TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3216, 20 October 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. The Daily Telegraph THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1881.

A proclamation was issued under the hand of His Excellency the Acting Governor yesterday, in which the efforts of the Government to bring about a satisfactory conc'usion of the difficulties on the West Coast are fully set forth. These efforts for the past two years are traced, and the unsatisfactory results which followed tbem are acknowledged. The work of the Royal Commission to enquire into native grievances, and the effect given by the Government to its recommendations, are detailed ; and Te Whiti's contemptuous refusal of the Governor's invitation, and uncourteous reception of a Minister of the Crown, are also referred to. Te Whiti's action, Bays the proclamation, has done great wrong to his own people, as well as to the colony generally. Through his words numbers of natives are kept back from obtaining lands which would otherwise be given to them. Numbers of Btrangers who never had any interest in the lands at Parihaka are being brought to Parihaka to the detriment of the people at that place. Month after month natives are assembled from a distance. They are making themselves poor by contributing to useless expenditure upon feasts which take them away from their own homes, and they are led to neglect the cultivation of their own lands. At these meetings Te Whiti has spoken in

such a way as to turn the people from listening to tbe proposals of tbe Government, and tbe sound of his voice has unsettled the minds of the people. Recently his wordj were such as to promote angry feelings and incite open resistance to the law. This was followed in defiance of the law, and in spite of warnings by officers of the Government, by tbe erection of fences on land not set apart for native?, and by Te Whiti's orders his followers assembled in sucb numbers and under such circumstances as plainly to show their determination to resist the law when the fences should be removed by order of the Government. Thus a great wrong is being done to natives as well as Europeans, and the confusion which the Governor said must cease is still prevailing. The language used by Te Whiti, and the threatening attitude assumed by his followers, have caused apprehensions among the settlers, and compelled the Government to incur great expense and to increase largely the numbers of the Armed Constabulary. The Commissioners rightly said:—"A time must come when the offers and promises of the Crown must either be accepted or refused once for all. No one would pretend that Te Whiti may on his part keep the whole country side in turmoil and danger as long as he lives, and that the Government on itaside must be ready to redeem its promises whenever he chooses. If tbe native people are to have the promises fulfilled, the English settlers must have some guarantee that they too shall have done with this long suspense, and may live on their land in security or peace." These were the words of the Commissioners, and the time has come for their ful6lment, Te Whiti and tiis adherents must now accept the proposals of the Government, or all that they might now have under those proposals will be beyond their reach. In the Parihaka block 35,000 acres on the mountain side of the road ate, a? recommended by the Commissioners, offered as an ample provision for the Parihaka people, besides other reserves on the seaward side of the road. About the latter the Government has said that it was willing to consider the wishes the natives might lay before it. The Government now states plainly that these offers will, after fourteen days, be withdrawn, unless within that time Te Whiti and his adherents signify their acceptances of them, and their willingness to submit to the law of the Queen, and to bring their claims before -the Commissioners. If they do so the recommendations of the Commissioners and the promises made will be liberally interpreted and fulfilled. Should the natives be so infatuated as to disregard this warning, the Government will proceed to make roads throughout the Parihaka block, or to lay off lands for European occupation inland of the main road. The claims of such natives under previous promises will then have passed away, and none ot them will be allowed to occupy land in defiance of the law. The Queen and the law must be supreme at Parihaka as well as elsewhere. Te Whiti and his people are now called upon to accept the proposals made to them, which would give large and ample reserves to the people. If they do not do this they alone will be responsible for the passing away from them for ever of the lands which are still proffered by the Government, and for the great evil whicb must fall on them. In conclusion, the Maoris residing on the West Coast who wish to live at peace with the Europeans are earnestly requested to listen to a word of great import to them. Te Whiti aud those who adhere to him have hitherto refused to listen to the proposals which have been made by the Government, and at Te Whiti's instance numbers of natives are keeping aloof from the work of peace. The word of the Government now is that those who wish to accept tbe offers which have been made should leave Te Whiti if he neglects the final opportunity now offered to him. They should go to those lands which have been set aside for them. All visitors should return to their homes, in order that they may not be involved with those who are working confusion, and may not suffer with them. If this warning is neglected, who can distinguish between those who desire peace and those whose work leads to disaster ? The innocent and the guilty may suffer together and this is not the desire of the Government.