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Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6533, 3 February 1882, Page 4

Whether Tawhiao will consent to end bis isolation is uncertain. Still more uncertain* iB it whether he will agree to surrender his kingship. The policy of repaying isolation with negleot has brought him out into civilisation with some vague expressions of good will, to enjoy a great deal of cordial hospitality. He has fired the great guns of a foreign man-of-war; he has started races at athletic meetings with pistol shots; he has seen the lions, and he has given and received muoh civility. On the whole he has made a Royal progress satisfactory to everybody concerned, and not without the comic element, for those who like to be waggish at the Eoyal expense. So far, however, the practical results are small. Leave has been given to two Europoans to cross the auhati line. One of these—an Austrian naturalist—being an enthusiast in the cause of soience, has availed himself of the permission. The other, a young person employed in a store in one of the Waikato townships, not being enthusiastic in' the cause of mixed marriages—a ohieftain of Tawhiao'B suite having laid siege to her heart—has declined. These two special permissions to cross the auhati are all the present results of the expedition of Tawhiao.

There are results in prospeot however; but they depend upon the King's intentions, and these he kept oarefully looked in his own breast during his interview with the Premier. The Premier had abandoned the polioy of severely letting him alone, but he only said that when he made up his mind to go in a particular direotion, that would be the direotion in which he would go. The Premier had talked graoiously to him of the good old days when he knew his father, but he contented himself with bidding the Premier to "wait awhile, time will not be long," which he kindly informed him was .an old Maori proverb. The Premier had suavely conveyed to him that it was a mistake to suppose that his Government had left his Majesty severely alone. That he allowed him to understand was a wioked form of expression invented by unscrupulous or ignorant partisans.

He said that he left the King people alone oat of tender regard to their wishes. He even told him that he might remain isolated and independent as long as he pleased, if his thoughts lay that way. He said, however, that as his thoughts did not appear to lie that way he was glad to Bee him, and hoped he would acknowledge the Qaeen. Bat the King only said he was much pleased with Auckland; that he admired the beauty of the surrounding country, and that he quite approved of the gentlemen {he had seen. To the Queen he made no reference at all. When the Premier, to avoid committing himself, referred the King to the Native Minister, Tawhiao promptly interrupted him with, " who is the Native Minister P " That was the unkindest cut of all. The aukaii line has been kept bo Btrict that neither the fame of Mr Bryce nor of his famous white horse, has succeeded in crossing it. Yet the King knew all about Te Whiti. Not to know Mr Bryce argues badly for the coming negotiations. And this brings us back to the results of the Royal progress. They are to be unfolded at a great meeting, to which the Premier and bis colleagues ate to be formally invited.

We have no wish to underrate the importance of this meeting, or of the fact that the meeting has been devised by the Maori king. On the contrary we recognise the significance of recent events, and we sincerely hope the results will be all that every loyal subject of the Queen and every well-wisher to both races can wish for. We cordially wish the Government every success in the responsible work of meeting the Native advances in a proper manner. This we do because we have always recognised that Native questions are out of the domain of party politics. At the same time we cannot refrain from pointing out that the matter was just as important in the time of the late Government' as it is now. But when the late Government met .the Natives we only had from their opponents ridicule of the childish behaviour of the wretched aboriginals, and of the folly of the Government in trying to get them out of their isolation. Now we hear of nothing but the excellent policy of Ministers, and the childish behaviour of the Natives is found to be most touching. Had the Royal pregresß taken place in Sir G. Grey's time, the Opposition journals would have found food for its heavily frolicsome humour in every incident. The progress would have kept them in articles for half a year. The Government have made themselves a difficulty. They have declared their abhorrence of Native meetings. It is a great point with their supporters that they object to Native meetings. But that is of little consequence. If the King had simply ■ announced that he would invite them in order to make known to them his Royal pleasure, no Minister could have attended. But as he not only said that he would be the spokesman of his race, but that he hoped a way would then be found for a settlement of the difficulty, he has clearly signified' his willingness to negotiate. He has been exceedingly wary, and he has not in any way committed himself. In that, he was doing what anyone in his position might be expected to do. The Premier was also wary, and we are bound to add that he only said just the right things. He clearly laid it down that the recognition of the Queen's sovereignty must be one of the baseß of the removal of the difficulty, and he made a delicate allusion to Te Whiti's fate and Titokowaru's, by way of giving emphasis to the power of tho Government. And the allusion was understood. He even fenced with the request of Tawhiao for a building site, excusing himself on the ground of the necessity for looking at the books to see if any land was available. On a previous occasion, when a fervent deputation waited on him about the Waikato railway, he had declined to say anything that might alarm the Native mind from its present favourable attitude. All this is very well. Both sides have played the first preliminary in the game, which promises to come to a crisis soon, without gaining an advantage. We hope that when the crisis comes some good may result. But we cenfoas we can see little ground for the formation of any opinion either way at present. We look forward, therefore, to the coming meeting with considerable interest. It would, we suspect, be better if some other than Mr Bryce, whom Tawhiao ignored so coolly, were Native Minister. The policy of force that called him to the Native helm is over. A different policy and a different man are wanted on this occasion.