The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1872.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3568, 25 June 1872, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1872.

It is not often that Australian newspapers make New Zealand, its politics, Natives, and colonists, the subject of a leading article, and when they do, their blunders can hardly fail to excite amazement when we consider the close proximity of the colony and the frequent intercourse between the chief centres of population. A steamer now leaves Melbourne for the ports of the Middle Island, on an average, about once a week, and there is regular communication, at a rather longer interval, between Sydney and Auckland. It cannot, therefore, be said, that there is any lack of opportunity for obtaining full and accurate information. And yet we constantly come across blunders so ludicrous and so stupid in their way as to suggest a semi-contemptuous affectation of ignorance far from creditable to our neighbours, aud by no means complimentary to us. We are a mere handful of people, it is true, compared with the populations of Victoria and New South Wales, but the battle of our little bourg, if it has not exactly echoed round the world, has been considered worthy of some attention and study in quarters quite as influential and opulent—materially and intellectually—as Melbourne and Sydney. The recent journey of Sir George Bowen across the interior of the North Island, his meetings with friendly and other chiefs, the orations made on these occasions, and the demonstrations generally, are discussed in the leading columns of the Sydney Morning Herald of June 12. Our contemporary is usually better informed on New Zealand affairs than any other Australian journal, not even excepting the Argus , and we are therefore surprised to find it saying that the interest of Sir George Bowen’s journey lies in the test which it affords of the policy which he has initiated. There was a time when the Governor of New Zealand might be said to initiate and to be responsible for the policy pursued towards the Natives, but Mr Weld altered all that when he induced us to accept self-reliance as the only means by which the colony could be saved from further Native disasters. Since then the Governor has in reality had little more to do with governing the Maoris than the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald His connection with Native affairs is strictly confined to such acts as necessarily come under his cognizance in the character of Governor simply. It is, in short, of a purely routine and formal nature, aud he has no voice whatever in framing a Native policy, or reversing one. He is useful as the central figure in a; Native pageant, and it will be generally admitted that he has admirably discharged the duties devolving upon him in this capacity. His speeches to the chiefs have mostly been successful, and it is said *hat the Maoris, if not impressed v.ifch his abilities, are at least convinced that be can maintain the dignity of his office with becoming pomp and circumstance. And, when everything is considered, there is a great deal more in this than may appear at first sight. The Maoris have attained to a civilization of their own, and they are influenced to a large extent by forms and ceremonies and a subtle etiquette, which only a few men seem to comprehend. The mistake made by the Sydney Morning Herald is perhaps not to be wondered at when we remember all the complications of our local politics, but it shows that a radical change may be effected on a question of the highest importance without attracting much notice at a short distance. Apart from the assumption that Sir George Bowen is the author of the Native policy now being carried out, it may not be uninteresting or unprofitable to inquire what idea the Herald has formed of the policy itself. We are told that it consists in a “ disregard of the interior “ motives of the Native tribes with re- “ pect to their own relations to the (< British Crown, an avoidance of all “ irritating topics by which they may “ be alienated from the Government, “ and their employment on all occa- “ sions where it is possible and es- “ pecially in making roads through “ their own country.” It is impossible to say what is meant by the first portion of this paragraph, and we doubt whether the writer could tell us what the “ interior motives ” of the Maoris are. With this unimportant exception, the description of the Native policy of the Government, as administered by Mr M'Lean, is broadly correct. Irritating topics are, if not altogether avoided, allowed to remain in abeyance till the proper opportunity occurs for their discussion, but the case of Eereopa, who was executed some months ago, shows that, though vengeance may be delayed, it is nevertheless certain in the end. There is nothing in connection with the Natives for which the Government has been so much blamed as their apparent indifference to the murder of Mr Todd. They have been called upon, time after time, and in the most intemperate language, to demand the surrender of the murderers, and it has even been said that they voluntarily permit them to be at large. If the Government had acted on the advice of these fire-eaters, the murderers might have been captured, though this is doubtful. What is certain is, that we should have had another Native war with its enormous bill of costs. The murderers are known and marked, and a time will come when they can be safely brought to condign punishment. Those who choose to say that their offence has been condoned either know nothing' of the facts, or they wilfully state what is not true. But, they say, it is pusillanimous, cowardly, weak, and all the rest of it, to “bide our time,” with

4)wie miscreants. Possibly, but it pays now, and will pay better in the long run, and if there is any shame attached to such a policy, we can con* solp ourselves by the example of Great Britnin aud America under somewhat adtalogous circumstances. What they dp without discredit, Now Zealand 'may do without dishonour, and though it may ga'l the pride of some valorous Britons to think that “ a parcel of niggers ” [should virtually defy ua—for a time only—we cannot afford to let that pride regulate our dealings with the Maoris. The Sydney Morning Herald concludes the article from which we have quoted byremarking that it gladly recognises a pacific Native policy, which '‘ will be received “ by the Ministry at ' home as a con- “ fession of the wisdom of leaving the “ colony to itself and to its fate.” The cost of the war waged by Britain against the Maoris is contrasted with the value of New Zea’and to the mother country. That value, we are informed, is not to be told by coin, and in coin is not a hundredth part of the value of that commerce and strength which the colony will contribute to the power of the Kmpire.