THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 325, 15 August 1868, Page 6

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

The gravity oi the news from the north island can hardly be overestimated, and whatever doubt might have been, aw to a general rising of the disaffected natives must now be at an end. They only required encouragement, and this has been afforded them in abundance. In the first place the surprise of the Tura-Tura-Mokai redoubt was complete, and that one item alone would decide many of the wavererg to join the hostile ranks. The escape of the If alliums from the Chathams. is bluudei number two, of even still greater magnitude, as far as results go ; and by way of a wind-up, a hundred of the •newly raised levies are scattered by these very escaped prisoners, their hi-r.ics, anus, ammunition and provisions captured and force the disgracefully defeated; indeed almost without firing a shot. Other engagements have taken place, and all appear to have been adverse to colonial forces, and favourable to the Hau-haus. As might be easily imagined these extraordinary successes, and the very strange conduct —to use a very mild phrase indeed —of the troops yet engaged, have now lighted a flame of rebellion that will, we doubt not, yet extend to the eastern as well as the western coast. The Government during this crisis have been singularly reticent in regard to the policy they intend to pursue, and at such a time, surely, even the lips of circumlocution, might have been unsealed, and the colony allowed to know what course the Government were prepared to take. As might be supposed this has given offence to a large section *of the Assembly and, added to other matters, has brought on a crisis wheh may, or may not,prove favourable to Ministers. Mr. Eo.x. has brought forward the "following motion, and the debate arising out of it laid not terminated on Monday night last ; it ran as follows. " That this House is of opinion that no further business ,should be done, until the Government has placed before it a full and precise statement of its policy, and indicated the extent to which it proposes to alter existing institutions ; and also make a statement of what is doing as regards native affairs." This is no time for shilly-shallying, and the contest will be or rather lias been, we should say—for it is probably a thing of the. past now —the closest that has ever taken place within the walls of a New Zealand Legislature. On the Government side are the opponents, and on the attacking side, the supporters ofiproviocialism, and though the maor disturbances have b en dragged info the discussion, the issue is really chiefly one dependent on the relative strength -of the two forces. The first boat that reaches the port will probably bring the telegraphic result. However much importance though the partisans on either side may attach to their own particular views, the general public as a rule, will feci far more material interest in the main difliculty, for if, as is most probable unfortunately, the colony is committed to another war, where taxation will end Heaven only knows. The country must demand j to know what is the general the Government on this question; whether we are going on the flour and

sugar system, or whether we are really determined at last to show the rebel tribes that we have the will as well as the power to protect ourselves. For ever} r white man's life that is sacrificed, twenty Maories shall suffer. If the natives force on a war of extermination, a war of extermination let it be, but let it be set about in all deer) earnestness and let no paltering with the question be longer permitted. The blood of unarmed victims cries for vengeance, and#f the white race ever intend to inhabit the north island in peace that vengeance should be complete and terrible. ! The Hau-haus

will never attribute clemency or mercy to any other motive than that of fear, and if they are ever to be subdued it must be with an iron hand. The first impression that the leaders of the Government held, was that the movement was one easily quelled, that a handful of raw forces collected anyhow and thrown broad cast into the disaffected district's would restore order. They have found out their mistake, .the rebels have boldly cast off all dis- "" guise, they have Haunted their rebellious principles in the very faces of the ruling powers; they have murdered settlors, surprised a redoubt, signally defeated a large body of our troops, and carried off all that was worth

taking, and in fact, havemost unequivocally thrown discredit on the white race in New Zealand, and evince! open contempt for the authority ofthe Queen. The time for temporising has long past, that for action has come. The colonists cannot afford to allow hau dful of savages to dominate over

them just because Exeter Hall forbids strong measures Increased taxes, insecurity for life and properly, disgrace as a nation arc BOtyijj; of the heritages that the insurgent Maories leave as, and it is to be hoped that &ho people will'now sneak out and sav iu.-h shall no longer be. If Mr. Stafford cannot or will not initiate a different system of dealing with this jroat curs6,let biin make way for those that will not be so delicate in its lest ruction, and on that ground wo thould by no means regret if the motion )f Mr, Fox is carried.. Desperate liseases . demand desperate remedies, .nd to be scrupulous of Maori life, and heedless .of white man's blood, will no Ipnge'r bo borne by the inhabitants of New Zealand. We fully concur with those of our contemporaries who have advocated extreme measures to trample out the murdorots propensities of Mau- hauism, even if doign it involves the absolute annilihtiou of ail the disaffected. Something must be done, and that speedily.