The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1878.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 901, 2 April 1878, Page 2

The Waikato Times.

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1878.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political. *** / * * Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

Uovernor auu vie i^uueu m native matter?, and explained that, though %c law said the Native Minister could make roads through Maori kinds, he would only exercise that power aaverf v er consultation with Kukokino as to the direction of the roads, m order that he might .meet that chief's wishes as far as he could. " It' the road goes through your cultivations," said Mr Sheehan, «'I will have it securely feuced on both sides, so as to prevent cattle from destroying your crops. I would, also, compensate you for the land taken for the road." ICukokino was not to be charmed, though the Native Minister charmed never so wisely. " I do not want the road," he replied, " there is the river, which is the road God has given you." From the suaviter m modo, the Native Minister shifted his ground to the fortitcr m re. " I must," said he, " have the road ) and, if moral suasion fails, I will take what the law allows me. If injury is done, or blood is shed, the parties doing it will be amenable to the law. It would be better to consent graciously, because as certain as we are here the road will be made." The upshot was that Tukukino said, he was going to the meeting at Hikurangi, and he thought it would be as well to defer the further consideration of the opening of the road until he met Mr Sheehan there with Sir George Gi-eV. Whether Tukokino will then consent, or embsldoned by the presence of other obstructionists, resolutely refuse, remains to be seen. One thing is certaip, this position which the iVative Minister has taken up with Kukokiuo as to his land is tqually applicable to the count-y between Waikato and Taranaki. Is the Premier, who will be the spokesman, we presume, at Hikurangi, prepared o take. up the same bold tone. We cannot see how he can make flesh of one and fish of another, t nd the natives themselves will be the first to notice such a proceeding. Of course if Ministers are aware of the readiness of the King party to make acceptable concessions, fcbe interview with Tukokino will be beneficial rather than embarrassing, and we heartily trust, for his own political success and the welfare of the Colony, the Premier has good grounds for supposing he can see his way through the web of Maori diplomacy into which he is thrusting himself.

The meeting of the Premier with the King natives is likely to take place earlier than has been looked for. According to report Sir George Grey and the Hon Mr Sheehan will leave Auckland for Waikafco on Thursday, to be present at the meeting, which will be held this time iv Hikuraugi, a settlement some seventeen miles beyond Alexandra; Whether good or ill is likely 10 come of those meetings, or whether, us heretofore, we shall simply fall back upon the status ante quo is hard to say. It may be that the natives are willing co come to some terms of compromise respecting their present state of scwial and political isolation, and to allow their country to be opened for the purpose of rail .vay construction, but we much doubt if it will prove so. This, we believe, is the threat object of the Premier's visit, and if he succeed m his object he will undoubtedly score the odd trick m the Assembly. S"ch a consum- j raati n will give himself and his Government a hold upon the Assem hly that will do much to qualify the Qp(*osition wftjch is otherwise \ bivwiayo LitlJe .jgopd as we think likely to oome of the*vjisi^ we cannot b.'aine Sir George Grey iop /naking it. It has, even before h;is ,<,l#y, been > time-honored habit of -(jfo-j vernmen.'"' to seek, just before the | meeting £>i' the Assembly, an opportunity at doing something that will reader it popular with the Legislature. He iis 4oing, after all, '' nothing more than ib&J jjecome aaalmost annual cnstom. &J&U we cannot help thinking that it srjef.fi a custom better honored m the breach | fchan m the observance. There is an old proveeb about sleeping dogs, aiitt iinother, that ib is wise to leave well i\lono. and botfe o£ these proverbs 2Ciniscers foi'get w^li^ for the suko of ,[»9.ssibly clothing them&alft&i with a little popularity beforo tfa© | ;. opening of Parliament, they pay Sheir annual v&s&t to the King. T«e Pabian policy as both safe and sure. We may be sv^ to go on steadily consolidating .seltleanent for the next three <m» i .years, as we Jiave dove during t4e • tiauie past period, and, what is more, • we ate far mor« likely to briny tiao natives to terms % leaving them aloue tLi«.n by cont,iu«^Jy teasing 1 theru. Wn mny, indeed, a^?«pt Mr : Shcphan's .Eakdou to TiiKoltuftp as | mdicaiivoiu iita ffts'ilt of what tfe^ f. Premier's uiissio>UL to tho ICing ia ] ?; , like y to turn out JVIr Siieeban pointed out his own jWM/ion as re- I | Resenting, as JNatiye $tsini#tw f t])e i