THE Wellington Independent " Nothing extenuate; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 12th FEBRUARY. HOPEFUL PROSPECTS

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1829, 12 February 1863, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent " Nothing extenuate ; Nor set down aught in malice." THURSDAY MORNING, 12th FEBRUARY. HOPEFUL PROSPECTS

In tbe Summary which to-day we transmit to ■ bur readers at home and in the Australian co- . lonies, tbeie are a few details of moiei than ordinary interest. The « Native Difficulty,'* , which heretofore bas mouth by month presented the same cheerless and monotonous complexion » now shows a more hopeful phase, in the im- . portant circumstance, that Sir Gejrge Grey has actually penetrated into (he heart of the Waikato country, and talked with the leading chiefs of the King party, face to fuce. 1 1 may be, that this is only the beginning of a series ot peaceful triuranhs, the result ol the long suffering and patience, shown by the Governo, towards the natives, and that in the future we [ may be able to chronicle, tbe gradual but sure progress of that policy of which the representa- > tives of the peoplo, have given him the sole and ; exclusive direction, In another part of our columns will be fouud ' the fullest and latest intelligeice^ from nearly every province in New Zealand, and. everything bears a bright and hopeful aspect. The settlers /have, atridst wars and rumours of wars sowed and reaped — the drfeary wastes have been changed into cultivated pastures; the goid fields , of the south have opened a paying aod almost . illimitable market— and everything bears evi- [ dence of a moderate hut increasing prosperity. There is .but one dark blot in the pictured, need we say it is Taranaki-— -with its ruined homesteads, and farms overrun with thistles* Time after time have we contended that it must be re-instated. British supremacy will never be asserted Ull this is done—but il will , not be done, simply by the vote of a sum ri ' money. The onus rests on the present Minis- ' try to do this well and thoroughly ; tbe future . will show if such is their intention.