CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 5, Issue 270, 26 May 1865, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Tfe shall always feel pleasure in affording space for the free discussion of all subjects affecting the prosperity and progress of the province and colony, not endorsing any opinions expressed in this portion of our columns, and always reserving to ourselves the right to curtail any expression wanting in courtesy on the part of the writer.

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%* Some delay having arisen from communications being addressed to Hastlngs-street, it is requested that all letters for the editor or proprietor, sent hy post, be ad dressed “ Hawks’s Bav Tijlks Office, Eastern Spit."

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bay Times.

Sm,—ln a letter which I addressed to you on the 4th of the present month, I advocated the removal of the troops from the colony. Since then the English mail has arrived, and by it came an order for the removal of five regiments—the 40th, 43rd, 65th, 68th, and 70th —and a portion of the Medical Staff. This is, in my opinion, as it should he, and I hope that the next English mail which arrives in Napier will bring with it another order for the remainder of the troops to be removed, with the exception perhaps of one regiment, and also the recall of the weak-minded individual who is supposed to be Governor of New Zealand. The New Zealand Herald of the 9th instant, in a leading article on the removal of the troops, speaks in a very desponding tone of the effect which the said withdrawal will have upon the native mind, and remarks, very truly too, “ That the withdrawal of these regiments will not merely -weaken the hands of tlie General to the extent of so many men, but will strengthen the hands of the rebels by the addition of thousands to their ranks.” Just so; that is what we want. Let every aboriginal native throughout the length and breadth of the island take up arms against us ; then, will we know who we are Skirting, against i now, it is utterly impossible to know. One day we may see a party of natives with badges on their arms, distinguishing marks of the so-called friendly tribes ; the next day they may be discovered ameng' a mob of rebels, fully equipped, and ready at any moment to commit any devastation: which they : ,may think proper upon tiie European settlers. Is such a state of

things tolerable ? No ! We have been living in a state of sofferanre to Maori caprice quite long enough; let us now, once and for ever, cast off the iron yoke which has been weighing us to the ground, and assume a bold and determined front as becomes us. Hitherto wo have been engaged in fighting “ rebel tribes j” but in the event of all the Maoris proclaiming war against us, we shall have to go in against the Maori people—or more properly speaking, the remnants of it. Further on in the same article, the New Zealand Herald says : —“We cannot afford to meet the enemy as he has been accustomed to be met.” No, indeed, we cannot; even if we could, it would certainly be the height of folly to do so, for they have been accustomed to be met as if they were disciplined troops ; and how signally it has failed I need not here mention ; it is imprinted on the minds of the colonists, never to be effaced till that happy epoch arrives when “ all things old shall pass away.” The settlers must make up their minds to do. some hard work if all the troops go; but I believe I am right when I say that they will cheerfully bear with the difficulties imposed upon them when there will be something to show for it. In conclusion, I agree with the New Zealand Herald that “it is the last resourse we would have hoped to take up. but it will have been one which British pusilanimity and Maori aggression will have forced upon us.” I am, Sir, Yours truly, ENGLISHMAN. Puketapu, May 24 ,1865. P-S.—lf space permits I trust you will give insertion to the article from the New Zealand Herald , which (although I believe it to be couched in rather too strong language in that portion which refers to England) I consider well worth reading. E.

Ta the Editor'qf the Hawke's Hay Times.

Sik, —I would beg, through your colums, to suggest to the electors of Hawke’s Bay the advisability of sending a requisition to the two gentlemen who represent this province in the House of Representatives, praying them to bring before the public, either by convening a public meeting or by letter, to be published in both the local papers, an exposition of the course they intend to pursue, in the ensuing meeting of the General Assembly. . Tours very truly, CIYI3. May 25,1865.