THE Marlborough Express. SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1879.

Marlborough Express, Volume XIV, Issue 1122, 5 April 1879, Page 5

THE Marlborough Express.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1879.

" Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue reely according to conscience,! above all other liberties —Milton.

It is somewhat difficult for people at a distance to form a correct estimate of the state of affairs at the Waimate Plains, but those in the immediate locality of the scene of action seem to think that more has been made of the “ difficulty ” than the merits of the case warrant. Some of the Natives interested in the question assert that the late Sir Donald McLean, when Native Minister, promised them that a portion of the confiscated block should he given back to them. "Whether he did so or not we have no positive means of knowing, but as he is dead the assertion cannot be authoritatively contradicted. If he did make the promise it was certainly an unwise concession, and if there was such a bargain, the Natives have a right to complain that it has not been carried out. By resorting to force, however, although only in the mild form of turning the surveyors off the 1 land, they have weakened their case. As to the man Hiroki, who some months ago murdered a European employed at the survey camp," it has never been so muck as asserted

that his act had any political significance, but whether or not, the murderer must be given up to Justice, and the Government, by the mouth of Mr Sheehan, has very properly insisted on his being given up to be tried by Law. We believe the Ministry will continue to act firmly in the matter, and that Mr Sheehan will succeed in what he has undertaken. As to any probability of a serious outbreak on the part of the Natives in reference to this Waimate Plains business, we believe there is no danger whatever, and we are strengthened in this belief by the opinion of the special correspondent of the Taranaki Herald, who is likely to be well posted tin the subject. He says : —“ I do not anticipate “that any extreme measures will need to be “ taken.” The Maoris are in favor, he says, of a pacific policy. One of Mania’s tribe says:—“No good the fight with the gun ! “ Kapai the fight with the tongue*!” There’s a sensible Maori for you ! Even Titokowarn, a somewhat troublesome old heathen, as many of our readers are doubtless aware, is keeping very quiet. He is getting an old man, and his fighting days are over; although, as the correspondent referred to shrewdly remarks, if he declared openly for peace the people would consider him as having gone over to the side of the Pakeha, and he would lose his influence as a chief. “He would be “ virtually dead in the eyes of the Maoris ; “ to his own tribe he would be a nonentity, “ and the old chief dreads a dishonoured “ death more than the bullet of the Pakeha.” So much for Titokowaru’s position in the affair. As to Te Whiti, whose words have much influence apparently with the Natives, he says in reference to the giving up Hiroki, “ Let the Police come ; I shall not be angry. “We will give them plenty to eat and drink, “and they can go away again as they came.” This he says, when told by Mr Sheehan that the Armed Constabulary would be sent to take Hiroki. These facts seem to point to measures being taken by the Natives the reverse jof sanguinary. The Herald in an article on the same subject sums up the case thus—That the bulk of the Natives are inclined to peace, but there are some amongst them who are “only kept quiet by the power “ which the Government can wield,” and the Government, therefore, will he wise in showing that they have this power, and are prepared to exercise it if the necessity should arise.

Many newspapers in the interests of the Opposition Jay all tlio blame of this “difficulty ”on the vjiey Ministry. They hate Sir George and all his works, and would blame him for a bad harvest, or a hot wind, or foxscab in sheep, or anything else, if possible. Now, whatever “ difficulty ” there may be in this Wairaate Plains business it is a legacy from the late Ministry, and tlie members of the Legislature who supported them. Sir George Grey and his colleagues are no more answer-" able for what has taken place than the man in the moon, but of course the duty is'cast upon them of settling the difficulty, amicably if possible, but in any case to settle it, and we believe that the matter may safely be left in the hands of Mr Sheehan, in whose departments as Native Minister and Minister of Justice it more especially rests. He has so far acted with caution and firmness, and we believe in a very short time the points in dispute will be settled satisfactorily in peace and amity, and not amid strife and bloodshed. If this is accomplished, evexy unprejudiced man in the country must allow that the Grey Ministry, and Mr Sheehan especially, have done their duty and have established an additional claim to the many they have already earned on the gratitude of the country at large.