ROADS AND NATIVE WARS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1060, 25 June 1869, Page 3

ROADS AND NATIVE WARS.

MR.tJarfmgton,'of Taranaki, proposes, in a letter to the Heralcl,. the 1 following plan for settling native disturbances : —

"Let a well selected central position be determined on for, tho permanent location of troops in this, the North Island of New Zealand, possessing, as far as possible, all the requirements for a citadel and a city.. Eroin this military position, make judicious lines of roads to all centres of population, connect these lines of roads, from the centres of popiilalion, with roads which shall intersect the most valu-. •able districts of country. Make known to the'inatives, by proclamation;' that the insecurity of life and; property, and the state of society in this; island is such that the Government can; no longer allow it to continue, and therefore they have resolved on making- 'the Queen's highways throughout this Island". Let the tribes and individuals of tribes, understand that if they are willing, they may be employed in constructing the roads, and be paid for .their services, and that the lands which. {they now hold will be fairly respected by th& Government if they are peaceable» f l>ut if they resist the road making they will forfeit their land. Let this project be tvell considered in detail, and elucidated in a masterly way, and when all is fully and; finally determined .then let the Work commence, at, and from , each and : every one^pf ; the centres of population, or other jiujicpusly determined points, •,««#«£ the, sefm^eriod of time, till all meet at the citadel site '; after which ; coustruet the connecting, life's. All, or at least the first portion, 'of these roads must be carried out witli'a force proportionate for each, and in every way prepared for any exigency that may arise. . '■ Cease to follow the natives through the bushs with the visiojaary idea of subduing them, while the country remains without, roads, Let them have the fatigue and trouble of coining to iis, and not we the harass, expense, and risk of pursuing them, except for immediate retribution. "In making' the • dominating roads which I have proposed, by far the greater portion of the lines. need not be macadamised; the cuttings, embankments, and bridges are all that are required to make this island an abode/ of peace, and one of the most prosperous; and commercially renowned islands in the world.

" I may now remaVk that we have already spent upon native wars in New Zealand, more money than would suffice to do the work whifeh I have proposed, over and over again \ but we have little to show for our fearfuli-sacrifi.ee of life and property throughout the struggle, beyond a more extended, native difficulty, and a heavier pecuniary responsibility, which the now waning revenue' of the colony can' scarcely meet. And if we continue the folly of following tile aborigines through their trackless wastes, without permanent road-making, it requires but littlo foresight to perceive that deplorable, will be the consequences which must shortly- befal us. If, on the ofcher hand, this island be opened out forthwith, (in some such way as I have proposed in this and my other letters herein Referred to), war. will shortly cease, New Zealand will be saved from indelible reprqach, and this island will rapidly become 6ne of the most flourishing, and thriving fslands .in the . world, provided it be properly governed, as then it could be. It cannot be otherwise tho country possesses every natural advantage that man in,.rea.s6'n should desire. " Peace property, established, the influx, of people and trade .will create a. revenue to meet. with ease all " % 't hat /is required to effect wjjat I. have* proposed, oven, though it be a million and a-half sterling.