THE WAIKATO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 863, 3 August 1867, Page 3

THE WAIKATO.

•-"" '' PX:'X/- ""— '-.'-' „:-'./ Xy.f'Xy '- -' \ For some lime past we have heard rumours , frpmthe Thames that * Tana; te Waharoa (T.ho'tipson s ; sOn'and successor) was about i to warn Mr. Firth to remove his cattlo and i property offthe rim at Matamata. me _ importance of this matter .it is not very . easy to estimate. If Mr., Firth is driven 1 off, all attempts to open up the country beyond the confiscated : boundary must como to an end for a long time. Notonly that, but an end will also he put to the native chiefs coming ifi and proving the titles to their land in our Courts, the example in which was shown by Thompson himself. Upon theso things, far more than in the attempts at pacification made by men who think they have influence over the natives, Hes our hope for the . speedy consummation of the time when the two races will live together in confidence. Besides, knowing something of these matters, it would not at all astonish us, if Mr. Firth has to leave, that the next stej> of the King narty will be to warn the settlers of Cambridge' or Alexandra. For these reasons, the present may be regarded as a crisis hi the history of the country. We believe that for some short time past reports to the effect that a warning would lie given have reached Mr. Firth, who very properly took no notice of them, not wishing to show apprehension or suspicion, and feeling assured that ample and formal warning would bo given before anything like violence was shown. But on the day beforo yesterday Mr. Firth received a telegram from Mr. Williams, his manager at Matamata, stating that a.letter had been sent by. Tana ordering that* all the cattle and property should be at once removed. A meeting was to be held at Peria, at which the King party will be represented, very likely by some of- the extreme men, such as itereopa and Hakaraia: There will also be present what may be called the Queen portion of tho Ngatihaua. Mr. Firth, on receiving the message, sent back word by telegram that < he would come up at once, and we believe ho will start this morning for Matamata. There can be but little doubt that Tana has given this warning most unwillingly, and only because of the pressure brought upon him by the King party. As to whether Mr. Firth will maintain his position or not, speculation by even the best informed must be but vague. . The chances are, wo think, about equal. The most powerful argument in .his favour, with the natives will be that he is not on confiscated territory, but is living 'within the Unes of the King, paying money to those whom the natives recognise as the owners of tlie land ; and therefore that he is entitled to the King's protection. Then there is what* Thompson said when he was dying, which , must weigh with even the violent Kingites. . It has thus fallen to Mr. Firth to occupy a most important position in our relations with the native race. 'We have no doubt that he will meet the difficulty with courage and discretion, and that, whatever may be the result, he will do nothing which would have a tendency to rekindle the flames of war.— "Weekly News," July 27. Mr. Firth and Mr. C. O. Davis left town yesterday for Matamata, to attend the native meeting which is to he held at Peria, the object of which we stated hi yesterday's paper. Mr, Firth could not have got a better man to assist and advise him than Mr. Davis, who is thoroughly trusted by the King party, and who is free to urge that Mr. Firth should bo let alone at Matamata, without compromising what the natives know to be his opinions on the subject of confiscation. — " Southern Cross," July 26.