LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1049, 18 May 1869, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Tho Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents. Sir, — As the session draws near, it is desirable that public attention should be attracted to the contemplation of the actual condition of the colony, to the sources of our present difficulties, and to the means whereby we may be extricated from them. With the colonists of the Northern Island one great question obtrudes itself, to, the exclusion of all others, and its speedy solution is necessary to our very existence. We are not called upon to meet an external foe, but to introduce such measures as shall suppress outbreaks on the part of disaffected natives, and render them impossible in the future. In obedience to the popular demand that we should not have a colonial army, we termed the same thing a. police force ; and we yet persist in having an array of colonels, majors, and captains, enough to shake the nerves of even a British taxpayer. A sub-inspector of police must be a captain forsooth, and may be occasionally'officer commanding a district. The power placed in the hands of these semimilitary officials, in what are termed " disturbed districts," is something preposterous. Were they, as a rule, men of ability, education, large experience, and discretion, the expediency of giving this power might still be doubted ; but, as an officer possessed of these qualifications is an exception to the rule, the folly and impolicy of such trust is self-evident. We have been forced to notice the activity of the Hon. the Native Minister, even to hearing of his driving a team in Poverty Bay. However good a statesman, he would, probably, be an indifferent carter ; and the impression conveyed by this somewhat pretentious diligence is anything but favorable to the ability of the officers to whose charge the carrying out the instructions of the Government should properly be left. If the gentlemen holding responsible positions, and receiving public money for so doing, are not equal to the demand made upon them, remove them and get others, and again and again, until you find the right material. The country really -suffers more in this particular than it is aware of. Colonel Whitniore complained, in his speech to his entertainers in Auckland, of the criticisms of the press. It is to be regretted that we have no paper of sufficient colonial circulation to render such criticism as effective as it ought to be. A writer in a public journal has indirectly as great responsibility 'as the statesman or as an officer leading an army. If of ability, he can bring a force of thought and reflection to bear upon the conduct of the other, that must compel attention to error and incapability, where exhibited in the management of public affairs. To quote from an able article in the Quwterly Beview: — " Whom do stupid and oppressive magistrates, local tyrants, jobbing or mal feasant officials, dread most? Not the House of Commons ; not the Home Secretary ; not their immediate chiefs ; but the newspapers, whose omnipresent watchfulness nothing escapes, and whose audacity no rank or influence can daunt." This can scarcely' be said to be so true of the colonial press, inasmuch as, a newspaper being a commercial speculation, the field is too small to allow of thorough, independence, and a newspaper proprietor must merge something of lb in subordination to the requirements of his party. In this instance, however, the colony has far more reason to complain of Colonel Whitmore's despatches than Colonel Whitmore has to . complain of the hostile comments of the press. Again and again has the Colonel told us that " dangers were over, the enemy destroyed," when the direct contrary has proved the absolute fact. Poverty Bay, Whakatane and Mobaka, owe thoir destruction to the haste with which that officer declared his task to be accomplished, and to his feverish impatience to begin something else before the business in hand washalf accomplished. Let us turn now to the matter with which we East Coast settlers have most to do and feel most keenly upon. I think, notwithstanding the number and uniform tenor of the articles that have appeared in the press upon the subject of tho treatment received by Mr. D. M'Lean at the hands of the present ministry, that the writeis have, in a great measure, failed to argue out the question to its legitimate conclusions. Since the celebrated debates in the last session of the House, on the questions of " defence and native affairs," one course alone seems to have recommended itself to ministers — to humiliate and slight the man who, whilst supporting them, felt called upon, by his duty to the country, to point out broadly their gross ignorance, and, as Stuart Mill would say, " incapacity for understanding " the dangers which threatened from quarters whence they declared no danger menaced. Any one who will take the trouble to turn back to these debates, may readily convince themselves of the relative values of the opinions therein expressed. It is needless to say that, in every particular, the results predicted by Mr. M'Lean as likely to follow, have followed the line of conduct which was adopted by the ministry. It is unnecessary to point out that the one particular pretence whereby Mr. Stafford maintained a hold upon the House — " economy, retrenchment, and saving of money in every department" — has utterly and completely broken down. That the policy of self-reliance, without means to carry it out, has resulted in enormous loss to the settlers and enormous expense to the Government in the frantic efforts made to meet dangers which multiplied upon them daily, and whose existence and strength are directly referable to their own original folly, blindness, and obstinacy. Several writers have pointed out that there was abundant work for Colonel Whitmore and his force on the West Coast, and at the same time Mr. M'Lean could have dealt with affairs on the East. No sane man can doubt for a moment that this is true, and the ridiculous picture drawn in the Press of the 27th of the scene-shifting carried on between the colonial forces and the Hauhaus is by no means overdrawn, the meaning simply being that although the Government knew this perfectly well, they would not permit Mr. M'Lean to manage the East Coast— the loss of property and life, waste of time and treasure, counted for nothing in comparison with their determination to effect, if possible, their objects without his aid. It follows, therefore, that we must go back to the first cause clearly to understand the relative positions of Mr. M'Lean and tl\e present ministry,. We have watched one event after another, bringing i into stronger reliof the accurate and far • , seeing knowledge possessed by him, and , the indignant and amazed reluctance with which, the ministry have been foroed to

admit this, whilst detesting the more for the admission, the man whose value the whole colony declares and whose services tho whole colony demands. So strong is the latter feeling that it may be said of him, what Talleyrand said of Thiers : II nest pas yewvenu il est arrive. , He has become a political necessity. It remains now for the country to await with what patience it may the meeting of the House, and if, as is probable, the ministry, rather than accept defeat at once, should endeavour to prolong its existence by an appeal to the country, show unmistakeably its opinion by refusing again to return any member of the present Government to the Assembly. Reconstruction might have been accepted a while ago, but the insolent presumption of the Government has placed' its members beneath any ordinary treatment, and nothing remains but their absolute and entire dismissal from office. Thankful if even by this humiliation they escape the punishment they have merited, by so long clinging to power from which they had, by little less than politically false pretences, ousted better men than themselves. The condition of the colony may be summed up in the words of the Canterbury Press ; — " Our danger does not lie in the tomahawk of the savage. We do not dread the crack of the rifle from the forest. We dread the disorganization, the anarchy, the imbecility, the national prostration, which results from a Government which is paralized by the want, of popular sympathy, and a people whose energies are crippled by a Government which it does not trust." — I am, &c, Observer. Sib, — Your contemporary in what I suppose must be called his leading article of the 13th, expatiates upon the folly of employing friendly natives, and says, "We notice with regret that the native contingent at Wairoa have again failed at the critical moment." Ido not suppose for a moment, that the writer of the article in question, knows anything whatever of the matter, or that he had any other motive than a political one in writing those comments. For the information of himself and of the public, I will point out a few facts connected with the services rendered by the East Coast natives, and the losses they have sustained in comparison with our own. . In the campaign of 1866, under Fraser, 234 of the enemy were killed and say 250 sent to the Chathams, entailing a loss on the East Coast friendlies of 40 men, and 9 men of Fraser's command. Since the landing of these Chatham Island prisoners, the losses sustained by the East Coast tribes have been 5 to 1 as compared with ours, in a war brought about wholly and solely by the neglect of the Government. In reference to the Wairoa and Mohaka natives in particular, they have been specially heavy losers, and their numbers are so reduced that they can afford to spare but a very i'ew men from each hapu, and leave sufficient for the protection of their pas. More complete humbug than the talk about the " critical moment" was never written. The critical moment was when Te Kooti was at Mohaka. Who then acted ? who then failed P Before that active leader brought his force to the very threshold of our doors, the cry was — Where is he ? he must be sought out and destroyed 1 Is he here, or there, or anywhere ? The information possessed and the action taken by the Government, were alike contemptible. Ensign Lavin had one trooper ; two scouts were in advance of Turiroa, and the district was safe. Why, Sir, after the Mohaka tragedy, Lieut.-Colonel Lambert, addressing the Turiroa. settlers, assured them that they might return to their homes, within four miles of Clyde, as the district was " safe, perfectly safe," and yet his back is hardly turned, when under the very nose of Mr. Richmond, and a force of 200 or 300 men, the enemy plundered and nearly destroyed this settlement at Turiroa. Fortunately for themselves, the Messrs. Powdrells, Thorpes and others, attached the weight to Col. Lambert's assurance which it merited, and escaped getting their throats cut. Again, the safety of the Wairoa district has depended alone on the vigilance of the natives, and I can call to mind no instance wherein they have failed to render assistance when asked. Their disinclination to take active part in the present operations, arises in part from disgust at the late treatment they have received from the Government, in part from a total inability to see (in common with most Europeans also) the meaning of the present campaign or in what it is to result, and lastly from the utter want of confidence they have in the proceedings and intentions of the present Government, arguing, as is their habit, of the future from the past. In conclusion, and not for want of argument, but fearing to occupy too much space, I will simply add that in the face of the gallant and loyal aid the East Coast natives have given to the Government, both in the campaign of 1866 and since the return of Te ILooti, and in view of their late heavy losses, the article is unfair in principle, untrue in fact, and contemptible generally. — I am., &c, Yindex. Napier, May 14, 1869. Sir,— Since the news of the Mohaka raid, our officials have been on the alerb, pressing all and sundry to finish the defences of Court-house and block house. Our Major in command even himself deigning to use the pick and shovel, as an example to his subordinates. The Constabulary, as you have no doubt heard, left here for Wairoa on the 27th ult., to form part of the Don Quixote expedition into the interior, leaving us to carry out the self-reliant policy in its integrity. On the departure of the Constabulary the Militia were called out for active service, in consequence of which all whites are now congregated at Turanganui — young, old, blind, deaf, and lame, to the number of about 100. Before the departure of the Constabulary a deputation of the settlers waited on the General Government agent (our worthy Resident Magistrate), to present a numerously signed protest, to the effect that in their opinion it was inexpedient to remove the Constabulary, till their placo was filled up by Henry Potae's people, or some other of the East Coast tribes that we can rely on, whom the Government had promised to bring here before tho others wero removed. It was simply done to shew Government our opinion of their proceedings, never for a moment expecting it would influence them. What was our surprise to find next day a counter document handed round for signature, eulogising the Government for the prompt action they had taken in removing the constabulary, and concurring in all the steps they had taken. In most places there is generally an opposition party, and it seems we are not without one in Poverty Bay. Ido not wish to be personal, but may say this much without giving offence, that the current report is that the reason the promoters of the second document had in getting it up, was either to toady to the powers that be, or, as sheep farming is now at a discount, the Government pittance and rations they will receive in the shape of pay is a considerationi It> however, is a, bad wind that blows nobody good — a few of the lushingtons having been invited to friend Bradley's bar to talk the

subject over, and having been well primed before signing. Woe betide Poverty Bay with such traitors in our midst. J should not wonder if self interest would make them join Xooti when he comes, if they only thought they could thereby save their flocks and their own precious carcases. Capt. Bower, who has so ably performed his duties as quartermaster for the last six months, has gone with the foroe to Wairoa, his successor being one of those who signed the second document— indeed the loaves and fishes are already being distributed among that chosen band. The unfortunates who had the hardihood to be among the supporters of the obnoxious protest, are getting their full allowance of drill, fatigue duty, &c. All things- considered, we are in a much better position to meet Kooti than we were a few weeks ago ; and, no doubt, if he gave us a visit, we would be able to give a good account of him. — I am, &c, A Settler. Turanganui, May 1, 1869. Sin, — Seeing a reference made to the building of pontoons for Waikare lake, and that the Government had gone to the. expense of getting iron cylinders made in Napier, and had purchased bullock-teams to drag them up to the lake — may I be permitted to ask why punts could not have been built on the shores of the lake, as there is abundance of excellent timber growing close to the water's edge ? A saw-pit could have been fitted up, and a couple of punts, infinitely better adapted for the purpose, turned out in a week, for half the cost of the bullock-team, _ or less, to say nothing of the saving of time and. labor. The canoes used by the natives on this lake are some of immense size, and even with these the natives do not venture to cross the lake save in clear weather. In a N.W. or S.E. wind— one of which is always / blowing, and either producing a horrible sea — a pontoon raft, with twelve oars and a load of men — won't be the handiest craft in the world. The country on the shores of the lake is rough in the extreme — dense bush and mountain ranges, intersected with gorges and deep gullies, and so deeply indented by deep bays, that the distance round it is double its actual length, which, from Te Onepoto to the landing-place for canoes at the commencement of the road to Rua Tahuna, must be not less than ten or twelve miles ; whilst, from the extreme end of the Wanganui-a-Paroa branch to the extreme end of the Wairau, it must be eighteen or twenty miles. From Te Onepoto to the Tiki Tiki headland, is probably a mile to a mile and a half. The white man who lived with Te Waru after the fighting at Wairoa in 1866, swam across from Tiki Tiki to the Panekiri bluff, overlooking the Onepoto, to fetch some articles left by Te Waru at the landing-place, and back again. A singular fact connected with this extremely interesting sheet of water, is, that it has no outlet save by the Waikare Tahcke stream, by which it discharges itself through a cavernous tube passing right under the Raiakaha hill, so that its outlet is several hundred feet below the level of the lake, and its waters are discharged into the rocky bed of the watercourse, with a hollow roaring that, in bad weather, is tremendous*— the stream being a foaming torrent like a mill-sluice for miles on its descent to join the Waiau. The valley of the Waikare Taheke is grassy and open, and, with no great expenditure of labor, might bo converted into a good road until it commences the ascent of the Baiakaha hill at Te Kopane, where, it will be remembered, Te Waru laid in ambush and killed nine of the friendly natives at the first volley, and so severely wounded our old friend Ihaka Whanga. — I am, &c, ■ - Echo. Napier, May 10, 1869. Sib, — In your publication of May 7th is a letter from " One of No. 2," asking, amongst other questions, why the country companies are only called out for drill once a week, while townsmen have to "neglect their occupations twice to the other companies' once." In the country numbers of militiamen have to ride six miles to parade, which is appointed at 12 noon. This hour certainly gives us all time to arrive at drill, but it causes us to lose a whole day. Does "One of No. 2 " think this shouid be tho case twice a week ? In town, drill is over, I believe, by 8 a.m. As to being well up in drill, the less any of the militia say the better ; but I think most of the country companies would pass muster with those in town. The militia having been sent to ■ the front at all on the recent occasion, was, perhaps, a mistake ; but, as your correspondent has mentioned this, I may tell him that men used to the bush, camping out, and roughing it generally, would be quite as willing to go to the front if called upon, and would, perhaps, when there, make quite as good an exhibition of themselves as the town companies. — I am, &c, Bbummt, One of No. 6. Patangata, May 11, 1869. Sir, — Can you inform me why there has been no official examination of the Waipawa school since the present master was appointed ; or, if such has been the case, why no notice of the circumstance occurs in the inspector's reports ? As both the inspector and the trustees seem to have ceased to take an interest in the school, I think, Sir, that I, in common with other parents whoso children attend the school, have a right to ask who is responsible for the efficiency (or non-efficiency) of the school in question. — I am, &c, A Parent.