THE TUHUA TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 90, 17 November 1880, Page 2

THE TUHUA TRAGEDY.

The complacency with winch the Native Minister and Ins honorable colleagues have ver-t'ivod the news of tlie slaughter of Moffatt, and the evident desire evinced to shirk the responsibility which has devolved upon them by the outrage, is a lamentable contrast \o their supposrd indignation when M Lean mf>t a similar fate. The Ministerial organs, as m duty bound, have promptly, come to the rescue, and have not only striven Io insinuate, but broadly assci'tud that Moffatt was entirely to blame, inasmuch as m defiance of the orders of Ngatai and Takiaiata he had forced his nay upon soil virgin to the Whit email's footsteps. This, Colonel M'DoxN'iNELL m a letter to the Wa.i---1 ciiiui Herald, which we reproduce beiO\v, distinctly denies. Not only have many Europeans been upon the land, but a gentleman from Wanganui was lately a o^.est of Ngatai and Takimata at Tauraamnui. We are quite prepared to admit that a Maori War afc the present juncture, and during the present commercial depression, is the vary reverse of advisable, but then the question ai'ises are we for pecuniary considerations to leave the lives and liberties of Ije people m jeopardy, or allow a membe" of the oourmuiity to be shot down iij cold blood without a hand beinjj raised to seek retaliation? Tho chief characteristics oE ihe l\ ! ative race are cowardice and cunning, and so suivly as these acts of lawless violence are allowed to go unpunished, so surely will they be repeated elsewhere. It is not the will or disposition ot the Taranaki Natives which has hitherto confined their conduct on the Waimate Plains to the harmless obstruction m which they have indulged. jNo, it is a wiiolsome Tear of the consequences, and consequently it will be seen that m those places where the culprit deems himself secure from the consequeuces of his crime that the outrages are committed. The following hitter from the pen of (Julonei M'Doxa'ELL, a man well versed m tiie intricadas of tiie Maori character, will be read with interest : — Sir, — Ngati, the chief who was chosen to lead the ambuscading 1 party who murdered MolTatt, was m Wair anui a few 111 :>nths a^;o, and he with o!;h-jr Natives aslied me to pay the:n a visib to T'liiua. We had a lou;» korero on various subjects ; he was -fien fsieadly disposed tr> the Europeans. Ai to the couuiiry whars MoitV-t met his ileatU ljdin;j viv^-ii soil to tbe White man's foots':^i>f3. Hint is not the cn^e. Many Europeans have bcei (;lio"e, and it is not Imvj rnro that a Europca.n Oi this U>..'ii >vat a oi i. 1 . jaiai a:id Tukiuiiilu afc tiie vi'U'/fj of Tauaiai-nnui itself. That the Toh ia Native.3 have lately eutevt.iined a hostile spirit t-> the Eiu'ops.ms ia unfortuuafcvsly true, and I liavo a prett >' yoad idsa of the reason. I cannot teU if the l^vltrj article m this uiorui.r/s jiaper uuaxis to i ifer t.'in.t- Maj ;r Kemp's bouudarymst'i'vi'* e::pD r U';ion luis iaotted ov encouraged i.lie Natives tj coai. nit. this oiiut-.i^e or aol, but a man has an undoubted ri,,'U' to mark oil his own land. B'lt this do I say, for it is true that the Government i'rom bsinjj once hasty m dismissiirj ALijor Ks'uij fron\ his iiivoi^fu) 151 '" 3 , have e.ico.ir.i.yjd reit'e-.^ s^iii. j 1.0 hatch niscaief and cotmuib acts or vio'o ico, tbe Natives tUinlin^ that ouv f LJeidl'e"-, who havefo-'.'^lit on our side, woald bo so dn^usued at the tre.it -neat tiiey Ix-xve received as to roiiriiu passive aud tnt assist fcha (Jovern;ua it m bvin i ) • i;baiu hi justica ior their acts. Iw 13 ti'^a th-il; LCu'iip lisi-i no iiiji-.'iov.lty m the Tiihua coit'iO'-y, na'jlicjr ii-.ivo the Govern meut, bub Kemp and ot'ier O'lieiS have gruib inftueace there th,<t ouv G jvevnineut h.ive no 1 , and it would be well they should have the mearts of usiu'j that influence to ea.'-b'e them to do snnathia f to vindicate it. as without it an army of dril'.ud men, and not raw reci- -.i.':?, wou'd b,n-e to bo raised, ere a successful aitciupt be in.'de to ai-iest Natives m the Tuhna coni'.ivy, a ciusidoajble portion of wliic'i lan u«qo.;t' ited -.vith. 81.-yor .Konv.), tnki : rf h'.'n a 1 ! and aU, i."loy,i,' to tho Whii-.e man, thou-,']i nho vjh he is at vaiia-ics with the Govevime'it ; but he i^i a New Ze. 1 Mid Clii^f, and is under the iiupvQ3 :iou that ho has boci insulted a-id mode Hti;io of ba'nre bis t,v\lT», nitl '-lie Govev.ime.it know fcbaf, -khey havoa^i'il Insf.i'y an;! iiiiwi^e'y, Whah did Xainp do wlieu i'lfoi'iu.iil of this oui,r:v;e aid murdsr ? He ordewd i;iie mes senier to hasten at once to town and iifjv'nthe autlioi'itie:, and Miis was done forthwith. Does tliis show an unfriendly spirit ? It is not rather a hint? Here is a c lance fcbat o'"Yht to be soized to renew our l l! fchei'to good ivide'i 'and' j - wii;h ouv rUav Natives, nnd I would s" • jest that Kemp be now called upon by virt'ie of b ; s pnst services, rant, position, au.l riflueaoe to pi'oceod to tho SCOlie of violence, and tittev obt.ii v i-; all inforui.ition, report to the Govovuuwit so tbi.t they we ma? vjally know wlwfc to expect, and I freiilv offor mv servioes to proceed there with him on thi s ground. — I am, &c, Thos. M'Donnell.