SIR G. BOWEN AND TAUROA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 969, 15 August 1868, Page 3

SIR G. BOWEN AND TAUROA.

The Wangcmm Times is responsible fo] 1 the following : — . Some fortnight ago Mr Booth went tc 1 Wellington, and took with him Tauroa, 1 chief whom Colonel M'Donnell then held , as a kind of kostage.for the good behavioui of his tribe. On being introduced to the 3 Governor, Tauroa expressed sentiments ■ of loyalty, to which Sir George Bowen is said to have replied nearly as follows:— t "/Tauroa, I accept your professions oi loyalty and offers of friendship j but at the 1 same time advise you that any tribe in this colony that perpetrates atrocities . similar to those recently committed inthe Patea district, I will consider it my duty to pursue and exterminate. You, Tauroa, are at perfect liberty to return to your people, and with them join the Haus Haus and fight against us; but if you do so, you and your people must stand the consequences. I want no natives to assist in putting down rebellion. With a European force I will pursue and exterminate atrocious murderers ; if you wish to join those men you may do so, but if yon take my advice you "and your tribe will remain strictly neutral." With this caution and advice Tauroa withdrew, and since his return has freely stated the result of his interview witb the Governor. Thanks to Sii? George Bowen for that manly ahd straightforward declai'ation of policy. Had the native race been firmly dealt with years ago, they might have been saved from the extermination to which Sir George Grey's policy has subjected themy In mercy to both Maori and European, we trust that Sir George Bowen will firmly and . permanently establish British supremacy over the length and breadth of this Island. Then, and not until then, will both races of Her Majesty's subjects live in peace and harmony with each other. A pusillanimous policy is, for the native race, an exterminating policy which, meantime, hurls ruin upon the colony.