A POLICY OF SAFETY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1955, 10 September 1863, Page 6

A POLICY OF SAFETY.

(From the Wellington Independent, September 1.) In the present critical state of the colony we believe every thinking man in this Province is convinced that it is of the last importance to avoid a local outbreak, and prevent the curse of war being felt at our very doors. As the most likely means by which to secure this object, it has been justly thought that the settlers should be armed, redoubts built in the out-settlements, and arrangements made for an organised system of defence. Measures such as these have already had our earnest advocacy, because we thought nothing less would meet the exigencies of the occasion, provide for the safety of the out-settlers, and alarms such as have recently been witnessed in the Hutt and Wairarapa. Nor have the Provincial authorities been laggard in arriving at a similar conclusion. Before the rumours of danger were ever heard of, — before Manihera pro- I duced his famous letter, — before those self-elected | tribunes of the people, the Wairarapa publican, I and the Wellington cauard-monger, had hatched ! theii 1 panic, and poured denunciations forth on ' the head of the devoted Executive; before all this | we say, the visit of his Honor the Superintendent j and Major Gorton to the Wairarapa had been resolved on, and the requisite measures for arming the settlers were actually being taken. It is perfectly true that rumors had come in from the Wairarapa before the Superintendent and Major Gorton started ; but that by no means shows that their visit was made in consequence — in fact it was by the merest chance they had not already left town. Moreover, the rumours turned out to be utterly baseless, being nothing but a mare'snest discovered in the bar of a country- public house. The Superintendent went out to allay the cx lcitement that prevailed, and in conjunction with Major Gorton, to take measures to prevent its recurrence. We have the testimony of many of the most respectable settlers in the district that his mission was attended with the happiest results. The natives were told in plain language that their whims and crotchets would no longer be indulged, and that whether they liked it or not, and despite their threats, the militia and volunteers would be called out, and the settlers placed in a position to hold cheaply any danger from local risings, or foreign raids. Moreover, the natives were assured that these warlike measures were only precautionary, and that if they remained at peace, their pro--perty and lives would be protected. The settlers had their wishes complied with. The Volunteers were sworn in ; as many arms as could be procured were supplied to them, and the sites for the blockhouses fixed on. These judicious measures restored confidence, and satisfied the people that the Provincial Executive were thoroughly in earnest in the work of preparation. Even the most bitter opponents of Government had nothing left to complain of, and yet, while all this was being done, while the Superintendent was straining every nerve to carry out these measures, the Editor of the Advertiser or his alter ego " Our Special Correspondent," who was actually present in the Wairarapa, and a witness of those efforts, was publishing highly colored and untruthful statements, and dealing out unmeasured abuse against the very man to whom the highest credit was due. It was the course thus pursued which was one of the chief causes why certain people left the district. We have already shown how the very first panic in the Hutt and Wairarapa was fostered by the Advertiser. Every one knows how a timely and vigorous exposure of the tactics adopted by its originators made them a perfect laughing stock. But the Advertiser was not thus to be. baulked of creating a sensation. Its editor determined if there had not been a panic before, there Avould be one now. He started for the Wairarapa, made his way " to the front," and for a couple of days mysteriously flitted about the district. Soon the sensation-mongers had a peri feet feast in the letters of " The Special Correspondent" of our contemporary. "At the Hutt," said this veracious writer, "the Superintendent was being hanged in effigy." In Greytown, ac- [ cording to the same authority, " the whole population was in a state of frenzy, panic stricken heroes

i were guarding the grog in the bar of the 'Rising Sun,'— the King flag had been hoisted, a general exodus had commenced, and the settlement was going the way to Taranaki through the criminal negligence of the authorities." Wjth a .slight substratum of fact, and the exercise of great imaginative power, a most appalling picture was painted of the state of affairs. What wonder then if this ingenious correspondent could talk as well as he could write, that he managed to frighten a few helpless families, and returned to Wellington, in triumph, heading a procession of drays filled with women and children ! There is a ludicrous side to the picture, but the matter is of too serious import to he thus lightly dealt with. We cannot restrain our just indignation at the course which our contemporary has pursued. Knowing that every precautionary measure was being taken to preserve the peace of the district, the Advertiser has wantonly.endeavoured to fan the partial alarm which some people felt into a perfect panic. While telling the out-settlers, that to abandon their homes, would be a course perfectly suicidal, it yet for the sake of throwing obloquy on the Provincial authorities, aud gratifying its rabid hatred of Dr. Featherston, adopts the very course which will produce the evil it so loudly condemns. If the authorities had been wilfully negligent, there might have been some show of reason for to speak out, even at the risk of creating a panic and exposing our defence? less condition to the enemy. But nothing of the kind existed. While the quondam Superintendent's clerk was doing his work of mischief, the Superintendent himself was striving might and main for the best interests of the settlers. Both were in the same place, at the same time, but how different their missions ? One, ignorant and reckless, was fanning the spark, which might burst into a flame throughout the Province ; the other, wise and judicious, was trampling it out. It might almost be supposed that the Advertiser having prophesied war so long, now wishes its prediction fulfilled. There are some men in our midst, but fortunately very few, who think that th« sooner we have a contest with the natives* and as they phrase it " give them a precious good thrashing," the sooner will the native difficulty be settled here and elsewhere. These people, moreover, with the Advertiser, seem to think that a local contest is inevitable. We do not doubt but that the question of supremacy could be settled in that way, but at what a cost ? Blood would be spilt, property would be destroyed, trade would become stagnant, and ere the desired end had been obtained, this Province would be on the verge of Bankruptcy. Now we hope for a solution of the difficulty without anything so sad as this. We believe, if the war in the Waikato be vigorously prosecuted until its legitimate objects have been attained, and in the meantime, every means be adopted here to make the outsettlers safe — safe by being able and ready to face any danger — that this Province may pass through the crisis without a blow being struck. It is the policy of the Superintendent to do this, and to tell the natives why he does it. It is well that they should have it impressed on them that our real reason for arming is because we ai*e determined to make peace. Day by day, as General Cameron achieves fresh victories, the situation will become less critical. Every fresh blow struck in the North will have a salutary in fluence on the natives here. When they -see that submission secures protection, and rebellion is followed by summary punishment, they will gradually become convinced that the cause of Kingism is hopeless, and no longer adhere to the fortunes of a falling house: But the present state .of affairs in this Province demandi the exercise of the utmost skill and caution. It is fortunate that the man in whom their chief control is vested, is more than equal to the emergency ; and if he be successful in steering our vessel through the rocks and shoals which now surround it, and moor it in a haven of security, the credit; due to him will be infinitely increased by the circumstance that he will have accomplished bis work in spite of the unprincipled and factious opposition which has been displayed- by our contemporary.