The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2415, 18 September 1868, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1868.

It is so long since the last steamer came from Wellington that the public is beginning to lose interest in the proceedings of its Parliament. And yet the position of parties in the House is critical enough to excite the utmost attention among those who concern themselves with politics. Mr Stafford is evidently hard pressed by Mr Fox, or he would not be obliged to telegraph to Southland for the only absent supporter of the Government. And this hasty summons to his vassal occurred before Mr McLean's motion, that the House viewed with alarm the Native policy of the Government. With only the information which reaches us through the telegraph, it is impossible to speculate upon what may be the result of these adverse motions. It is one of the raauy drawbacks of a central system of Government, that one Ministry may fall and another come into office without the people of Auckland, Canterbury, or Otago being aware of more than the merest outline of the policy which forms the subject of contention, Who among us, however well versed he may be in the politics of the colony, is able to judge fairly of the merits of the policy propounded by Mr Fox ? And yet, so practically distant is the seat of Government, that a change of Ministry may take place before the people o'f this island know much more than that they are committed to a further expenditure of nearly half a million for Native purposes—a result which the financial reformers of Canterbury certainly cannot be expected to hail with acclamation.

As if to prove the utter fallacy of the notion, that it is possible for party purposes to reduce the Native question to a position of secondary importance, the course of events lias brought Native affairs preminontly forward in the middle of a debate which threatens the existence of the Ministry.: While Mr Fox is heading a vital attack upon the Government, Mr McLean, urged ou by the fears of big constituents at Hawke's Bay, interposes with a motion upon Native affairs which is tantamount in itself to a vote of want of confidence. The recent disaster incurred by the colonial troops at Patea has involved the Government in the necessity of denuding the province of Hawke's Bay of the handful of troops needed for the protection of the East Coast. We can scarcely wonder at the feeling of alarm created in that province, when we remember that the fugitives from the Chatham Islands are encamped on its borders, and that they have been successful in every engagement which has taken place between them aud the European forces. Supposing they were so inclined, it is difficult to imagine what is to prevent the rebels from making a successful raid upon the settlers of Hawke's Bay. On the other hand, the defeat oxoerienced by Colonel M'Donnell at Patea is so decided as to necessitate his reinforcement at once. It is impossible to couceive how the Government can escape from the alternative of raisin" further large reinforcements, or retiring at once from the outlying settlements, The time is fast approaching when they must adopt a decisive policy of some kind.

At last, then, we are brought face to faee with the true results of the selfreliance policy embraced by the colony through the Weld Government. We have permitted the Imperial Government to withdraw from nil responsibility in tho management of the Native race, and have accepted the task of governing the Maoris and maintaining peace within our borders. The last war has left us a huge legacy of debt, which wo are scarcely able to meet with all the taxation at present imposed upon the colony. The Imperial Government, at our invitation, has backed out of the partnership, and declines to contribute any further either in' men or money. "We aire

left to cope with the difficulty, aud to fight our own battles as best we may. The case is difficult, but if it were twice as serious as it is, we would not invite further aid from England, for Imperial assistance means Imperial interference, and that is certain to be far more disastrous and expeusive thstn any difficulties we are likely to bring upon ourselves. We must face our troubles manfully, and get out of them the best way we can. The course of events satisfies us more clearly every day that the colony will have completely to alter and revise its line of policy towards the Natives. However unpleasant it may be for the settlers in the_ North Island, the time is rapidly approaching when the policy advocated, at the late meeting in Christchurch will have to be carried out. The recent attempts made by the colonial forces to cope with a handful of rebels on the east and west coasts shew very clearly that it is beyond the power of the colony to protect its settlers in the scattered districts of the confiscated lands. It follows therefore that if the settlers cannot live in safety they must remain at the peril of their lives, or withdraw into more settled districts. The result may be anticipated without difficulty. We have no doubt whatever that the colony will have to draw the line between the Native and European districts, and recognise the distinct territorial rights of the former race. If the two races cannot live in peace upon the present system, a border line must be drawn and defended by the militia on the European side. The future relations between the neighbouring races will depend upon the attitude of the Natives. If they wish to cut themselves off from intercourse with our race they will do so, but time will adjust the position, as it has in every similar instance. Of one thing we are perfectly certain,—we must give up the idea of settling the interior of the North Island by force of arms. The game is not worth the candle, even if it wore possible to play it out. The people of the Middle Island have been patieut and long suffering to an incredible degree. Bat patience has itß limits, and these are well nigh reaehed iu our case. Those of our representatives who advocate the economical side of the question have agreed—in despair of making a better bargain we Buppose —to spend four hundred and twenty thousand pounds more during the next five years, to put down Native disturbances. Large as that sum is, it will not pay for maintaining outlying settlements by force of arms. Fire times five hundred thousand pounds.would not do it. The sooner the settlers in the North understand their true position, and look the difficulty m the face, the sooner there will be an eud of it. They must retire and hold their position for themselves.