THE FRIENDLY NATIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 181, 11 June 1864, Page 5

THE FRIENDLY NATIVES.

(From the " Otago Daily Times" May 25). 'J' wo circumstances have lately occurred which have to a great extent solved a question which ie not without importance—can any dependence be placed on the native allies ': The employment of Maori contingents have been often debated during our various wars with one or other section of the native population, ami the balance of argument has until lately linen against any such dubious assistance. During the last war, and in a less degree during the present one, " friendly" natives have proved more or less a great nuisance, to say the least of it, and they arc ale not quite clear of the suspicion of treachery. In most cases the " friendly" natives friendship bore a close relationship to selfish considerations, and although to save his head and his land he was not unwilling to render service to the enemies of his countrymen, ho shewed an unequal -willingness to share his favours equally with both belligerents. .Jinny a promising piece of strategy lias been spoiled by the " friendly natives," who, while helping the Jjuropean commander to execute his projects, have at the same time communicated their nature to thoir countrymen. Such a quasi neutality was a position of considerable advantage to those, who hold it; they had no danger to fear from either side, so that whichever way the tide of success turned, they were safeLike skilful " bookmakers," they nevei- staked too much or one horse ; but by cunningly calculated " hedging,"' managed to be always on the sale side. These singular allies never willingly took an active share in actual hostilities; if such a position was accidentally forced on them, they acquitted themselves with discression and consistency. The few occasions we can call to mind, in which " friendly nativus" were tailed upon to tight for their white friends, certainly redounded to their ingenuity and cleverness. If they tired at all, they magnanimously aimed over the heads of the enemy, who with equal generosity returned the compliment. So that it is not to bo wondered at that tho idea of employing .Maori allies in actual hostilities was, alter some deliberation, abandoned as a policy of too risky and dangerous a character. Although experience of the sort of aid, the generality i.i , "- lii.mliv natives" could be expected to give, was clearly against the. proposition to employ it more extensively ; still there was another direction in which active and material assistance might, with some show of reason, be obtained with safety to ourselves. Although it is the custom to spOitk of tin' natives of .New Zealand as one nation, and bound together by national ties, it is no less tlte l'uct that there are to be found, even now, tribes between whom exists as gnat a leeling of dislike as there is between iho "Waikato* a?id the -Europeans. Years ago Uic.-e animosities, ior the most part hereditary, burned much more strongly than they do now ; but still the embers are suiliciently alive yet to permit of tiring easily fanned into lUiine. Perhaps the most striking example is to be found in the hereditary feud existing between the two great families of Ngapuhi and Waikato, which, although considerably abated l.y the lapse 01 time, intermarriage, and Kuropean inlfuence, slili exists. Tho question of taking advantage of this leeling by employing the Jsgapuhis j as allies lias more than once occupied the attention i.f the New Zealand Government —in fact, oldTamata W.-.kii None, the great N-.qmlii chief, made, the direct oticr of bis warriors during the last war. But I the subject was encompassed with too many doubts and dangers, and it was decided not to place reliance on an arm which might possibly turn round :ind J Mrike its employers. "The danger lay in the con- ! liicting inlluem.es of hereditary animosities and i national prejudices, it was impossible to tell where ] the Vimcr would end or the latter begin ; for much !as the Ngajnihis desired to Ireslien their laurels by ■ iror-h libations of Waikato blood, it was within tho • bounds, of jios.-ibility that their appetite for war ; ha\ ing been whetted,' they might not be particular \ who iliev :igain.-t—l-.uropean.s or Maoris. ;Of co;. lso it is "equally possible that they might have proved themselves lehable and powertul allies, and have religiously preserved their loyalty ; however, they were not put to the proof, and until just lately I has it been established, whether under any circumj s tames, .Native allies may be counted on. The engagements —iirst at Maketu on the East Coast, and the other day at Wangamii, have clearly shown that it is possible for the native adherents to Her Majei-ty to be eapable of much more than the rjuiixi loyalty of which they have been hitherto suspected. And what is more to the purpose they appear to have been able to do ihe lighting work quite as etVcetivelv—miv a tritie more so—than the troops under General Ca'meron. At Maketu our Native allies left the Europeans, with whom they were acting, far behind in the impetuosity and ell'cct of their attack; and the account we published the other day of the tight near "Wanganui shows, that without any European aid at all, the loyal Natives fought in thorough earnest. With regard to this latter atlair there can be no doubt, that the interference of Our Xativo allies saved a prosperous and populous settlement from tho horrors of an attack. "Well prepared as the settlers of Wangamii were for an assault on their town, it is not to be doubted that many lives would have been lost, and possibly defenceless women and children in tho out districts'hiive been massacred. But one must look even further to realise the immense importance of this interference on the part of the loyal natives. Had they not acted as they did, they could not have remained neutral, and it is possible that in tho excitement of hostilities causes of offence would have been given, which would have thrown them into the arms of the lebels. Fortunate indeed is it that events took the course they did, and it is no less satisfactory to iind that alter"all Maori allies may be depended on. ' Set a thief to cateli a thief" may possibly admit of the interpretation, " .Set a Maori "to catch a Maori," for certainly tho rebels seem to have less chance against their countrymen than against tho Queen's troops.