Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1869.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 727, 18 October 1869, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1869.

Our article of Thursday last appears to have given great umbrage *o our iocal contemporary, who likes not to see his present patrons assailed, and the weak pointa of their panoply exposed. Still, after all his strong language, ifc is remarkable how feeble a. defence he is able to otter on their behalf. Not one of the facts we have published is denied—they are all. too fresh jn the minds of the public for that; and instead of showing that we were wrong in our statements and deductions, he cha racterises our exposure of the miserable vacillating policy of the present ministry as "audacious impudence"! He seems to forget for the moment that his assertions of the great disparity between our forces and those of Te Kooti at the time the present Government assumed office entirely bears out our argument, and shows the insane folly of which the now Ministry were guilty in preventing the defeat of Kooti's force, by effecting the withdiawal of our men at the very moment when the final blow against him could have been and was about to be struck—by which act not only was the cost of . that expedition thrown away, but future and incalculable expenses entailed to attempt that which could then so '.asily have been done. It must be remembered that Colonel Herrick never had any doubt of the success of his brilliant enterprise, and our contemporary must not treat of its failure without .remembering that that failure was entirely the result of the action of the .Fox-M'Lean Government.

On one point we would advise our contemporary, and that is, not to boast of the " inexpensive" nature of the operations conducted under the present Government —it will be time to do that when these expeditions, in which the friendly natives are so largely employed, are at an end. He should remember that it was under the pretence of economy T.hafc the present Government displaced their predecessors, and that of all methods of conducting our operation-, those by the aid of friendly natives are the most expensive of any, and the least under the control of a leader. Taieha himself in the House showed that no unity of action could, exist among them, for, said he, "One day L would go (to attack Te Kooti) and Ropata would not; next day he would go, and then I would not." They aie not amenable to any authority in the field, but practically do as "they choose—a state of things that must ever be fatal to the success of the-best-laid plans of the most skilful leaders.

We are glad to learn that Te Hen Heu has taken the first opportunity of escaping from the thrall of Te Kooii, and surrendering himself to to the Government. He is a chief or unquestionable rank, and from that circumstance alone, though not distinguished for any high mental qualities, gave much importance to the side with which he was identiiied. He has been sacrificed to the politics of the pakeha, rather than sedneed from his a] 1 egiance. Last Ju 1 v our retieat from the coast left him at the mercy of Te Kooti's seventy desperadoes, and, quiet man, he preferred the service of the outlaw to the crown of martyrdom for our cause. We are disposed to augur well from his return to the fold, and hope he will not be harshly treated.

We should feel anxious about the bush party, gone in quest of Kooti, but it is only reasonable to suppose that many causes may delay intelligence from that part of the country. To hunt up seventy or eighty people in a vast expanse of forest, is some thing like looking for a pin in a bundle of hay. If heedlessly carried out there might be risk of disaster attending it; but however venturesome Colonel M'Ponnell might personally be, he is an old hand in the Colony, and lias Kemp with him, who will probably present the party from being entrapped, Friendly Maoris very seldom run theirj

heads into ambuscades, and actual enemy, though possibly difficult to find, would not be formidable if discovered. The chances of success will depend upon circumstances we cannot appreciate here. The may be hot, information may be good, guides may be at hand—all or any of these fortuitous advantages may favor the pursuit and cause the destruction of Te Kopti, Daring as he js, a long series of reverses may have decreased hi* prestige, and if he is closely followed, his audacious stand against the formidable force at Taupo will cease to be remembered by bis hunted followers. Natives are singulary liable to elation and depression of spirits : under the first they attempt the most foolhardy things —under the latter they often show lo great disadvantage. If the trail is kept, and Te Kooti cannot evade pursuit, fortune may yet recoup all the advantages so wantonly thrown away in July, and played with, for the last two months by the Government. At the same time a reverse in the bush, a failure to overtake Te Kooti, might do very gi eat harm, and even the prestige of Te lieu Heu's surrender would not suffice to efface it,

Whatever may be the result, meanwhile let uh hope for the best. Nobody can fail to admit the exertions of Mr Ormond and the Government, nor can any one ascribe to apathy the trifling"success that has rewarded them. We must not judge solely by results. Money and men, telegrams and orderlies, have been poured into T-Aupo with an energy •seldom applied to so laudable a pur pose, and if all have failed to secure Te Kooti, or any large portion of his band, inexperience rather than indifference must be blamed for that consummation. All the efforts have been in a light direction —the mode we take leave to object to in some particulars, but Taupo was the place, and the selection was the more creditable because the Ministry at first from party motives had disapproved of hostilities being carried on so far in the interior. Mr Ormond has had the misfortune to allow the real reprobates to escape, and if he has achieved as yet on\y the slaughter of the unfortunate Taupos who were compelled to join them, at least the natives do not make nice distinc tions, and the guilt of their abandonment last July must be borne by the whole cabinet, and does not rest on their agent. The mis-deal of the cards this time, when so good a hand had fallen to his share, must be very provoking, but all may yet be retrieved by the energy of Colonel M'Donnell and Kemp, and if not the mischance must be judged as an awkwardness of a new beginner rather than a blunder of a practised player. It would be satisfactory to us, though hard on them, if nothing was left to be accomplished by the diplomatic exertions of the two commissioners. The self-reliant exertions of the Colony in the past campaigns crushed the vigor of the rebels to a greater extent than was at the time honestly admitted. JSTow that the king is officially stated not to be likely to send Te Kooti material assistance, what remains to be put down of the rebellion is little enough, and ludicrously less than the means disposable for the purpose, It is just concei\able that a blundering mismanagement might once more create difficulties and produce disasters, such as a new outbreak on the West Coast, or some complication with the king, but as the jade Fortune seems so constant to the Government, and as Te Hen Heu's surrender must be regarded as an indication that - all his " pressed " adherents are likely to leave Te Kooti, we cannot say the continued silence of the Government about the war, which is deemed ominous by some, seems to us indicative of any cause for anxiety. If they are half as successful as they prophesy, within a few days we shall have Te Kooti's head in Napier, and possibly king Tawhiao will attend Mi Ormonde levee at -the Government buildings in token of amity and peace. Can no functionary be found to espouse the princess Sophia? We commend the idea to the consideration of our rulers. \