OUR NATIVE ALLIES.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 91, 28 September 1868, Page 233

OUR NATIVE ALLIES.

(From the Wanganui Times, September 16.) Immediately after the late, defeat the Putiki chiefs who were then at the front held a council of war, and determined to. send for reinforcements.. Governor Hunia, Hori Grey, Hori.Papura, Kemp, and others, were .una,himqtisfy:of opinion that if they attack the Hauhaus. men from Rangitikei, who b will, we are tbld, 1 .Meantime Wirehis men on the way from Tuppo;; 3fhey came in and are

also ready to start.. The reinforcements wUI go up under the command of Captain M'DpnneU andWirehana, the former officer having. been sent down here specially to bring them on.: If, on their arrival at Waihi, those Wanganui natives will, as our correspondent suggests, undertake with the two McDonnell's, Gudgeon, and a few others, to finish this very .serious affair in their own fashion,,they will deserve well of the Government and of the colony at large. It must be borne in mind that this is a war {a which, our blood-thirsty enemy show no quarter, but tomahawk, mutilate, and .per haps eat all the prisoners that fall into their hands. "We must also bear in mind that many of their women fight like shedemons, and therefore can lay no claim to that consideration shown to women in ci vilised countries during a time of war. The maudlin sentimentality that holds up its hands in virtuous indignation because one or more of these savages should, during the heat and excitement of an attack, be roughly handled by our men, will fiiid no resting place in the breasts of our native allies. We should rather that our men would take a few prisoners, especially some of the chiefs and leading men, and then at once hang them up in some conspicuous position as a warning to evil-doers. Will not this heroic conduct on the part of the Wanganui natives excite our countrymen at the front to cast aside their .bickerings, .forget their recent defeat, rally round their officers, and never allow it, to be said that 300. natives went in and accomplished what 6JO Europeans would not dare to do ? We have, or will have in another day or two in, the. Patea district, at least 800 as brave Europeans as ever, fought under a Wellington or a Napier. We will also have about 300 that would be as well out of the district. We now tell Colonel Haultaiu, whilst he is here, that he has at Patea at least one commissioned officer not only enticing those ‘worthless men to but ' actually - writing letters disparaging officers whom they ought to respect and obey. Why not proclaim martial law throughout the district ? It would not in kfeO-fjj—hte.st.,dh.ejiettlerA..:. on the;contrary, it would.be for-their special benefit. It would reach such treacherous friendly natives as the other day looted a hundred sheep, killed and ate fifty or sixty of them, and laughed at Coi. McDonnell's beard when lie caught that and other plunder in their possession. Martial law would also reach tli e friendly rebel Tito, whose fighting.men are amongst the Hau haus, whilst the old wretch himself daily visits our people at Patea and the outposts, and, as a friendly, can carry off friendly intelligence and supplies. It would be worth while to ascertain how many of Tito’s men from Turangarere are row amongst the Uauhaus. Perhaps our old friends Governor Hunia and Kemp may be able to guesß at it. These are the men

who know the men who are friendly and who are not, and we trust that in dealing with friendly traitors they will act without martial law.

Once more we say to our countrymen at the Front—“ Be ye men ” —and never allow British pluck and British valor to be superseded by that of men of any other race ! If ye want another commander then sent down a despatch, and we shall l»y by the old steel pen whilst we come up and settle the difficulty. What will our countrymen in the colony say—what will our countrymen at home say—if Governor Uunia, with some 300 Kupapas, go in and thrash a lot of Hauhaus of which 600 Europeans can give no account? - Once more we say, cease your bickerings; rally round your officers, and—“ be ye men.”