Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 755, 24 January 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1870.

The public will doubtless ha\ e noticed that the Government organs of the newspaper press of the Colonyhave almost without exception taken advantage of the beginning of a new year to congratulate their readers on what has been assumed to be a wonderful improvement in the aspect of affairs, more particularly in relation to the native rebellion, as compared with that which existed twelve months ago,—such impiovement being effected by the,supposed wisdom and skill of the two gentlemen now at the head of the Government, Messrs. Fox and M'Lean. We are truly sorry, no less for the sake of those journals which have done this, than for the Colony itself, that there should exist so very little ground for such congratulation. In fact, we find that a few short days proved quite sufficient to show the fallacy of the position, and to undeceive the very journals that have assumed it. Not one of them can now assert that they understand the present position of the native question, but they are fain to admit that there is too much ground for believing that the King party —which Mr M'Lean was supposed to have secured by negotiation,— and the Wunganuis, whose adherence Mr Fox was believed to have obtained by dint of skilful diplomacy—have played those gentlemen false in suffering the archrebel Te Kooti to escape and prepare for fresh deeds of rapine and bloodshed, —he being of late largely recruited both in men and material, and certainly within the power of our allies had they been anxious to effect his capture. Could we have seen ground for any such congratulations as were offerred by many contemporary jour-

naif? on. the occasion of the great anniversary of the year, we should not have held back from them ; bat, un fortunately, the contrary was the fact. We knew that twelve months ago there were excellent prospects of a final stop being put to the rebellion. Te Kooti had been driven, or had retreated, into the stronghold of Ngatapa, and the opportune arrival of Colonel Whitmore and the Armed Constabulary on. the ground speedily resulted in the capture of that fort, and the flight of Te Kooti with a mere handful of fugitive followers, destitute alike of arms, ammunition, and provisions. It is not to much to say that had the well-devised plans of the party then in power been as firmly supported as they were undermined by the opposition, a very few weeks would have sufficed to have finished the campaign; but this could not be allowed. Jealousy of Colonel Whitmore's successes led to endeavors to frustrate his plans—endeavors which succeeded only too well, as we remember, to the shame of those concerned and the detriment of the Colony. The present Government entered on its duties at a lime most opportune for the speedy termination, of the contest. Col. Whitmore had ef fectually defeated the murderous bands under Titokowaru on the West Coast, and hemmed in Te Kooti in the Uriwera country. All was ready for the final blow, which would have crushed that rebel and virtually terminated the rebellion. But not so was it to be. It be either the work of Mr M'Lean or it must not be done at all. Accordingly Col. Herri ok is recalled from his vantage ground, and the ouiposts brought in from the Taupo line. Friendly natives must be depended on for the fighting, and our own forces " de-militarized." Te Kooti escapes to the open, employs his leisure and freedom in recruiting his forces, until at length he can assume as threatening an attitude as ever, while the King party, upon which so much confidence was placed, proves "a broken reed," and the friendly natives, afresh supplied with arms and ammunition, add more to the perils of the situation; while it is reported that the cost of all these worse than futile operations has been for months past hea"vier than at any time during the Stafford administration. Truly our contemporaries in the Government interest were too fast in offering their congratulations to the public.