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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 438, 18 November 1863, Page 3

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Sir,— Claiming the privilege of an old correspondent, as also of being one of the oldest settlers in the Province, I beg to offer the following observations to the consideration of your numerous readers. We have now before us the views entertained by His Excellency the Governor, and also those existent in the mind of His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, touching the present aspect of native affairs in the Northern Island of New Zealand. We may gather from the documents laid before us that the Imperial Government conceive that the policy of concession has been carried to its very extreme verge ; but that Sir George Grey himself, as exemplified by his new course of procedure, is quite convinced that the sugar and flour system, or, in other words, the perpetual yielding to Maori exaction and Maori turbulance,. is no longe'p/coßnistent with the progress of civilizaitjon, or even with a loyal colonization of the ■Northern Islaud. It would be invidious here toshow, from His Excellency's own writings, that -the mistrustful feeling exhibited at home in respect of Britiah settlers located in New Zealand, have, in a great degree, been fostered by Sir Geo. Grey, Suffice it that he now. se.es the error of hia

ways, and is prepared to do justice to the longsuffering patient endurance of Her Majesty's loyal subjects in these Islands. The programme of future measures for suppressing the rebellion and advancing the prosperity of these communities, as indicated by Mr. Whi taker and Mr. Fox, is indeed of a moat satisfactory character. It would have been most mortifying if the hard-headed and clever author of the Six Colonies of Now Zealand had much longer been under the Lethean influence of the prejudiced and bigoted opinions of the High Church pro-Maori party. Mr. Fox has again resumed the exercise of his own good common sense, and it is a subject of congratulation that our adopted country may have the benefit of his unquestionably high abilities. I have said that the ministerial statement of future policy is good, which it most undoubtedly is if carried out to its legitimate issue. Not /only mutt active rebellion be trodden out, and made to defray the expense of its accomplishment, but passive rebellion, shown in aiding and supporting those in arms against Her Majesty's authority, must al.so be dealt with. I need not do mom than name Pa Whakairo, and the open defiance of all legal authority exhibited by the bulk of the Maori population along the entire length of the east and south coast, to fully exemplify my meaning. Any attempt to enumerate the vile oppression and scorn of all justice towards British settlers, practised by the natives of those parts, would be futile from the magnitude of the task. Sir George Grey's ministry must not hold their hand or cease their efforts till every Maori (north and south) has sworn allegiance to Her Majesty, and without reservation submitted to the domination of British law. What a noble passage that is in Mr. Whitaker's exposition, where he saya, "he should not be content until Her Majesty's writ could be executed and obeyed in every nook and corner of New Zealand/ This is all'we desire : iet our Maori neighbours be placed upon a perfect equality with ourselves, but not one jot higher. Let our immunities be their immunities, but also our penalties be their penalties. Is there anything one-sided or illiberal in such sentiments? Cau the most rabid Maori philanthropist tiud aught to cavil at in such declarations? Common sense and justice reply, NO ! — a thousand times NO ! We may confidently appeal to the verdict of the entire civilised world upon ths complete fairness of such propositions. One word upon the subject of the war. The escape of the horde of rebels and assassins from Mere mere, without chastisement, is a subject for regret ; not only because the war ma,y not afford another opportunity of inflicting signal punishment of their crimes, but from the great danger to be apprehended by the adjacent provinces, from the ruthless depredations of so large a body of armed and remorseless men, who, doubtless, hopeless of conquering, will be greedy of destruction. It. throws a fearful responsibility on our chiefs and commanders to be unceasingly vigilant and prepared at all times to meet any emergency that may arise. I solemnly warn them' to be awake and active. Whatever of preparation may yet be necessary, let it be promptly done. The time for action has now arrived, — the period for words and formalities gone. Faering to trespass further upon your space, I will only add that I have, in this letter, expressed the opinions of nineteen- twentieths of the .British settlers in these provinces — the only exceptions being persons who, from their dealings with the Natives, have a direct interest in upholding their truculency. Above all other measures necessary for the safety of Hawke's Bay, it is indispensably requisite we should have a large addition to our military defences, either in soldiers or in military volunteer settlers. On this point no time can be lost without much danger. I am, Sir, yours truly, Napier, Nov. 9, 18(53. JASTUS.