THE NATIVE CRISIS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 163, 24 October 1881, Page 2

THE NATIVE CRISIS.

There seems reason to fear that just at the moment when people began to believe that at last something definite was to be done for the purpose of crushing out the native difficulty another " difficulty" has intruded itself in the shape of Sir Arthur Gordon. We sincerely hope that His Excellency has not mistaken his position, that he has not forgotten that in New Zealand the people have acquired the right to govern themselves, and, therefore, will not submit to have their representatives in Parliament and the Cabinet, which is responsible to Parliament, flouted and thwarted by "any man, no matter how high his official position," as Mr. Bowen tersely puts it — that we are not going to have any attempt at a repetition of the bitter past, when the colonists were discouraged and lawbreakers and fanatics cheered on in their course of obstructiveness, and even violence, by those in high places. But whatever our hopes may be, it is impossible to drive out of mind the iears which countless rumors create. A homely phrase says, " Where there is smoke there is fire," and many indications present themselves that all is not well at the Seat of of Government. In another column we give all the information available, and from this our readers must draw their own conclusions. But if it be true that Ministers are engaged in a struggle with the Governor to ensure that lawlessness shall cease, and that people on this coast shall be protected in their persons ami property and sbsiU bave tbe same opportunity of prospering as their brethren in other parts of the colony, would it not be well to strengthen their hands by showing his Excellency that the Ministerial policy is highly approved of, not only by people resident in the South, but by those who have a present danger to face, who know that for the time being, at any rate, the carrying out of that policy may involve them in trials and losses, but who are at the same time convinced that sooner or later, the step must be taken. The Manaia people have shown their colors. Other townships would do well to follow suit. I Since the foregoing was in type, a well-informed correspondent at Wellington, telegraphs that a good understanding is likely to bo arrived at between his Excellency and Ministers.]