The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1881.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 666, 13 January 1881, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 1881.

Honest John Bryce. has resigned his portfolio lis Native Minister on the the ground, it is said, that his colleagues will not permit him to take active step against To Whiti and the nest of hornets at parihaka. This secession must necessarily weaken the Ministry, but it would 1 probably have been, a greater evil if he had been allowed to meddle too directly with the Maori prophet and his' followers. It is due to Mr Bryce to say that his reign over the native department has been an eminently successful one. He has materially reduced the heavy annual has hitherto been misapplied indiscriminately between Maoris and Maori traffickers; and in all his dealings he has been firm,; straightforward, and conciliatory. It will be a surprise to "most people that so mild an administrator should have contemplated putting down Te Whiti and his host with a strong hand. Still, it is probable that every Native Minister who liasat any time taken office has felt himself to be capable of settling the Maori difficulty, just as everynewIrish Secretary for the past century has fancied himself able to govern Ireland. This very natural' sentiment may have animated the breast of the Hon. John Bryce, and even biassed that excellent common flense which he has so frequently displayed. Till the House meets, we shall probably be without his version of the story,' and even then his loyalty towards his late; colleagues may make him reticent. If he really desired to kick up a row at Purihaka, the colony should be grateful to his colleagues for restraining him'. Piiblicopinion-is very much in favor of holding aloof from fanatics when they are themselves keeping out of the way. It is better to let sleeping dogs lie, and if an understanding between the two'races is, sooner or later, necessary, to wait for the time when the discontented ones themselves seek it. In the words of the old nursery rhyme —•'Leave them alone, and they will come home." We do" notyjmow whether the last line of the verse—"And bring their tails behind them," is exactly applicable. But no doubt the fuss which has been made about tbe Parihaka property, has tended to encourage his tail of braves. If however, the.colony ceased'to regard him as a star actor, and Parihaka as a Theatre Royal the process of coming home might be accomplished more speedily than might be anticipated., Parihaka will not maintain a large population of indolent malcontents for any very long period. Either.the camp must work hard for a living,' or break up,and make terms.with'Jhe Government. Neither of these alter- (, natives is unfavorable'to the interests''

of- the 'European' settlers of the colpfiy, mid eithfji' of tlieiii is. infinitely'better.' than 11 iniscluevoua meddling.; iVs yet thei'e is.iioi'ndieiitioii'as to:wlip is ttK succectl vMi' Biycorasi Native' Minister. tho'fittest raaii to take charge of the department would •b( , /-Btt i :W^+^i-fos- r-4*r,'H.Coii)"rais-sion'er-ainoii'g''ihe'.M!ioris'he proved .himself 10. lie'the right mail in the •l'i&ht place, amiJf lie did not turn out equally as well as.a Minister, lie might possibly bo as easily, relegated to private lilb as the Hon.' John Biyce has i been.