The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1871.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 818, 30 May 1871, Page 2

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. In the cause of Truth and Justice we strive. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1871.

On Saturday we published a telegram from Tauranga, notifying the fact that Te Hira had consented to allow the mails to pass unmolested through his territory. The reception of this news at Tauranga is stated to have called forth considerable rejoicing—though we fail to understand why greater joy should have been exhibited on this than on the other numerous occasions when the matter wa> reported to have been definitely and satisfactorily settled. Telegrams have been repeatedly forwarded, describing the efforts successfully made by the Government to open up the mail route. We hope that at last all difficulties have been removed, but cannot express any great reliance in the facj of the many disappointments which have hitherto attended the question. Generally speaking, the policy pursued towards the natives has been such as to engender distrust in the minds of the colonists, who, while devoutly trusting that it may succeed, caunot repress the fear that it will provoke fui'ther demands. After the murder of Mr Todd, the stoppage of the mails between Tauranga and Auckland is a comparatively email affair, but is, nevertheless, evidence of a feeling of arrogance and covert hostility on the part of the natives. The absence of any attempt on the part of the Government to bring Todd's murderers to justice must have made it apparent that it feared the consequences of such an effort; and to this conviction is, doubtless, due the insolence and threats that have recently been so freely exhibited. The temporising policy that has been pursued has had the effect of lulling the Colony into an imaginary security, and it has also impressed the native with an inordinate belief in his influence and prowess. Every fresh concession adds but fuel to the flame, and we shall discover when too late that, in place of obtaining security as tho price of our humiliations and concessions, we have but whetted the Maori appetite for fresh demands, and led the native to form an exaggerated notio2i of our weakness.