Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1869.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 676, 26 April 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1869.

Contrary to our usual practice, of passing without notice the adverse criticisms of anonymous writers in the correspondence columns of our local contemporary, we on this occasion feel it incumbent on us to sav a word to " E. Q.," whoever that may be, in reply to his attack on us on Friday last. A reference to our " sunshiny article '-' of the Bth inst. will show that it was not without sufficient (apparent) grounds that we were led to " congratulate the public on the more cheery and peaceful aspect of affairs;" although then we had sufficient foresight to warn out-settlers against any cessation of watchfulness—for we were well aware that while Te Kooti was alive and at large, they were in danger. But let us back to the state of things as they were at that time. Te Kooti was known to have retired to the Uriwera country—that is if credit can be given to the story of the "friendly natives," who of course always know best—for a body of these natives had just returned from the neighborhood of Taupo, whither they had gone professedly to aid in an excursion against him. It will be remembered that Te Kooti had been drhen southwards by the Arawas and a small body of Constabulary under the Messrs Mair, from his late attack upon the settlements of Tauranga, and it was feared by the Tail • po natives that he had designs upon

them, they therefore sent to Hawke'g; Bay for help against him at a time when, as we have said, a body of our natives were already in that direc - tion. The General Government authorities here, anxious to render every aid in their power, immediately despatched supplies of ammunition, and food to them; but these supplies met them on their return home, and. so convinced were they that no immediate danger was to be feared, that they refused to retrace their steps. In that fact we have ample justification for the gleam of "sunshine'* that appeared in our article of ihe Bth inst. We are accused of want of sympathy with the sufferers in the Mohaka tragedy because we do not join with those partizans who lay the blame of that sad affair upon the Executive officers of the Government. As well v if not with stronger reason, might the blame of the Poverty Bay massacre be laid on the shoulders of Mr M'Lean, because at that time he ■was the agent of that Government. We have no desire to do this, but when talk is vented of " warnings given and disregarded," it is impossible not to revert to that sad affair, —where, as was well known, warning was given to Mr M'Lean, who* " declined to act." Did—we would ask—Mr Richmond or any other man place any obstacle in the way of Mr M'Lean, so as to " thwart or paralyze" his efforts on that occasion X So far as Mohaka was concerned, precautions against possible surprise were taken,, for scouts were appointed, whose duty it was to take orders from and report to Mr Lavin. It is difficult to say how, under these circumstances, the rebels could have approached without warning being given; but it seems probable that from an error in judgment on the part of Mr Lavin (for which we would be far from blaming him, as we have no doubt he acted as appeared for the best) the scouts were placed in a direction different front that by which the rebels came. It is to be remembered that an error of a similar character was made in the case of Poverty Bay.. M K Q. " says " it is competent to any fool to rail." We fully concur with him in this : and must remind him that the railing has hitherto been all on the side of his own party. Once for all, too, we would say a word about what he is pleased to call our "present patrons." Much insinuation has been thrown out in the columns of our contemporary to the effect that we are influenced by the Government in the views we take of political matters. We trust that it h, evident to all our friends by this time that the course we pursue is and has been a thoroughly independent one. We arejiot open to any influence from any Government, local or General. The influences that guide us are those of truth and the public good : when we have reason to believe the actions of either Government are inconsistent with these we speak out without fear or favor* and shall continue to do so, though we trust without having recourse to " railing " or " vilification;" We cannot close this article without one more reference to the Herald of Friday last. Its " own correspondent " says : " It is said that oa Saturday night, when the news of the fatal Mohaka business arrived, the Star of the South lay at the wharf in the Iron Pot, and that her captain refused to ship a caigo of stock in the belief his vessel would

be taken up for the conveyance of the forces to Mohaka. . Does any one doubt if this steamer had been taken up that the destroyers of Mohaka •would have been captured. With the beautiful weather and calm sea existing on Sunday, the force might have been landed at Mohaka in three or four hours. Comment is superfluous." Now, that correspondent could not but have known that at the time of the departure of the Star of the South for Auckland the news of the Mohaka raid had not reached Napier. Not the slightest intimation of even the probability of that sad affair was taken to Auckland by that vessel—on the contrary, the very first indication of the news that reached Auckland was vid the "West Coast, and is given by the Auckland press as extracts from the Wanganui papers. It must indeed be a poor cause that needs to resort to such gross misrepresentations as these for its support, In this matter we cannot hold the Editor of the Herald altogether blameless. If he had iorgotten the details of the circumstances under which the Star of the South lefc on the evening of the 10th inst., and the sad news arrived of the Mohaka massacre, the slightest reference or inquiry would have convinced him that it was impossible that Captain Bendall could have " refused to ship a cargo of stock in the beliet his vessel would be taken up for the conveyance of the forces to Mohaka"—because that vessel was many miles on her voyage ere any intimation of the news reached Napier. "Comment," in this case, is indeed " superflous." Our remarks respecting the disarming of opposition to the Government as its policy becomes known, had leference rather to the colonial press in gene, al than to our contemporary. Of the correctness of our observation the editorial comments of the papers to hand by the last mail are a sufficient proof.