The Waikato Times. "OMNE SELUM FORTI PATRIA" THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1874.

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 304, 23 April 1874, Page 2

The Waikato Times. "OMNE SELUM FORTI PATRIA" THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1874.

It was with great satisfaction that we listened to tlio sentiments expressed by Ilis Excelleucy at Ngaruawahia. It is neatly the first time that a Governor of this colony has felt himself iv a position t> speak oa native matters iv the dignified manner that should be a characteristic of those who sit iv high places. His Excellency told ua that the positiou h e has assumed ia relation to the natives is the result of the advice of his responsible advisers : " If they prefer their isolation we do not wish to drag them from it." We sincerely trust that the above will bo strictly acted upon ; it is the policy wo have advocate I ever since the first number of our paper saw the light of day. It is one, however, that has not been acted upon. There have been too many emissaries of the Government to this chief, and then ko that, a- king the rebels to give their allegiance to the Throne. This system, of course, has given the u .ti\tsi un importance in their own eyes which they o in i wise never would have felt, and had enabled tin • hit fs to maintain power o\er their tribes by iuu.i.c.rjiiir the belief that if they ouly keep aloof lung enough, some great bribe will eventually be oiL'ie.i i i s< cm-e their submission and good behaviour Tm« chiefs are well aware that when once hurope.iu li.v comes into force their power must decrease, a u evuutually become a thing of the past. We areawaio iliat tiie let alone policy is one that will not find favor with the officers of the Native ' De.

partment, in f ac fc no C jiirseof Jict.oa oaluilated to settle our diliureuees witli the natives ever would ; they have lived by it for years, mid. no doubt hope to do .so lbt- many more. Some have learned to speak the native language and to understand the customs of the savages, and in that consists their whole stock-in-trade, by which they trust to live smoothly to the end of their days. There are ex. ceptions, of course, but the majority would be uuab'e to earn a living- in any other manner. It would bo cheap to give some of these meu liberal pensions, with the condition that they cease immediately the recipients enter a native district. His Excellency pi edicts that a good time is coming, and we have no hesitation in joining him in the prediction provided the policy ho has sketched is honestly carried out. It has been drcided by the voice of the people not to assert our supremacy by force, consequently there is nothing left but towait patiently till the stiay sheep voluntarily enter the fold, and in Hio meantime be careful that uo body of men uses the native que&tion as a poli'tieal lever. The native office is a perfect den, of mysteries ; a question asked by any member from his seat in the House is either answered evasively or he is told that to discuss the matter would be productive of eviL If the natives were dealt with in a straightioi'ward manner there would be- na reason for mystery, and, until this is the case, distrust of the white man must prevail.

An address was prepared by the inhabitant* of Kgarua- ' wahia for presentation to His Excellency the Governor. As is usual, it was submitted through the Aide-de-Camp for perusal before being received. The following clause was objected to : •« They are confident that if the system hitherto pursued of soliciting the lebelato submit be discontinued and they are left to themselves, they will, witluu a very ahoit time, sue to be allowed the privileges of other British subjects*." The people of Ngaruawahia declined to withdiaw the clause, as they felt that they were eatitled to express to His Excelleney'their impression of how native matters should bo conducted. A meeting of the settlers present in Ngaruawahia was called, after the Meeting with the natives was over, and the original address adopted with- the exception' of the original clause, and presented by Major Jackson on behalf of tho " representatives of the several districts of Waikato assembled al Ngaruawahia." It was pretty generally expressed at the meeting that the opinion was that of the settlers, but in an address to the Governor was not the proper place to ventilate it. The statement was challenged at the meeting, and an attempt made by one who held the opinion to test the fact by putting a definite motion ; he waa overruled, however, on the grounds that he was out of oider. The advantage") promised by the Thames and Waikato railway were so great— the opening up of a largo extent of fertile territory which must remain eio.'ed till a railway is , made— the impetus it wouM give- to Waikato by furnishing tin easy market for produce — the importance to theso townships of opening up the back country— that we had hopes that Mr Vogd would have promised that in next session of the Assembly ho n»uli} Imve taken power to commence the .construction. And especially ns Mr Vogel was the first man to start the idea of a railway to connect the Thanie* and Wnikuto. When he visited Grahamstown just after the session in *t hi>h ho enunciated the public worits policy, a deputation waited upon him to ascertain if he would riow favorably thr idea of a road to connect the Thames and Waiknto. Mr Togel at once said, " Why should you not Imve a railway?" and promised that the then Eugineer-in-Cluef should be sent at once to look at the country. Mr Vogcl saw at that lime that a railway ought) to bo made, and he said so. But a change has now come over his politicul dream. It lias been nccos««y for him to construct so many political railways, that he has nothing left for u»; we liovtf boon cheated out of our birthright by acuter and* move powerful people. We hoped up to ths-'ltist, but Mr Vogel gate our depuhil ion such a decided negative, and tho lhames people, on the whole, toot t;he snubbing with such apparent pleasnie, that our breath was quite taken away, and it seered a matter of desperation to say a word more on the subject — "He kicked us downstairs with such u street giace, that we thought he \ut-» bonding us up." — Ko, nobody did think that ftfr Yopel had doae am thing el*e than »iro us a kicking, but wo tried to make believe that we rather liked it. However, for our own sake*, nnd the snko Of the country, we mubt not give up tho idenof the Thames i and WaiUato ruilway r i.nd we are "1 ul tl-ut .1 giulliiiiiuu who is comparatively a Ftrnngpr 111 the district hu->, 1/1 a loiter printed elsewhers, foivibly set forth the iea*oiisj why the railway should ba ninilt-, and then by cmouiage.l us not \o let tho agitation completely die out. Wo recommend the letter to the alfentio.i of 'onr readers, nnd will piomi-e for ourseltes that ws shall, nesleut no f.iir oppoitunity of urging ' the subject upon public .vltcutmn. — Atherlket: j A 1. it her singular suggest mn to deepen tho bud of the Ohio ii made by Piolessor Hhulrr. He proposes that willows should bo planted on the banks. Ihese. he b&}s,not only liold tho banks together by their roots, but accumulate the soil brought down by the nvcr. If the banks 010 nccuinulatcd in this way it is evident that the current will mote <ifc> a gi eater speed, and thus tend to suour the bottom. Tne banks of thu luwerYarra are being gradually washed down by parsing steamers. A few patches of uillotv trees might be planted in viaaait plaow along the sides, by way oi unexperiment. The trees would certainly improve the prosuect, and if their roots only .-*o hold the soil of the banks together so as to prevent it being gradually transferred to tho bo*tom of the nrer by the swell beHting a»ainst it, nt the very least tha dredging engines would hay« less to do in their efforts to maintain the navigation. — The river Wai pa, in the Waikato. could be deepened by the same meons. — Crois. The Coromwndel Ferns fays :—": — " A meeting of influential gentlemen was held in Auckland on Friday last for the establishment of a new evening paper. After a considerable amount of discussion, a resolution was ournied unanimously, 'That another evening paper bt» published as soon as tlie necessary plant can bo secured ' All of those present guaranteed their support and mtluenco m favor of the new project, which we bear is likoly to neeaivo the general support of the public, coming at a time when the Star is most undeservedly unpopular." It L D. rhiffus and Samuel Bright ore gazetted membtraof the Aloxandra Board vioe J. Aubin and James T.| Boon, resigned. A money order anclsarings' bank offices will be opened at Te Atyamutu on the Ist &f next month. Mails for the Australian Colonies, via Sydney, will close in Auckland, at noon on Friday. Mr J- M. Dargavdle lias retired from the Auckland Citj Council. He aspires to higlier and better things* The Oxford Troupe will perform this evening at Rangiriri.