THE LATE EXPEDITION TO PATEA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 696, 1 July 1869, Page 4

THE LATE EXPEDITION TO PATEA.

(Wellington Independent, June 30.) We bail the news of Major Noake's successful expedition with pleasure, not unalloyed with some little anxiety. In itself nothing could have been more creditable to the enterprise of the troops, or afford a more convincing proof that the coalition of the Ng'atiruanui tribes has been completely breken up by the campaign of the West Coast. Major Noake, Captains Hawes, Kells, and Bryce have made a series of expeditions in the bush, all of them marked by the same enterprising spirit, though this is the one which is perhaps the most prominently successful. No less than the troops who rendered such expeditions practicable by their successes in the field, do those deserve credit who have followed up so perseveringly and so energetically the discomfited followers of Titokowaru, It is therefore with special pleasure that we find recorded among Major Noake's gallant oomrades in arms the names of so many settlers well known and respected on the West Coast; and it affords a great contrast to the state of things of last year to find that we are now masters of the situation, and that nothing but vigorous pursuit is required to complete the destruction of the tribes so recently in the possession of our fairest districts. Moreover it is gratifying to reflect that we have men of vigor, men who belong to us, whose interests anchor them to the country they have served, and whose experience and knowledge of the fast nesses of the natives, acquired in their bushrangiug expeditions, will prove a bulwark to the district in times to come. It may be observed that what followed was predicted by Colonel Whitmore in his despatches, and that this especial consideration weighed with him in making the arrangements he did when he left the coast. Many persons who count victory by heads, and distrust all success which they disparage or doubt, believed at first that the defeat of Titokowaru was only "tall talk"—the man was still at large, that was enough ; of course he had retired because he chose to retire and would re appear when he liked. But we now find that except the section which fought with Col. M'Donnell at Te Ngutu all the tribe has either surrendered or is negociating with that view, and the surrender has been absolute of arms property and persons, This is very well, and we hope soon to hear that Tauroa has, as we learn he has promised, brought in the remainder of his hapu. We also trust that no time will be lost carrying out this same system to the banks of the Waitar&RiYer,

But we feel much anxiety, which we cannot pretend to disguise about those prisoners. They have submitted more abjectly, have given up their arms in a more bond fide manner, and are clearly more sensible of defeat than on former occasions. So far so well; but what are we to do with these individuals, now perhaps amounting to 300 in all of both sexes who are on our hands. Probably in a few weeks this number will be increased, and are we to feed them till they recover their spirits and bite our heels again ? We trust that the Government is alive to the importance of this question, for the colony takes a much sterner view of this outbreak than if did of those which preceeded it. We know now the exact value they attach to the oath of allegiance, we have seen how hopeless it is to treat them as prisoners of war under limited restraint. We are not disposed to feed them, and disinclined to pay a small army to guard them. We have seen prisoners escape from Mr Fox, we have seen prisoners escape from Mr Stafford. In our own harbor we have witnessed the same thing when prisoners were under charge of the Imperial troops. The question therefore arises, how shall we dispose of these people so as to secure the peaceful settlers from a repetition of their atrocities and crimes. We would suggest some arrangement with neighboring colonies, or even perhaps with the Imperial Government, for the safe custody of the men in the prisons of Western Australia. To whatever punishment they are sentenced it is obvious they must go out of this country, and we believe ic is desirable that they should be dispersed and not sent to any one particu lar place of expatriation. At all events let us not forget the past, and remember the old adage "once bit twice shy."