NOTES BY A TRAVELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1267, 12 August 1880, Page 2

NOTES BY A TRAVELLER.

Witl Rewi alias Manga, the brave old Maniapoto chief, ever become the occupant of the Maori palace at Kihikihi? This problem politicians of every comp'exion are at a puzzle to solve. The Cabinet at Wellington shm*e3 largely in the general anxiery as to the intentions of the dusky warrior, regarding whom there is much m3-stery and doubt, and whose humble abode beyond the Puniu renders that locality classic ground. The new Palace, which was thought to be a prize worthy of his acceptance, does not seem to be endowed with charms sufficieut to attract him (to the pakoha side of the Rubicon. State officials f»*om Hone to time.and now again these last few days.have interviewed the old chief, and tlv ir bulletins, quick as lightning's flash, fly* even to the remotest parts of the country, and Manga becomes the hero of the hour, Brief is the rest he gets, though rumours have it that he is sadly in need of repose. The Europeans along the border, who watch the situation with deep mt Brest, are all aglow with the conviction that Major Mair is on the eve of finally adjusting the question, and that the emerald hill of Kihikihi will soon, very soon, be in possession of the dusky priz^. If the worthy Major succeed, he shall, somesjy, have deserved well of his country ; but if he fiii l, failure has been the lot of all who have as yet embarked m the same boaf and enterprise. One wiseacre says i^ is a shame to rob the old man of his piece of mind by this never-ending wrong ; anothev cries, "Lose no time, for death is hcveriug round him." According to the general opinion, the shadows of death on the one side and Government agents on the other keep poor Rewi in no enviable state of mind. It becomes a grave quebtion whether sable death or bland diplomacy will be the first to net him. Yesterday 1 learned from a Puniu native that Rewi was too advanced in years to care for a change ; too feeble in mind and body ; and, moreover, too much wedded to his own way of living and to his people's manner of closing their earthly career. Palaces, especially when erected on confiscated laud, they care not to inhibit. The grand old chief could not die happy in such splendor. Given Manga transplanted into the new palace, will the opening of the King- Counti y folio w as a matter of course ? Or, in default thereof, will the transplantation expedite matters and facilitate to any appreciable degree the accomplishment of the desired end ? Upon these and kindred questions, opinions are more numerous and uncertain than the hues of the rainbow. But the dictates of reason and justice should be kept in view; and reason and justice alike go to assert that the aged, feeble old chief should not be worried thus into the acceptance of a gift which has f oy him no charms, and without which he could descend with happier mind to the grave, in the hut and blanket of his ancestors. Besides, it is extremely doubtful whether his acceptance would facilitate the opening of the back country. For war and all its ugly surroundings I would not sound a note ; rather would I advocate peace, and yet it seems to me that to push the road and camps along from the south, just now to Kihikihi or Alexandra would be the speediest way to open the Royal domain and the wisest policy to adopt to solve, once and for ever, the vexed question so long in process of solution. Danger of serious complications there seems to be but very little in such a bold and decisive stroke of policy. The Wairaate Plains question seemed as likely to involve us in •war, and yet the decisive and progressive measures adopted against Te Whifci have served only to demonstrate the weakness of the blustering and the folly of the vaticinations of that arrogant chief and his deluded people. The .Native Department, as costly as it has been useless, except for mischief, should be closed for ever ; and, instead, a road, which would afford employment to natives, should be opened from the Waikato to Taranaki. The troops near Mount Egmont, strong numerically, prepared in military discipline and in mind, would cheerfully cross the border and push the road ahead from point to point of civilisation. Nor would the cost be at all so great as that of the old Native Department, whereas the results would be at once tangible, beneficial to both races, and permanent. The railway would follow aoon after.

Many men have been oapable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing) but very few a gsuerous thing,