Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1880.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 9198, 19 August 1880, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1880.

By declining at the last moment to act as one of the Royal Commission for the settlement of Native affairs on this coast Mr Mohi Tawhai, member of Parliament for the Northern Maori district, lost a fine opportunity of contributing to the good of his race, and considerably increasing his own "mana." The reason lie alleged at the time for drawing back from the honorable and responsible, but not lucrative, position whioh the Government bad marked out for liim, was not one to be ashamed of. It was certainly, weak, and perhaps, under the circumstances, we may say childish, but it was not mean or shabby. Mr Mohi Tawhai said that he disliked Sir William Fox and Sir Francis Dillon Bell on account of- their political antecedents, and that if he sat on the Commission he would hare no influence, but be like a horse between the two shafts of a cart ; meaning, we presume, that his brother Commissioners would have everything their own way. He resigned shortly after coming to Wellington for the express purpose of commencing his duties, and his retirement was made the occasion for throwing cold water on the Commission, and prophesying its com plete and ignominious failure. It was said th»t in order to be successful it should from the first have commanded ■respect and cordial recognition by the Maori race, and that in this gentleman's refusal to act we had weighty evidence that it had neither the one nor the other. This pure and highminded patriot spoke for his countrymen when he said that Sir William Fox and Sir Francis Dillon Bell were not to be trusted, and that in conjunction with them a Maori member would be a mere nobody. All this and a great deal more of the same sort found its way into the Opposition newspapers, so that Mr Mohi Tawhai was enabled to carry his chin a little higher in the air than usual, and obtained a cheap and transitory reputation as the exponent of the Maori mind on an occasion of very grave importance. But since then the Commission, without Native aid, have accomplished their difficult task in a manner which has secured them well-merited praiso from both friends and foes, and have brought forward a scheme which, if carried out with energy and promptitude, will certainly dry up the flood of Maori discontent on this side of the island, and inaugurate the reign of peaceful and contented colonisation from New Plymouth to Wanganui. Had Mi 1 Mohi Tawhai remained at his post he would have shared the honours with Sir W. Fox and Sir F. D. Bell, and before long would have been regarded by the majority of his own countrymen as one of their best and most enlightened friends. As it is we have a totally different picture presented to our view, and one -in which we are compelled to say that Mr Mobi Tawhai cuts a very sorry figure indeed. He may thank his friend Sir George Grey for having dragged the ignominious facts into the light of day. • However, there they are, duly recorded in Hansard, and cannot be read without giving rise to serious reflection regarding the peculiar institution of special Maori representation. In the course of last month Sir George brought a question of privilege before the House. He said that the member for Rangitikei had reflected_ on the conduct of Mr Mohi Tawhai by alleging that the latter had demanded a sum of money from the Native Minister in connection with the West Coast Commission under circumstances which were not altogether creditable. Sir George aaked that the point might be cleared up. Did Mr Mohi Tawhai, in any unbecoming manner, or with any undue pressure, attempt to obtain from the Native Minister the payment of a sum of money immediately after arriving in Wellington P After some discussion it was deoided that the enquiry was a proper one, and Mr Bryce, having first ascertained that the Maori member had no objection to the facts being made known, stated that at Mb second interview with Mr Tawhai, and after the latter was well aware who his colleagues were to be on the Commission, he asked 'about his expenses. Mr Bryce assured him that all "reasonable expenses would be allowed. Then ensued a very peculiar scene. Mr Tawhai stated that he owed a bill of £40 or £50 for the survey of a piece of land at Hokianga, and — Would Mr Bryce pay that little account for him? No, Mr Bryce could not do that, because it would look, at any rate, as if the Government were endeavouring to exert influence over him. Next, Mr Tawhai wanted an advance for expenses, and Mr Bryce told him it would not be a very satisfactory arrangement, but that he (Mr Bryce) had nothing to do with auditing the accounts. Then this patriot asked — What; will be paid ? and received the answer, " Any expenses you may incur in connection with your duties on the Commission will doubtless be paid." But this was not apparently considered satisfactory, for Mr Tawhai asked, "Do you think I may purchase clothes to wear ? " The Native Minister expressed an opinion that a moderate quantity of breed' es and shirts might pass the scrutiny of the Auditor-General. This small concession prompted the remark that Mr Mohi Tawhai had that day seen an uncommonly nice watch hanging in a shop window, and he thought it would be agreeable to have it in his own pocket — Would the expenses of the Commission stretch as far as that? The Native Minister seems to have held out no hope of such a contingency, but repeated that he had nothing to do with the audit. There was yet another chance, and Mr Mohi Tawliai was not the man to let.it slip. He had been met in a proper spirit as to the shirts and breeches, it might be possible to obtain a further concession with regard to a filling recoptue'e for such, portion of them as were riot actually on ih,e pomnijsbioncr'ti body.

Did the Native Minister think that a box to put the Commissioner's new stock of clothing in would be more than the Colonial Treasury could stand ? Mr Bryce answered that he thought, expressing his own opinion only, that in all probability the box would be regarded as a reasonable expense. That is Mr Bryee's account of this remarkable interview, but Mr Tawhaisupplemented it by tho statement that Mr Bryce gave him a bit of paper to take to someone else with a view of getting the anxious Commissioner some money. This person — an official we suppose — directed Mr Mohi Tawhai to give a list of what he wanted, but he declined to do so, and immediately afterwards wrote to tbe Native Minister resigning his seat on the Commission, and asking for expenses from and back to his own place. He had the impudence to complain to the House that those expenses had not been paid. Who can entertain a doubt that Mr Mohi Tawhai, the man ' who Sir George Grey felt assured would do nothing " which was derogatory to his honour or unbecoming a member of the House," threw up the Commission because he could not get the watch, the money, and the numerous other trifles on which his heart was set, without the fcroubleof makingout atrue and complete list, which after his conversation with Mr Bryce seemed unlikely to stand the scrutiny of the Audit Department. ; He had judged of his chances of acquiring cheap personal property by what would unquestionably have happened nnder Mr Sheehan's liberal and convenient regime. He found Mr 3ryce's ideas about such matters to be cast in a totally different mould. He found, in short, that, the present Native Minister was inclined to place the right meaning on the word expenses, and that though he might be willing that the Maori Commissioner should have suitable garments to enable him to go about his duties with the outn ard semblaneo of a civilised gentleman, there was no dispos'tion to decorate him with jewellery, or give him an unlimited supply of pocket money. He therefore turned sulky, resigned the Commis» sionership, and assigned as a reason the unfitness of his colleagues, and the risk he ran of being made their tool. It seems they were well rid of such a man, whosei-conduct on this occasion brings strong'.y into relief the absurdity of the special Maori Representation. Mr Mohi Tawhai i 3 but an exemplar of the Byslcm. Is it right that semi-savages like this should sit and vote on questions concerning the general public good, and the progress of the colony, matters about which they know and care nothing, but on which, .their votes are as powerful and aa eagerly sought as that of tho most intelligent white man in the House of Representatives ?