Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1864.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 202, 25 November 1864, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1864.

The departure of the head-quarters of the 14th Regiment from this Province for Auckland would seem to indicate that there is something in the wind in that quarter, but what, it is impossible clearly to define. There arc many strange rumors afloat about the removal of troops, and the intentions of the Government with regard to the MaoriesSome say that Sir George is fearful of an outbreak amongst his Australian levies, whom it would seem lie is not disposed to locate on the Promised Land. Some, again, with probably as much truth, are of opinion that Sir George is anxious to give his Auckland friends the benefit of the company of the soldieis so long as they remain in the country, and so on. But all these rumors are altogether improbable. With regard to the possible insurrection of the military settlers, there is not much to be feared in that dieection , for although 4,000 or 5,000 men are a formidable body under most circumstances, we are not much afraid of those levies of ours fighting, if they can help it. As touching the other view, it is, even in the present atrociously corrupt state of the administration of Public afiairs, too preposterous to be auiiiiuea for 0116 nioinont. All these rumors, however exfiggerrited and wild, go far to show with what suspicion and distrust the people watch the movements of Sir George Grey. ihat this colony is most fearfully misgoverned, is indeed but too plain, and that that state of things is mainly attributable to Sir George is also clear, but still we lay a great portion of the load of this bad state of things upon the shoulders of our own Government. Who enrolled the Defence Force at such an enor ruoua cost to the Country ? The Colonial Government. Who suddenly disbanded that force in the face of all established precedent,

and after the expenditure of a great sum of money upon their discipline and equipment ? Who officered the Militia with all the most unserviceable men that could be got ? The Colonial Government. In fact, had the Colonial Government been a wise Government it is pretty certain that the Governor, whoever ho might be, would have found it good policy to pull with that Government, and not against it. Bat we are not in the least astonished to find things in New Zealand in their present condition, when our Government institute such absurd measures, and act in such an unscrupulous and inconsistent manner.

The Natives know that we are quarrelling amongst ourselves, that our house is divided against itself, and that there are several opinions afloat as to the best line of policy to be adopted with regard to them. In the meantime they stand at bay, watching eagerly every movement made and every word uttered by us, ready at any moment to act upon the defensive or offensive, and prepared to carry on the war so long as we show any symptoms of indecision, but ready to drop it so soon as they find that there ; remains;, no chance of making terms with us except such as we offer them, and which terms require unconditional surrender.

If General Cameron is concentrating his forces to the Front in hope of being able to crush the Maoris by one great and overwhelming attack, he will find himself mistaken. No sooner do these wily people'find themselves sore pressed than they will vanish into thin air, and leave nothing behind them. Besides which, it appears to us, with all respect to the military renown of the General, that so long as he maintains a solid “ front,” and confines his operations to one locality alone, that the Maories will have the best of the game, and will, to a dead certainty, out-general the General. To march through the country from one end to the other is all very well, supposing that we drive before us an enem} who must fight iuch by inch for his own, but, in the retreat of the Maories before an advancing army, whole settlements of Europeans will run the risk of being destroyed, for it is pretty cer" tain that that wily people will disperse and pour out upon outlying and unprotected population the fury of their disappointed wrath and valor.

This difficulty might, however, in a great measure be met, by a thorough re-organiza-tiou of the Militia, and placing that troop upon a better footing than at present obtains. We, however, don’t think such a course as this will be pursued until the force of circumstances obliges it; for up to this date it would rather seem to be the object of the Government to keep that useful force in the conceivable plight.