The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 13th MARCH, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 238, 13 March 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 13th MARCH, 1865.

ElsevvHL.ke iii our columns will be found a report of on inteiesting address- by Mr. Under-Secretary Fortescue or. colonial matters. This we believe to to us, the colonists of New Zealand, of the mostTmportaat character, as showing that the Homo

Government has at last awoke to a perception of the truth that the Maori cannot be coaxed into sabmis.fioa to the British Go-

vernment, and that in this respect they have been grossly misled by their agent here wlios whether self-deceived, or not, has wasted years of valuable lime, immense sums of money, and precious lives, in the vain attempt to bring about what he should at the first have clearly seen to have been an impossibilityTrue indeed it is that there has been long before this, ample grounds for them from which to have formed the same conclusion ; but they seem to have bad a blind confidence in their servant that could only be dispelled by events such as those that occurred just p.eviuus to the end of last year—event:, that were capable of forcing conviction on the mind of all parties (no matter bow much prejudiced in His Excellency's favor) of his utter unfitness for the office of Governor of New Zealand in a case like this where de-

cision and energy i.s required—qualities opposite to those displayed by him in the conduct of our affairs.

We will briefly glance at the aspect presented by colonial matters to the English Government and people about that time which has wrought a change so calculated to prove of benefit to us.

We have first of all the news of the successful attack on the pa at Tauranga, followed* closely as it was by the surrender of the natives of that district. As we anticipated, this was glorious news to people ignorant of colonial matters, and indeed to some who should have understood better what it amounted to. The handful of Tauranga natives was supposed to he all the natives of the island, and the capturing of this pa, the conquering of the entire body of rebels. Great rejoicings were the result of this mistake, and the news of the close of the New Zealand war was carried by telegraph, and the press over the British Islands and over Europe. The nest mail tended to undeceive the deluded people by carrying more full and minute particulars, especially

that the great body of natives were still unsubdued. But it likewise told of the escape of the 200 prisoners from the Island of Kawau, and the same folk who had so readily concluded that the war was closed before, coupled this escape with the fact of its continuance, and the blame, not only of the escape of the prisoners, but of a new campaign in consequence, was cleverly thrown by them on Sir George Grey. We have no hesitation in saying that the escape of these 200 men, and the probable effect that it would have upon the continuance of the war has done more to open the eyes of the Home Government and people than anything besides to the evils of the policy pursued by him. It at once dispelled much of the misty prestige entertained for him in the minds of many, who could not, in consequence of it view his policy apart from himself, and they had already arrived at the conclusion that only lie could guide the New Zealand vessel free from collision from the many rocks that beset its course. This illusion is now dispelled, as is that other of his exceeding great popularity with the colonists. Much more of the truth regarding New Zealand affairs is now known in the mother country than has ever been the case before, and as there was at the time of the departure of the last mail various rumors afloat concerning the appointment of a new governor for New Zealand, with instructions to prosecute the war with vigor, we shall probably only have Sir George Grey in that capacity for a very short time now, and as *lie new governor will probably have extended means placed at his disposal and authority to work in harmony with the colonial government we may hope very soon to see what is the hearty wish of all, peace established upon a satisfactory and permanent basis.