THE PRESENT STATE OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1789, 8 November 1862, Page 3

THE PRESENT STATE OF NATIVE AFFAIRS.

(From the Lytteltom Times.)

Not unnaturally, the language held by the settlers at Taranaki is getting more and more indignant, as time passes on and nothing is done by the Government to reiu-itata thetn in the possesion ol propery from which they have been driven by the Maories. Since, the war, as our readers are aware, the pretensions of the natives have grown more and more outrageous. They at this moment hold, as land taken in war, farm 9 which were occupied by English settlers under grants from tho Crown, and they threaten to take possession of lands still nearer the military posts, if not oi tho town of New Plymouth Itself. At this moment the attitude of the Crown, as represented in the Colony, has a most humiliating as pect. The colonists of Taranaki did their work manfully during the war, and are not responsible for the miserable blundering of such commanders as Colonel Gold. But the settlers have had to suffer for all. They neither declared war nor were parties to the conclusion of a disgraceful peace — yet for more than a year they are told to be patient, and that in - the good time coming they aro to be restored to their farms and home- | steads. In the meantime they must live as they best can. As they are British subjects they may not attempt to take the law into their own hands, but most forego the advantages which they otherwise would have over a race inferior in perseverance and eteady courage. As the present state of affairs presents itself to them, they may neither protect their own propetty nor hopo for the protection of Government. Of late new complications have arisen, and they have been met in a manner which makes the Taranaki settler almost forget his own injuries in the indignation and shame which he must feel as an Englishman. A British steamer has been cast away on the southern coast ofthe province, and what was well known to New Zealaud colonists has now become patent to the world. Uer Majesty's Government having assumed tho sovereignty over the country long ago, is not prepared to assert the authority of law or to protect the property of subjects. The Maoties seized on the wreck, aud restored what tliey chose, and withheld what they chose. A great dVal of property, including a Nelson mail bag, is in their hands, and they state their determination not to return it. Still the Governor makes no sign, and the natives have grown absolutely contemptuous in their manner of speakint- of the British Government and people. The * Sydney Morning Herald ' says truly that if the steamer cast-away had belonged to America or B'rauce. the Govarnment of either of those countries would have asked protection for their subjects. If the English Government re fused it on the ground that they bad no jurisdiction on Maori territory, they would have hoisted their flag taken possession of the country, and chastised the offenders. We all know how the matter must end ; but the prese it losses of the settlers, and the future decimat.on, if not destriictio.i of a race now relapsing into barbarism, will always be considered a disgrace to tho English Government.

The only policy steadily pursued hitherto by the Imperial Government has been todisrru.se the colonists in the management of the natives Tim last despatches from the colonial oflbe show mistrust ofthe Governor, sent specially to meet the difficul ties of the case What wonder, if the colonists say that they will not accept the responsibility ot managing the Natives under existing circumstances and considering the language held by the colonial offi :e. The colonists would have accepted the management before the war but it was not till the British Government' had made the Natives unmanageable that the colonial office proposed to hand over the responsibility to the Colonial Government. Jt cannot be surprising to any one who has studied the history of New Zeala id that the General Assembly was not inclined to jump ufc the offer made by the Du-ie of Newcastle in such uncourteous terms. However, that may be, it mint be remembered that the sole power in native affairs is held by the Governor, as Representative of the British Crown; and it is to him that the Taranaki settlers must look. The responsible government of New Zealand can do nothing.

It sounds like bitter mockery to advise the Taranaki settlers to be patient still : and yet, under present circumstances, we trust that they will see how advisable it is to give the Governor a litle more time to develope his policy. We shall soon know what it really is, and whether it is good or bal. But as it is quite certain that at present no one else can do anything, we do most strongly urge on Taranaki the necessity for further patience. We urge this from no want of sympathy for their misfortunes, or admiration of their courage and endurance, but simply because we cannot see hope in any other course. As no one knows what the Governor's plans are, no one can understand]hU reasons for his present conduct Those who do know him, infer that his reasons are good. If they were bad ones, we are still powerless ; for hia policy, and no other, is to b. carried out ; so said the Assembly. His Excellency has pledged himself repeatedly to one thing at least— that he will restore Taranaki, and punish the rebels, aud he wiil be held responsible for this pledge. There may be many opinions as to his policy *, it may heealled prudent and conciliatory by some ; weak and vaccUlaliug by others ; but it ia not fair to judge it yet. His position is one of great difficulty— a difficulty aggravated immensely by the unsympathising and insulting tone adopted towards him by the minister who begged him as a favor to take the Government. Up to this time he has not. so far as we know, condoned ono single act of rebellion, but has confined his efforts to withdrawing from the ranks of rebel sympathisers, all who could even temporarily be mada friends. It is the baliefof many who have watched the Governor's proceedings closely, that this conciliatory polioy has done all the work which he expects from it, and that we may look, before long, for a supplementary policy, specially addressed to the insurgents. The money grants at the Governor's disposal place him in a stronger position than lie was in before the session ot the Assembly ; and there are sundry indications of a coming crisis in eveiy budget of news that comes from the North Island. Among these may be reckoned tne meeting between the Governor and the .Maories at Wangaimi, and the gathering charges against the jNgatiruanuis concerning the wreck of th*j Lord Worsley. lv a very short time we trust that the -Joveruor may consider himself free to do justice to the Taranaki settlers and to reassert the honor of the British Grown.