Evening Post. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1879. THE TE KOPUA MEETING.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 513, 19 May 1879, Page 2

Evening Post. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1879. THE TE KOPUA MEETING.

There appears to be little doubt that the great Te Kopua meeting, from which, bo much was promised, and by many expected, has proved a lamentable failure. When Sir George Grey met Tawhiao at Hikurangi last year he was received in the most respectful and friendly way. The differences between the Kingitea and the Government were discussed fairly and rationally. Sir George Grey made a series of proposals for the settlement of these differences, and Tawhiao asked for an adjournment to give him time to consult his people. The adjourned meeting at Kopua is just concluded. No special invitation to attend it was sent to the Premier. Tawhiao seemed quite indifferent whether Sir George Grey came or not to obtain an answer. Somewhat unwisely Sir George Grey went without an invitation, and he was treated as an uninvited and unwelcome guest might expect to be treated — with contumely and neglect. For days he and the Native Minister remained without even seeing Tawhiao or holding any communication with him, and Bubject to something very like direct insnlt from some of the chiefs who talked in their presence. At last Sir George Grey sent what has pompously and improperly been termed an ultimatum ; and this eliciting no response, he withdrew the Hikurangi proposals, which Tawhiao evidently regarded so contemptuously as not to think them worth reply, and left the meeting {thoroughly checkmated. Before doing so, however, he wrote a letter to Tawhiao, which is a verjr admirable piece of humbug, and which will no doubt be so regarded by Tawhiao and his followers. In this Sir Geoege Grey assumed a tone of injured innocence, held hhnself up as a victim of unrequited love, and wound up by a profession of Christian forgiveness and continued affection very much in the Stiggina style. When we come to compare the whole performance, from Hikurangi down to this letter, with what Ministers and their organs now claim as the result of the Te Kopua meeting, it ia impossible to refrain from a feeling rather akin to disgust at the hypocrisy of the whole affair. Sir George Grey, from the very firat, has disclaimed all selfish motives in his negotiations with and proposals to the King party. He has assumed the philanthropic role of the friend of both races, equally anxious to see strict justice done to the Maori as to the European, and desirous of bringing about a better understanding between the two races, from a conviction that the interests of both would thereby be served. Yet now we find it claimed as a substantial gain that the seeds of jealousy and disunion — seeds which, if they take root and grow, are pretty sure to produce a crop of bloodshed — have been sown I between the two most important sections of the Kingite party, the Waikatos and the Ngatimaniopotoa, and that out of this quarrel we are likely to reap benefit. Certainly it is a strange triumph for the disinterested friend of both races to claim that he has set two sections of one race at enmity with each other, in order that the other race may take advantage of the " split." We do not at all object to Eewi and the Ngathnaniopotos being played off against Tawhiao and the Waikatos. Such a policy may be a wise and legitimate one, bnt it is one utterly opposed to all the professions made by Sir George Grey hitherto, and the result must either be accepted by him as a most complete defeat of all his aims, or claimed as the triumphs of a policy of hypocrisy deeper than ever Machiavelli conceived. If the "split" between the two tribes ia * real one we shall doubtless derive great; benefit from it. Deprived of the countenance of Khwi and the Ngatimaniopotoa the King movement must collapse. Tawhaio and his Waikatos are not strong enough to sustain it. The greater part of the socalled King country which they occupy is really Ngatimaniopoto land held by the Waikatos on charitable and patriotic sufferance because their own country was confiscated. Rbwi and his people may open up this country to us, but if they do they must be prepared for armed resistance from its present occupants. Tawhiao is represented as surrounded by a body guard of upwards of 200 young men fully armed, and commanded by Purikutu, the murderer of Todd. These men are no doubt eager for the fray, and probably would fight their quondam allies aa willingly as they wonld the pakeha. They are not likely to stand quietly by while Rswi pursues a course of action likely to dispossess them of the lands they now hold. To be of any real advantage to us Rewi's action must be of a character likely to provoke the Waikatos to an appeal to arms. If Rswi is willing to respond to such an appeal we shall be morally bound to assist him, and shall be plunged into another Maori war, although ot course it will be one with great odds on our side, and very tangible gain as the certain result. Short of our being prepared to. go this length it is not easy to see what substantial advantage t the disruption between Rewi and Tawhiao ia likely to secure us. If Rewi's friendship is to be a fruitful one we must be prepared to support him, at all riaka, in the assertion of his rights. How Sir George Grey and Mr. Shkbhan could justify doing so to Parliament passes human comprehension. Looking aa impartially as we can at the whole affair we are forced to the conclusion that the native policy of the present Ministry, so far as it was directed to the breaking down of the aukati line, and consequent isolation of the King party, with a view to opening up their country to public works and settlement, and the location of the now legally landless tribes on suitable reserves taken from former confiscations has utterly failed, while any good which may result from the negotiations of the last twelve months will be due rather to aooident than design.