The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 157, 10 May 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1873.

It is astonishing the unity of thought the telegraph jiroduces among 1 the Editors of Government newspapers, — newspapers that are eAer known to be the mouthpieces of Messrs Yog-el and McLean : allude to the Lyttdton Tima, the Daily Soufhet n Cross and the Wellington Independent, The promting of the master hand (Mr Vogel) who was at ! lie Auckland end of the wires during the late « xcitement, is apparent in the columns of each. Ye will commence with the D. S. Cross, not because it is the most ably conducted or the least venal of the tbree, but because it happens to be nearest the scene of disaster, and should therefore be the heat informed and the best able to sympathize with t lie settlers in their d ifficulties. In yesterday's issue, after writing a good deal of twaddle in reference to the attack on Mr ifackay, be goes on to say ,—, — But it is to be argued that, because native instincts may make people averao from giving up a criminal, the whole colony is to be plunged into a war, which would be a war of races almost a oufrance with all the woes and sufferings, the bar to progress and colonisation which such a war means? We can *ympathise with the feelings which arc- natural to our common humanity, nnd which, in the first revolution of linger, cry out for retribution ; but we must not overlook in our c.ilciilufion the cost not only to the declining race, but to the settlors of the dntucts nnd to the whole colony, which a hasty compliance with such a demand would produce. Lot those who feel warmly on the subject think of these i things, and consider calmly the long jesirs of a backward j sweep, fimitiPrilly nnd ofhorvHC, winch the colony would sustain, and compare that wit'i any possible gain, and then estimate the balanco of loss which would be left at the debit tide of the account. The writer of the itb.>ve paragraph, it is needless to say, is not an out-settler ; he has never retired to his bed at night with a strung fueling of uncertainty as to whether or not he would be brutally murdered before morning. The Wsnkato settlers sire doubtless much ob'iged to him for his sympathy with their feeling*, but they would neveilhetess be much better able to appreciate that sympathy lud he not urged a policy calculated to rentier them subjects for it at uncertain intervals. As regards the retardation of the colony, we feel confident that we Siave to fight the rebel nsitives at one time or tlio other, and wo believo that it is better to get the dirty business over fit once. Uncertainty as to the future retards progiess almost as much as actual warfaie. We are uwurc that if the Ministry can gloss over thib matter, their chance of livi-g through tho coming session will ho uioieahed; but the life or death ot a Ministry ia a small matter compared with the life of a country man. Wo cannot congratulate the gentleman who steers the Ctoss on its dubious passage either on his hone-ty politirul or social. Wheu a journalift sells himself to ii party— we wcio going to say we feel a cou.

tempt for him, but possibly we shall express our miud better by saying we pity — al! know the feeling to which that seutimenl is &aid to be nearly akin. The utter disregard the Cross has shown for the safety of settlers, for the sake of warding off political attacks from his '• masters," in contemptible in the extreme. We equally with him have no desire for war, but feel that the question has nearly, if not quite, arisen : is the white man or tho Maori to be dominant? It h clear thai if the Maori is allowed to hold the reins, the colony, in place of advancing on the- road to prosperitymust return to the position it held many years back. We believe that if proper firmness is displayed by the Government at tho present juncture, there will be no necessity for war. Wo are a country journal ami are probably included in tho category of those who " are anxious to proceed to war without delay." W such be the case we can only reply that it is a base calumny. All we havo ever said, or insinuated, is, that "tho murderers must be delivered up or taken," which means, in other words, that tho pettlers intend to live on the land they have lawfully acquired, and have no intention of being murdered if they can avoid it. The Lyttelton Times has received inspiration different from that of our oiher contemporary. Tbe assertions, or rather insinuations made in it, are m re bold, as they deal with statements founded solely on supposition or dishonesty. We give its own words : — It has been stated of late iv the newspapers thai t-uch and suck persona have purchabed, or made arrangements with tbe Natives for occupying, certain blocks of land. These purchases or Arrangements may be both fair and legal, but tbey are pretty certain in some ca^cs to end in trouble, und if great forbi nrance is not ewe sed, to involve the colony in war. It is natural that mon who have money at their disposal, w Inch they wish to employ to the beet ldvnntago should look out for investments of this sort, e\ en though they know them to be very n&ky. .But they should be made to understand, without any doubt, that they enter on these lands at their own peril, and that the colony is not liable for the consequences. If a man chooses to purchase land which he knows is subject to inundations or tho like, to build upon, cultivate, and si ock it, ho has no claim upon the State for compemation if all his property should be swept away. On tho sam« ground, and for precisely the same reasons, the men who invest their capital and risk their own and others' lires on land tho title to which is not cle»r and about which rebel Maoris hold peculiar views, have no claim upon the Government for losses incurred, and the Government is not bound to avenge, as it is called, any losb of life that may ensue from such adventurous occupation. We will consider the first sentence quoted. It is true that blocks of land have bceu occupied, but if our contemporary had known anything of the subject he was treating, he would havo been aware that no such occupation can legally take place till land has passed through the Native Lands Court — the land in question has done so. It is rather rich that a settler in a British colony (as our contemporary advocates) " should be made to understand without any doubt that they cuter on those lands at their own peril." He practically says that the Government is to give legal occupation and afterwards tell the settlers that, "now that we have received all the fees we can get out of you, you cm take care of yourself." This is too absurd. We recommend our contemporary to reserve his energy, his paper, his pen, and his ink, for the direction of public opinion on n road that he has previously taken the trouble at least to trace out on paper. The Independent is too large a paper, or its proprietor is too mean to exchange with us ; we are therefore dependent for information as to its opinions on quotations from other journals. Wo glean this much: an attempt has been made to "hlum"the vrholo thing. It treats the matter as of little importance, and practically says, " only s, whito man has been murdere Iby a Maori." It " has no reason to believe that the murder differs much from similar crimes amongst our own people." We agree with this Government organ, and for that reason assert that the murderers must be hunted down, and that all who oppose the officers of justice iv the execution of their duty must bo anested, or, if necessary, Bhot. We feel confident that we only express the opinion of every onfc-settler in New Zealand when we say that this murder shall not bo allowed to pass over as was that of poor Todd, who was a personal friend of many of us.

The Ohmeinuri correspondent of the Thames Advertiser writes th.it i meeting of natives was held on Saturday, ostensibly to consider the late murder at the Waikato, but the issuing of permits to prospect for gold was really the question debated. Nopiana and Riki Paka were called upon to account for issuing pei mission to p,ikehas to mine. They contended their right to do as they liked with their own land. Moanamu Raul he would send for pakeba constables to hunt tin) diggers. Kika Paka replied that the Queen had undertaken the Maori should not be disturbed in the use of his land. Moananui then said : I will send out my own constables nnd destroy your house. Riki ttaka left for Shortland to take out summonses against them. At a meeting the murder of Sullivan was declared to be perfectly right. The nali\e-> are much dividodamonjjst thennehes. Tbt» Jdoertiw states on good information thai, immediately upon reception of the firs.l. telegram aiinnouiiciug the murder of Sullivan, the Superintendent either waited upon or saw Mr Vogcl, and suggested that instant .steps should be taken. Ke proposed to offer n reward of £1,000 for the murderer, imd to muster tho available force in fclie Waduitu for instant pursuit. Mr Vogel returned to Mr Gillie* a prompt nnd decisive answer, equivalent to " mind your own business." Tho wound j suHbred by Mr Muckay in t!ie scuffle is v^ry slight ; a morn i abrasion of the skin. Somo natives behove that liiru w,w | instructed !>y the chiefs to enter M/ickny's tent, and go through t\ shnm attack m order t<» aluiw iluekav that ui»wv» , tlierc on sufferance nnd hih life was in their hands. It is believed that the native did not actually intend to take Mackav's life, as ample opportunity was afforded during tlie night for doing so if lie had eliiwn. Tho following lelogram wns received from "Wellington on | Wednesday : — The Government received tl.c following telegram from Mr Muckav to-day .—". — " Rcwi and the Ngulinvin1 lpoto are in a great rage. The meeting is going on now | Kewi has taken mo to his own place, and hays ho will osivrt I me back safely. Rowi came to me in a largo inet'ling-houoe, inul said, ' You will not, remain here now. Tawhiao and injvelf cannot talk to you, in you have only escaped from our weapons' (meaning, thnt they wero so much ashamed that they could not talk). I baid, 'I do not accuse you or the chiefs. As Inm not killed, my blood is, my own ; had I I been killed it would bo that ol my people. I had come to t delner a message from tho Government, and I did not in-, tend to go back until I had done so.' lie went to Muuuwliin, and on his return mid I could stop. Ngathnaniapoto i WaiLato, and Ngatihaua arc all assembled now discussing the attack on me. Everyone is in a btate of pouri (annoyance) about. i(. Tawhmo i-»«,till o!w>nt. Euru belongs to tlic hapu who killed Todd, but I hear he is not one ol the | party concerned in the murler — J\ui;s Mvck.U', jun." The fine ship Pnrsee, which arrived from London yesterday, must have held a happy family ou her passage, for she rejoices in a captain, doctor, and officers who have gained the unanimous good opinion of all on board. It ia the custom when a ship containing immigrants arrives, for an officer of the Uomiunent to enqun o of the passengers if they have any complaints to mako regarding thoir treatment on the voyage, their food, and general treatment. On Major Green making the usual cuquiiy yesterday, the leply was three clieeis for tho captain, the doctor, anil the officers. There was no complaint whatever, and the p.vssengoisof all jan k a join in testifying to the pleasme of the passage, the comfort they enjoyed and the kindm j.s +iv>y received lr«.ni Jn, shipS ciuupany. Thi-io is al> clean • bdlof l.calth " in cv(-iy vny h,itihl!ictoiy.--CVM44.

We ob»er\e ti.it, Mr J ILl.;Ii1oj, Lite ol if umllon, has started in bu»ino»4 in Auek! mcl as auctioneer and commission agent. We wish him every success in Ins no.v undertaking Tlnrteeu of the Armed limit ibuLiry armed last night b> eoieh from Auckland. They arrived by the Taranaki from Wellington, and will bo unmeii.itely moved to the outiJOst^ We regret oxeeodiagly t!iat tho report of the IV Awauiutu nuvtiug hid not arrived up to the time of our going to piv-3. A lull re^oit will appear in our next. i''ie Rev \i. Y. Ad iwoll will hold Divmo Serviuo at tin- ! uluirch, Ng»'u.i«ihi.i, at 11 urn, on Sunday, llt'i iiiataul. A moetiii^ of Tawiaki nitives respecting the progress ot the road works round the b^so of Mount Kgmort was held ou Wednesday, with a satisfactory result, and it is reported tli.it the works will likely soon bi> proceeded with ; wlneii is a ir>t lojj Biitisfticlory sign that the native* in the district art) .ilive to that which will iT.illy bonofit themselves as well as the settlement at liujje. — C/o».