The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATES The Evening News and the Morning News WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1873.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1023, 30 April 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATES The Evening News and the Morning News

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For thp wrongs that need, resistance, For the future In the distance, ' And the good that we can do. .'

These are few, if there are any, in the province who will not earnestly desire that the dark cloud gathering over the Waikato may be dissipated, and that the peace enjoyed during the past few ■yearsjjmay..not be abruptly closed. But there are worse things than war, and if necessity, is laid on the colonists it will be contemplated bravely. It cannot be denied that the aspect of affairs is very threatening, and we believe that it will be very false policy if those guiding the councils of the King are not distinctly given to understand the gravity of the occasion. If they will have war let it be war. If they will have peace they should not only not recognise the nmrderers, but either

capture and surrender them, or ' willingly accord permission to the Armed Constabulary to hunt the fugitives any where and every where to the death. The murder of Todd has been condoned, and it may have been ■wise policy. Probably it was. But there can be too much of this, and if there is even delay in reference to the pursuit and punishment of Sullivan's murderers we shall have had too much. Every one knows what another Maori war will result in, and none ' know it better than the leaders of the Kingfparty themselves. It will be the final settlement of the native difficulty by the virtual annihilation of the native race; and we venture to say \ that at its close the " Queen's writ would run " from Auckland to Wei- ' lington without any interruption. ' That this may not be necessitated i must be the prayer of every colonist possessed of a spark of humanity, but that this will be the result

if necessity is laid upon us must be the determination of every man with a spark of manhood in his breast. There has been temporising for several years with the natives, and it seemed calculated to preserve peaceful relations until by lapse of time the two peoples had been blended. And the Fabian policy would still be the policy with the natives if the devils would allow; it. But murder after murder on their side, and sugar and flour on ours, is not the style of thing that will much longer suit a law-loving and civilized people who know their strength and their ability to squelch these guerrillas and the power that harbours them. As we have said before, it appears exceedingly inopportune that this murder should have been perpetrated while the good fruits of the Kavvhia episode were probably maturing. But it may be that it will prove an event decisive for good, and the King feeling that now no longer time for deferring the determination of his future course being given, may be disposed to listen to peaceful overtures. Perhaps no commissioner could have been selected better adapted to tho occasion than Mr Mackay. He wishes well to the natives and to peace, and he is a man of plain speech and dauntless heart in dealing with the Maoris. His accepting the work is guarantee that he is not bound down to talk namby parnby, and he will not say Peace ! Peace ! when there is no peace. All that we have to desire is that he may have been empowered to present in all their fulness the benefits of peace as well as the horrors of war. We are aware that Mr Mackay entertains such an idea as that recently sketched by us, namely, tho advantages of conferring a species of semi-vice-regal state and power on Tawhiao, and making him responsible for the actions of hie followers, and if such a proposal were made to this chieftain now when his refusing to recognise anthority and superior power, and to surrender the murderers will be inevitable war, and annihilation, of all his belongings, it would be more than

probable that he would accept the offer, and bring a very unsatisfactory state of relations to a close. Events during the coming few days will be invested with deep interest. The tenor of our telegrams reveals the fact that there is an intensity not only in feeling but in action in the upper Waikato. In three days the King's answer will be received. The armed constabulary are pouring in, and their officers calmly " waiting for arj answer." It is evident that unless a cold blanket is drawn over the martial ardour of the district by the Native office, " an answer " will be brought in, and that right quickly. If it is satisfactpry, well; but if it is supposed that a second edition of the "pursuit" of Todd's murderers will appease the public mind, we think, that such repetition will not be backed up by public opinion. We sincerely hope that on this critical juncture the King will be induced by a noble' offer to close for ever the great gulf; between the races. It would be; a bright page in the history of the| Anglo-Saxon settlementj[of New Zealand that would tell of the chivalrous' conduct of the superior race in doing: this honor to the last of the tribes; opposing the advance of civilization.! But if it must be so, that war is the only solution of the present difficulty,' we sincerely hope that another year will show the silence of death throughout the native districts, that not a rebel may remain to tell the story of the war, and that their magnificent' lands will be open for the conqueror, the lawful prize of victory, and become1 available for the unimpeded settlement of hundreds of thousands of industrious colonists. There will be plenty! of volunteers. for the front who willj glory in carrying the confiscated; boundary line away over the island till! it joins the settlements in the South.; Still we hope the war will be averted,! and it may be averted if the Govern-! ment act as becomes the occasion.; But that action cannot afford to be a repetition of the pursuit of the mur-j derers of Todd..