The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 181, 10 June 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 1879.

In a speech made by the Hon. the Native Minister at tho close of last session, ail opinion was expressed that another native outbreak was a future contingency for which the colony should be prepared. The timo for one seems to have arrived somewhat earlier than was then anticipated, but it was unreasonable to expect that while a Maori insurrection might be postponed, it was possible for it to lie ultimately averted. Whether the action of the present Ministry has hastened the calamity is now an idle question, for the time seems to be at hand when the Ministry's continuance in office depends—not upon its merits as a peace—but as a war Cabinet. The preparations for war are now being made, and so far it would appear that tliey are being conducted wisely and well. That the policy of postponing tho outbreak is on the part of a colony about to float a large loan a commendable one, everybody will agree, nor will anyone quarrel with the Government for displaying energy in making ready for a campaign, and at the same timo procrastinating its inauguration. It is not unusual for troubles to come together, and we must not grumble if a native rebellion follows instead of precedes comnimercial distress. All we can reasonably hope is, that no serious disturbance will happen prior to floating the new loan. After that is secured, if, as everyone believes, a war is inevitable, the sooner it comes the better. The manner in which the last little war was began—continued and ended—will, we trust, be a lesson, should we again have to fight. When it began we were unprepared, and had to send to the front inexperienced men utterly unfit for service. When it I ended no punishment was awarded to the ringleaders of it, nor was the opportunity taken to teach the Maories a lesson which would have deterred tlieni from again breaking out. The supremacy of the British raco has never yet been asserted in the North Island in a manner which would carry conviction to the native mind. An undue eagerness for peace at any price has misled the Maori as to tho character of the foe he has had to encounter, A spurious philantlirophy which he neither understands nor cares for has given a false impression of our real sentiments towards him. If a war is now about to take place, we trust it will be of such a charactsr as to teach even the fanatic a lesson which will not require to be repeated. The sword must not be sheathed till over every part of the North Island tlie British rule is admitted to be paramount, without let or hindrance. With sucli a result a native war will not be an .unmixed evil, but with any less result, it will not 'reflect credit on the wisdom ot the existing Ministry, or on any other which may succeed it.