PATESTS CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2506, 2 April 1902, Page 70

PATESTS CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

A CHAPTER IN THE HIbTORY OF TARANAKI. IV. Sir George Grey's Native policy Ik 1 .- been criticised both favourably and unfavourably, and I am not going to say — I Cdiinot — whether he was right or wiong in his methods when dealing with the land. Generally speaking, however, settlers seem to have had a dhtiust of him. Tins is what Kennedy has to say of him in "New Zealand," published in 1873 : "Sir George Grey is a man with abilities of a high order, his capacity for administration undoubted, and if he had devoted his energies, faithfully and fearlessly, with justice and magnanimity, to the adjudication of the conflicting claims and affairs of the two races which he was tent to govern, he would have retired, aftei his long and eventful service in. New Zealand, with the character of a great man and a reputation of an enlightened statesman, instead of being viewed as merely successful in achieving personal distinction in. an ambitious career. The measures of his Government in New Zealand were in many ways? statesmanlike, but shaped and shaded a\ ith such strong tendencies to arbitrary power that their practical importance was impaired, and they failed to inspire confidence in either the Maoiis or the colonists." (I think the author means neither Natives nor whites had any faith in Grey.) He then narrates Homer's narrative of the god Apollo falling in love with the beautiful Cassandra, and his, granting her the gift of piophecy. The legend goes on to that, having obtained that gilt, Cassandra jilts Apollo, who, to render his gift useless, added the condition that everything j-he said was to be disbelieved. * After giving the legend in detail, Kennedy continues : "In f-uoh like manner %Sir George Grey must have offended, in some way or other, the deity who had bestowed such a high order of gifts upon him, and, in older to puni*h him for hi.s transgressions, rendered them comparatively ineffective by casting over all his acts "a shadow of suspicion and raising the spectre of distrust, which haunted all his policy and measures and caused that want of confidence with which they were regarded by the people of both races." What were the causes of the war? The question ]•■ difhcult to answer, for the causes seem many. Fox. m "The War in New Zealand," says that it v.\i<- pietty well ths custom for llic Native to fi^ht among thcmsclvc a^ "-uon «iv the cioji-s \.eie in and until llicy v. ;re lipe. T!u:i many of the Waik'itos and many other Native*, saw that tiie advent of the pakeha meant the waning of the power of the Maori, and to retard the advance of the pakeha tiny refused to sell their land>. In thi> \>ay there sprang up a kind of land leajue, which, by moral 2nd phyMC.il for< t. slopped the sale of JancK by \!io-c who w-rc quite willing to selL Xhea there was the iiiui:

movement About 1848 the idea was entertained by the Maoris of establishing a kingship. There had never been one ; ! but they had studied the Old Testament, I and in it the history of monarchy among 1 the Israelite*-. 'I'iie outcome was a parody, and at the commencement of the war in. Ibo2 there was elected King "a very young man of no force of character, surrounded by a ievr • ambitious chiefs, who formed a I little body-guard without shoeb, \\ ho [ kept him from all vulgar contact, ond from even the inspection of Europeans, except upon humiliating terms-j — antirely powerle&b to enforce among his subjects the decisions of liis, magistrates. There was an army of 5000 to 10,000 scattered over the country, but so organised that large numbers could be concentrated on any one point. This army had accumulations of food, arms, and ammunition, and ■a. position in the centre of the island from which a descent could be made in a few hours on any of the European settlements. Recognising their power, these Kingites set the Queen's law ut defiance, treated her magistrates with contempt, tore her writs up, and trampled them under their feet. An this, and more, was accompanied by the utmost arrogance and disguised contempt for the power of the Queen, the Governor, and the Europeans."' Fox, whom I have been condensing, thinks that this King movement could have been moulded to something useful, and might have proved useful as the means of elevating the Native nice. The opportunity, however, was lost. But the direct cause of the Taranaki war k?ems to have been the disputes over tlie purchases of tond at Waitara. north of New Plymouth, and .it Tataiaimuka. perhaps 15 nales south of it. In November, 1859, Governor Brown visited New Plymouth and stated that lit was willing to buy land if the Natives were willing to sell. A Native named Teira (Taylor) rose up and seated that he was open to sell some 600 acres at Waitara. But the principal chief at Teira's tribe vigorously opposed ths sala. Tt-ira war, told that if he could prove his title the purchase would be effected. After some months of negotiation. Pan is, an agtnt who understood Maori law, reported the title good, arid £200 was paid to Teira on account Surveyors were sent out to paicel out the land, but they were stopped by the Maoris. The Governor then sent troops, and hostilities broke out. " Some seem to think that the Maoris were justified in their opposition. But there seems to be no doubt about the purchase of the district of Tataraimaka. This was acquired by Sir George Grey in 1848 or 1849. There had never been a shadow of doubt about the validity of the purchase of this block, and settlers holding Crown grants had been settled on it for 10 years. But. in 1850-61, tLe settlers were driven from the district and their homes .destroyed. So the Government had now to settle two dsputes — one north of New Plymouth and one south. Then Sir George Grey committed a tactical blunder. He had decided to give up Waitara and hold fast to Tataraimaka. But he sent soldiers to occupy Tataraimaka without letting it be known that he was going to surrender Waitara. When the Natives saw the_soldiers. no opposition was made, but they sent to the Waikato for instructions. The orders, signed by the fighting general of the King party, were: Begin your shooting."' They were promptly obeyed. On the 4th May, i 863 (I am quoting Fox), an ambuscade of Natives attacked a small escort party conveying some carts between New Plymouth and Tataraimaka, and baibarously muidered ten of the men. Then took place another error of judgment. Instead of exacting letnbution, tiie Governor, with the utmost pie-, cipitation, announced that Waitara was abandoned. The Natives, hostile and friendly, regaided this a» an indication of fear and of unmistakable weakness Then took place that «.u which cost so much in blood and tie<isine. Looking back, one e.inno. help evt-ndmu some sympathy to the Mann 1 -. They ivere told that they were not to sell lands to anyone but tiie Government, who bought it j for as little as a fai thing an acre, and retailed it to settlers at a pound. Sometimes the Government would not buy when the Natives were willing to sell, and when that happened the Natives thought they j were justified in selling to settle-is direct, if ' they so wished. Many did not want to <-ell land .it all, but when willing they did not see why they were to be forced to sell at such low rates to a middleman (the Go \ernmenO, who in turn made a good profit Why couldn't they act without the middlfiran and get a propoitionately hugei puc-e? What I have written shows that the settlor* in Taianiki had a most anxious time foi many yeais. Perhaps ll' letmn ! to the subject again. i Turnip Seel* of UlO leading k.nds, such az "Stiird'ird'" S.-cdc, Ror>ir>ey March, button's All II c Year Round, Abc:d«en Grc-.i r.r.d Piilplu To Yc'lov.s oi bed quality c.rH *trim, obtiuuble from Niuuo and Blair. Duacdin.