THE WEST COAST EXPEDITION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 404, 20 August 1866, Page 3

THE WEST COAST EXPEDITION.

We (says the New Zealand Advertiser of Friday last) learn from a gentleman who arrived in town from Wanganui on Wednesday last that Major M'Donneli is likely to have more fighting on the West Coast. It appears that when he first’■■vent into the district to trample out the expiring embers of the rebellion, this gallant officer was invested by tlie Government with power to compel unconditional surrender or fight it out with the rebels still in arms against the Queen’s supremacy, aud everything was progressing most satisfactorily until some gentleman communicated to the Government that Major M'Donncll actually intended to use the power given to him, and to compel surrender. Rumor now says that this power has been wuhdrawn, and that the proceedings are to be carried on under the control of a non-combatant in the shape of a Government agent. If this is true we can only regret that it should be so. We further learn that last week he reached a strongly fortified pa, and received from the native garrison an invii ation to combat on a given day. The challenge was readily accepted, and unless the instructions of the Government and their agent interfered with the arrangements, we have no doubt the fight is over by this time, aud our force in a position to give a good account of themselves. We shall await with interest the arrival of further information. The Patea Correspondent of the Wanganui Times, writing to the editor of that paper on Friday, 10th August, says :—“ Notwithstanding the peaceably disposed "disposition of a few of the natives here, and their desire to surrender, yet the Uan-haus are backed up fay assurances which induce them to hold out. They have sent a challenge to Major M'Donneli to fight a decisive battle, and the challenge has been accepted ; and we feel confident that the indomitable pluck and courage of our men will be such as to insure a decisive victory.” Now, we are informed upon good authority, and a difference of opinion arose between Major M'Donnell and Mr Parriss, Native Resident Magistrate at Patea. Major M'Donneli having authority to act upon his own judgment as to the best means of trampling out the expiring embers of this rebellion, had boldly demandrd “ unconditional surrender” or “fight it out.” This, we must remark, is the first instance in the history of New Zealand warfare in which such a bold and decisive course lias been adopted with the rebels. V< hat is the result? Mr Parris rode post haste to Wellington, and the result of his interview with I lie Governor and Minister for Native Affairs was that ho returned post haste armed with instructions to stop Major M'DomieH’s proceedings, placing him and the Colonial Forces at Patea under the instructions of Mr Parris. So rapid were movements of Mr Parris that he reached Wanganui on Friday evening and posted on for "Patea, which place he would, most likely, reach in time to prevent the engagement between Major M'DonneU’a force and the Hau-haus —an encounter which would, no doubt, decide our supremacy and put an end to the miserable struggle upon the West Coast. —Now Zealand Advertiser, 17th August.