THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 59, 23 January 1862, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NEW ZEALAND QUESTION.

The following remarks on the New Zealand question annnared on the 20th November, in the > leading cu:ui;iii.s of tin Monthly Vu.il —a journal i which is litideistood t<> <imw its inspiration from ■ a high ofth-'nl siiurcc :— . . If was rt first supposed that since t'je. accession of the Into Ministry in Xew Zealand, a'ivl sine ■ the recent incii'Jiiros have been taken in the Imperil! Parliament to secure protection for native interests, j that the Aboriginies hart assumed a more friendly attitude towards the colonists. It is, however, to I be fenred that combinations are still in progress of organisation against the Colonial Government, and that the terms on which peace was concluded are far irom acceptable to the native tribes. One of the great disadvantages attendant on negotiating with tribes of savages consists in this—that the latter invariably attribute every treaty which is (ntered with them, and which treats them with ordinary leniency, to fear, consequently, the better the terms are which we grant, to them, the greater is the probability that, sooner or later, the peace which has been concluded will he disturbed through an absurd supposition that nothing but terror could have induced us to terminate hostilities upon terms so favourable. In truth, the princif les on which the native tribes take their stand arc entirely antagonistic to those- on which we are of necessity compelled to establish relations with them. The native population desire to have a king of their own selection, whereas we can recognise no sovereign but one. This is unfortunately one of those questions which do not admit of argument, and no eou'se remains open but to compel the native population to recognise the sovereign and the government which dispeusr- the laws to which all, both settlers and natives, are alike subject. If New Zealand is to he considered in its entirety as an English colony, then no other sovereign can he acknowledged than she who governs these realms. Laws arc passed by the Imperial Legislature constituting in New Zealand a Legislative Assembly, with powers to provide as well for the interests of the native races as for those of the colonists. If the functions assumed by the hoine^r by the Colonial Legislature, arc not illusory, their degrees must be enforced at all hazards by the' Colonial Government. It is to be regretted that we are unable to impress upon the native tribes a conviction that only one course is open to us, and that from it we cannot possibly deviate. Much illfeeling and much bloodshed might thus be spared. We can only hope that the native chiefs will quickly perceive that, we are pursuing a steady'and-unal-terable course from which it is impossible for us to swerve, and that the course most conducive to their own interests, imd that ot" their followers, must be (o acknowledge a form of government, which extends to all classes equal advantages and equal rights.