TOWN EDITION, Evening Post. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 26, 1881.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 100, 26 October 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION, Evening Post . WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 26, 1881.

Events continue to march on apace in Native affairs. In another column will bs found particulars of some further outrages by the disaffected Maoris on the property of European settlers, of their headlong flight when approached by the representatives of the law, and of the first arrests mad i under thg new order of things. These occurrences as described are very suggestive as to the shape the operations on tho pax); of the natives are likely to take in tho 'events of which we are now on the threshold. The policy of Pc Whiti and his followers is, as wo have always maiutained, not "war," but " worry." They like to make a forcible entry in overwhelming numbers upon the land of some is lated European settler and to destroy his property, but they do not like to remain and fice the consequences. So, directly the Constabulary apr p roach, the perpetrators of the offence flee precipitately. They don't want to fight or to be arrested. We are told that one of the two who were arrefcted yesterday fell off his horse from sheer fright. It may be that we shall have to encounter men made of sterner stuff than these hectoring cowards. At present, however, the chances seem against this, and in favour of a mere continuance by tb.9 Maoris of their "'worry" polioy. They have doubtless been carefully advised by thos e '• P#keha-Maori " schemers who have had so much $v do }n fomenting Native troubles in

New Zealand, and this one among the rest, that they have not the, ghost of a chance in fair fight with the Europeans, and that their only hope lies in tha adoption of a Fabian policy. Yesterday's proceedings afford a good index to the shape that policy 1b likely to take. It will at once be obvious* that this involves a much more puzzlitig problem to deal with than plain, straightforward hostilities would furnish. Ta Whiti's 'attitude is > quite clear. He knows he has no real grievance, because special provision has been made for the liberal settlement of every claim^poasessing the alighest substantial merit. But he does not want to Bubmit to the Queen or her laws. He prefers to consider himself an independent Sovereign, independent not on'y of Queen Victoria, but even of the Creatoe. Some time ago Te Whiti blasphemously announced that he had superseded the Holy Tbinity in the Divine Government of the world, and in a recent speech (quoted elsewhere) he Becks to po3e as a new Kedeemer, about to Buffer for the tins of mankind. All this blasphemous bosh, and the profane .parodies of Scriptural language in which Te Whiii loves ta indulge, might very well be disregarded aa the ravin g3 of a religious monomaniac but for tha Berious practical consi>quence3 they endanger. Te Whiti's last Speech was not ¦mulSh wilder in its rhodomontade, or more absurd "in its mixed metaphor and stilted imagery, than some ranting sermons we have heard on record. Only, unluckily, while theEe sermons generally fall harmless, Te Wb iti's mysterious utterances appeal directly to the disaffection of an excitable people, ond incite them to despise and defy the law of the land. It is this sort of thing which has to be put down. We cannot allow Te Whiti to continue defying and breaking the law, and yet say to the European settlers who , are kept in perpetual harass and anxiety by his action — " The Maoris may break the law as much aa they like toward you, but you must keep strictly within the law in your action toward them : if they kill I you,, it i 3 nothing, but if yon kill them it is murder." This system has gone on quite long enough, and indeed much too long. The time has arrived wh^n the Maori must be taught a lesson. One of two things must Be aohe/ .Hither the strict observance of the law must be forced equally on both faces, "or else both must be equally allowed to take the law into their own hands. It is impossible to permit the ono party to the dispute to do this and yet restrain the other. It, as is practically argued by Te Whiti's new organ, the Lyttelton Times, the natives aro"so be "patieutly " left to themselves to work their own free will regardless of legal restraints, then, in common fairness, these .restraints must be taken off the settlers. They would not at all object to the matter ;being placed on this footing. Authorise the .Taranaki settlers to settle the Native difficulty for themselves and they would make very short and complete work of it. .The nativoß who would be left would not be numerous enough to_ meet or frighten anybody. But if this is deemed shocking and impermissible, then the other alternative is the only one remaining — compel the Maoris, as well as tho Kuropeans, to obserye and respect the laws under which' they live, and which are bound to govern as well as to protect both sides equally. Let the Government consistently carry out this course, and they need not fear any lack of support on the part of the country.

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY.

The Hon. Major Atkinson leaves to-night for Opunako by the Hinemoa. Mr. Rolleston's departure jb further postponed. The following members of the committee of the Benevolent Institution attended yesterday afternoon's ordinary weekly meeting of that body :— Mr. J. G Holdaworth (Chairman), Revs. J. T. Hinton, H. Van Staveren, H. B. Redstone, W Kirk, and P. Kerrigan, Councillor Danks, and Messrs. B Smith and 0» F« Powles (Treasurer). A resolution was pMHfed. to the effect that in the opinion of tHJB TOmmittee it was desirable "that the oldlS&feTa at present boarded out should be remowd to the Hospital, and that ihoir labouvfe fchould be utilised on tho Hospital grounOihH It was state 1 that the sum of 23250 ntiw to the credit of the Convalescent Fund, the Chairman explaining that the pitifoipal portion of this amount represented "the proceeds (which had been subsidised) of the Hospitil ball neld some months ago. About the usual number of ' ' cases ' ' were Uftalb with. , Mr. Hutchison, in his speech last night, made a bitter attack on the Government Insurance Departmoht and ifc3 management, but took good care ihot te speak out boldly, and give any instances of the '"delay" and mismanagement which he alleged against the Department. Why is Mr. Hutchison so bitter against the Insurance Commiosionor ? It surely cannot be because that gentleman some years ago when purauinj? the profession of journalism exposed certain curioua practices of a certain Mayor ia respecb to rollstuffing, and the illogaPpayment of of the ratepayers' money to a certain contractor. We should like to have some explanation on this point. Those " two gentlemen" who, according to our yesterday's telegrams, " went to Parihaka " and forced their way uninvited into a native meeting which Te Whiti was addre sing, were very deservedly snubbed for their impertinent intrusion Had the state of " war," about which some people are so fond of talking, really prevailed, they might have deemed themselves lucky iv escaping being shot as spies. As it was they were very properly "cut" by the natives, who refused to hold any intercourse with the intruders. These unauthorised visits to Patihaka are exceedingly undesirable in the present Btate of affairs, and, if not authoritatively checked, may lead to awkward complications, and. may " foice the hand of the Government " in a very inconvenient manner. A somewhat novel gift delighted the hearts of the Benevolent Committee yesterday. Mr. A. G. Price, an employe at Te Aro House, wrote offering the use to any respectable family free of rent a four-roomed house situate at .Newtown, the only stipulation being that' the tenants should take proper care of tho building. No mention was made of the term during whioh the tenants would be allowed to occupy the house without the payment of rent. The generous offer was gratefully accepted. Two lunatics arrived by the steamer Wakatu from Wanganui this morning. It seems the amount recently collected in aid of the Dewar family has suffered a narrow escape of being augmented by means of tho usual Government subsidy. The Treasurer of the Benevolent Committee reported yesterday that a short time ago no sent the ordinary voucher to the Government for various expenses, &c, during the previous quatter, which amounted to 17s 6d. Thia Sum included the money raised on behalf of the Dewar family and money collected for various other objects. In due course he received a cheque for only JJSI la, and, on investigating the matter, he found that the "money collected" had been disallowed. The Treasurer thereupon wrote to the Colonial Secretary, returning the cheque for .£sl is, and expressing the opinion that at least some explanation might have been given for the extraordinary course adopted. Since then he had received no reply. Mr. Holdsworth, the chairman of the committee, said he had made enquiries, and found that the collected money had been disallowed under an entire misapprehension. ' He' had every reasoa to believe that the whole amount would shortly be to hand. The suhjoct provoked no further disousskm. The Wellington Chess Club held their final meeting of the session last evening, at their rooms, Evening Post Chambers, when -the prizes in fie two tourneys were presented to tho fortunate winners by Mr. Whittem,. the vice-president of the club. Mr. Benbow was the recipient of a gold medal as first prize, and Mr. J. G. Andeison of a Bilver medal as second prize in one tourney. Mr. D.dsbury took the first prize, a handsome silver cup, and Mr. Hullett the second prizo in the other tourney. Mr. Whittem, in a few well-chosen words, congratulated the winners, who responded suitably. Mr. Benbow then proposed a vote of thanks to the secretary, Mr. W. C. Macdermott, for his energy, alluding to tho fact that this was the most successful session ever held by the club, which he thought due, in a great measure, to the interest tj.ken by the secretary in the club. The two medals, which are the work of Mr. Kohn, are esoeedingly handsome, and reflect the greatest credit on his establishment. The pnze3 will be on view at Mr. Kohn's for a few days. In another column will be found an advertisment announcing the half-yearly meeting of the Wellington Ladies' Chilian Association. We are requested to intimate that the Association is much in want of more halpsrs for the various branches of its work, particularly for the Dorcas sawing meetings held every Thursday iv the School^ room of St. John's Church, Willis-street. . !he musical and literary entertainment given at St. John's School-room, WillisBtreat, last evening in aid of the organ fund, passed off with entire success, There was a large and moat enthusiastic audience, and the programme, which was both varied and attractive, was excellently produced. We regret that the extreme pressure on our space to-day precludes the fuller notice which the merits of the performance deserved. The Pomeroy Dramatic Company open at the Theatre Koyal to-night, in bhakespeare's play *' Twelfth Night," in which Miss Louise Pomeroy will appear as Viola-~one of hep beat parts— supported by a very Btrong company. A grand bazaar, in aid of the funds for building a new schoolroom in connection with Wesley Church, iB announced to take place at the Arcade on the lßt, 2nd, anil 3rd November. Mr. W. H. Levin has consented to open the bazaar. Particulars will' be found in our advertising columns.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court this afternoon, before Messrs. E. Baker and J. Mackay, J.P.'s. Frank Wallis, landlord of the Bj-ancli Hotel, was charged with adulterating certain spirits with water. Constable Gordon deposed that the spirits were reduced to 18"2 under proof. No further evidence being called for the prosecution, Mr Stafford, for the defence, submitted that the information must be dismlEsed, as it was essential for a conviction that guilty knowledge must be proved. The Bench took this view of the case, and dismissed the information. Eight other similar cases were then withdrawn. A telegram from Auckland announces that the half-year y meeting of the Bank of New Zealand was held to-day, when a dividend and bonus of the same amount as before was declared, and the sum of .£23,700 was carried forward. An additional subscription to the Dewar relief fund, which many donbtleaa had supposed to have been closed some time ago, was reported at yesterday's meeting of the Benevolent Committee, the contribution amounting to 225. Wo ar-3 requested to direct the attention of school and dhurch committees, and the public generally, to Mr. J. H. Wallace's sale to-morrow at the Academy of Music. • Cue Homes. — In all homes of taste there has long existed a desire to be relieved from the monotony of whiteness, so characteristic of the present style of lace curtains The patentee of the Imperial Lace Curtains claims to have satisfied this want by the production of an article pleasing from its novelty, elegant as to its fabric, and profitable from its durability. Composed of Cream Guipure dArt Lace, and beautifully illuminated with natural colours, the eflect produced is magnificent. Careful housekeepers will be pleased to know that the colours are perfectly fast, as the patentee guarantees that every pair is tested in boiling water before leaving the factory. As tho quantity is but limited, ladies should at once inspect these at Jabies Smith's, Te Aro House.— FAdvt.l