Year: 1863

Despite the repeated assurances on the part ofthe
press in the interest of the Fox Ministry, that the
policy of Sir George Grey is eminenty successful,
and that the natives being gradually, but sure
ly, detached from their visionary schemes of self
government antagonistie to the authority of Her
Majesty, it is but too evident to unbiased minds
that these congratulatory assurances are but the
result Of blind faith in the Grey policy, and not
based upon the undoubted evidence OF events. 1t
IS perhaps true that to a certain extent, but TO
only limited one, the line of policy adopted by
Sir George Gray has had the effect of nulfying for
a time the revolutionary schemes of the MaOries,
but it is by means the fact that its effects have
been anything but of negative character. He
may by nsiduOus reasonngs have the seeds
of jeaOusy in certain tribes, and by so doing de-
tached them from present active participation In
the King movement /; and in some cases, through
the influence of the more enlightened chiefs, the
Naories may have agreed to a trial of the new in
stitutions for their guidance and regulation but,
judging from the accounts received from the vari
Gus native tribes, there is not the slightest sign
the part of the body of natives of ardent EN-
bracing OF their new privileges, OF any appearance
OF active cooperation In giving effect to them. 1t
is impossible to doubt that there is at present a
calm In the aspect of native affairs but it is evil
dent that this calm is but the treacherous prelude
to fresh disturbances in the political amos phere,
and even the most ardent believer in the Nel0 Teal
dnder, or the warmest partisan of the Governors
policy, can safely rest on the conviction that the
natives either more loyal less revolutionary
than they were. The small cloud already has aris-
en- in the horizon of affairs. 1t may be so diminu
tive as to escape the dimmed vision of those who
accept as their enets Of faith the doctrine of the
Ministerial party, but those who see not through
the medium of official telescopes, can discern the
prognostics of the coming gale. They cannot but
think that he would be an lmprudent pilot who
would consider this time for spreading sail, and
who, after casting contented look at the elements
would calmly go below without thought of storm
or tempest.


Compared with the magnitude of the interests
involved, and the extrayagant expectations that
formed of the results of the Grey policy it is
not too much to state that, affecting the settle
ment of the troubled waters of native waters, the
results hitherto obtained by it have fallen misera
bly, short of what was expected to follow the ad
ministratiOn of the much-lauded panacea. The
Governor has been not unlike the itinerant empir-
les of the middle ages he has travelled amongst the
natives with all the paraphernalia of official dgni
ty his attendants have fitted hther and thither,
vending his nOstrums for universal native cure
which, like the philtres and potiOns of old, to
be the infallible remedy for native disorders, how
ever chronic or however inveterate. The elOquence
Of the great physician himself and the feeble ech-
oes of his attendant sprites have been enlisted in
behalf of the great medicine, but the gaping crowd
cannot sufficiently appreciate its benefits. True,
in isolated cases patients have been found willing
to try the dose ; and forthwith the Ne0 ZeaiaRder
and the Ministerial press deluge their columns with
astonishing STANDARDIZATION fever of long
standing has subsided in WaikatO. or Hawkes. Bay,
under the influence of the treatment, after
cry other remedy has been tried without effect
chronic pains of insubordnaton have been relieved
in cases previously declared hopeless, and so on,
after the improved fashion of such testimonials.
Certainly there has been no lack of publicity given
to the Elusive effects of the cordial balm and if we
were to Judge merely by tine list of cures mig ght
be inclined to think there some value in the
remedy. But unfortunately for it's advocacy, we
cannot overlook that there many cases in which
it has failed and failed utterly, when the condition
of the patients was supposed to be most favorable
to its administration, and where the most striking
effects were most reasonably to have been expected
and it has so failed, not because of any inherent
destructive or dangerous elements in the specific
itself, but from its unsuitableness and inadapta-
biity to the state of the patients. The fact is
that the Maori has been subjected to so great
riety of treatments-now lulled by sedatives-nOw
excited by stlmuants-at one time treated with all
the consideration due to tender constitution, and
at another tortured with the most violent of mill
tary chiruTgcal operations, that the unfortunate
patient has lost ali faith in his physicians and
" throwing physic to the dogs" has begun to at
tempt selfcure.


The present condition of native affairs is the far
thest from reassuring. In the more extensive ma
tive districts, the institutions practically
ignored, and their administrators openly insulted
or their authority laughed at, and where such is
not the case, it is evident that self-inerest willy
policy Is the actuating cause. 1t is pretty clear
how much this is the case from the opinions
pressed in quarters where correct intelligence is
most likely to be derived. What says the Hawkes.
Bay Times, and that too just after the visit of Sir
George Grey to Napier, and after Mr.. FOx's pere-
grinating morning calls upon the natives, when
such delightful edifying reunions were reported to
have taken place. Speaking of some of the ac-
counts by the Ministerial party, respecting the
conversion of certain chiefs to the order of
things, the Hawkes. Bay Times says:


The adhesion of few dlscOntented natives is,


if possible, still weaker cause of triumph, and
plainly shows the truth of the position always main
taned by us-that the natives will accept the beI.-
efts offered them by Sir George Grey as far and
long it suits their purpose but neither farther
or longer. A hapu that deserts their chosen king
and joins the (supposed enemy the first unpleas-
ant occurrence, Is not very likely to be true
to their Queen on like trial References to trivi-
al instances such these go farther to expose the
weakness of the cause of those who make them,
than anything that can be said by opposing
party, and renders extremely suspicious all else
that is said about satisfactory progress and the
like, especially when the same report is made of
districts where well know it is not true, as with
our own Province and on the West Coast.


g But after all, where is the credit due to the
originator or follower of such system-a system
that covers internal rottenness with the false
appearance of soundness on the surface-whOse
balm for the diseased state @ the native mind is
only gold and favor. Justice, and firmness in its
execution can be understood by them, and respect
ed too. and would ultimately command their will
ing assent but the contrary course, as hitherto
practised with them, tends only to bring contempt
on the Government and the settlers body, and
to initiate the native mind with the most insane no
tions of their own worth, yalor, skill in warfare
and general importance, such is the only ground
on which they can possibly understand the conduct
Of the Pakeha."


In the province of ellington matters are scarce