Page:Overland Journey of the Governor of New Zealand.djvu/17

Rh secondly, that the Colonial Government should employ them in making roads through their own territories. It may here be mentioned that hundreds of Maoris lately in rebellion are now so employed. In short, the policy pursued for the pacification of the Highlands of New Zealand is (as Sir G. Bowen has often pointed out in his published despatches), the same with that adopted in the last century for the pacification of the Highlands of Scotland. The true weapons of conquest have been in both cases the spade and the pickaxe. The third request of the natives everywhere was that the Government should assist them in founding and endowing schools, where their children might learn the language and arts of the English. As has been above observed, liberal provision has been made by the Colonial Parliament for this vital object.

The Taupo natives preferred an especial request to the Governor that a European town should be founded on the shores of the Great Lake, and named "Bowen," and that a steamer should be placed on the lake. The Government will carry out all the above-mentioned requests, which are themselves proofs of the great change which has lately taken place in the sentiments of the Maoris.

On the 9th the Governor started in a whale-boat, manned by men of the Armed Constabulary, for Tokano, the chief native settlement at the south end of the lake. The distance by water is about 26 miles, and by land, along the Eastern shore, about 36 miles. The morning was clear and bright, and the great volcano of Tongariro (6,200 feet high) with smoke and