The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 1880.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5918, 13 February 1880, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. FRIDAY, FEB. 13, 1880.

The Government is certainly not making any progress towards settling tho Waimate difficulty. Tho Constabulary are going on steadily with the road : so much is certain. It is also certain that the Natives regard the making of the said road as an encroachment, but decline to consider it a casus belli. The idea was, and a very well conceived one it was, that with the Commission in one hand, and the road-making Constabulary in the other, the Government would be sure to bring the Natives to an immediate settlement. By shewing thein that, we mean business, we should persuade them to embrace the last chance ever likely to be afforded them for doing business. But the Natives halve been equal to the occasion. They will not play in their turn. They prefer to “ pass,” as they say in the simple game of euchre. As we cannot make them play, we must even play again. Patience is the only treatment, and of that the Government seems to have plenty. If the spectacle of troops doing fine work with the pick and shovel will not make them recognise the Commission, the sight of surveyors doing their duty under strong military escort will have to be resorted to. If the Natives still continue “ Pouri,” then the lands will have to be settled—if anybody can be got to take up land under the circumstances. If everything fails till that last resort comes upon us, we fear that the chance of avoiding bloodshed will then be small. The fact cannot be disguised that the Natives are scoring all the points at present. The first point in the game was made by the Government, The peculiarity of the situation is that there is an undercurrent in this game —a game rather which is being played in secret side by side with the open game. In the open game the Government have made a point with the Armed Constabulary, and the Natives have declined to do anything. Their attitude is of masterly inactivity. But in the secret game they have scored two points. They will not have the Commission, and so strongly have they shown this feeling that the Native Commissioner has resigned covering his retreat by the parade of what looks very much like an afterthought. The Government organs insisted that in this there was no significance whatever. They never explained the attitude of Mr Tawhai, but they declared that it did not matter in the least. It was, the Colony was told, the simplest thing to fill tho place of Mr Tawhai- - Afc first -wo learnt from the Government organs that a Native of singular eminence had been selected, but that for reasons of state it was highly inadvisable to publish his name. But the name never came out; the reason assigned was that Government was waiting to confer with the other Commissioners —Sir William Pox and Sir Francis Dillon Bell. Sir William had arrived in Wellington, but the Government deplored the absence of Sir Francis. Sir Francis, after enjoying the opera in Christchurch at his leisure, turned up in due course, but nothing was heard of the appointment of the Native Commissioner, and a good deal was heard of the efforts of Major Brown and others to induce the Natives to accept the Commission. Lastly, we heard that the two Commissioners had taken a house at Hawera for three months, and nothing further comes concerning either the Native Commissioner or the efforts of Major Brown and the others. The Commission, it is very evident, is hanging fire. If Titokowaru had been got to recognise it, its immediate result might have been something better than to get three months’ comfortable houseroom for two old Colonial politicians. But Te Whiti has stolen a march on the Government, and Titokowaru has been safely domiciled at Parihaka under the mysterious eye of the prophet. On the whole, the Government have decidedly not got the best of the opening. The Government organs will no doubt still inform ns that public opinion in the north agrees with the Government that there never can be any fighting or resistance of any sort from the Natives. They may even repeat the information that appeared in their columns a few days ago to the effect that a great movement Waimate-wards is taking place of settlers anxious to invest in the fertile lands of the plains. Now our special correspondent has telegraphed to us that no such movement exists. He says that the report to the effect that there was such a movement is “utterly without foundation.” He says “ there is not a show of a pretext for alleging that any such movement is afoot,” He adds that “ the feeling is strong that though the formation of the roads, and even the survey of the plains, may not lead to hostilities, the moment that actual settlement in the shape of building houses or fencing is commenced, the Natives may be roused to action. To speak of “ any advance of settlement in the sense of tilling the soil is .he height of absurdity.” This effectuaLy disposes of the movement of settlement Waimate-wards and the public feeling of security. That the Government do not feel particularly secure about the result is evident from their employment already in the field of Native auxiliaries. A Ministerial organ published yesterday the information that “ a detachment of the Native contingent of the Armed Constabulary were despatched this afternoon (Feb, 10) by the steamer Wanganui to New

Plymouth. The detachment numbered thirty-two men, belonging to the Ngatiporui tribe. They seemed a smart soldierly body as they marched through the streets no the wharf.” It is pleasing to see that the Government have another good card in their hand, and that they are able to play it. The necessity for playing it, however, must be taken as a sign of the increasing gravity of the situation. A practical demonstration to Te Whiti that other tribes have joined us against him, shows an uncomfortable suspicion that he may be inclined after all, instead of accept!eg the inevitable, to fight. The situation ia certainly getting more critical at Waimate.