The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY 19TH MAY, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 267, 19 May 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY 19TH MAY, 1865.

RECENTLY we devoted a leading article to the consideration of certain important memoranda. by the Colonial Government on the subject of colonial defence, and drew the conclusion from the data supplied by them that the reason of the non-success of Her Majesty’s troops during the West Coast campaign was to be found in the fact of the Ministry having resolved to withdraw from the prosecution of an expensive war, with the greatest expedition consistent with an appearance of decency.

There were at that timfe certain well-in-formed journals who had hinted that the cause of this want of success rested upon the General, who regarded the war with feelings of disapprobation, and not with the Ministry Who, anxious as they were to rid the colony of the troops, yet wished to see them in some useful employment during the time we were obliged to retain their services.

This, however, was scouted by the great body of the press, who while they acknowledged a due degree of care on the part of the General to save his men, would not for one moment admit that he could be to blame for the tardiness of military operations, and some were so confident of his colonial predilections as to seriously hope that he might be appointed as Governor, vice Sir G. Grey, whom it was said was the sole cause of the prolongation of the war We purposely deferred the consideration of the memoranda. Nos. 4,5, and 6, from a conviction that there was something more to be learned by the public, and the last mail has supplied the missing link in the shape of the important memorandum No. 7, published in our last issue.

We now, with this document before us, resume the consideration of the remaining

memoranda,

No. 4 is by the Governor, who, fearing that there is an impression in some quarters that the war is carried on for the profit and gratification of the colonists, trusts that his advisers will in all cases make statements of their reasons and objects so explicit as to preclude misunderstanding.

Ministers in reply (No. 5), express a desire to meet his Excellency’s wishes, though they do not know any good reason why they should rebut charges so vague as that referred to ; they are unaware of any difference between his Excellency’s views and their own on the subject of the West Coast campaign ; they would have wished his Excellency to have been there at the time of the commencement of these operations so as to have received any possible overtures of submission on the part of the insurgents, but does not admit that it was possible to avoid the campaign, or they would have’pressed this point, though at variance with the views of the General. The district for eleven years past had been the centre of sedition and fanaticism, whence have issued up to the present day armed bands of marauders, plunderers, and fanatics parading cooked heads, and adding cannibalism to murder. Tbev had ° . V closed the communication between Taranaki and Wanganui—given refuge to criminals, murdered settlers, and threatened the loyal natives with destruction.

They admit that if the General had so carried on operations as to have secured the submission of the’ rebels, and so put a stop to that which has retarded the progress, depreciated the property, and financially

involved the colony, it would have been to its profit, and that the establishment of law and order resulting, would afford it gratification. They still believe the conquering of the rebel tribes of the district, and their punishment, an absolute necessity for the above end, yet will not sanction any demand for reinforcements, as they believe that a colonial force of bushrangers and cavalry, with the aid of loyal natives, will be sufficient.

They hope the above is sufficient to rebut the insinuation of “ profit and gratification,” and, in conclusion, appeal to his Excellency as to whether their advice had ever fairly appeared to show a disregard to the true interests of the natives, or an undue desire to obtain land even for legitimate purposes. In reply, his Excellency (No. 6) states that‘they never have in his opinion tendered advice open to such construction.

This was the state of the question up to the time of the receipt of the last mail, which brought memorandum No. 7 in continuation of the above. It is quite clear that Ministers, in No. 5, broadly insinuate that the action of the General had not been as vigorous as it might have been, and it spems to imply likewise, what all beside believe, that, had it been so, it would have resulted ere now in the submission of the rebels, an end to the insurrection, and the restoration of the colony to its normal state of prosperity and progress. But more than this wa,s needed to make it plain to the colony, who had very great confidence in the General, and, from the antecedents -of the Governor, had only too good reason to believe that he was the true cause of the failure of the campaign.

This has at length been supplied by the memorandum No. 7, and we trust that it will prove sufficient to restore the Ministry to the confidence of the colony, of which, through recent events, they had nearly been deprived.