New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1879. WEEKLY BULLETIN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 382, 7 June 1879, Page 14

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1879. WEEKLY BULLETIN.

The question of tho hour is, whether we are on the ova of a Maori war or not ? and {undoubtedly the present aspect of affairs leaves but little doubt how tho question will have to be answered. It is hoped that a display of force may yet induce the Maoris to withdraw the claims which they have arrogated to themselves; but it is a forlorn hope, with bub little expectation of fulfilment to support it. Since tho day that Hiroki found shelter at the hands of Te Whiti at Parihaka a spirit of disaffection has been daily "rowing stronger—old jealousies of race have been revived, and the King Maoris still dream of being perhaps able to establish an independent little kingdom of their own in the North Island, if they show a bold enough front to the European intruders, to induce themtocomo to terms. Tho first open act of aggression was committed months ago by Tujiukixo at Ohinemuri ; he sets a bad example by turning off a party of roadmen and surveyors, taking away their tools, and destroyiag much of the work which had been done. Ho was mi old offender and had been threatened timn after time, but when ho at last overstepped the law, instructions were issued to the local authorities by the Premier and the Native Department not to take any steps in the matter. The arm of the law which was apparently unable to punish an overt act of lawlessness such as this, and which was equally unable to compel Tn Whiti to deliver up to justice a red-handed murderer, has from that time until now been daily more openly defied and set at naught. Lulled into a sense of falsa security by the pretended success of the native policy of the present Ministry, the colony At large believed that all danger of fighting had passed away, and in consequence all means of entering into active hostilities were allowed to fall into abeyance, the militia were disbanded, and volunteering languished. The first acts of overt rebellion were regarded as the last fitful gleams of an expiring flame, having no real importance, and only to be looked upon as a final mild form of protest against the new order of things introduced by the pakeha ; this view was carefully inculcated in official quarters. It has since been demonstrated beyond the possibility of doubt that the smouldering embers of discontent, though smothered and concealed for a brief space, were still at a red heat beneath a thin crust of sullen or pretended apathy. Meddling interference has since fanned the spreading liros of discontent until on all sides the hostile feeling of the malcontents has found expression in acts of lawless aggression, and it is now impossible to say whether it will be possible to prevent them blazing up into a widespread blaze of open rebellion. If war should break out there is not the least likelihood of its being con find to the Parihaka natives only. A correspondent writing to us from the Upper Wanganui, says:—" A great many of the natives of " the settlements up tho Wanganui river " are at Parihaka ; some of the settle- " merits are said to bo almost bare of " able-bodied men." In tho Wairarapa similar reports of an exodus of volunteers for Parihaka are current, and in whatever locality the first shot may bo fired, if the Maoris determine to light, it will not be with any one hapu that the Europeans will have to deal. The Maoris have now entered upon land hold by Europeans at Opunako, Stoney River, and at Oakura. They have converted their swords into ploughshares, with which they turn up any piece of land to which they desire to establish a claim. Henceforth in New Zealand, when a Maori puts his hand to tho plough on a neighbor's land, ho must be understood to have a loaded rifle to support his claim, and what has hitherto been looked upon as an emblem of peace, will come to be regarded as a wolf in sheep's clothing. .Some years ago a claim in Hawke's Bay which was first entered in this manner was allowed, and now the Maoris are ploughing on Europeans' land, not only on tho West Coast, but have even ventured upon the experiment in the Wairarapa.

What have lately become known as presessional addresses, have been somewhat

numerous during the past week. Mr. G. McLean made a most weighty and effective speech at Waikouaiti. Jt ivas a very long oration, hut he managed to keep his audience in good humor, and, besides, telling an oft told tale in a manner which left nothing to be desired, gave a short history of what he had lately seen on his travels through New Zealand, and waxed humorous when describing the difficulties which bo3et him in the House. He said :

I was a supporter of the Government during the last session—at all events, I called myself such—(laughter); and I dare say I was abetter supporter than a great many amongst their own friends. But we could not get the Premier to indicate into what lobby he was going. He always went out, and would not commit himself ; hut I followed the other members of the Government, except on their Bills of policy, until one day after I had gone into one lobby I found a majority of the Government had gone into another. I objected to this one day, saying, "It was really trying to a Government supporter," and T could not see my way to do it any longer. On another day the Treasurer spoke on behalf of the Government in opposition to o motion—very rightly I thought—and I assisted him, but I made the mistake of going into the lobby first, because, on looking over, I saw that the majority of the Government were in the other lobby.—(Laughter.) I then said that I was not goiug to be tricked in that way any longer. The next time I would sit in my seat until I saw which way the majority of the Government went, and if I went with them I might be ri«ht. — This caused Sir George Grey to get angry, and to say, " From such a supporter good Lord deliver us.—(Laughter.) Mr. Cutten" has actually undertaken to break a lance for the Government. Theyai-e fortunate in finding an apologist at last ; we had almost despaired of hearing anything more in defence. It is a pity that Mr. Cuttex said of the land tax, tho only important measure which was passed, " that he thought it ought to " hare been postponed for a period in " favor of an income tax." Mr. Murray, who is known injthe House by the soubriquet of "infinite wisdom," also delivered an address to his constituents which will unquestionably support his right to the title we have quoted. He is half inclined to resign his seat, and as we believe that his wisdom is not duly appreciated in the Assembly, we sincerely trust that his constituents will encourage him to cause a vacancy. In politics he is neither flesh, fowl, nor good red herring, and he carefully avoids committing himself to any party or any policy, and only undertakes to further a drainage Bill, a duty which he believes that he is fully competent to undertake, but which would be qnite beyond the capacity of anyone whom the electors could secure to succeed him. Upon this particular point we think Mr. MURRAY is in error, and we have no doubt that any successor of his would be only too glad to adopt a drainage Bill which might be drafted by Mr. Murray, and could bo called the child of his capacious brain. This would relieve the member for Bruce of any further anxiety on the subjec', and would also relieve the minds of many members who dread the sound of Mr. Minn: ay's voice.

Mr. Bowe.v, at Ivaiapoi, has also addressed the electors, )>n! we have not. space to enter upon any detailed criticism of his speech. Tke colony is greatly indebted to that gentleman for an Education Act which has proved a comprehensive and practical measure. It gives us pleasure to find that an ex-Minister of Justice is devoting attention to the crying wants of the colony in respect to gaol and asylum accommodation. His curt criticism of the land-tax papers deserves mention, and his remark that be could not find anyone, not even the tax-gatherer, who could understand the Act, and his opinion that when it comes into a court of law the lawyers would not be able to understand it either, will be generally endorsed by our readers. For the present we shall content ourselves with the following extract, which tells its own tale of Ministerial extravagance: —

I am not going to expatiate on the general extravagance of the Government, a 3 we all know something of what has been going on. Now, whenever people hear a railway scream at night, or some unusual time, when no ordinary train wonld be passing, " Oh," they say, " there's some of the Ministry going about in a special train." (Laughter.) That is the general idea now-a-days.