The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1671, 22 March 1883, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

diato release,, ooOTmcPto^Liard policy in forcing tlio surve3 r in the absence of Tawhiao, and before any satisfactpcy_«iu:mngeni£ut o| the diifoßoncess ¥e&veefcijtli& t\«h races hjtfejbeen CQinoltov ' ftifeuppoirt_ of this assurance we may point to the fact that no deadly weapons appear to have been used by tho a ticking party. /|\Vlnlp,it is difly cult«TO dpfconnirie' with f 'any degree! of certainty tho object of "the ••natives;* it is "ta^be -regretted^thafc* Wahanui was not allowed more time in which to make his wishes known to tlip tribes before „Mr; Hursthonso started, on his second I journey. "We think it will bo found that the whole trouble has its origin ,niisconcep'tion, which it may be ' safely, loft to two chiefs of such high standing as i Wahanui and Te Wetere to clear up.

Ix undertaking a' tour of 'the colony for the purpose of giving expression to his views upon the questions of the day, Major Atkinson ia placed in a somewhat unpleasant position. " Stumping tours," as these journeys of ministers have been christened in the colony, have not, been looked on. with particular favour over since, a certain Premier overdid the business with the assistance of Government steamers and special trains. A certain proportion of the population, including, we venture to think, those of moderate views, are prejudiced to some extent against these ministerial exhibition^ while they who appi'oved them in the past are not exactly those most likely to extend a cordial welcome to the present Treasurer. Nevertheless we cannot help thinking that Major Atkinson has taken a step in the right direction. The reason he himself gives is an admirable one. Speaking at Christchurch on Monday night last, he justified his, appearance before the public in the following words :—: — " One of the difficulties that public men had to contend with was the difficulty in knowing what public opinion was. From this it follows thafc most of the public men of New Zealand wore only known locally. Tho way in which the country had been settled from several centres had advantages. Yario\is types of men were growing up in various places. The, difficulties caused by tho country boing dominated by one large centre were absent. On tho other hand, in various Governments men had been chosen not because of thoir aptitudo, but becauso they canio from certain districts. This was a disadvantage, so "ho had determined to< let the electors have an opportunity of judging of himself so far as they' could by hoaring him. deliver public addresses." There can be no daubt, about th« justice of these remarks ; there is a serious danger of politics in Now Zoaland degonorating into more parochialism, and of representatives being chosen, not on account of their legislative ability, but in virtue of thoir talent as grabbers. Tho danger indeed is much nearer than wo care to believe. There aro no great men among us, — great, wo mean, ,in the sense such a word would convey in English political life. It would be unjust to, say that none of our public men possess the elements or" greatness, but their qualities are only dimly seen through the fogs of local selfishness that infest the whole colony.* Our great men are,' really,' those , who procure ,us the most money, for bridge-building and roadmaking, and the general' public don't know, and don't care to know thpse >vh'o are only engaged in the far more important task of making the laws under which we are to live. The converse, of the proverb about the prophet having no honour in his own -country holds good here. National sentiment is very little known — local jealousy is rampant. This is a not altogether unnatural result ; it is, perhaps, one of the unavoidable conditions of life in a new country, where the eager desire for wealth overshadows for' a time almost eyery, other 'aspiratipn, ( but is by no means the result we should aim" at; or be satisfied with: -. : What is wanted is a. fusion 6f the heterogeneous prejudices so thickly scattered around, into something like 1 a national spirit, and one of the chief means for effecting the change is t the diffusion of political thought. Others have set themselves, to the task, but' without any conspicuous: success, and now Major Atkinson is making the attompt. > i

Equal and exact justice to,all|inep, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political/ 't '!>'",' '; ' .. . , Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawcd by influence and unbnbcd by gain. ,

THUXSDAY, MARCH 22, 1883:

Tjie news from f Alexandra, jhid Ye publish in t'anotheKribkinn jssrili no doubt Burprise, tfye ; majority of our .readers;. $LrHurjBfchouB6,, actip^r on the assurance of a safe^conducjt frotii , Wahaiiui; left ' Alexandra^ -on ,Tuesday (tp.jP?*^ , a .att^th^t at exploring m the coun^ry,,,'be^ppn at a. place caUed.Te i u^ ( ,,th,e vtaM < Attacked i" and,, after aj sharp scuffle^ tkk'en prisoners^'by a r ;'bah i. of obstructionists I ,' said"t6'"bb (i; coln- , posed of ,Earihajca 'native*. ' j^fltewj (Kimstelf; "who'iwasOini.ohirgo • oi)/Mr ! 1 HutSfchbaae'tf'e&ottj'M Beized;«ibut' subsequently managed to "gfcv a'^ay^i^anui,^,,Wng .pjedgeg^jl; at the treatmenfcffl^rkiHwwwPSisea view f to!,- secure IH^,; imwe-