Spirit of the press.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 357, 12 March 1866, Page 1

Spirit of the press.

THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY. (From the New Zealander, 3rd March.) Now that it is known, once and for all, that the English troops are about to leave our shores, it behoves us as men of common sense to look to the future, and make preparations for any contingency that may again arise to threaten the peace and prosperity of Auckland and her sister provinces. The fiat has gone forth—we are no longer to trust to the troops—no longer to help for hope from them, unless, indeed, we are willing to pay £4O per man for everyone retained in this, our island home. Mr Cardweil has sent forth his orders upon this subject. He is determined that unless the sum mentioned is handed over by the colony, the troops shall leave. We, on the contrary, are as determined not to acquiesce in his demands; and accordingly the men brought out at such a cost to the Home Government must return again. Whether this policy is a good one or not, lime will no doubt prove. But whether for our good or not, they leave with our best wishes and most hearty thanks. They have fought bravely for us in a hundred fights, and if they have not always shone with that great tclat which we have been accustomed to read of in European warfare where British troops were engaged, they have at least done all that was practicable under existing circumstances. Whenever they have been allowed to go at the foe slap dash, in true British style, the day has invariably been our own, and the uatives have been taught a lesson which they have not soon forgotten. Of course we have had our losses, and those losses have sometimes been severe, but we have nevertheless taught the Maori that whenever hs came in contact with British valour, unfettered and unrestrained, that the bh'ck must succumb, and the arras of the white prevail. Yet many a gallant officer and private who came out in the full pride of health and strength lies dead and cold in more than one New Zealand forest. All honor to theso brave men who fell fighting where there was little glory to be won, and whose only motto in mixing in the fray was “duty.” And bravely have our gallant men—both officers and privates—done their duty to their country, and when they leave our shores they will carry with them the best feelings and kindliest wishes of those to whom New Zealand is a home. But for those who fell—they died with the soldier’s glory, and received the soldier’s grave.

But, as we observed at tbe beginning, now that the forces to whom we have so long looked for protection are about to leave, we must henceforth depend upon ourselves in case of need, and although we do not believe that need will ever come, we must be prepared to meet the worst. There are certain croakers amongst us who implicitly believe —and do not fail to bruit abroad their belief —that no sooner will the troops have left our shores than there will be a general uprising over tbe whole country—that the Waikatos will cast off their present quiescence —that the tribes in Taranaki, Wanganui, and other once affected districts will rise as a man and exterminate the whites ! That there will ever be another rising among the natives of even moderate proportions we do not for one moment credit, and that the natives could ever be blind enough to believe in their power to exterminate 100,000 Englishmen is simply ridiculous. But still, notwithstanding this, they might be able to cause us very great annoyance if they chose, should we, as a civilian population, make no preparation for warding off the blow which they might have in contemplation to inflict. We are, therefore, glad to see that the volunteer movement is again in the asoen. dant, and we hope that our youth, capable of bearing arms, will at once enrol in the volunteer corps, aud by perfecting themselves in rifle practise, and becoming a solid phalanx of well-trained civilian infantry, put to flight the fears of those who are constantly harping upon the subject of a fresh outbreak. We advise this course, not because we ourselves for one single instant believe that tbe natives will ever again become troublesome near Auckland, but simply that our youth may practise in peace tue arts necessary for the

successful carrying on of war, should the necessity arise. Should it not, no harm will be doue. Our youth will be strengthened be the healthy manipulation of the rifle, and those whose fears are groundless will by taught to laugh at danger to our province, even though the troops are gone; for, depend upon it, the knowledge that a band of men were armed and ready for their work if necessary, would do more to keep the Maori in subjection, should he feel inclined to rebel, than all the peace proclamations ever issued. The best and quickest way to secure a lasting peace is to let our enemies see that we are, if necessary, prepared for war.