The Hawke's Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1805.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 8, Issue 587, 21 March 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY, AND SATURDAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1805.

John Bull is not usually supposed to be very sentimental. He is generally taken as the type of all that is earnest and practical. But, in fact, the great jolly dunderheaded old giant is as full of sentimentality as a novel-readiug young lady of sixteen. His great heart is for ever overflowing with love and affection for all aud sundry. He is ever ready to espouse the weaker slde, simply because it is the weaker. He believes every distressing tale simply because it is distressing, and gets outrageously angry whenever any instance of oppression or cruelty, real or imaginary, comes to his knowledge. The strong feeling for the aborigines of New Zealand arose solely from this excessive kind hearteduess, acted upon by cuuniugly devised fictions. He was told and believed that the Maoris were polished, high-minded christians — quite as good as, if not better than, the atrocious robbers, the grasping laud sharks, who were doing their best to drive them from their hunting grounds and finally to exterminate them. Recently, however, his eyes have been gradually opening to the fact that the colonists are not so black as they were painted j and there is little doubt that the news by next mail for home will effect a radical change in his estimate of the innocent aud high-souled character of these dusky "nature's geutlemen." A roar of iudigatiou will issuo from his mighty chest upon receipt of the news of the act of horror at Opotiki, and loud demands will be heard from all sides for swift and heavy retribution. Aud woe to Sir George Grey — woe even to the deservedly respected General Cameron, if the steps now taken be not prompt, vigorous, aud successful. What, indeed, had poor Volkner done that his fate should be worse than the fate ofAhab! But we have no wish to recapitulate the circumstances of this horrible atrocity — the full measure of which, indeed, is not yet known to the public. Mr. Volkuer had beeii kinder than a father to the wretches who stood by and watched unmoved the fearful tragedy of his death. He was even, ou this his last voyage, the beaver of quinine, wive, and other medicines and comforts for their numerous sick — all provided at his own cost. Their crime was worse than parricide, and if the intelligence of its commission be not soon followed to England by the account of a complete and never-to-be-forgotten punishment, there will be a burst of indignation suob, as to carry before it, like chaff before

a whirlwind, all who may be supposed to have been remiss in following up the perpetrators and abettors of this foul deed.