Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1869. ROPATA AND THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1030, 13 March 1869, Page 3

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1869. ROPATA AND THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

On the afternoon of Tuesday last the St. Kilda arrived from Poverty Bay and East Coast, having on board Ropata and about 80 of his followers, whose intended destination was the West Coast. The arrival of this party was somewhat unexpected, the Government organ having intimated that the object of the St. Kilda going up the Coast was to enlist the cooperation of Ropata in an expedition to capture or destroy Te Kooti. It was a surprise even to Mr. M'Lean, who, although General Government agent on the East Coast, was studiously kept in the dark as to any intention to remove Ropata. However that chief, on reaching Napier, expressed to the Superin- | tendeut his scruples at leaving home at such a juncture, saying that he had gone on board greatly against his own judgment. Mr. M'Lean replied to the effect that, in the present threatening aspect of native affairs, it would not, in his opinion, be either safe or politic for Ropata to leave the East Coast. A good deal of correspondence by telegraph ensued, and a conference took place between Colonel Haultain and the native chief, but the latter remained firm in his intention not to leave the district, and did not. The St. Kilda sailed for Wellington on the afternoon of Thursday, having on board only ten of the Ngatiporou — men from Hicks' Bay. We have noticed this matter thus prominently, because we see in it auother instance of that systematic disregard of the safety of the East Coast which has been characteristic of the present administration. The ministry of the day, aided and abetted by Colonel Whitmore, removed Colonel Fraser and his veteran force of Constabulary, and thus, without a doubt, precipitated the Poverty Bay catastrophe. Mr. M'Lean protested, but in vain. This time, that they might not be annoyed with protests, they acted in such a way as to mislead him as to their intentions, well knowing that, if he were trebly Government agent, he would not sanction a step so fraught with danger as the removal of Ropata to another coast at so critical a juncture as the present. Fortunately for the interests of the East Coast he became acquainted in time with what was contemplated, and, regardless of the indiguation of his offical superiors, put a stop to it. i The West Coast is literally swarming with troops, and any number of loyal natives could be got on the spot if the Government . chose to employ them. Instead of so doing, they seek to denude the East Coast of a man whose presence would be invaluable in case of disturbance, and to do so without even hinting at their intention to the I officer supposed to advise them where the safety of this part of the country is 1 concerned. What between threats from Waikato, news of murders at Opotiki, and the ominous aspect generally of native affairs on this coast, we cannot but think it fortunate for the province and for the peace of the colony generally that Mr. M'Lean had the moral courage to act as he did, and thus to defeat for the time the machinations of those who would sacrifice one part of the Colony for the aggrandisement of one particular officer in the Colonial service.