The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 8, 1862. THE NATIVE QUESTION.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1650, 8 February 1862, Page 3

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, FEB. 8, 1862. THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Be just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim’st at, be thy Country’f, Thy God’s, and Truth’s.

We have said but little of late upon the subject of the Native question, partly because Ave considered it px - emature to discuss the policy of the Governor till we might have seen it to some extent in practical operation, and partly because events have progressed so quietly, that there has not been much to record, As, howeA’cr, our readers in England and elseAvhere, at a distance, will no doubt be anxious to kuotv AA’hat progress Sir George Grey is making tOAvards the solution of the problem Avhich he ha£ been sent to unravel, avc shall summarize, for their benefit, the principal events Avhich have occurred since his arrival.

Sir George reached the colony on the 26th September last, little more than four months ago. There may be some persons who imagined that he was destined to settle the native difficulties in the “ veni vidi vici” style,— that, marching into the Waikato on the day of his arrival, he was to return at the end of the week with Matutaera in handcuffs, and the king flag in his pocket, ready to fulfil the “ harmless necessary” uses of a napkin ; and, if we were guided by the ravings of one or two colonial papers, (the organs of the old war party,) the fact that four months have elapsed without the absolute suppression of the king movement, and the settlement of all native difficulties, oughttobeacceptedasa proof that His Excellency has entirely failed, and his mission come to nothing. Those, however, who were aware of the complications of the native question, and who do not regard the subject through the discoloured medium of party prejudice, will probably agree with us, that four mouths is a period within which very little more could be expected than the mere initiation of those plans to the cautious and steady establishment of which we must look for the gradual removal of difficulties which have been the growth of years, and which are based upon the prejudices and feelings of a very large part of the native race. When we call to recollection the circumstances of the last five or six years, the utter neglect and mismanagement of the natives, the miserable land squabble at Taranaki, the year and a half of ill-conducted and fruitless war, suspended by most unsatisfactory terras of peace, the threatened renewal of hostilities unless unconditional submission were made, the military preparations for an immediate descent on Waikato, the total loss of the confidence of the natives, from one end of New Zealand to the other, in Governor Browne and his late ministry, as was publicly admitted by one of their number; the recollection of losses during the war, yet fresh in the memories of the insurgents; the numerous minor difficulties of all sorts, from the Hawke’s Bay trespasses and cattle seizures, to the immolation of the obnoxious cow at Raugatikei, under the law of Moses ; —when we rccal all this to our memory, we can only express our surprise, and our very great satisfaction, at the substantial progress which has been made towards the settlement of the Native question, and the good reasons we have to hope that the last shot has been fired in auger in New Zealand. For the first five or six weeks after his arrival, Sir George Grey remained in Auckland, no doubt making himself acquainted with the facts of the case, and consulting his responsible advisers, with whose policy, as announced in the House of Representatives a few weeks previously, it is understood his Excellency agrees on all important points. During this period, a large number of friendly chiefs, from almost every district within 150 miles of Auckland, visited the Governor, and invited him to visit them. On the 4th November, accompanied by the Colonial Secretary and General Cameron, he proceeded to the Bay of Islands, where he iuagurated his plans for the government of the Native race, and appointed Mr. George Clarke, Civil Commissioner of that district. As might have been expected, Sir George’s reception among the Ngapuhis was of the most friendly character, and their acceptance of the institutions offered was cordial and ready. Since the date of His Excellency’s, visit, Mr. Clarke has been employed in the laborious work of organizing his district, which embraces the whole Ngapuhi tribe, and we are informed, has just completed all the arrangements necessary for the practical working of the system, by the appointment of the Runanga, or native Council, and the nomination of Assessors, or native Magistrates, the Wardens, and Constables. The adjacent district of Manganui, the home of the Rarewa tribe, is being organized by Mr. W. B. White, for many years Resident Magistrate there; while to the south of the Bay of Islands district, the Kaipara and Waugarei natives have expressed their desire to have the “ Governor’s tikauga” introduced ; aud we understand that the necessary steps will be immediately taken for the purpose. This completes the organization of the whole of that portion of the island which lies north of Auckland, Not a single hapu declines to accept the proffered system ; and it will, in a very few weeks, be in active operation from the town of Auckland to the North Cape, ensuring, as we trust, the loyalty of all the natives in that part of the island, and their adherence to law and order.

His Excellency’s next movement Avas upon LoAver Waikato ; not, avo arc happy to say, Avith Armstrong guns ami Enfield rifles, but Avith the Colonial Secretary and a feAV officers of the Civil Government. He Avas received by VVaata Kukutai, the leading Chief of the LoAver Waikato aud a gathering of 800 or 900, including Avomen and children. There Avas a great feast after the fashion of all well conducted public business, and after tAvo day’s discussion of the Governor’s plans, their introduction into that district aatis agreed upon. Mr. Armitage, a laAvyer by profession, and many years resident in Waikato, Avas appointed Commissioner. He has already organized a considerable part of his district and held tAvo Runangas, at Avhich rules and regulations for the government of tire district have been framed. This district will, I .ve understand, include the Avholc of the loAver portion of the river from Taupiri to the mouth, and thence to Whaingaroa inclusive. A considerable portion of the hapus above Maungatawhiri, have, hoAvever, not assented to the neAV system. On his road to LoAver Waikato, aud again after his return thence, His Excellency visited Waiuku, Avhere, aud in the immediate neighbourhood, is the Ngatitipa tribe, a branch of the Waikato, Avho unanimously adopted the system, Avhich is uoav being introduced by Major Speedy, the Resident Magistrate of the district. So far all had gone smoothly, aud His Excellency had encountered no difficulties calculated to test severely either his nerve or his decision. His visit to "Waikato, hoAA r ever, and his personal inspection, of the exposed frontier of this settlement in that direction, upon AA r hich the Avhole Native force from the interior could be concentrated in a day, determined him not to lose an hour in taking steps to provide for the military defence of that important district. Leaving Mr. Fox (the Colonial Secretary) to proceed up the river to A’isit the principal adherents of the King party, Avho still stood aloof, and had offered no invitation to His Excellency to A'isit them, he hastened back to Auckland, made the necessary arrangements Avith the military authorities, and in less than a week 2300 soldiers AA'ere hard at Avork Avith spade and pick constructing a great military road to the Waikato, on the northern branch of Avhich the advanced post of the troops was at once established-.

This was a step for which we give Si*: George Grey very great credit. It was an extremely ticklish one; it was most promptly executed, and it has been most completely successful. In a few weeks, a first-rate road will exist from Auckland to the river, and soon after, if reports be true, connecting lines from the main road to Waiuku and elsewhere will afibrd a complete line of defence to this Province and secure the scat of Government against all future aggression from the large bodies of [Natives on the Waikato or in the interior. But the most satisfactory feature of the case is the manner in which this determined move has been acquiesced in by the Natives. There is no doubt that had the step been taken six months ago, the Maories in Waikato would have risen to a man, and the Colony been plunged in war. It was distinctly understood that the movement of troops to the Waikato was to be the signal for the renewal of hostilities. Governor Browne had at one period weakly given a pledge that the troops should not be moved beyond Otahuhu; and he acknowledged that, a movement on Waikato would be the signal for an immediate rising through New Zealand. Nevertheless, the movement has been effected; a commanding position has been achieved ; and that insecurity of the Capital which was the source of almost daily panics in Auckland —nay, within the very walls of Government House —has, we trust, been removed for ever. And, while this was being done, the Colonial Secretary was in the pahs of the ultra King party, a hundred miles up the Waikato, received with the most marked respect and friendliness by all the leading Chiefs; and, except among a few Natives of little consequence, in the lower part of the river (between Maungatawhiri and Taupiri, within sight of the troops), there was no excitement, no alarm, no . threat, no disturbance. The difference between the actual event and what it might have been, had Governor Browne taken the same step six months ago, is a test by Avhich we may judge pretty well of the real progress which has been made by Governor Grey during the four brief months of his administration. There is a large section of Natives who still stand aloof, but in a very different temper, and with very different feelings of respect, at least, towards Her Majesty’s Representative from those which actuated them six months ago. While Sir George Grey and one member of his Government were thus quietly moving about, and coming “face to face” with the Natives in the North, Mr. Ward (the Post-master-General) had undertaken a difficult and delicate mission to Hawke’s Bay, the result of which has been most satisfactory also. The Province of Hawke’s Bay contains an European population, chiefly pastoral, of about 3000 souls, and some thousands of Natives, An alarming and dangerous state of affairs had grown up between the two races, originating in the trespass of the cattle and other live stock of the Europeans upon the Native lands. Demands made by the Natives for rent or for damages, often extortionate, had in some cases been unwittingly acquiesced in, in some refused, —and the result in the latter cases had been the seizure by the Natives of the cattle and sheep of the settlers, accompanied by violence, but fortunately without bloodshed. This had been going on for a couple of years, and was getting daily more and more aggravated and complicated. One important chief had seized 2400 sheep belonging to an European', driven them off their run to his oavu land, kept them for two or three months, and was an the point of clipping them for his own benefit at the date of Mr. Ward’s arrival. The local magistrates, under an erroneous impression of the law on the subject, had refused to adjudicate in cases of trespass; and the Natives not unnaturally made this a ground for taking the law into their own hands. Then there were disputes among themselves as to the ownership of the lands trespassed on, and the unfortunate stock-owner, after satisfying one lot of claimants, probably found himself compelled to pay others a second time over. In short, the state of affairs at Hawke’s Bay was the most critical that can be imagined ; the indiscretion of any single individual might have led to a general outbreak ; and every newspaper which arrived at the seat of Government afforded some fresh indication of the probability of such an event.

Under the late Government, such an emergency would have been met by sending down a letter from Mr. McLean by the hands of “ a third-class clerk,” informing the Natives that their proceedings were very wrong, and promising to come down and enquire into the matter at some future period, which, owing to a “pressure of business,” would never arrive; while in the meantime the difficulty would have become more aud more complicated, aud at last, perhaps, have terminated in a calamity similar to that which occurred at Taranaki. The present Government, however, has another way of doing things. As soon as the serious aspect of affairs became apparent, Mr. Ward, one [of the Ministry, proceeded in person to the spot. He found both parties in the wrong. The Chief who had seized the flock of sheep, he reasoned into their surrender ; aud they were not only given up with their fleeces unshorn, but driven back by the servants of the Chief to their proper run. The disputes as to ownership of the land in which their seizure had originated, the Chief (Hapuka) expressed his readiness to submit to the Native Council when organized under the new system. In another case where cattle had been seized and taken away, Mr. Ward induced the Natives to restore them, at the same time bringing an action, in their names, against the owner of the cattle for the trespass, which was tried before three European Magistrates and three Native Assessors —the verdict being an unanimous one of £3O damages, to be paid to the Natives. The whole of the “ grass money” difficulties, which a few weeks before threatened to lead to bloodshed aud a serious rupture between the races, were got rid of by a little patience, common sense, tact, and justice. Before leaving the district, Mr. Ward discussed at great length with Natives and Europeans, the Governor’s plans for the future management of the Natives, and the manner in which the subject was received by the latter was such as to lead to the belief that a very few weeks will elapse before the new institutions will be in full operation there. The Natives intend holding a great meeting on the subject on the 24th of February, to which His Excellency is invited, and at which, tve believe, he will be present. Our contemporary, the Southern Cross, the chief organ of the Avar party, in its comments on Mr. Ward’s proceedings at Hawke’s Bay, says, “ these men (the Ministry) are ruining

the country.” We confess that wo very much prefer their method of ruining the country to the way that the late Ministry had of promoting its prosperity—judging by the specimen they gave us at JLarauaki. So far, Sir George' Grey and his Ministers have been personally engaged in the work of unravelling the tangled skein Natn e affairs. Progress has been made in other directions also. The very populous Distinct of East Cape has been organized by the Resident Magistrate, Mr. William Baker, and the Governor’s plans been warmly received. Mr. Smith, late Assistant Native Secretary, is at Roturoa, and the reports of his progress there are, we understand, very satisfactory. The Natives at the North end and on the East side of Taupo Lake are eager to have a Resident Magistrate, and a gentleman has been despatched to make arrangements. We have little doubt that, as confidence in our sincerity grows in the Native mind, they will gradually abandon the King movement and return to their old relations with the British Government.

Their total want of confidence in us is the great difficulty with which we now have to deal. Eightly or wrongly they declare themselves to have been deceived by the previous Government, and they have learned to attribute to us the worst designs towards them. Those who remember how great was Sir George Grey’s personal influence among them formerly, will judge by the uphill task which he has now before him, how deeply the feelings of the Natives have been alienated from us during his absence. Those who imagine that such feelings can be overcome in a day, or otherwise than by the utmost patience and perseverance, are little acquainted with human nature, and little qualified to appreciate the difficulty of Sir George Grey’s task. Nevertheless, we are satisfied that His Excellency is on the right road, and is making all the progress which it is reasonable to expect, or which is desirable in itself. We do not want any coup de mam, to be followed by a corresponding disaster. Neither should we be pleased to see the Natives throwing themselves into the Governor’s arms. After all that has happened it would be unnatural that they should do so, and little proof of their sincerity. The sort of work that His Excellency is doing, will last and be productive of good fruit long after the troops 'which the Imperial Government has provided may have been recalled to other parts of the Empire. There are a few persons to be found in the Colony who grumble at the Governor’s proceedings, and do what little they can to throw cold water upon them. These are chiefly the “bl’aves,” who constituted the war party in Governor Browne’s time, the men who like to see battles fought for the Colony by British troops at the cost of the British Treasury, and whose principal political organs are the Southern Cross and the Nelson Examiner. In conclusion we would remind our readers that the course pursued by Sir George Grey is exactly in conformity with the policy enunciated by his present responsible advisers during the last Session of the Assembly, and to carry out which it is only reasonable to suppose they were by the votes of the House of Representatives placed in power. The leading feature of that policy was to bring the Government face to face with the Natives, instead of harrassing them by paper protocols, and third class clerks. “ Real negociations, carried on by persons in whom the Natives might have confidence, and not confined to the insurgents, but extended to all the Natives ; -while submission is demanded on the one hand, we ought to offer with the other large powers of self-government in their own affairs.” “ The first aim of our negociations must be the removal of mutual misunderstandings, and before we could do this we must have the confidence of the Natives.” “ What His Excellency’s advisers would suggest is that the Government of the Colony should meet the Natives face to face, discuss the whole question at large, explain our views, remove their objections, and thus establish that confidence which they have never yet reposed in us, but which must be secured if we are to do any good.” “As regarded the insurgent Natives, the Government proposed to leave them pretty much on one side, satisfied that if the great bulk of them who had not been in a state of insurgency came to terms, the others would not long stand out.” “The three great principles of our policy are to treat the Natives as men, to avail ourselves of the great movement of the national mind as one which has law and order for its objects, and to encourage the ‘Ruuauga’ under legal sanctions.” How exactly in conformity with these principles is the present action of Sir George Grey and his Ministers, our readers will gather from the previous part of this article. It is work, we repeat, which, if it is to be effectual and lasting, can only be done by great patience and great labour. “ The mill of God,” says the German proverb, “ grinds slow,” and so it is with all genuine and real Avork. It would have been easy for the Government to get up some melo-dramatic programme, and for Sir George Grey to have affected to Avave the enchanter’s wand. That they have adopted a course precisely opposite, is the most hopeful sign of success ; and for our part Ave entertain no doubt Avhatever, that if they persevere in the same firm and cautious temper Avith Avhich they have began, success Avill as certainly attend their proceedings, as effect follows cause.

It was, we have been informed the intention of the Governor to leave for the Bay of Plenty early next week. The Colonial Secretary, Mr. Fox, proposed to start at the same time overland by way of Taupo for Hawke’s Bay where he expected to have met His Excellency on the 24th instant, the time appointed for the great Native Meeting. Sir George Grey’s plans have, we understand, been most seriously interfered with by instructions received last mail by the Naval Officers on this Station from Commodore Seymour, which at the same time that the Miranda was ordered to Sydney, prevent the Commander of the Fawn from allowing the Governor the use of his frigate except immediately in proximity to Auckland. As His Excellency’s plans had been arranged in the expectation of being able to avail himself of one of the men-of-war for the next two or three months, the orders issued by the Commodore seem to us to be a most serious interference ■with the public service.