The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1866.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2603, 14 February 1866, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1866.

lie Just and fear not: Let nlltlietnrts Ihon iiim'st at, be tliy Country's, TJij God's, and truth's.

SbMB little commotion has been caused of late in the Waikato district by the action taken by two native chiefs and their followers, for the purpose of settling a disputed claim to an eel-weir or " pa," at the Wangape lake. This action is taken, "not at law, but on the good old plan, " That lie should lake who has the power, " And he should keep who can ; " Both parties proceeded to the

accoutred, and bloodshed was, perhaps, only prevented by the presence and intervention of one of the Waikato magistrates, Mr. Searancke. Of course, we can hardly hope that our English notion of what '' law and order" means, can be at once understood and accepted; but undoubtedly, we think it is the duty of the Government to keep the civilized view of these matters constantly before the mind of the Maoris, and with perseverance and prudence, to enforce upon them firmly the necessity of showing, at least, some observance of, and obedience to, the principles upon which the whole fabric of social order is based. Amongst ourselves, it is not permitted to the pakeha to take up arms against his neighbour for the redress of a wrong, whilst a Court of Justice is open to him, to which he can appeal; neither must that mode of procedure be tolerated on the part of our Maori fellow subjects, as a means of settlement of their interminable disputes about landclaims and boundaries, and the present offers, as it appears to us, a favourable opportunity of announcing that positive determination on the part of the Government, and at the same time, of inflicting on the immediate transgressors in the the present instance, such moderate punishment as may be suUieiemy to indicate the fixed purpose to enforce obedience to law and abstinence from violence. The parties to the dispute to which we now refer, are on the one side Te Wheoro and his people, and on the other Waala Kukutai and his tribe; -the subject is the right to take eels at YV-liffflgape. Both leaders are Native Assessors, in the pay and service of the Crown; both wear official uniform; and the fire-arms and ammunition with which all the intending combatants are provided, have been, \vc believe, confided to them, but for a very different use, by the Colonial authorities. Moreover, the land at Whangape, having been confiscated, has become Crown land, and even if it had not so become, neither of the parties have, as we have been informed, any just title or claim to it. Here then is an opportunity which we hope will not be lost of visiting with severe displeasurethe leaders of this outrage. Te Wheoro and Kukutai have been in the best sense friendly to the Government and to the Europeans, and both have rendered excellent service during the late troubles in Waikato; but both are native Magistrates charged with the conservation of the peace and the maintenance of order, and both have become leaders in wrong-doing, and have set an example which may prove contagious. Within our own borders at least we may now l)e aide to save the natives from murdering each other through greediness of laud, or in vindication of disputed rights, and in our opinion the Government .should not lose the opportunity of expressing, and of making known its determination to do so by prompt, vigorous, and decided action in the present instance. We shall be glad to bear that the arms which these men were about to misuse have been taken from (hem, and their leaders suspended from pay and office until they shall have learned the fundamental principles of law, and made, up their minds to respect them on their own be- ! half, and toset an example of that I respect to those who look to them for counsel and guidance.