Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1869. WHERE IS TITOKOWARU?

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 656, 15 February 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1869. WHERE IS TITOKOWARU?

Telegraphic communication with Wellington having been suspended for the past three days, the items received on Thursday afternoon, and which will be found elsewhere, contain the latest news from the West Coast which has come to hand. The news,, in one of its aspects, is far from reassuring. It appears that after Colonel Whitmore had perfected his elaborate preparations for a decisive action against the enemy, Titokowaru, true to the instincts of his race—seeing defeat and degradation inevitable if he stood his ground —has most effectually baffled our forces by effecting his retreat from his stronghold, and, perhaps, as appears most probable, from that district altogether. This latter part of the programme is something different from what was anticipated. It was not improbable that he would desert the pa to take advantage of the shelter the bush was able to afford him, and the great difficulty it was expected our force would have to contend with consisted in expelling him from the natural fastnesses of the forest. It seems that beyond the Waitotara some fires and a few detached parties of men and horses have been seen; but it is at the same time pretty evident that Titokowaru and the main body of the enemy have left that part of the country altogether. The question then still remains—- " Where is Titokowaru 1 " Has he, aware of the certain result of a trial of strength with our forces, resolved to effect a junction with the disaffected natives on the East Coast or in the Waikato district % and is he, with this object, endeavoring to make his way across the Island 1 There seems sufficient reason to give a certain degree of probability to such a conjecture, and if it be so, the next we shall hear of him will probably be from the inland or Taupo district.

It seems tliat the G-overnment are cominced of the necessity for increased vigilance in parts far removed from the district of late occupied by the rebels, and, as we have learned, have appointed scouts for the Forty. mile Bush. It is probable that other measures of a kindred nature have been taken, though we are unable to aver that it is so. A review of the whole circumstances, as far as they are known, leads to the conviction of the necessity of great watchfulness, and a state of preparation for any contingency that may arise. So far as is known, Te Ivooti is still at large, it may be with a small but still desperate band of followers ; —there are the Uriwera, whose sympathies are with any and every party of rebels, and who persistently reject every pacific advance on the part of the pakeha—only awaiting a good prospect of success to show themselves enemies, and break out into open rebellion. Further north, a similar state of things exists among the Waikato tribes, and a junction of several distinct parties of the disaffected in any unprotected district would be fraught with serious results to the settlers there.

We are of opiniun that the number of scouts (two only) appointed for the Forty-mile Bush is hardly sufficient to meet the exigencies of the case. It may be probable that this is not. the route Titokowaru would take to cross the Island—it may be

exceedingly difficult for him to do so—but the fact of scouts being appointed shows that there is possibility of danger arising in that quarter, and in that case it will be hard for two men to keep constant watch, and be always ready to hold communication with the settled districts.