THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1876.

Thames Advertiser, Volume IX, Issue 2349, 21 June 1876, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1876.

Sir Donald McLean's interview with King Tawhiao and his followers is beginning to bear fruit, but not" of the kind anticipated after.the very satisfactory nature of the arrangements said to be entered into'between the Maori potentate and the lion, the head of the Native Department. We perceive that Sir George Grey announced his intention of asking the Native Minister at the earliest opportunity the particulars of Ida interview with Tawhiao, but in a 'New Zealand Gazette' just to hand Sir George's inquiry seems to ; be antici-' pated to a small extent. It'is here announced that all' inwards iancl pardons offered by the Government for" the apprehension of persons guilty of crime, or suspected to be .guilty of crime, against the peace, order, and good government of the colony, are withdrawn. The first-fruits, no doubt, of-Sir Donald's visit to the King. We' were' informed that Tawhiao made some strange demands at .the hands of the Native Minister. • He: wanted certain lands restored to himself and his people which were very properly confiscated during the late rebellion'; and the representative of the Government was too anxious to conciliate him to deny Tawhiao's right to make such a request. We are prepared to find that Sir Donald McLean connived at the presence of a murderer within the boundaries of the district in, which it was arranged the meeting should take place, but we were scarcely prepared to find that the department .of justice itself would be moved into compliance with the wishes of the rebel King him-' self, as set forth in the following notification from the ( Gazette' :— "Offers of Bewards and Pardons withdrawn. Notice.—Department of Justice, Wellington, May 17,187G—Whereas offers of rewards and pardons have at various time 3 been mado by tho Government of tho colony, for the apprehension of both Europeans and natives who were either known to be guilty, or were suspected of being fjuilty, of sundry crimes against the peace, order, and good government of the colony; and whereas it is unccrtiia which of such offers now remain open, it is hereby notified that all such offers are witMrawn,-(Signed) OiiAs. 0. Bowek."

Wo hope the leader of the Opposition and Superintendent of this province will ask the.Native Minister if .this, notification is preliminary to, or a part of, the very satisfactory relations expected to he the result of his interview with the Maori King and his followers. \Ye are at a loss" to understand the purport of such arrangements.; It looks too much like recognising the superiority or supremacy of the King in Ids seclusion. Is he to he allowed to claim back the cream ofWaikato, and to have the privilege of sheltering i murderers ? It certainly looks like it I so far as we are able to judge from the " signs of the times." We shall await with interest the Native Minister's version of this interview,' and trust he will make a full confession of all that passed on the. interesting occasion, in order that the public may judge of the "highly satisfactory arrangements" said to have resulted from it.