THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY ON THE WEST COAST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3944, 8 December 1880, Page 3

THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY ON THE WEST COAST.

The following letter appeared in the Lyttelton Times of this morning : — to thb.editob. Bie,— ln a recent issue you comment mildly on Mr Parris' blundering afc Parihaka with Te Whiti, bufc I think, Mr Editor, the time has arrived for tho adoption of some stronger action on the part of the colonists than simple writing. Six hundred pounda per day for so long a period is surely more than the Colony can bear at this juncture for unnecessary purpoaea. The South laland people can scarcely be fairly informod of what ia going on upon the plains ;, this, howovor, ia nofc fco be wondered at, conaidering thafc any honest; representative of the Pi ess would be hunted off the ground by tho Government!. You say you are nofc aware whether Mr Parris waa to blame, or whothor he waa merely carrying out inatructions. Why, Sir, tho Hon John Bryce, Native Miniater, and tho Hon Joha Hall, Premier of the Colony, were both afc the Camp, closo to Parihaka, when Mr Parria waß making suoh an exhibition of himself. Tho statement that the people of Parihaka were disappointed at Te Whiti not; permitting Mr Parria to speak, is simply another of thoao unfounded assertions by which tho ball has been kopt to long rolling. Mr Parris is not wanted afc Parihaka nor on the Plains at all by tho Natives, with perhaps ono exception, at the kianga of his " colleague," Honi Pihama. If tho people of tho Oolony are impressed with the belief that Mr Parris was reinstated to the poaition he waa compelled by Sir Donald M'Lean to relinquish, on account of his fitness for tho offico, and his tact and influence in dealing with tho Nativea — a cursory glance at hia history and performancea will tond to di.pel any auch illusion — it is the duty of fche Press, and fche province of the taxpayers to discuss the fitneaa or otherwise of any public servant, much lesa tho auitability for offico of a peraon who may hold the peace of the country in his hands, and the impoßitiou of an enormoua tax on the community. In all tho Taranaki troublee Mr Parria haa plajed an important parfc, if nofc a very beneficial one for fcho country. Farm labourer, policeman, podlar, Civil Commissioner, Beaidont Magistrate, Native land jobber, and now Civil Commissioner again. Hia experience has been varied. Hia connection — and that of tho Richmond-Atkinson party, to whom ho is related by family tioa — / with fcho Waitara war, and his unenviable/ colliaiona with the ofllcors commanding thfj English troopa in times of^innninenfc dangev, are matters of history that the Colony should have but little reaaon to be proud of; w!ailo fche fact of his being for yeara Civil Coirjnissionor, and Nativo land jobber on his own account, haa, in the opinion of those qualified to judge, not tended to decreaso tho trembles or inspire the Natives with confidence in official administration. Tho Hon Mr Soofc.and, than whom no man in fcho Colouy is better fitted to speak, both from yeara of observation and intimate knowledge of tho subject, lays those mattera forcibly boforo the country (Hansard, 18S0, pago 308), but Mr Scotland says he (Parria) cannot be dispensed with, becauso he is related to great 'people— meaning, presumably, tho "groat poople" that t'ir Wiilium Fox once intended to bani.h from the country at the cosfc of half a million of money. Why tho Colony should support a gentleman of thia description for no better reason than that, is a problem thftt leaves the fifteen gem puzzle in the eho.do. Mr Tawhai, M.R.P- , says (Jlansn-rd, 'J54), ho " thinks" Mr Parris ia greatly to bl-ime for the Taranaki disturbances, and pertinently aeka tho Houao — " Ar'.' your laws not ablo to look into a man', conduct when ho slurf.ed all thoso troubl.. -.u-.i] wrongs there." The two Infest. " ni-'hYi-.e men." Mess,r_ Boil acd Fox, in tha appendix (B) attached to their report laid before Pa.liamont, givo accounts of many of tho Nativo land dealings of li.eir quondam q;;.»e!< associate, and it ia aaid that theso Iran. ;.c io .» had some bearing on the full diplom.t ti-in;, returned to " Major " Parria. r lhc in.!.:--in:. po-..c3_ed by thia gentleman owr Vo Natives should bo fairly estimated by tho utter ignorance of Maori etiquette displayed in forcing himself — uninvited, — to tho monthly political meoting at Parihaka. To think thafc an old Nativo official should commit such an error, oven with t-.vo full-blown " honost" Cabinet Mini.tora at hi. back, is unpardonable. Mr James Mackoy was woll received at Parihnka. To Whiti called Mr Bhochan a " thief," moaning, of course, that tho Government wore stealing tho land, but no poraonal disreapect waa intended. "Major" Parris, however, was told to " lio down," as he was not wonted, being only a " dog" — fcho loweat epithofc a Maori can apply to a human being. Nor wero Uiobo mere idle word*, uttered at such a critical moment as

the commencement of the auivex of the Parihaka block, so strongly prote-l ri ngainst by the Natives, as ourrent expen.uture, if not coming events may tend to illu.i rate. It is uaclcaa, however, to continue diecufgion on "Major" Parris .... obtain tho desired end — that gentleman b'<s been discus. <.d often enough at more [da; gerous times thun tho present, butforti/itoiui'ircums'.ances for )iim always prevented any j.ood for tho com try resulting therefrom. It requirea uui't-d action on the parfc of the electors, and an ai m at higher game than such i>n individual • ■ . . As a beginning a footing should be secured upon which io proceed. Th© n=. prtions of the Colonial Treasure r (Hansard, i 307) about the Natives endangering families — thafc many of the Maoris were "armed" going about Taranaki— that the land was nofc fcho question at issue, but tho extinction of the Pakeha, and other such statements, by which the scare in and out of Parliament was augmented, should be carefully analysed and the facts placed before the Colony. Thut danger may have arisen had mt tho Government armed the settlers and plaoed Constabulary in the Province, everyone will admit, but' as to what aotually did t)nn,ipire, it is weh known that the Colonial Tr" .surer., own fomily were some miles away in iho bnsh protecting themselves with pumpkins and sour milk, while he hinißelf wae stumping tho country decrying the Gray Government, nnd certainly not ti laying the alarm of those of the settler, easily worked upon. As to the question at issue, no sane peraon will bolieve other than that tbo disputed territory is tho entiro sore with the Natives ; and w'th referenco to the manyarmed Maoris thafc we have seen, that statement requires afc leas colour of evidence to entitle it to a particle of credonce. The ontire cause of the disturbance should be thoroughly understood before the Oolonistr permit any more Money to bo squandered j the people, as a body, know no more of the in's and out's of the quarrel with tho Maori* than the man in the moon does. Themselves and their representatives abide tho " advice" of interested members, and are bound by what an " honrsfc " Ministry, with a landring majotity, choose to dictate. Money ie voted oufc of the growing taxation 'on the many for the benefit of the few, and a stain growing upon ouraolves and Englaud that the continuance of the preaent war policy will assuredly perpetuate. Another word. It is a prevailing belief with the colonists that tho Ministry can aot as they choose in Native affairs, and spond ac much money as Parliament may vote in pointing rifles afc the Maoriß^governing them, as the Colonial Treasurer would Bay— but thie is au error. The Governor, as Commander-in-Chief, may direct the Constabulary ; and in Nativo matters he not only holdß a power above hia Miniaterß, but he is specially directed by letters patent to protect the Natives in the free use nad enjoyment of all their possessions, and to prevent to the utmost in his power any acta of violence or injustice which may in any Manner be practised or attempted ogainst them. If the remotest bonefit were being secured to the Colony without injustice to tlie Natives by the present pui --ied policy, it wonld, perham, not bo politic *o diacues this pi^se of the question ; but i lie case is vice versa. Eighteen months, and A'aSOjOOO has been wasted to land ua in a worse position than when we began, besides many blocks of valuablo land falling into fcho hands of those who prompt the troubles and support tho policy. — I am., &c. WAIMATB.