Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 673, 15 April 1869, Page 3

THE TARANAKI SCANDAL. (From the New Zealand Ilerald) The intelligence received from the West Coast is of such a nature that we cannot pass it by without further comment. It shows such a position of affairs, shows so completely how the strings are pulled which bring defeat and disaster on all our plans for the subjugation of the rebels, that it cannot be too widely spread or too gene* rally discussed. The facts of the case are simply these. The Taranaki natives, professedly friendly to the Europeans, have entered into a treaty with the rebels that the people of one district shall not pass over into another to lit/lit. Colonel Whitmore brings Titokovvaru to bay, but requires more troops so to surround the rebel position as to render the escape of any poriion of the enemy impossible. lie sends messengers to New Plymouth, the nearest | oint, for such assistance ; the men turn out with alacrity, under command of Maj >r Brown—are preparing to start to Colonel Whitmore's assistance when the aforesaid friendly natives come forward, make knowu the treaty between Tito and themselves, declare that they consider it equally binding on Europeans as on themselves, ami finally threaten that if the Taranaki forces go to Whitmore's assistance, they will go to that of Titukowaru. The authorities whoever they may be, decide that it is unwise to run ccuuter to the wishes of these friendly natives, and the force, actually in marching order, is called back and dismissed. The consequence of this is Titukowaru again escapes from C lontl Whitmore, and is uow, it is eaid, endeavouring to get round by the mountain to effect a junction with Wetere —the White Cliffs murderer—and his baud in the Mokau ranges. Thus is the West Coast campaign, in the moment of fruition, rendered abortive by the threatening altitude and treachery of these so-called friendly natives, and the imbecility of a Government whose responsible officers allow the whole of the fruits of a protracted and expensive campaign to glide from them in the very moment of victory. Were Colonel Whitmore an Edwardes or a Napier he could not, hampered as he is, contend against such odds as these.