THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1873.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2907, 23 May 1873, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1873.

In our loading article on the position of native nlTairs, published on the 13th instant, we made a suggestion whicli, we perceive, has since been largely appropriated, and urged with more or less want of perception of the consequences. We said, speaking of the possibility of averting the horrors of war, or at least of confining it to a conflict with the Waikntos :— There is n possibility, liov.-cve:-, of avoiding war; but it is contingent oil the attitude tli e Government as»uine3. Ngatimaniapot.o hay© lost little or no land, and what little lliey did lose they Buld dearly enough to us at Orakau and the Mauku. If, therefore, Uevri was given to understand that Knwliin, and Ilia other lands would he taken in payment for tho war by the victorious pakehaa, we tlunk lio would probably throw off the AVaikatos, and make terms with the Government. But unless the Government, presents this alternative to Rewi, it is impossible for him or his tribe, surrounded -us tJiev are by tlio expelled Waikatos, to take nnv derided step towards repudiating the King and his aggressive policy. Subsequent events bear out the soundness of this view, and affairs are still gravitating in the same direction ; but the Government must act with firmness and decision. Our contemporary the Cross — who, we perceive, takes credit for the idea of convincing liewi through Kawkia, although he first appears to have caught up the notion from his Aotea correspondent on the 19th instant — fails in gathering precisely the effect of the occupation of Kawliia by a British force. The idea appears to be that a mere temporary occupation of the harbour by a ship of war would answer all our purposes, so far as the surrender of Sullivan's murderers is concerned. But wo are inclined to think that no such result would follow the prcscnce of au armed ship in Kawliia. On the contrary, it would exasperate the King natives who reside there, and who are closely allied by blood and sympathy with the King. A ship of war in Ivawhia harbour could not influence the struggle one way or the other, except to prevent trading vessels landing supplies. The natives have no fortified places at Kawliia, the possession of which could be of any use to us, except we meant our occupation to bo permanent, and to use Kawliia as a base for establishing a line of posts across the island, as was projected by Mr. Domett, in his famous memorandum on the defenco of the colony. It is assumed by many persons, (and of these, writers in public newspapers appear to be no exception,) that the Government has no claim upon Kawliia harbour, and that Europcanshavc never had a settlement there. This, however, is a serious mistake. Formerly, the New Zealand Customs had a resident officer at Kawliia; several Europeans resided there, holding land tinder grauts from the Crown; and an extensive trade was carried on, partly by Europeans aud partly by Maoris. But Kawliia always has been the port of the King's territory ; and from the election of Potatau, up till the war in AVaikato and the desertion of Kawliia by the settlers, missionaries, and friendly natives, the agents of tlio King levied contributions upon European traders, and extorted tribute from the European residents. The ruins of the houses, stores, and gardens still exist. If, therefore, we took possession of Kawliia, we should take possession of that to which we have a perfect right. But the same reasons hold good now that influenced the authorities in their resolve in the first instance to abandon Kawhia. It is too far from our base of operations, unless we resolve upon a " new departure," when Kawhia is undoubtedly the true starting point. Indeed, the policy of reserving Kawhia as a means of coercing the King in future years was adopted, after due deliberation, by the Government in 18GJ). The only land that Tawhiao's tribe possesses is in Kawhia harbour. As a strategic point, Kawhia is valueless unless we resolve upon carrying out the policy of isolation, which King Tawliiao and his Council appear determined to enforce to the death. And we are inclined to think that this is the very best thing that could be done. Our settlements are pushing out on every side, and the Government could find no more suitable location for a military colony, nor one that would present greater inducements to men of enterprise, than the block of land available at Kawhia, commanding the lines of interior communication. Hochstetler, speaking of the laud in the vicinity of this harbour on the line of the Eakauniu river, says, " I reckon " this country among the most charm- " ing and fertile districts that I have " seen upon New Zealand." The same authority remarks :— " Three roads lead from Kawhia har- " bour across the ranges along the " southern foot of the i'irongia to the " Waipa Yalley. The traveller will " choose one road or the other, accord- " ing to his point of starting on Kawhia " harbour, or his place of destination " on the Waipa. The southern route " is the Awaroa road. It leads from " Awaroa creek through a romantic " limestone and sandstone country, " aDd is connected with the roads " to the Upper Mokau district. " But in order to arrive at " the mission station, Kopua, on " the "Waipa, the other two roads are " preferable. The Kauri road, start-

" ing from the Kauri creek, appears " to be less woody and mountainous " than the Oparau road, and is there- " fore specially to be recommended to " horsemen, while the Oparau is the " shortest and most direct route " for pedestrians, but offering diffi- " culties to horses since two very " deep and steep ravines are to "be passed." It is well that these points should be known, as there are comparatively,few Europeans who have any precise knowledge of that country. It is clear, therefore, that if we occupy Kawhia, aud plant a settlement there, we must establish a line of posts along one of the two line 3 stated, and make a passable road to our Waipa settlements. Eewi, however, has forestalled us ; for he has, in a spirit of the most disinterested friendship, occupied the position of Kopua, which virtually commands the Oparau and Kauri roads above-named, and checks an advance from the Waipa. Should war ensue, we are therefore shut up to this alternative, if liewi does not come within our lines : either to attack his new position at Kopua, if we are to move westward to Kawhia from the Waipa, or at once land in force at Kawhia and make it the base of operations. The latter is the courso that wo should advise, because, although immediately the most difficult and costly, it might be carried out without furnishing liewi a pretext for hostilities, the Ngatimaniapoto not being the sole, or indeed principal owners, of Kawhia. Moreover, by making Kawhia our base, a position could be occupied on the Awaroa road, at its junction with the roads to the Upper Mokau district, and so cut off communication with the Mokau, Taranaki, and West Coast tribes. Ilochstetter describes the country along the Oparau road, which he travelled, as extremely picturesque, fertile, and at that time well cultivated. The summit level is 1,555 feet. There are difficulties along this line; but nothing that our forces could not overcome. The country is well timbered, rich in minerals of all kinds, and would support a large agricultural population.

" Mr. Charles Featherston Mitchell " has reported officially that at a meet- " ing of Ohmemuri natives yestorday, " measures were discussed for attackiug the Thames, and suggestions " made as to how the greatest amount "of damage could bo inflicted." This is the substance of a telegram from Warden Eraser to his Honor the Superintendent. We may add, that Mr. Fraser did not attach much importance to the information. Elsewhere we publish an extract from the Thames Star, referring to the same

subject, aud treating the matter lightly. Our Thames correspondent takes a more rational view ot the case in our opinion, and while thinking it improbable the Thames natives would make any hostile demonstration in their own district, he believes they are likely to join the King in considerable numbers. It is known that the young men are gradually moving upwards; and we have no reason to suppose that this will bo exceptional on the part of the Thames natives Louis Dihars is reported to have stated that there is no danger to be apprehended. "W"c trust this may turn out to be the caso ; meanwhile, as our telegrams show, the flight of Mr. Mitchell, for the reason above stated, has been reported to the Government at "Wellington. It does appear strango that Mr. Puckey, the Native Agent at the Thames, should have been ignorant of the meeting at Ohinemuri, seeing that it is reported to have involved such a serious matter as an attack 011 Shortland. We are not disposed to question the truth of the statement, that a plan of attack on IShortland was discussed at the meeting ; we should be surprised if it were not when war was the topic of conversation. We make bold to say, that plans for- sacking Auckland have been discussed scores of times by natives who are friendly, and who had no intention whatever of attacking it, as well as by hostile natives who would only have been too glad of au opportunity for carrying their plans into execution. It is characteristic of the natives to discuss all kinds of military projects at their meetings ; and therefore we do not attach so much importance to the Ohinemuri korero aa Mr. Mitchell has done. At the samo time, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. The possibility of a successful night attack upon Shortland must be admitted. The town might bo fired in a score of places simultaneously, and in the confusion, the natives, acting on a wellconsidered plan, would in all probability make good their retreat after doing incalculable damage. We say such a contingency is possible ; we do not say that it is probable. But it is well to guard against the possibility, lest too great security might tempt the natives to gratify their propensity for fighting and plunder. A night patrol should be organised, and natives requested to keep within doors after dusk. By this simple precaution, life and property would be rendered perfectly secure on the Thames goldfield.

The telegrams from Waikato do not throw much additional light on natire affairs. Te Kooti, with twenty-five men, is reported to have joined Purukutu, but to have been ordered back to Te Kuiti by Tawhiao. This is rather ominous. We aro not told whether Te Kooti obeyed the King. It would be satisfactory to know the exact measure of his authority. Te Kooti, the other day, was reported as being in quite an amiable mood. He protested to Mr. Mackay his desire to live at peace : he had placed himself under the shadow of liewi, and would be guided entirely by that chief. Has Te Kooti changed his mind, or is Kewi playing us double ? Time will tell. At the same time, there is room for reflection. The Armed Constabulary have taken up a position at Botorangi,

between Cambridge and Te Awamutu, on the confiscated line.

Ocr Southern telegrams are barren. The Government will dissolve the Otago Provincial Council, and let the province decide the dispute between Mr. Maeandrew and Mr. Donald Reid. It is a pity that the public should pay so dearly to enable a few men to play at parliamentary tactics. The Government has won another seat. Mr. Cuthbertson, an avowed supporter of the present Ministry, has been returned for Invercargill, against Mr. "Wood an avowed adherent of Mr. StaiFord, by a majority of 15, the total number polled being 303 votes. Thus, the Opposition has lost two seats in the House of Representatives during the recess, and failed to return their candidate for Lyttelton, in the room of Mr. Peacocke, a Ministerialist. The liangitikei district has pronounced in favor of separation from the province of "Wellington.