Sir Donald McLean and Todd's Murderer.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1976, 9 June 1876, Page 2

Sir Donald McLean and Todd's Murderer.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

WELLINGTON.

(Prom our own correspondent.)

This day. The Post has a strong article on the inter* view between the Native Minister and Tawhiao. It says :—" The fact has recently been telegraphed from Auckland to Southern papers that Todd's murderer was present at the meeting between McLean and Tawhiao. The Native Minister is stated to have gone into a towering passion, because the repoiter engaged by the Government to give an account of the meeting mentioned that the scoundrel was there. Truly this is carrying out the policy of conciliation with a vengeance. What advantage has been gained by the meeting between the Native Minister and Tawhiao, yet remains to be seen. Telegrams give no account of what took place. They were reticent in the extreme, and, merely contained vague assurances that the results achieved were of the most satisfactory nature, while later intelligence by the'mail from Auckland indicates tbat all important details will be kept back until the Assembly meets. It is, however, evident enongh that , the ' Government, as represented in the;. person of Sir Donald McLean, has been placed in an undignified position. To think 7 that tbe member of the Government of thicolony,. who has received knighthood at the 7 hands of her Majesty, should sit 'cheek \>f jowl,' not only with the protector of murderers, butiwith one of the actual murderers himself, is humiliating in the last degree to the national pride. After learning this, the ' idea that Tawhiao will be required to give up the murderers in that territory may be altogether abandoned. We do not believe that the Native Minister ever contemplated insisting that this should be done. His sole object was to secure interview with Tawhiao on any terms, so tbat he might increase his reputation in the eyes of the Assembly as being the only man in the colony fitted to be entrusted with the management of native affairs. To come before parliament and declare that he alone had been able to remove the barriers which kept the native king isolated in an attitude of sullen dislike from Europeons, would surely be a trump card to play. Hence, Sir Donald McLean has thought no concession too great, and no degree of abasement to be endured too low so long as this interview could be brought about. He has, through his agents alone, implored that an interview should be granted, and, so far as we can learn, its result has been that the negotiations which took place have ended in a promise of substantial benefits being accorded to tbe native king and his party. On our side nothing has been gained but humiliation.