THE PRESENT CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 257, 26 April 1865, Page 2

THE PRESENT CRISIS.

[communicated.] To the , question whether the province of Hawke’s Bay is in danger of an attack or invasion from the rebels?—the answer must be undoubtedly—yes, and there are proofs of this quite sufficient to convince all who are unbiased on the subject. In the first place, it is now universally admitted that no .confidence whatever Can be placed in the protestations of affection and loyalty so ostentatiously-paraded by the so-called friendly chiefs'of Hawke’s Bay to. the Government. Money and land have beyond questior. a certain amount of influence with them, but those are only of secondary consideration when brought Into comparison with their love for savage freedom, their pride, and the unrestricted gratification of their savage passions. This province is surrounded on every side by tribes who arc intensely hostile to the pakeha. They are burning with n desire to revenge their broken but not defeated cause. They have all (so to speak) become pro selytes to the hau-hau, and cherish the most intense hatred towards us. They are for the most part capable of understanding, admiring, and appreciating our state of civilisation, but are without the energy or even desire for copying our example. They have been friendly before!ime, but their former friendship has changed to hatred, and the old adage “ That no enemies arc so deadly as those who have once been friends” is verified in their case, tfhe danger in which this province now stands is greater than that of Auckland has been, and this statement cannot be disputed by any who will look at tilings in their true light. There is certainly nothing to prevent the chiefs of Heretaunga from at once proceeding to open hostilities against us. They arc no better off than were the chiefs of Waikato, nor have they more at stake than they or many others who have fought against us. Let “us suppose that Tareha casts his lot in with the fanatics (which is by no means improbable), and declares war against us, he would at once be joined by the Ureweras, to whom he is related. The majority of the Poverty Bay natives would also come to his assistance against us. Next, there is Renata, whom we know abhors us in liis heart, a noted fighting man, and of a most turbulent and overbearing spirit; and if the electric word was to go forth that the Maoris had arisen against the pakeha in Ahuriri, he could bring the mountain tribes from the Ruataniwha to his aid, and he would be reinforced by the fugitives from the beaten tribes of Wanganui and Taranaki. Nor is this all, for in a war of races, which is , beyond doubt what we are fast drifting,into, Te Hapuku would waive his old animosities, and join his brother chiefs heart and hand. He has at his call all the natives of the Wairarapa and the Southern Coast, who would come up to his aid only too willing to take their part in the crusade against the white foreigner, and drive him into the sea. This truly New Zealand army being raised, would be augmented by the adherence of the natives of the lower plains, who would gladly give up all their semi-civilization, and return to their original state of barbarism. It is perhaps true that several of the principal men might aide with us; hut these would be but few, compared with the great majority on the other side. - This is no croaking; neither is it intended to alarm the people of the Province, it is quite necessary that it should be well understood that all needed by the natives of this province is a leaden

capable of uniting the tribes spoken of—to bring all that is above supposed into actual existence, and in that case to be able to bring an invading force against us of at least 5,000 fighting men. This may not be—perhaps is not—probable j but it is quite possible, and in that case this is a ruined province, as it is self-evident that troop* for its defence cannot be spared by the General, and our local force is but a handful in comparison with the possible invading host. The Province lies temptingly open and undefended; this'is weff r ~‘ known to the enemy ; and what has been said” about the country being Unfitted for native tactics-. -- from its open nature is all a, mistake. The banks. of the Tutaekuri are broken and hilly on both, sides. Te Aute, Waipawa,’ and Waipukurau. are at their disposal, and. could be easily fortified by the erection of pahs within them. The country between the Port and Wairoa is as broken and . billy as any in ISew Zealand, but covered with well-known tracks, by which means, and by striking inland, they could reach our settlements without • our knowledge or suspicion. Who was aware of the presence of the first band of armed Waikatos " '* until they had actually arrived at Tutaekuri? We must not yield to the false consolation that, our country is too open for Maori warfare. It is much to be hoped that the province will escape the danger indicated; yet it is only right for all to be aware of what is in the power of the Maoris to undertake if they please, having, first of all, good leaders, of spirit and enterprise sufficient for the undertaking.