The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1873.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 168, 5 June 1873, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1873.

We are gratified to observe that ',liree meetings Imve nlready been held in the Waikito to impress upon the (jovernment the expediency of continuing the railway line from Mercer through the agricultural portions of the Wai k a to. As we have previously written, the carrying out of the suggestions put forth at each meeting will only be one step inwards the completion of the "grand scheme." If any railway contemplated to be constructed will n eet the conditions as to paying expenses, that through the Waikato is the one. The day, we trust, is not far distant when every inch of the North Island will be open for the construction of )■ tilways, which cannot fail to improve the value of nil land, whether held by Euiopean or Maoi 1. v\'o have to convince the Maori of this fact-, and one of our greatest difficulties will be overcome. Ihe Cause of tho difficulty that < xists at tho present tune is, the assumption on the part of the natives that our priucip.il object in making railwa>s is to take advanta^eof them us rtxjrarda their land ; and it is difficult to convince tl.ena that well is neither our wish nor onv intention. Our legislation in reference to their land has bien exceedingly imperfect.; and further, we legislated without, consultation with those piincipally interi itfd in the matter. To devise some means of ' esting the l.md in individuals was, no doubt, the primni y object, that those who drew the Native Lands Acts had in view. It was necessary to make u clearly understood with which individuals interested in blocks of land the Europeans had to deal. Another object to becons'dered was, to makecertain influential intml evsof tribes responsible forany future misconduct on the part ol their people. The Acts liave failed in several notable instances, from the ut of the individuals most interested in certain

Itlocks having stood aloof. Tney were not sufficiently instructed as to the consequences that would arise from their neglect to establish their rights, or were sufficiently obstinate or ignorant to belie\e that an Act of the Court was a measure that could be easily nullified. Disappointment at finding that their hopes were unfounded has led to much trouble, and this cause is likely to be pregnant of many small disturbances — distnrbances to which no political significance can be attached, being the result of private grievance and that only. The " King" parly being adverse to the sale of land, is nnluially obliged to give a certain amount of countenance to those who resent the alienation of property. We may appear to have somewhat digressed, but the construction of railways and our relation with the natives are so intimately connected, that it is difficult to dissever them. We have endeavoured to show from whence native opposition to progress arises, in order that those who have the conduct of our aff.iirs may be led into the path th.it will tend to peace. We believe that the dissemination of facts through the native population could not fail to bring about a great alteration of thought and feeling. Is it possible for our friends of the white race to write anything that wiil convince the native that the making of railways will increase the value of his pioperty tenfold? We believe that if such a writing were widely circulated amongst the whole Maori population, it would have the effect of withdrawing hundreds from the ranks of those who oppose progress and exclude the works Jof civilization from the territory, we have, from probably too keen a sense of light, allowed them to occtfpy. It should be clear to every man in this colony, except possibly those who are led by native chiefs afraid of losing their prestige, that railways will be made; further, that the railways cannot fail to bring prosperity to all.

"We visited Alexandra j ester J.iy, and were gratified to find the confidence that exists con-sequent on the action taken bj the Government. The alarm only exists in tiie fertile brain of an Auckland contemporary's correspondent. The settlers feel none, and the statements of those who have undertaken to report facts are not only untruthful, but they are calcu'ated to lower tho settlera in the opinion of those at n distance. The committee appointed by the meeting held at Alex*andra, on Saturday la3t, to consider the advisability of constructing a railway line through the Waikato from Mercer, havo selected Dr Waddington as their chairman, and met on Monday evening for the purpose of drawing up the petition. A meeting was held at Te Awainuiu on Tuesday lasl for the purpose of advocating tho continuation of the rail" way from Mercer through Waikato. Mr Williamson addressed the electors of Hamilton West on Monday at 3 p.m., in the Court House. Captain Bero occupied the chair. The audience seemed to be pleased with Mr Williamsons views, but tho opinion gams ground every day that it is high time Provincial institutions were swept away. The electors of Hamilton East were also addressed by him at 7 p.m., at the Eoyal Hotel, Captain Steele occupying the chair. Tho speech was a recapitulation of what baa already appeared m this paper, with slight variations. Votes of thanks to Mr Williamson and the chairmen were passed at the close of both meetings. We learn by advertisement in our Auckland contemporaries that Mr J. S. Macfarlane offers himself as a, candidate for the superintendeney It is rumoured that Mr Joseph May will also come forward. We have received the second numberof the Australasian Sketches— no. illustrated newspaper published m Melbourne. It contains a numberof well executed engiavings of colonia' interest, and is certainly by far the best illustrated journal in the colonies. We tiu&t that the propuooors, Messrs Wilson and Mackinnon, will be fully recompensed for their enterprise. We see no reason why it should not attain to a large circulation. In reference tj an advertisement that appeared in our columns some time back, makmg enquiries for C. Clintom we have received the following from a correspondent : — " I beg to state that I saw him last at Swan's brewery, Napier last November (1872)." We shall be happy to giro the name of our informant to interested parties. The Ngapuhis have w ntten to Mr McLean condemning the Waikatos, and offering their services to the Government to aid m securing repnr.it ion. Telegrams confirm the statement some time since telegraphed to us that Purukutu was afraid to go to Te Kuiti lest he should be delivered up. He did start, but did not complete his journey. 'lawhiao seoms so alarmed by our preparations, and the attitude |of the people, that he has, it is said, pronounced that in future no Europeans shall bo killed, but that friendly natives who sell orlease land shall suffer. If this be true, doe 3 it not directly implicate the " King "in the late murder ? If he issues an order that no more Europeans shall be killed, is not tho inference inevitable that those who have been murdered were so under his orders and concurrence ? He ought to be still further frightened, if he l eally is to, until he shows bis desire for peace by aiding to produce Purukutu to tho lavr. — Cross We understand that Mr Joseph Dalton will atari; on the surrey of another block of 60,000 acres in the Kotorua distiict. — Star. The meeting that was to have been hold in the Mechanics' Institute, AucVad, oa Tuesday last, for the purpose of considering the continuation of the Auckland and Waikato railway line from Meicer thiougli Waikato, has bewi postponed in consequence of the depaiture of the Hero with the English mail, iiH Thursday evening next. Mr Knopp, tho Inspecting Engineer of Railways, is in this district. He has visited Alexandra ;no doubt for the purpose of observing the formation of the country. It will be seen in our telegraphic columns that a rumour was current in Cambridge yesterday to the effect that Cam bridge was to be attacked last night. It is creditable to tteh c settlers that they have foo much sense to believe it. It is a mystery to us who invents these fables, as it doubtless is to those more immediately affected. The Cambridge settlers havo lived tbrougk too man y w ars and rumouru of \T»r to bo easily frightened. Very properly they have assiited the Government in taking every precaution against auy such contingency. We recommend them to make an example of tho first original alarmist that thoy can catch. A number of the Armed Constabulary, who have not previously been exercised with the Snider rifle, were drilled yesterday for an hour by Sergeant Wamhouse, at the Drillshod. — Cross. " A Man in the Bu3li ' wufce* :— " Well, I think we are going to fight, whom is it to be done by this .time ? I think the old settlers have gone throug'i their facings piouty well, and it now behoves the new blood to take the lead and become initiated. If theie ie an absolute necessity, by every other method failing, I have no fear for the speedy resulb. 1 feel suitr we have those who are both able, willing, and luady to accomplish the ta*k ; and' if once begun, there must be no halting— no half measmes If it comes to war it must be the last war, and be dene without 10,001) troops, and probably better and more cheaply done. If it is war, be it ever lemembered that the infatuated Maoris rush heedleesly and needlessly into jt, the cause being "that they will not give up the atrocious murderers ot' our people, and it is entirely and wholly of their own making, and don't let us ever hear that it is this Ministry or that who havo got us into it. It is the Maoris themselves who ri'sh into the fire, and, of course, become scorched. Should there not be a thousand pounds reward offered for the apprehension and conviction of any porson soiling or procuring, or aiding in procuring for the Maoris powder or aran, or any warlike stores. I mus) say that our Govcnvneut u going on in more judicious wly in making preparations for tho worst in a vigorous way, a'thougli evory endeavour h being male at the sa"ne timo to avert the worst." The Government still continue to send divisions of tho trine J Constabulary to 1.ea.l quarters at tlie front. Yestcrdiy thirty men, under llu» r.immaud of Captain Goring' armed and equipped, left New Plymouth for Auckland — Herald.

A Ljttelton journal says — "Air LJatbgite'd conduct (luring the two sessions he lias sat in the House of .Representatives has not been of a kind to win public confidence or esteem. He lies been distinguiohed clnclly for a keen regard ior liis own interests. He bus vibrateil to imil fro between tlie Government and the Opposition, now joining in the assault upon Ministers, now fighting _m their ranks, according as Ins prospects of beiug invited to tako office fueled or grew bright. He went up to the House m 1871, a declared opponent of Mr Vogel ; changed sides during the session — by an odd coincidence, simultaneously with n report that Government, intended to revive the office of Solicitor-General ; unmixed again next session— Government having in the meantime abandoned their intentions ; and in a week afterwards performed the iiual change which lunded him on the Treasury .Bench. Tne Te Awimutu correspondent of tlie New Zealand Herald forwurded the following translation of a letter supposed to have been written by Purukutu :— " Pukekura May 21. — I have icon your writing where you have condemned me without hearing my defence. Now, I will just tell you my side of the story. I own a piece of land near where I write, which has been taker and occupied by the pakehas without my permission. I have for years warned the pakohas to desist irom meddling with my property, but no notice was taken of my warnings. I was then compelled to adopt more severe measures. I killed cattle and sheep on my land, and burned a wharo u»ed by a pakeha living on my land; but tins was not sufficient. I then forcibly drove away Europeans ditching, but still my land was occupied and claimed by the pakelias. \or did the pakehas attempt to punish me lor any of tlie above-mentioned acts. My last resource was to kill any pakeha oecup} ing my land. You know I did so. I did what was right, and approved by Maori custom and law> and the pakeha law is not known beyond the confiscated lino. Mackay is preparing a force to catch me. lam ready to be taken at any time. You need not think that the King is going to hand me over to you. The King natives will all figut for me, and w ith me, when required. If I am beaten, you will get my land, which u not worth fighting for. Kewi with other chiefs and old men will turn Queenite3 for a time, ami protect the rest of the and from confiscation, and the young men will join me tofight the pakeha. I see pahs being built, and night and. morning patrols m your settlements, watching for my coming, to kill another pakeha. I w ill not go off my own land to fight, so you can tell the other pakehas not to leave their homes on my account. You may think tli.it I cannot be trusted. I may remind you what I did about lire years ago, when some property was stolen from Europeans at Orakau. I caused all the property to be returned, and a horse as utu. The name I was known by then was Mohi. From your loving friend in arms, Pubukutu."