MONTHLY SUMMARY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume I, Issue 26, 26 December 1861, Page 5 (Supplement)

MONTHLY SUMMARY.

From the Southern Cross , Dec. 6. The principal events of the month have been his Excellence's visit to the Bay of Islands—a semiofficial account of which will be found in another column—and the declaration, by authority, of the policy which it is intended to adopt in reference to the natives.

Sir George Grey lias lost no time in beginning the task of Maori organization which he has set himself : whether he will be able to complete it satisfactorily remains to be seen. The leading idea of policy appears to be to govern the Maoris through themselves, and it is highly probable that in several parts of New Zealand the system will work well, but at the same time, anxious though we may bo to see a peaceful solution of our present native difficulties, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that, though Sir George Grey’s endeavours may, aod probably will be crowned with success in the north and some other districts and be productive of the greatest good there, yet that it is quite possible that Waikato may refuse the boon offered, and almost certain that Taranaki will.

The proposed form of government, as will be seen, resembles that introduced at the Cape of Good Hope, and eminently successful there. Native Councils under the guidance of officers to bo appointed by the Crown are to be established, and the general management of the affairs of the district to be handed over to them. Whether any extensive legislative and judicial powers will be conferred upon these bodies and the magistrates and assessors whose appointment forms part of the scheme, we are unable to say, but we conclude not. The functions of these runanyas ■will probably be simply municipal, and magistrates we suppose will exercise no greater powers than those usually exercised by Justices of the Peace, but of course till the system is in operation it will be impossible to say what character those new institutions may assume. The natives of Now Zealand, like all other half-civilized races, are very apt to confound law-making with law-administering, and we may therefore safely anticipate some little difficulty in confining the runanyas to the exercise of their own legitimate functions, but when once the difficulty is overcome a great point will have been gained. The system of non-electing executive officers, hut leaving their nomination to the Crown might, wc may remark en passant, he introduced with great benefit into our present constitution, in so far as the provinces are concerned, for looking to the practical working of the elective superintendeney, the antagonistic feeling it generates, and the dead-locks and other little public conveniences which it occasions, we are half inclined to think that Maori runanyas with a Crown executive may set our provincial councils and provincial executives an example of cordial co-op-eration which wc should be glad to sec followed. His Excellency has so far made provision for the carrying into effect of the new policy at the Bay of Islands only, but of course sometime must be allowed to elapse before we can expect to bo able to form an opinion as to the results of tho experiment there. In the meanwhile ">V nil- a toll as to be dealt with, and we regret to be obliged to say that we do not look forward with the slightest confidence to tho peaceful introduction of law and order into that district. Active hostilities against the crown there will not be for the present, but we anticipate what is far more difficult to deal witli, passive opposition, iho vvaikatocs protess themselves contented with the present state of affairs, refuse to make submission, politely but firmly, and only ask to be left alone. They say that they do not want to fight, but are quite ready to do

bo if we strike the first blow. The situation is exceedingly perplexing. So much time has been allowed to elapse since the last shot was fired, that although virtually no peace has yet been concluded, still, for us to recommence hostilities now, without some fresh casus belli, would have to native eyes much the appearance of a wanton aggression on our side. Eor our own part, we believe that the wisest course to adopt, Avould be practically to ignore what has hitherto taken place, and to commence de novo, in the name of the law father than of the Government. We are ho advocates for condoning rebellions, but it is sometimes well to leave disputed, and settle differences on common ground, and such ground is not difficult: to find between ourselves and the maories. In many parts of the country gross outrages have been perpetrated by natives, and the settlers have been the sufferers. Now the natives themselves are perfectly well aware that they have no 'right to plunder, and strike, and threaten life: they do not commit these crimes from ignorance, but simply because they can do so with impunity, just as Englishmen would commit them but for the wholesome terror of the law instilled into their minds by experience. Now it would be much better to shed blood, if blood must be shed, in defence of life and property, than in order to put down a political idea. It will have to be done too, some day or other, and not a better commencement could be made than to begin with the Ngatiruanuis and Taranakis. Our quarrel witli them is one which ought to be finally settled in the Supreme Court, and we should look upon a force going down to attack them simply as auxilarics of the law sent to take some dangerous criminals prisoner, and prepared to shoot a good many of them and their gang in so doing ; but determined at all events to break up ouce and for ever a community of thieves and murderers. The effect of thus asserting the majesty of the law would be wonderful, and the ideas of Waikato on political subjects would be most remarkably brightened up if they made the practical discovery that notwithstanding our unwillingness to proceed at once to extremities with misguided political offenders, we were determined to allow of no murders and robberies in a country belonging to the Crown of England. Sir George Grey proceeds, it is said, shortly to the Waikato district. We believe that he will be well received in the lower Waikato, even should he fail in the great object of his mission. The natives have many old chivalrous habits, and would do the honours of their country in a most hospitable manner to a Governor whom they would defy on the morrow, and this renders it exceedingly difficult to form a correct opinion as to their political views and intentions from any demonstrations of this kind. As for the upper part of the Waikato, judging from the news w hich we have been in the habit of receiving of late, the natives there have already declared themselves. The Queen’s authority is ridiculed, and the idea of surrendering a criminal to be tried in the Queen’s courts is regarded as the height of absurdity, and we scarcely think that Sir George Grey would get even a civil hearing were he to visit the district. Last year’s expedition to Taranaki paid these natives very well, but did not much increase their loyalty, or at all shake that feeling of security and probable impunity, which is in reality at the bottom of the present opposition to the Queen’s authority. In the political and ministerial world little has occurred. The General Assembly is scattered far and wide, busy with its wool, and its Hocks and herds, and its money-changing, and the voice of ministers is seldom heard. Responsible government is supposed to exist, but the countrycares little for it, and only watches Sir George Grey. Occasionally a change in the personnel of the ministry, or a resignation is spoken of, but this is all we hear: it is the sound of the breaking chord in Tara’s balls ; the bursting of some ministerial heart “to tell that she lives that the ministry is not yet defunct, but only speechless. One resignation, however, has not merely been spoken of, but has actually taken place. Mr. Mantell, the native minister, has abdicated, why or wherefore is not clear. It is so fax- as we can gather probable tha* Mr. Dillon Bell will succ?ecl him. The remaining members of the ministry still hold office in solemn silence.