The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 21st AUGUST, 1865.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 299, 21 August 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 21st AUGUST, 1865.

Discussion bas by this time ceasefi to be of any avail on the important question of the retention or dismissal of the Imperial troops, yet, in continuation of our previous article on the present aspect of opr affairs, jt seems quite necessary to devote a few lines to the consideration of that question, and first, it is quite evident, that while the colonial authorities are deprived of the control of their movements, they are move a burthen to the cplony than a boon. The recent disclosures pencenfing the West Gq&ff campaign well

illustrates this view ; the troops were challenged by the natives at Wereroa, tbe General was requested by the Governor to capture the pa, but declined, on account of the strength of the work, and the sacrifice of life it would involve at that time, but thought that if he passed it, and pushed on in the direction of Taranaki, the rebels might be drawn out of it so far as to make its capture easy. This did so happen, but still he did not attack the pa, but was leaving the colony without taking measures for the work, when the Governor and the colonial troops stepped upon the scene and did the work; then first it is seen that it was no great work to do, as the pa was only strong in front, and was commanded in the rear fr -m tbe neighbouring heights, so that with these heights in occupation it would not at first have involved any such sacrifice of life as the General feared, while the greatest possible harm was done to our cause by the passing on and leaving it nnattacked. Tbe main point was the getting possession of the heights in the rear; this was a work easy enough for the colonial troops, but not in the line for the regulars, and it is in such cases that the advantage of irregular troops are seen.

This is an example of the usual features of New Zealand warfare. There are swamps to cross, bush to penetrate, wild country in which the natives are safe from the pursuit of the military, as indeed they are precluded by despatches from head quarters from any such work, while on the other hand it is in just such work as this that the colonial forces find themselves at home, enjoying the excitement of bush warfare, —warfare that must be undertaken and practiced to a much greater extent than it has been, if anything like a permanent peace is to follow its end.

But allowing all the advantages to be derived from the colonial troops, the question arises; Where are they ? have any steps as yet been taken to supply the place of the military ? we fear not; contemptible as was the force indicated in the ministerial programme, we do not know that any steps have been taken for its organization, on the contrary, if the reports of our Auckland contemporaries are true, those previously in ex* istence have sadly diminished in numbers, and are still diminishing. True, there is the militia, hut the utmost that can be expected of that body will be that they will protect their own neighbourhoods from attack, of necessity their work will be of a defensive rather than an aggresive nature, and if that is the main feature of our tactics, the colony will continue in a state of siege for years to come, or until the native race ceases to annoy from sheer exhaustion Did we see any sign of an effective colonial force being raised to subdue the rebels, we should look at the departure of the Imperial forces as the true policy, but as we know that the natives are only waiting (and impatiently too) their departure, that they may rise against the settlers, we can only look with alarm at the prospect before us. We trust that the House, while approving the self-reliant policy of the Government, will yet refuse its sanction to the departure of the troops till such time as a colonial corps has been organised to supply their place.