THE PEACEFUL STATE OF THE NATIVES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 918, 25 September 1869, Page 3

THE PEACEFUL STATE OF THE NATIVES.

THE FLAX COUNTRY* It is pleasing to ndtioe the great difference in the disposition of the Maoris on the coast between New Plymouth and Fatea at the present time, compared With their behavior some three yearo ago> when things were said and believed by most people, to foreshadow a lasting peace. Although at that time most of the Hauhaus or wild men, as they are called* had not taken the oath of allegiance, it was confidently expected they would do so, and muoh was the good anti- , cipated to result from itj but it was | not thought safe to travel the ooast in their district in the day time. Subsequently the road was said to be safe and was so, at least, against any organised tribal outrages. If the traveller met any of the semi rebels, they did not then receive the good old Maori welcome "Haere mai"j but were soowled at in the most approved £aimariri style. They seldom spoka, except it was for the purpose of begging anything that the sulky " wild man" saw or had taken a fancy to, and whioh many of the more timid "pakehas*' gave, not daring to refuse. But time has changed this state of things on the same coast. Now there are no redoubts garrisoned with the "British Lion," or by New Zealand^ " Sons of War," no escorts wind their weary length through muddy swamps, or along the dreary beach — no mounted orderlies gallop past the hills and creeks, and through the tangled flax and fern> in danger of the lurkiDg foe. No— the peaceful traveller may now pass on quite fearless of any molestation, save by the universal sandfly and mosquito. If he meets his late enemy he will be heartily welcomed and be received as if there had been no war or separation for so many long years j and might almost forget the past troubles, but for the curiosity of the Maori who will ask, n Were you at such a fight P" and f< Did you fire a shot from suoh a plaoe ? w and if you answer " Yes," exclaims " Ah 1 you are the man that shot my finger of£, or wounded so and so." They will then shake you by the hand and say " Ah ! that was a real good fight, and but for something, we should have beaten you and then have taken the town»" Along the coast from as far as Oeo, (Honi Pihama^ abode), may be counted as many as fifteen or twenty large fishing canoes, and many little huts are built or are being built, where the Maoris intend to live daring their fishing season. There are also several villages which have been lately formed by Hauhaus, who have given np fighting as a bad job, all of whioh are tokens of a peace whioh has not existed in the district for many years till lately. Undoubtedly the tide has turned, and it is now that a great and lasting good may be done> by the administration of government to these people, and by the introduction in their own locality of industries whioh .will give them remunerative employment. The country is unsurpassed in the produotion of flax, and for grazing purposes. In fact, it seems as if nature in her wise discretion, had placed the flax beside the power that was to work it into an article serviceable for the many wants of man. A Company has already opened negotiations with the natives for the purpose of manufacturing the flax on a part of their land, and will in a short time commence a trade, the good of whioh it is scarcely possible at the present to see the end of, not only to the shareholders, but to the Maoris and oountry in general. The present growth of flax in the district, it is estimated, would take a population of from five to seven thousand persons three years to work up.

So say We.— An editor down South says, " Thank heaven, half the lies that are told about toe are not true." Termination of Subsidies to Inter-Pro-vimcial Mail Steamers. — The Independent says r — "We understand that Mr. Martin has received a letter from the Under-Seoretary for the Post Office Department, informing him that the Government has deoided that the contract whioh was concluded with the P. N.Z. & A.E.M. Company for Inter-Provinoial Steam Mail Services, and whioh was transferred to andis/fceiog carried out by tho Circular Saw Steam Navigation Company, shall terminate on 31st December next." Ministerial Antagonism.— The Nelson Colonist says :•—" A series of keen and notover-scrupulous attacks on the Fox Ministry may now be expected to emanate from Nelson. Two ex-Ministers are to be resident in this city. One is already here, and his fine Roman hand, his political antagonism, and pet phraseology, could unerringly be traced in the leading columns of our contemporary on Saturday morning. In addition to these, are Mr. Curtis, a staunch supporter of Mr. Stafford j and other members of the House including Sir David Monro, besides those who, like him, have a strong antagonism to Mr. Fox •nd his Ministry. These have a pliant journal in which to gain full expression to their views, and, accordingly, we find the well-known stylus at work, censuring the Ministry and their actions. Bat the thing is too palpable and will work its own cure. A Minister driven from office after its sweets for five yean, is not likely to write otherwise than acrimoniously of those who ousted and succeeded him."