STRENGTH OF THE NATIVES.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 40, 16 September 1863, Page 6

STRENGTH OF THE NATIVES.

I The New Zealander thus alludes to the numj bers and resources of the Natives : Let us first, then, look at the numbers that an j intelligent and energetic man like William j Thompson may be able to lead against Auckland, ! and whom he is so successfully inciting that " To Auckland! To Auckland!" is their urgent cry. The following is a carefully considered estimate : I Waikato, including Ngatihaua, may furi nish (fighting men) . . . 2,500 ' Mokau ..... 300 Taranaki, including Ngatiruanui, Wani ganui and Ngatiawa . . . 1,000 j Taupo ..... 400 I Thames and Gulf of Houraki . . 800 ' Rotorua ..... 500 | East Coast .... 2,000 I 7,500 | This estimate has not been loosely prepared, but, on the contrary, by reference to Mr. Fenton's work on native statistics. The enumeration j will be found to be rather under than over the mark. Here, then, we have a native army of 7,500 | men ; and, cutting off one-third, if necessary, t even 5,000 would be found a powerful array for \ our scattered line ei defenders to encounter and ! arrest, and rescue Auckland from panic, pillage, | incendiarism, and partial slaughter.

Granted—some objecting hyperergic may say—that William Thompson may mass his 5,000,6 000, or 7,000 men—How is he to move ? How is he to feed them, and in what direction is the stroke likely to fall ? We have a ready answer to these an i other objections; and we bring them forward not to provoke controversy but to incite our rulers and fellow colonists to arouse and guard themselves against the murderous designs of their infuriated foes. Thompson and his confederates have, it is said, been as skilful in arranging their commissariat as in sending forth their summons for collection of their forces. Their supplies have been organised so as to feed them to within thirty miles of the city. Even outside our lines they will find tarms forsaken, flocks of sheep and herds of cattle left untented ; and on beef, mutton, pork, and fern root they can fa«-e sumptuously as far as Taupo on the Thames, after which they will fall upon the abundant stores that have so long been providing by their Auckland emissaries, and which have been carefully deposited in the neighboring forest ranges. Let the inquiry be made of the extent of purchases by natives of flour, biscuit, and else, of Auckland millers and bakers, and the amount will be found to be something surprising.