THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8,1879.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5635, 8 December 1879, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 8,1879.

Rewi, upon whom so many hopes were fixed, as the man who would be the means of opening the interior to European colonisation, and of getting rid for ever of the native difficulty, has, we are told, declined to hold any further communication with tho Government, and has rejoined Tawhiao at Tβ Kuiti. We suppose, therefore, that the whole scheme of getting land for a railway through the

interior, involving the junction of Auckland by rail with tho settlement of Taranaki, has vanished for the present like the baseless fabric of a vision. If we do still expect it, we can hope to realise it only after the lapse of several years, and we must make our account in the meantime to do without it, and to cease actively striving for it. Tawhiao has conquered. He has been the victor in the diplomatic struggle. Standing in his position as King of the Maori people, as having been elected their head for the purpose of preserving their land, and a separate rule and existence for the Maori people, he has gained his point for the present. When Sir George Grey became Premier and Mr. Sheehan Native Minister, there was something like a unanimous approval of the effort to terminate the native difficulty. A straightforward and earnest attempt was made at Hikurangi, but after holding out hopes that he was about to come to terms, Tawhiao drew back, and at the meeting held at Te Kopua brought that negotiation to an end. Tawhiao did not attempt to argue the question, but simply erected an unreasoning non possuinus. He declared himself -King of the whole Island, and ignored the Europeans, not desiring to negotiate with them, or to deal with them, or to acknowledge them in any way whatever. Practically he cannot do that, but he desires to keep them precisely where they are, and to maintain his people precisely where they are ; and the position is one embarrassing enough to us. Some four or rive millions of acres in the centre of the Island are locked up from colonisation or any profitable occupation, preventing us from connecting different European districts, and, what is an especially objectionable feature, offering a shelter for Maoris who offend against the law in any part of the Island. When the direct mode of action with Tawhiao failed, we tried an indirect, by endeavouring to get Rewi, the chief of the most powerful tribe amongst the adherents of the King, to come over to us, and then we would sap the power of the King. But now we are told that Rewi is about to rejoin Tawhiao, and that they are to become one. We may be sure that Tawhiao has not given way. As to Rewi, the question will arise at the present time, whether hie closing of negotiations is in any way due to the late change of Ministry. On that point, we simply cannot speak at present. For ourselves, though hoping for the best from the negotiations with Tawhiao and Rewi, we have never felt confident respecting them, and never felt sure that Rewi's adhesion secured everything that we wanted. Even when the great Ngatimaniapoto chief was listening with pleased ears to the speeches of the Xative Minister, and when he was making pacific addresses to the Volunteers of Waikato, we never felt certain that we should obtain permission to construct the railway from Te Awamutu to Taranaki, and therefore we are the less surprised at the new movement Another item of native news reaching us now is, that Hiroki has left Parihaka, and has been offered a refuge in tho King country. We never had any doubt that Hiroki, the murderer of McLean, would be afforded shelter with Tawhiao, but if it is a fact that he has been invited to come and join Purukutu, Nuku, and Winiata, further confirmation is given to the news that Tawhiao is determined to have no friendly negotiations with us, and not to recognise us in any way. Hiroki is at present at Ngatimaru, a rough forest district at the head of the Waitara River, in Taranaki, and from whence it is impossible to prevent his reaching Waikato. There may also be a reason for his leaving Parihaka. The natives there are persuaded that, sooner or later, we mean to attack that place, and attempt to take Te Whiti, their prophet. Within the last six months we have largely increased the force of Armed Constabulary at the posts in the vicinity of Te Whiti'sstronghold, and wo maintain the force, although there is no immediate danger, and it is not required for defensive purposes. The natives see all these things, and knowing that we are anxious to reduce the expenditure, conclude that we mean to use the Constabulary to attack Parihaka. Te Whiti ie aware that our chief pretext would be the presence of the murderer Hiroki at Parihaka, and therefore he has removed him. Several of the most experienced officers of the Xa'.ive Department have recommended the Government to endeavour to arrest Te Whiti, contending that if wo did so our troubles in that quarter would be at an end. But all we can urge against him ia that he prophesies, and professes to have communications from the spirit world, and if these are to be accounted political offences, we might make a beginning by a few arrests in Auckland. As to the proper course to pursue at the present time, we have little doubt. If it be true that Rewi has gone over to Tawhiao, and that the Maori King has determined that he will not allow the status quo to be disturbed, there are only two courses open to us. Either we must put a large force on foot,and attack the King in his stronghold, put down all resistance to the law, arrest every one who has offended against it, and make the Queen's writ run through the island ; or else, we must try the policy of letting the Kingitee alone. The first course is the one we should like to see adopted, and probably it would be the best for the Europeans, and for the natives as well, in the long run. But the commercial and financial position of the colony renders such a course impossible ; and unless we could deal with Tawhiao, :ind so with the foundation, there is little use in our making a dash at Parihaka. Our best policy is to let the natives alone, to cease all attempt at negotiation with Tawhiao, and to diminish the difficulty by other means. We may not be able to carry through the railway to Taranaki, but there is no reason why we should not do it by Cambridge and Taupo, making brandies to Hawke's Bay and Taranaki whenever possible. By such a process we would sap the power of the King, and would be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that might offer Wo need be under no apprehension that the Kingites would attempt any offensive movement. They know their own weakness and our strength. Their great desire is to keep us out; from their district, and with that they are content.