NATIVE AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 681, 13 May 1869, Page 4

NATIVE AFFAIRS.

(From the Wellington Independent, 27th April.) The colony is at the present moment undergoing the bitterest period of its trial. It is not surprising therefore that some of those who in past times, were the staunchest advocates of self-reliance have now waxed faint hearted, and looked backwards from the work to which they had put their hand. There are many "Faint hearts," in this world, such as the original described by Bunyan, who always saw " hills of difficulty " in the way which he feared to ascend, and " sloughs of despond," which he hesitated to cross. It is a habit with people of this temperament to raise a cry that all is lost when a few temporary checks or reverses occur. We are now told by Buch men that the policy of self-reliance has failed ; that we are unable at one and the same time to cope with Titokowaru on the West Coast and Te Kooti's band on the East Coast. They also say that the struggle in which the Colony is engaged has become too serious and extensive for its resources, and that we must either submit to defeat, or humbly seek the aid of Imperial troops. The argumeuts of such persons appear at first sight to have a certain force and cogency, but they will not bear critical examination. It is true that the Government has not sufficient resources in the shape of money and men, to carry on active operations against the enemy in several places at once ; but it is equally true that if the people of <;he North Island thoroughly recognise the faot, that they are embarked upon a struggle for their very existence ; that no aid will be forthcoming from the Imperial Government, however humiliating may be our submission and however abject our appeals j that the struggle in which we are engaged can never bo brought to an end until wo

*have either exterminated the Hauhaus or so decimated them as to render them impotent to do further harm—if, we say, all this be borne in mind —then the.colonics will come to the conclusion that there" is nothing for it but either to abandon the North Island —to sacrifice the fruits of many years, laborious industry ; to see ourselves turned adrift upon the world, with wives and little ones, and all whom we hold dear; or to gird up our loins, make this war a national business; follow up the enemy from day to day, and deal with him as a wi!d beast, which should be shot down wherever encountered. It may be said that while Colonel Whitmore with the Colonial Forces is engaged on the East Coast, the Wanganui district is left unprotected, and Titokowaru may first attack Taranaki, and then coming southwards may repeat the ravages and butcheries of the past year. We do not for a moment deny that a certain risk exists of this being attempted, but we venture to say that it can never be attempted with success if the settlers are true to themselves. With a hundred and fifty Armed Constabulary at Taranaki ; with a small *brce of the same kind at the Wanganui frontier, supplemented at both places by bands of Militia and Volunteers --many members of which have in the past shown their bravery in the field—we see no cause to fear but that the settlers of the West Coast will bo able, if not to attack and defeat the enemy, at least to defend the outlying settlements there, and to prevent the Hauhaus from doing much mischief. The policy of self reliance has not failed; it is only at the most critical period of its trial, and if the colonists of this Island rise equal to the occasion, it will yet be a great and unparalleled success. The truth is that at length we are brought face to face with the terrible difficulties and dangers of our position. It is simply a question now of whether the frontier settlers will boldly put their hand to the work, and defend their homes with the rifle and bayonet, the carbine and the revolver. We do not mean that merchants and shopkeepers and farmers and laborers should, deserting their usual occupations, go into the field to fight and follow up the enemy, to act in short as an aggressive force, but we do not mean that wnile the men whom we pay as a permanent force are engaged on active service in one quarter, the people of other districts winch may be in danger of an attack must trust mainly to themselves for self protection and defence. In short, t) put the case plainly, if it be found necessary for Colonel Whtmore with a maj >rity of his force to go to the East Coast and fight the enemy there, then ;ho defence of Wanganui and Waifcotara may well be left to the settlers aided by a small number of the regular force. On the other hand if it be advisable after a time to remove the field force from the East Coast, so that Titokowaru may be attacked with crushing effect on the West, then a similar duty would devolve upon the settlers of those districts which were thus denuded of troops by the Government. The Government cannot carry on the war everywhere at once, and the sooner the settlers of the North Island realise to themselves the ugly fact that they must at all events fight in defence of their own districts, the more hope there will be of this wretched native war coming to an end. It may be said that the necessity for settlers fighting for their own protection and garr soiling their own frontiers, would be obviated by either obtaining Imperial troops, or employing a largely increased colonial force. As to this we venture to urge i hat it is very doubtful, even if we paid fifty pounds a head, that we could obtain Imperial troops ; that to pay that price for men who would only do garrison duty while our men were fighting in the field —who would not be allowed to fight in the fashion in which fighting would be whose presence would certainly embarrass our own operations, and produce continual imbroglios between the Governor, the Ministry and the Commander, the result of divided authority—would bo to make a very bad bargain indeed. It has been suggested by Admiral Sartorius in a letter to the Times that owina to the reduction in the Imperial army and the large number of well-drilled soldiers who will thus be set free, an opportunity is thus afforded New Zealand of getting those men to enlist in its Colonial Army, but we have not overmuch faith in the advantages of such a proposal. No doubt it is a good thing to get men who have been drilled and disciplined, but should it happen that the drill and discipline are not what is neeeded for guerilla warfare and bush fighting, then then the Imperial soldiers so engaged would have a good deal to unlearn and a good deal to learn. Moreover we entertain the opinion that the raw material, of which our Colonial levies are composed, is better on the whole than the denizens of the backsluins of large cities whom the recruiting sergeant picks up and hands the ready shilling to in the tobacco-clouded atmesphere of a low public house. Then again, as to employing additional Colonial forces, we do not think the Colony capable of affording the money. The policy of the Ministry with regard to the war, defectively though it may De parried out, and disastrous though it may be in its first results,yet appears to be sound in principle, and likely to prove effective in the end. That policy involves the employment of a small body of men thoroughly trained, who acting from a central part of the island will, follow up and harass the enemy continually. If there be great danger at any particular point then the force will be hurried there to deal with a special emergency. But such_a force to bo serviceable

in the field, cannot at thersame time un. dertake the protection of all pur frontiers.. This is the truth that we would try to im«press upon the minds of our outlying country settlers. The countrymen of those who formed the thin red line;at: thebattle of Alma, and resisted an overpowering force of Eussians ; who stormed and .held the great redoubt, surely still possess that strength of heart and patriotism which will enable them to hold their own should their lives and property be threatened. If disregarding all selfish considerations, the colonists of New Zealand resolve to do this,, our frontiers will be kept safe, and there will soon be heard the glad tidings of" many successes in the field. The true power which makes one nation superior to another is the ascendancy of the stronger over the weaker heart, and surely when our fellow colonists think of their Maori foes they feel that they possess this.