SIR GEORGE GREY'S POLICY

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 5, Issue 235, 30 November 1861, Page 3

SIR GEORGE GREY'S POLICY

[ From the Soutliem Cross, Nov. 5.]

Ettbbybody is very mysterious about ' the policy,' and could say a great deal, but it is pretty generally suspected that nobody is a bit wiser than his neighbour on the subject, and that Sir George Grey's policy will firßt show itself in its effects. However, whatever that policy may be, there is no doubt that unless a most decided stand is now made, and our relations to the natives placed on a satisfactory footing, we shall never again have the same chance as at present. A governor possessed of greater personal influence than any future one may ever hope to gain, and backed up by a larger foree — naval and military — than it is likely we will ever again see in this colony, ought to be able to do much, and if the opportunity is now lost we shall find ourselves in a worse position than if it had never been ours. Searching reforms are required; a mere superficial adjustment of the different points under dispute is not enough. Professions of loyalty, surrender of rebel flags, and mere verbal promises, will be no security against the recurrence of the Bcenes of last year. Roads must be made, and we trust that the rumour which lately reached iis that it was the intention of His Excellency to commence such works under the protection of the military, will prove to have been not without foundation. The official reticence which appears to be the great policy of the day renders it exceedingly difficult to form anything like an accurate opinion as to the feelings of the natives since the arrival of the present Governor, but judging by the information which we receive from different parts of the country, we have good reason to believe that we were not mistaken in our anticipations, and that the probable effects of a change of Governors had been considerably overrated. Sir George Grey's name waa a rallying cry amongst the natives so long as he was away, and when it was easy to assume, without any possibility of the absurdity of Jihe proposition being proved, that if here he would undo all that his predecessor had done, and appear as the partisan and champion of the one race, but his return was sufficient to expose the folly of any such expectations. Condonation of rebellion, a waiving of all demands on account of losses during that rebellion, and a return to the former state of affairs, was what the natives had been led to believe would be the result of the change, and the reaction which has followed the discovery of their mistake in this particular has been proportionately great. Perhaps there is sound policy in allowing them time now to ruminate over the great truth that whoever may be Governor the native must be taught to obey the Crown through its representative.