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SINCE the arrival of the Harrier, there has been
much speculation as to tho chances of an ami-
cable settlement of tho war in New Zealand,
reports having been rife that all the naval forco
was to bo withdrawn from that station. Wo
believe that the existing .aspect of affairs was
rather favourable to poacoful anticipations. Ten
thousand men were quietly employed in making
roads towards the Waikato district, and no im
mndiato rupturo. seemed imminent. It is very
likely that. Sir GEORGE- GREY may have
calculated upon a successful issuo to his policy,
if he could only secure a delay of hostilities for
somo three<or four years, for tho rapid decay of
the nntivo< race, and the many circumstances
that might possibly occur to favour his views,
would afford encouragement for such a hopo.
But we have good roason to believe that be
would not be guilty of the imprudence of dis
ponsiug with .the armed support that composos
his main strength, and it therefore booomes a
question whether the Imperial Government
would be disposed to submit to tho
immense annual cost involved in the mainte
nonce of a standing army in New Zealand in
time of peace. We aro inclined to believe that
such would not be tho case. Tho following, from
tho Auckland Southern Cross, is evidently in-
tended as a warning against falso security. It
must, however, be understood as coming from a
journal opposed to tho policy of Sir George
Grey :
"Waikato is not in that ítalo of peaaeful tunquilHty
wbiah. some people picture to themselves. Bnmonrs
hive been rife, and tbe real truth bat been difficult to
arrive at. ThoBO, however, who are behind the aaenoB
are, wa believe, ' BB unable to predict with oonfldenoe
baw tho road-making experiment will terminate aa the
most gossiping quidnunc in Auokland.
"Foots, however, ere stubborn tbingp/xnd rmr idvloea
from Waikato are not of a tenor whiob should lead us to
oonelude that tho natives have BO far mode np their
miado that it 1B advisable to allow tba Queen's soldierB
to mako a road on Qaoon's land without opposition.
Tte question, «botber they should do so or not
was . under serions discussion in the Upper
Waikato at our latest dato, and a meeting was
being bold for tho slmplo purpose of taking the
voteB of these loyal subjoote, ns to whotht-r "eye or no,'<
they should attack tba Boldiem at Maungfttawbiri. War
or poaoo may dopend on a majority of ono In 'a Maori
Bonanga, and it is well for thoBS who aro likely to be
misled by falso roprosontationH to remember this.
"Tbo natives aro an oxtraordinrry raoe, and endowod
w.'tb a coolness almost sublime. They regard 'a conces-
sion or evon rm explanation as political capitol, and im.
modiatoly turn it to noooant. Sir George Grey took the
trouble a for? wonks ago to apologise lo tho Wiikatos for
making a road through Queen's land, and disavowed all
ulterior objects. Bo disavowed any, intention of going
opon native lanri, nnd volunteered thbvdffiavowal-there-
by implying that lt w a only natural to expect that
tbe natives should take alarm at what bo was about to
do.. But by than almost roocguii-ing tbo right of tho
native» to quurtton tbo meaning of bia 00!", no four tbnt
bo has in their oyos oonoorlud to thora tbo right of dis
fin'ing, Tho.Upnrr Wa'ikntos ere preparing in address
o, reply 'o bli Eroellelioj's npceáh, and having1, ai it
wire, boen Invited to glvo'an expression of opinion, (boy
will, do, soi and expect that. it «hall bo nttnr.iled to.
Under the oirou^itOQges |be address will mn'sj pr^bsbly
bs brought np in tba shape ol double-barrel cans, and
DDIOII orders ara sent for oar troops to fell blob, io
order to ipare tbe feeling! of the deputation, mlaobief
may ensue; whilst, abould tbs ground be vaoatei, and
an armed rabble be allowed to oocupy it, we mar safely
antloipate that tbore will be ronoh good feeling
and loyalty exhibited by tbe WaikatoB for
a (imo, and tbe prestige of tbe British
Grown bo increased one hundred per cent, Tbe
British lion is ander heavy penalties to tbe Britiab
publio, as represented by Exeter Hall, the Missionary
Intelligencer, and tbe cheap Saturday, not ta allow him.
self to be roused till the natives show themselves in
loree at Papakara. In the meanwhile bo is allowed and
recommended to purr gently and to look pleasant, and
the colonists are ezpeoled to do tbo some.
<? Daring thoWt year or two we bave hadfaUe reporta
and canards in abundanoo, and they bod the effect wbiob
mipbt bave been oxpeoted. Every piece of news is now
assumed to be unfounded until tbe contrary is
proved, and tbe retioence of tbe government on
every so bj sot . when - tbe ' Genoral Assembly is
not in session rendara it impossible, in . moBl
oeseB, to arrive ot anything like aertainty about events
wbiob are toking phoo ot our very doora and in wbioh
we aro deeply interested. Our Government, unlike
Falstaff, give their reasons on compulsion only, and
oornpnlBion ia impossible, save and exoept when money
is to be voted. Kow we have no wish to objeot to secret
aoticn on tbe part of tbe antborities in oritiool timos, but
we objeot to ourselves being kept in tba dark, whilst tbe
Maories are being enlightened. Hts Exoollenoytand tbe
prime minister attend public meetings in nativo districts
and talk ; they never do either in Aaokland. We are
reduoed to surmising what bas boon dona in the matter
of peace and war, long after tbe disaffeoted natives havo
beon mada awaro of tbe Intentions of her Majesty's
representative. We oro loyal subjeotn, and ara tboreforo
not trtotod with confidence, wo are ntt dangerous, and
may therefore be left oat of consideration, we may bo
depended upon in on emergency, and are therefore to be
disregarded till the emergenoy arrives. The polioy may
be right, and - ned >r oerUin oircumstauocp, would bo
positively right. Had tbe Imporial Government done
their duty, and not attempted to shirk tbo responsibility
wbiob they assumed when they reserved to tbomBolvoB
the management cf native affiirs, wo should have nothing
to say-our withers would be nnwratig-bat they
have not done so. Sir Soorgo Grey fallu,
blood is ched, war ocram'ences, and the British
Government lays tho biomo on us. Tho throat
is beiujr aonsUntly held over our heads that tho troops
are to be withdrawn unless wo pay for them ; we are to
be left to oar own rcsouracs, we ara told ; wo bavo no
alaim for protection eitbor in person or in property ; and
yet all this limo wo QI o treated as nobodies, our respon-
sible ministirs are looked ripon as a sham, or worse
still, made uso of a» Imperial emissaries ; we are told
to be prepared for all tbo consequcnoes of failure, and
ore yet precluded not morely from all participation in
the government of tho country, but absolutely from oil
knowledge of what is going on. We notnally boliove
tbat bad it been possible to keep baok tho terms ofTerod
to, and refused by Wuikuto-had we, ibo Southern Cross,
not boen in o position to gí?e them to tbe Auck-
land public-the oonutry wonld havo BS yet known
nothing npon the nubjeot, bat have still boon under the
impression tbat the Crown ooald never rcoogniBO a
sauotuory for murderers, or treat OB an independent
cower raw who bara nover purged themselves of re-
bellion.
" Under tboBO ciranmBtanoos we mast not be surprised
ifunfoanded reports:are common. Even amongst the
enlightened nalivo rave wo find them. It hos been
reported far and wide in Waikato, that his Exoellonoy
has tho Awaroa fall bf pontoons for the parpóse of
bridging the Waikato, and the report has found ere.
denoa ; a strong proof in oar eyes how ridioulouB
it is to OFsnroo . thtit a change of ' governors
has caused anything liken material chango in the nativo
mind, or in any woy removed their distrust as to oar in-
tentions. Notwithstanding oar spologetio promiso to
stay on oar own ground they do not beiievo ns, and so
anybody who invents a report Uko this of tbo pontoons
¡B immediately believed. It gives a clue to oar . motives
which was wanted without it. Tbo sudden interost
wbiób Sir G. Grey bas taken in the roadB about Have
look, is inoxpliaible if his motives oro. perfectly peaceful,
OB Remo of his sanguine (-apportera protest that thoy arc,
and tbe native sees t'lis. He in railitr puzzled about tho
Queen going up to thc river nri i not crossing it, whilst
uno claims thc sovereignty on both tides, and so imagines
that bis Excllenoy is not tobo trusted bnt is mordy diplo-
matising, tnlhingof peace, and all tho limo preparing foi
toons. Tho su pi o ilion nppoars to him to explain
everything in n satisfactory manner. Sc non e vero e bin
tróvalo, ond he believon 'it accordingly. "
*' And so tbe Bummers wears on, end tho fatuto is still
dark. Wo tell the Maories oar intentions, and iboy dis.
bjlieve us, preferring lo judge by what thoy hold to bo
the meaning of oar acts ; they tell us nothing, receive
apologies, and bido their time.
" Wc find in the oolnmns of n contemporary, a statement
to tho effect that bis Excellency ßi.d suito met William,
Thompson and suite on Monday lust. His Excellency re-
turned on tho evening of tho day mintionod to Auckland
and wo aro in a position to say that no snob iaterviow
took place. "
[BY ELECTRIC TELEOMAPH,] ?
MELBOURNE.
Monday Evening.
MAnsnATX bas got an Eleven lo visit Sydney, bat it is
i o*. a flrst-alass team. Marshall bimsolf is going to
Hobart Town, being < ngaged aa wiokot-keoper for tho
'Tasmanian tonm.
MisBJanoBj govornoss to tho daughter of Sir Henry
Barkly, was drowned on Saturday whilo bathing.
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