The Evening Herald. MONDAY, MARCH. 25, 1872.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 1428, 25 March 1872, Page 2

The Evening Herald. MONDAY, MARCH. 25, 1872.

Tiiii resolutions passed by tho Wairoa settlers at their meeting, have acted like a charm along the coast. At Manutahi, the settlers of that, and the neighbouring district of Kakaramea, at a meeting specially convened,' thoroughly endorsed the action taken by their Wairoa confreres. Again at ITawera, a crowded meeting of genuine colonists, expressed the same views, and carried resolutions almost as emphatic. Thus we have the feelings of ail the settlers fro/n the Kailwi to the Waingongora expressed in the request %'' Keep the natives out of the district." What could be more reasonable ? Here we have men who have suffered more from the I depredations and rebellious outbreaks of the natives than any other settlers in the colony, and who returned to their ruined farms and blackened homesteads on the solemn promise of a Cabinet minister, that their peace should not again be disturbed by the rebels, asking in the name of justice that this promise should be carried out in its entirety. Those who are easily deceived by oaths of allegiance and fair promises, say thrafc the Maoris intend to live peaceably and quietly on their reserves, and that the settlers are premature in expressing their determination of resisting their return. Such faith in the honor of the native is not however possessed by the residents of the districts above referred to, and their knowledge has been gained by actual intercourse with the very natives who afterwards did their best to murder them. Is it fair that these men should again be subjected to the same risk ? The Defence Minister told the deputation from the Hawera district, that the natives would not be allowed to cross the Waingongora without the settlers being first informed of it. This promise, equally with, the one from the Premier has been broken. The Government, by the mouths of two Cabinet Ministers, have thus broken faith with the settlers, and entirely destroyed that confidence between the rulers and the ruled thai should, and does, exist in all well-governed countries. At Taranaki, the action taken by the settlers has been deemed of sufficient importance as to necessitate a public meeting being held to disclaim all connection with such a circular as the one issued from Wairoa. The settlers who thus pledged themselves are most certainly independent of any countenance the Taranakians might choose to give to their proceedings, and therefore the adverse resolutions carried at Taranaki, beyond pleasing those immediately concerned in their preparation, will have little or no effect. The array of Government officials and dignitaries, who figured chiefly at the Taranaki meeting, and who soundly rated the poor settlers for their temerity have nought in common with the men they abuse. The settlers have no inclination or desire to provoke another rebellion, by which tliev would haveever}'- . thing to lose and nothing to gain, but they have a wish that their districts may be kept free from the marauding band of natives who left their mark so palpable before. Lot this be done, and nowhere in this bright well-favoured district of ours, will there be more contented industrious colonists than in the now notorious "Wairoa.