The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1871.

Wanganui Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1114, 11 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 1871.

The refusal of To Hira's tribe to support him m his opposition to the passage of the Thames and Tauran°- a mail, is an evidence of the deelinino- influence of the native chiefs. The "contractor encourages the friendly natives perhaps gives thorn a douceur, to assist in getting the mail through, and To Hira is soon isolated and powerless, iho lungs authority i s a l so se t at nought. His delegate can persuade Io Hira; but neither delegate nor To Hira can persuade the people. This Tc Hira is the chief who withstood so stoutly the opening of the Ohmcmuri lor mining purposes. Since then the Government policy of employing natives on public works, has worked such a marvellous change in the spirit of the people, that jtfr McLean wields an influence apparently superior to the most powerful chiefs. The Defence Minister can say to Tapihana to disband his followers and retire from .his hostile position m the Waikato ; and the simple command lias such a thrill of power that even the party at the King's settlement support it. Such an event was impossible a few mouths ago. If no hasty movement on cither side should precipitate hostilities, it cannot be very long before almost every tribe in the island is brought over to the side of Government. The prospect of pay has touched the native heart. The hopelessness of being able to resist an everincreasing power was not so powerful n, motive to peace as that converting influence, 4s a-day. On the cast and on the west there are signs of a great change coming over the native mind. The natives can assist in making our railways and roads. The money A vo pay .them will not bo more than we should have to pay to .fight them When the great lines of communication are complete and the pay begins to fall off, the Maori will discover that he has conquered himself; that those works which he has made have for ever destroyed his chance of wresting from the Colony any other privileges or immunities than what the Colonial Government may see fit to accord in the interests of progress and of justice. We now cajole the race with presents and honors and subsidies ; we shall then ask it to sub-

Mit to the universal law, and from this demand there will be no appeal The end, wo think, will more: than iustify tlic means.