ds tlie best inode of disarming tliem.o ThO’Colonial Secretary is proverbially frank; and he' has in this" in- ; ; stance probably -gone beyond! wlmt might! be considered: by some the line which ; prudence t would have laid down; In communication 'with the natives, and' knowing their: leanings, he riiust be presumed a better judge of what is prudent in the circumstances than those at a.dis?! tance.; but it is very evident, that the, intention if possible to avoid a war on the ' King question—the expence of which,unless it be absolutely necessary for the. settlement-of. aflairs,'. must be borne entirely by the colony—has led to this ap-' parently .unstatesmanlike frankness. It !is we believe already the opinion of many shrewd natives, that :the burden of keeping a King will soon be felt by tli« Maoris as, intolerable, and -that If * the King ha!tives s*e. law and order introduced in their, neighbourhood, t with. what will be in their opinion the handsome remuneration given to the Native Magistrates, they will ere lofig submit to the same authority, in order, tq ..be possessed of the. same privileges; . -The, i^ct,-therefore, that this * ‘ ipiestiop' is hot to be- made K-pasm. Jb'elU has not been disguised! The question of ? roads is of paramount importance. His Excellency has already shown his sense of its importance by setting 2300 men to form! a great' military road which, gives , access to the Waikato. . Tn. the former; •Governor’s time such a movement .would have provoked tiie.natives to hostilities, •now they allow it ito go on without even verbal opposition. It is evident that a very considerable change has been wrought in them, and when they see the facilities for trade which roads give them, their strong acquisitive faculty will incite them I to desire and to make roads. The process of bringing them to reason by apr pealing to their self-interest must necessarily be a slow one ; but perhaps it will be as quick, certainly it will be much less expensive, than .an. appeal to force. Meanwhile the task is arduous. It is evident that the Governor himself was by no means certain of success. The road to the Waikato is made for the protection of her Majesty’s subjects between Auckland and Waikato, as .well as the benefit of the Waikato district itself. T.t is a measure of defence, which -will be of advantage in war. as well as in peace. The former alternative is still considered by the Governor, as possible, and with that energy which has characterised his career, he is preparing for it;while, doing everything possible to avoid it. .; That his present efforts may be successful must be the wish of every. one .who , has , the country’s real welfare at heart. ; .