THE Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JAN. 8, 1881. THE NATIVE IMBROGLIO.

Manawatu Times, Volume V, Issue 106, 8 January 1881, Page 2

THE Manawatu Times.

SATURDAY, JAN. 8, 1881. THE NATIVE IMBROGLIO.

" Words are things, and a drop of ink fulling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions think."

Aboriginals have been rather a stumbling-block to greedy and adventurous colonists affected with earth hunger, and if we except the poor untutored savage of Australia, there are few natives of the soil upon the globe, be .their skins red or black, who care to give up their hereditary right to the land. This difficulty has had to be contended with m other countries than New Zealand, and although war and persecution and fire water have left only as it were a trace of the traditional Red Man of North America, still his destruction has not been accomplished without much cost and trouble. But the Red Indian had no paternal Government to guard his interest, as is the case with the Maori of New Zealand. He was not only allowed but encouraged to barter his somewbat mythical possession to the land for beads, or tomahawks, or strong whiskey, and no one came between him and the purchaser. The State did not set apart portions of what undoubtedly was once the patrimony of the people whereon they might live m peace, after the manner of the Native Reserves here. No ; it was deemed an unerring law of nature that with the advance of the White Man the Red should retire, and the • progress of civilisation and the settlement of the one was the death-warrant of the residence of the other. The living chain of white humanity to which a link was being added day by day was the barrier which forced back the original owners of the soil, and woe to the latter if a stand were made against the intrusion. Contrast the treatment of that once noble people, with the tender care and solicitude which is exercised over the fortunes of the. Maori of New Zealand. When he is able to talk, the State provides him with an education ; when he is of age, the Native Land Courts sit and decide upon his claims to property. Their reserves, which aro the cream of the country, pay no taxes, and m many cases the Maori has double the voting power of the \Vhite Man, Those who m addition to all those privi leges have not been loaded with pensions, have been thrown nice little perquisites, m the shape of the emoluitionts from Aspessorships,. ofGoes which are perfect sineonres, and have been bestowed for no other purpose than of rewarding favorites. In the face of such persistent toady* ietn to the race — for wo can use no expression more true — is it any wonder that the Native has become arrogant and defiant? Haw eau, we expect

the ruleivs of the land to receive respect or the laws of the country to be obeyed, when we see the accredited ambassador of the Queen's representative most grossly insulted, and a British subject shot down without a hand being raised to exact retribution. Te Whiti is now master of the situation, and though as a Prophet he may be a farce, he is cute and cunning enough to see his advantage and act upon it. We have seen how Mr. P arris was -publicly snubbed by the would-be Seer ; and, to use a vulgar phrase sent back to his master "with a flea m his ear." The messenger of Sir Arthur Gordon did not even fare so well ; for although he came under the protection of " the great Chief," Honi Pihama, Te Whiti would not condescend to listen to or receive the gubernatorial missive. We give the document m its entirety, and we imagine a perusal will bear out the charge of disgusting toadyism to the " untutored savage," which we have lodged against the Native Office. We were led to suppose when Mr. Sheeiian was deposed and Sir Hercules Fox got possession of the Augean stable, that the cleansing would be swift, sure, and effective. What has been the result? The member for Raagitikei, m conjunction with his brother knight had carte blanche tc settle the difficulty, and well they naade use of the permission. The lands of the colony were recklessly set aside for the use of the malcontents, and has that course lessened the evil ? Te Whiti is calmly, but insultingly more defiant than ever ; Kemp, once a proved and trusted ally, is m open rebellion ; the murderers of M'Leax and Moffat parade m. their war paint under the eyes and within the very grasp of the outraged law ; and hundreds of thousands have been expended m the arrest and maintenance of the political ploughmen ; for what purpose? Only to find after a year's experience, that the Government had paid a costly price for its bungling; that it was far more difficult to get rid of than retain the " white elephant " m their posession ; and the only way out of the muddle was to undo all that had been done before. This is the text of the Governor's letter : — Friend Te Wiiti,-— This is an announcement from me to you, who are living apart m a far off portion of these islands, and whom I desire to see brought near to mi. I am come here to assume the Government on behalf of the Queen, and m her name to administer justice to both race 3of her subjects. The troubles vhich have existed among some of the Maori people have been known to me m the pas; ; and now I am here, it is my duty to d) my best to remove them. I know, too, whit has been done by my pre* decessor, and tie General Assembly, to settle these difficulties, which have arisen ; and I desire to flush the work of put ting things right. I am told that jou are desirous of seeing me, and represent hg to me your view of what should be .dote to promote this good end. That is very good : and if you will let me know when you come to Wellington to see me, you shall be received with fitting hospitality, and I vill not only listen to whatever you wish to say to me, but also, if you show that wrings have been done, will do justice m accordance with the law and the will of the Queen. Should you consider the distance between Wellington and Parihaka too great to travel, then there is another way m which it would be easier for us to meet to discuss these matters. I soon shall be journeying round the colony to make mysef well acquainted with the affairs of Europeans and Natives throughout these Islands ; and m my journey I shall visit New Plymouth. Now, if you will come and visit me there, you can more readily return from thence to your own people, to tell them the result of our conference. Or. if you prefer it, I will meet you at any other place on ray way between Ntw Plymouth and Hawera, by the inland road. I am told that you have heard of what is proposed to be done for the settlement of differences ; and wien we meet I will make more clear to you t lie provision which will be made for the settlement of yonr people and the plans which I have for their future welfare. I have lately rulnd over a people very like the Maoris. 1 hava left them happy and contented, di«cu«s\ng their own affnirs. They make tlieir wishes known to the Q.ueon and to the Governor m a regular manner, through duly constituted nliannels. Why do not you and yours, m like manner, avail yourselves of those channels which, though not the same here, answer a similar purpose ? Why should we not talk of these matters ? I have heard thnt you are a man of peace, and thnt you have striven to prevent war. The light is still lingering on the monntaintop. When you receive the letter, write to me at oneo so that I may know what your attentions are — whether you will come here, or whether you will meet me on my journey — and I will then let you know what day I shall be at New Plymouth. . If you explain m your letter what your grievances are,. I shall be the hotter able to answer you when wo meet. From your friend, Abthub Gordon.