TOWN EDITION. Evening Post. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881. THE EVENTS OF SATURDAY.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 110, 7 November 1881, Page 2

TOWN EDITION. Evening Post. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1881. THE EVENTS OF SATURDAY.

The result of last Saturday's proceedings at Patihaka has conclusively demonstrated two things. First, that Mr. Brick waa quite right in believing that he could effect the arrest of Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki with certainty of success and without bloodshed. Secondly, that his colleagues were quite right in refusing to agree to that proceeding in January last, or at any earlier period than the one ultimately cho.-on. Had Mr. Bbtck been allowed to carry out his plan last January, it is now evident that it would have practically failed, because the arrest of Hiroki would not havo been resisted, therefore there would have been no pretext for seizing Te Whiii and 'Jouu, who had not then committed any act of mere rebellion, which, in fact, they had not done until they delivered the notorions pakanga orations at the September meeting. Moreover, the recommendations of the Royal Commissioners had not at that time been fully carried out, as they have been since, the process culminating in the issue of the famous proclamation of the 19th ulfc. Consequently had the proceedings of Saturday last been anticipated by ten months they must necessarily have failed to be complete and conclusive, while they would assuredly have excited a strong feeling of disapprobation both inside and outside the Colony, especially ia view of their inconsistency with the letter just addressed to Th Whiti, by the Governor, with Mr. Bryce's concurrence. Ab it is, the final

step has only beea taken after every other means" of arriving at a settlement has been tried without result, when forbearance has been extended so thoroughly to it 3 legitimate limit that to have carried it further would have approached perilously near a semblance of weakness. This has now been avoided. It was sound policy to tave an overwhelming force on the spot before moving a step in the direction of coercion. It was humane aa well aa politic, because it rednced the chances of bloodshed by rendering resistance obvious'y hopeless from the ontset. The surrounding and ocCupatidn of Parihaka, the arrest of the two ringleaders, Te Whiti and Tohu, and of the accused murderer, Birofei, a]l were well planned and thoroughly executed. It is only just to say that Te Whiti seema to have borne himself with singular dignity and moderation. It is hard to conceive a more admirably dignified and temperate demeanour than he appears to have preserved under circumstances 01 exceptional trial and natural irritation. Tohu also acquitted himself with manliness and magnanimity. It iB imposßiule to help feeling much regret that it has proved necessary for the peace and order of the whole colony to adopt such strong measures against these two remarkable men. We altogether protest against their being associated with such a man as Hiroki, the alleged murderer. They have been instrumental in preventing many murders and much bloodehed, and but for their admirable behaviour on Saturday wo assuredly should not have had a bloodle3s triumph to record. Had they counselled resistance there would hava been faiapy a bereaved family and mourning home to-day, however certain our ultimate victory. At the same time it must be clear to everyone that the peace, prosperity and progress of the colony cannot be left at the mercy of men who are either crafty fanatics, with curiously ingenious method in their madness, ot else peculiarly astute and unscrupulous conspirators. They and their followers must be restrained from mischief, in their own interests, as well aa those of the community at large. What steps will be tiken to ensure this result has yet to be seen. It is much to be regretted that Mr, Bryce should have sullied his Success, and made himself alike unpopular and ridiculous, by his preposterous but happily impotent attempt to exclude the Press representatives from Parihaka on Saturday ; and even arresting two or three unfortunates who, in their very proper zeal for the interests of their employers and the public, ventured to disregard his monstrous mandate. The only result, so far as Mr. Bryce is concerned, has been to make him look supremely absurd, and to cover him with well-deserved derision. He will not hear the last of his eil y but abortive pieoe of petty tyranny during the term of his natural life. His conduct was utterly indefensible and unprecedented. Even in actual war the correspondents of tho Press are invariably permitted to be present, and this should be the case much more in police expeditions snoh as that of Saturday, when it is bo allimportant that full and independent acconnts should be published, and the public not left dependent on mere official bulletins. We enter our most strenuous protest against the arbitrary and grossly improper course pursued by Mr. Bbyce on thia occasion, which really would suggest an uncomfortable suspicion that something was contemplated which would not bear the light of day. We heartily commend the correspondents to whose pluck and resourca the public are indebted for the full reports which are published of the occurrences. They are distinctly the heroeß of that day, for they deliberately faced no small personal risk on both sides in the performance of their duty, and theirs was practically the only real danger encountered on that day. It i 8 much to be deplored that Mr. Bryce should have brought discredit on an otherwise able and successful undertaking by this piece of folly.