The Invercargill Times TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 59, 2 June 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1863.

How soon will the contest with the Maories be brought to a satisfactory conclusion ? That is the question of most importance in New Zealand at the present moment. That Sir George Grey has had a definite policy, ever since he landed in New Zealand, cannot be for a moment doubted ; but it is equally certain that, in spite of his former prestige, he has hitherto failed to accomplish what he intended. Placing an implicit confidence in his influence over the natives, by reason of his former successes, he has omitted to give recent events the prominence in his calculations which they deserved. Witness his remarks made but a few weeks ago to the Taranaki settlers. He confessed ignorance of what he should have made his intimate study. 1 He landed in New Zealand merely to resume the reins he held previous to going to the Cape, but he forgot that here, ai elsewhere, changes might have taken place, which would necessitate a further insight into the feelings and of the people whom ho came 'toJ'educe to obedience. Now, were it

under .the government of any other man than Sir George Grey that the events of the past few months, had taken place, we should scarcely fear to say that incapacity had been displayed ; but, as it is, we venture to say he has been mistaken — he has attempted to recover the thread where he left it, and finds it broken. Already Sir George Grey has discovered his mistake, and his acts show that such is the case. Nor could we wish it otherwise. What is required now is a policy which shall show the Maori, without delay, that his only chance — his last chance — is a speedy submission to British rule. The war. if it is to be a war, should, and must be, prosecuted with vigor ; and we believe that Sir George Grey intends that no further time shall be lost. It can be laid down as an axiom, that the future colonisation of the North Island depends upon such steps being adopted, and it is hardly possible to read some of the articles written in journals which must have the best opportunities of judging, without feeling certain that the writers are convinced against their will. They want peace — -peace at any price — (or, at all events, they did so till very recently,) whilst the events which are taking place around us, speak to us plainly that the price we shall have to pay for that peace is too great. Confine the war within the narrowest possible limits, but at the same time who can doubt that there must be fighting. The recent murder of our soldiers cannot be taken altogether as the personal act of the murderers — a tribe are responsible; and those who for one moment suppose that the actual perpetrators of the deed will be delivered up to justice, or can in fairness be considered as the sole offenders, have but a poor knowledge of passing events, and but a slight knov/lege of human nature. No persons could rmre heartily wish than ourselves that the late lamentable event in the North Island might be considered solely as the act of the men who fired the shots ; but no one could be more convinced than we are that those shots are but the token of a wide-spread disaffection, and it is better that this question of supremacy should be settled at once. Better for the Maori, and better for the white man. Sir George Grey has already, we are sure, taken this view of the case, and vigoros measures adopted without delay will be the only means of shielding him from a charge of aearsightedness.