THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, December 18, 1862.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 6, Issue 322, 18 December 1862, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER . “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, December 18, 1862.

"Were it not known that the conductors of some of the public journals in New Zealand are men of superior intellect and high cultivation, their readers might be apt to think that they were indebted for. many of the lucubrations contained in ; them to young men just emerged from acommercial academy ; indeed, disputes so often arise about points of constitutional government, and matters in political economy, which even schoolboys now-a-days are generally conversant with, that it might be doubted whether press-have ever studied these subjects, which should be as familiar to them as the. alphabet. For instance, two of the Auckland journals were fighting the other day about what constitutes a favourable ,balance of trade j and a few days thereafter one of the Wellington papers gravely doubted whether a commercial crisis might not lie brought on because the imports for the previous quarter had exceeded in value the exports. The last numbers of the Canterbury Press and the Nelson Examiner that have reached us show their respective editors sparring at each other in a dispute about what part of the British Government —the Grown or the Commons —commences war ; the former paper trying to pick a hole in the latter, some remarks in which on this subject had not been 1 so clearly expressed as to convey their meaning to the learned writer in the Press. Now surely this sort of thing is below par, not at all creditable to those who aspire to the highest seats in the. senate, and already set themselves forward as leaders of public opinion. Such discussions must strike a person newly arrived from England with surprise, which surprise must be heightened by another con spicuous feature in the organs of public opinion, and that is the extraordinary misrepresentations of matters of fact that have a bearing on political parties, and the extraordinary extremes of opinion which opposite parties hold. There are two Auckland journals which are notorious' for either concealing or mis-stating facts relative to the natives If the one is correct, the other must garble horribly. And such representations of political matters generally are almost universal —so common, at least, that a journal which steadily pursues a straightforward course—mot thinking its political opponents wrong in everything, nor its political friends impeccable —is looked upon as for the time a renegade, if it hllows that something may be fearned even from the enemy, or that any of its own party ever make a mistake For instance, this journal has been a steady supporter of the Featherston party in this province, having always believed, and still believing, that though it is not infallible, it is greatly preferable to the party opposed to it. But because we have had occasion sometimes to find fault with the present Government, it has been considered necessary by one *journal in the province, its supporter' through thick and thin, to ascribe all sorts of underhand .motives to us in such cases, and politic by another to bring forward these specimens of inisgovernment as proving that the party now in power are wholly corrupt and incapable. This narrow pettifogging spirit is visible in a wider political arena than the provincial. In respect to any occurrences among ■ the natives here, we have always endeavoured to give a truthful statement of lacts, whether they made for peace or for-war, although of opinion that every possible means should be tried to avert war altogether, or, if that be impossible, to confine it to as narrow an area as possible. But there are persons SO anxious for war that they cannot be-

lieve in;; the slightest" prognostic of a • peaceful * issue* -to •• the present complication ; "they will not even take the trouble / to inform themselves regarding; the ' quality of any such signs ; but, led aw-?/ \ by their prejudices, vote them incredible. We saw yesterday an articleUm "the New Zealander, copied from Colonist, in .which-occurs-an , instanee/of this. It

quotes part of a letter fro?ii the: Colonist's Wellington correspondent as follows “ The Wanganui Chronicle, which distinguished: itself a. little while ago .by showing, iii decided language, theffailui’e of the Governor’s visit, now. sees sunshine

behind the dark, clouds. .which itself had

painted with such apparent unction. It states Mr. White’s trip up the river to be a success ; it- avers that many of -the

lower Wanganui natives were on the point of joining the King movement and that Mr. White’s seivice was hap-

pily timed,” &c. “ This is very good, and- will be. highly. satisfactory, if it is not alb surface'Svork; . ; It will be passing

strange if the Ethiopian should change his skin and the leopard his spots. The Maori is not used to making up.his mind

to change in such a hurry; and, unless Mr. White is the ‘"coming man,’ I fail to see how; a few speeches.-made .by a stranger—however admirable as a linguist, or otherwise competent to deal with semi- - savages—-could work such a . change on the native mind as to produce surprise, conversion, and the proverbial zeal, of converts, all in a breath, when Sir Geo. Grey, with the pvestige of his name, and 'acquaintance...with Maori character, was " undoubtedly disheartened and disgusted

with his acknowledged failure. We. must, V however, bide the chapter of events, and hope for the best.” • V It will be seen that this ; writer .does not profess to have any other, accountthan we gave, much less better .sources of information; His prejudices have. even prevented him from receiving, or ,at. least giving, our version of the two occurrences correctly. He argues, that because Sir George Grey made no impression, Mr. White can have made none,.forgetting the difference of the parties;,in .the two cases. It was stated in the Chronicle, that while Sir George Grey might have confirmed the natives attached to the Government in their friendliness,-he had made no impression on the King natives. And it has never been stated by us that Mr. White has done anything more. He has merely confirmed in their adhesion to the ..Government friendly natives who were being tampered with by the King party, and who, if they had been left to themselves, would, most likely have been gained over to that party. As to the King natives, .on ..referring to our accounts, we are surprised at their — -Slr'Geofge~Grey was here we said, “ That his presence has produced no effect on the King natives is evident , from the pertinacious* manner in, which they, stand aloof.” In connection with Mr. White’s . visit we; said, “ The openly declared King natives, however, have not yet been met.” This writer speaks about the ’prestige of Sir .G. Grey, not knowing that any prestige he has among the natives has been -found to be against him. They consider him a very crafty man, superior even to themselves in diplomatic aoilities, and therefore fear, and in many instances hate him. The Colonist to some extent qualifies its correspondent’s; opinions, but .• thinks there is no reason for the Chronicle'sanrprise at Mr. White’s success, as his acquaintance with the Maories, &c.

Now we are not aware of having expressed any surprise, but this is stated to give the Colonist an excuse for lugging in some.information regarding Mr, White’s personal history, which is interesting ; and we are glad to think that the Colonist agrees with us that he is “ the right man in the rkjht place,’’ although it is mistaken in the assertion that this is a “ district teeming with disaffected natives,” it being, with the exception of the districts north of Auckland, the most friendly to the Government of any in the island.

Would it not be well if our newspaper writers would endeavour; to gain a little information on the subjects they discuss, and to allow reason to guide them in the conclusions they draw, rather than prejudice ? , .. //,.