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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5680, 13 June 1879, Page 2

The march of events up at Taranaki has offered a new and very important development for consideration within the last day or two. The settlors are beginning to feel their position somewhat assured, and to ask that, now that the authorities are in a position to enforce their demands, the arm of the law shall be stretched forth so as to exercise its power over Te Whiti and those of his followers who have so lately set at defiance. The report from the district portrays the local feeling in the following tonus : —“ It is “ felt that, as all this anxiety and exn pense have been occasioned thiough “ the aggressive acts instigated by Te “ Whiti, advantage should be taken by “ the Government of the Volunteer 11 movement to finally settle the native “difficulty on this coast, as if the Go- “ vernraent give way to the now frightct ened natives, and the volunteering spirit is allowed to die out, there will “ be great difficulty in reviving it. The “feeding is that Hiboki should be de- “ manded and obtained, or failing that, “ that Te Whiti, who has been the cause “ of the trouble, should be secured, and “ the Parihaka don of murderers and dis- “ contents scattered. There is no neces- “ sity for hurried action, but the Goveru- “ mont should lot it bo unmistakably “ known that it is prepared to carry out “ its alleged intentions.” The report goes .on! to say that large numbers of volunteers would offer to undertake the duty, as the settlers look upon Parihaka as a refuge for lawless evildoers whose mere presence as an armed force is to interfere seriously with peaceful settlement and the security of life and property." We believe that -a great ma iority of the people of Hew Zealand wil! sympathise with the opinions ex-

pressed by the settlers. The question raised is one of vital importance, as any attempt to enforce the law may in practice prove to be equivalent to a declaration of war. Consequently, although we thoroughly agree with the sentiments expressed, we feel that anything like hasty action ought to be carefully guarded against. No doubt Tb Whiti has set at naught the European authority and law. He first sheltered a red-handed murderer, and insulted the Minister who asked him to deliver up Hiroki to justice, and he has since in open defiance of the law, disputed the possession of the land with the settlers, whenever it suited his purpose to do . so. But it would be manifestly unjust to pass judgment on his actions as though he wore a European. Though a savage he has hitherto shown a spirit of moderation somewhat unusual in such cases ; he calls himself a man of peace, and as a prophet he unquestionably commands the respect and support of a very large section of the native people. We trust, therefore, that whatever action may ultimately be taken, moderate and even generous terras may be offered to him.

’ Before any attempt to arrest Te Whiti or to invade Parihaka were made, all parties should have the assurance of having met on common ground to resolve upon the course of action to be adopted. In about a month from now Parliament will meet; the ardor of the newly-enrolled settlers will by that time have cooled down a little, and the jealous fears of the Maoris, which have doubtless been aroused by the arming of the settlers, will have had time to subside. In the interval also the Government will have an opportunity of finding out how many native allies, Ngatiporous or others, they could rely upon raising, the estimated number published a few days ago having boon proved to be altogether excessive. The raw levies will also have had time to learn a little drill and discipline. Finally, if Parliament should decide that the Queen’s writ shall be made to run as far as Parihaka, and should determine to exert the power now at their disposal, we shall hail with satisfaction 'the commencement of an entirely new era in the history of New Zealand, when the majesty of the law shall once more reign supremo. Time may provide a way out of the difficulty. The Maoris themselves may yet force matters to a crisis, or may possibly give some satisfactory assurance of their desire for peace. Any further negotiations will certainly bo entered into by the Europeans in a very different spirit to that which has hitherto guided our ambassadors. Before attempting to enforce the law on the West Coast the great (question to be decided is this—Would the arrest of lawbreaking Maoris on the West Coast involve the country in a native war 1 A month hence all doubt about the answer to this question will probably have been sot at rest. At present even the best authorities would hesitate to give a decided opinion. ________