THE Thames Advertiser FRIDAY, MAY, 23 1879.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XII, Issue 3323, 23 May 1879, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser FRIDAY, MAY, 23 1879.

The native question lias been raised in nearly all Southern towns ill consequence of the reports of proceedings at Kopua which were furnished by Press representatives from that distant part of the colony. The views taken have been various and conflicting, according to the information supplied or the preconceived notions of the writers. Few have taken the trouble to go beyond mere surface views, and the majority have confined themselves to derisive remarks on Kingism or the claims of the natives to consideration at our hands. Perhaps the most moderate epistle we have seen is one contained in the columns of the 'New Zeahnder' (of Wellington), signed " Waitara War Medallist," in which the writer endorses most emphatically the speech oL the Premier, and admires the adopted throughout by Eewi. The writer throws aside any bias he may have entertained, or the ultimate object of gain to the colony to the exclusion of any other consideration, and takes up the Maori character and politics as if he really had the interest of the race at heart. The Kiug party have been badly advised throughout, according to his idea. Instead of encouraging them in their isolation, and magnifying their landed intarests, we ought to have assisted to educate them in the ways of civilisation, and to have given them our own M'eas of the importance of social intercourse and commercial relations. The miter tells us that twenty years ago these relations were in a fair way of cultivation, and instances the fact that large numbers of Maori craft were running into Auckland and adjacent northern ports with trade and produce, but the bad advice since given served to dissipate the good which such relations cultivated and fostered, serving to cement. the two races, and to promote a spirit of emulation, which must have proved highly beneficial to both. He tells us that the natives are children yet, because we ha/e done nothing towards feeding them with strong meat, instead of giving them. the mere. milk iof children for ;an indefinite period. Whilst we cannot altogfcher endorse this sentiment, we. are prepared to admit that there is a certain amount of truth in it.' We have set them an example, for instance, which they might have followed with profit to themselves and advantage to us. The fact is they would not be fed at our hands, but preferred to keep at a too respectful distance, and to maintain aspirit of independence far above their station.' The object of Native Ministers .should, have been to instil a spiritof emulation rather than foster their obstinate isolation, and Sir George and the' Native Minister seem to have at heart some.such intention when they take Eewi (Manga) to the Lands Court at Cambiidgeyand introduce him 'to our judicial system for aj settlement of tribal disputes,' and an adjustment' of: Obsolete objections. The Hon.'Mr'Sheeh'ah,is on'tnejight track, and the public will^'unitelin washing him success in'the negotiationß he is now engaged in.' '. ''The writer we have referred to says:~

We know nothing of Tawhiao's claims, When the term' Maori King'; was first used, and the pros add cons discussed'by .somei then quasi-leaders of the people, ihe derisimuwas, .'Oh, I ' they iat'e-' only like oliildrea, aad.tnaat have their toys and whims and ways satisfied, if it pleases^ is the sequence ?L We'liaw. jPress constantly referring to' King! PotatatT,' * King Tawhaio, 'iintfiot a mountain] has been-created out of a molehill, It is about time the Press should cease misleading the ignorant portion of the : pakehas, and I entouragin jMiMaoris to 'spin a rope khaog themselves with,' I care not if it is the' Government or the Opposition who originates any good for the humahirace, it is tha bouhden duty of the one to support the other jin rthat. particular.cause, and assist in restoring the law and order'which has been held in abeyance so long to the absolute detriment of' the /Maoris," If they had been properly educated during the last twenty years, by this time; they would have seen the - folly 'of being guided by,- bad advisers, Cer* tainly, they are ' children' yet.' Do not therefore give them the costly orna« menta of the 'civic drawing-room' to break and pull to pieces. It may be a' more hazardous task to make good citizens of them than at an earlier age, nevertheless, it is to be done, not necessarily by the lash (war), I gave a 'precis' of these speeches to a leading Maori chief of this province, he unhesitatingly re> marked the Maori difficulty was at an end, he approved of Kewi's words and the stand he had taken, and said tha 'mana' of Tawhiaowas gone, So mote it be. What has been'the cause of the disappearance of all'the coasting trading vessels, owned and manned by Maoris, whioh used to line the wharf at' Auckland, unloading wheat, corn, potatoes, and other produce? la ; it not bad education? "That population is the wealth of a country has not been taught to them, but rather they have been told 'if you live od, and hold as your own the whole of that mountain of gold, you will be as wealthy, great, and respected as Euro, peans are.' I prefer living on' a comparatively poor islaml, with as many people on it as it will comfortably carry, rather Juu to be obliged to remain by myself (so to spwK) on an island np to my knees in clover and gold at the roots, Convert Tawhiao to that doctrine, and put the * bad advisers' on one of our Northern islands, with good and plentiful supplies, and orders to build a central gaol for the Colony, and we on the main will be happy together, and the recommendation of the Gaols Committee of last session carried out,. I will guarantee it will be a good speculation, and congratulations will be received by one or the other from north, south, east, andweßt. As Te Ngakau said at Te Kopna, 'It is now dark, therefore I cannot see to listen to the speeches."