NATIVE DANGERS AND NATIVE DIFFICULTIES.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 435, 14 June 1879, Page 2

NATIVE DANGERS AND NATIVE DIFFICULTIES.

(From the Wellington Chronicle ) The Government are thoroughly alive to the necessity of being prepared for any contingencies 'which may hrise in connection with the natives on the West Coast, in the Taranaki province. No farther developments have taken place. The natives are still going on ploughing Courtney’s land as an overt act of defiance of the law. On our side preparations against an outbreak are steadily going on. Recruits for the Armed Constabulary are being enlisted at the various large centres of population tnroughont the Colony, the preference of course being given to men who have' seen service in 1868-69. Plenty of first-class men are coming forward, and in the course of a few days 700 men will be located at Oakttra and other posts. Major Take, an officer of great ability and experience in New Zealand wars, takes command at Oakdra, and will look after matters in that district and vicinity, t in which the fanatical Te Whiti reigns supreme. The settled districts breaching between the Waingongora river and Wanganui will be protected by volunteer companies, both infantry and cavalry. Major Noake will take charge of Wauga- . nui Volunteer District, and organise the various companies at Wanganui, Kai Iwi, Nukuraarn, Wairoa," Carlyle, Hawera, Mamitahi, and Wiahi—in fact, at

all the places right up to the Waingonjror i riv(r.

Should there Be a native outbreak — which we still hope may be avoided — then the plan of defensive operations would be this. The defence of the settlements south of the Waingougoro river would be left to the volunteer companies specially organised and directed by Major Noake. The primary and most important object .is to protect these settlements. That the settlers organised as volunteers will be able to do this, we have no doubt at all. On the north of the Waingongoro' river will be located the main force, consisting of Armed Constabulary, the Native Contingent of Ngatiporous and other tribes, supplemented by such volunteer companies as choose to take the field. This force could ’ act as a number of “ flying colunis,” which would no doubt give an excellent account of Te Whiti and his hand. In fact there would be two fronts, ( 1) that of the settled districts—where we should act chiefly on the defensive, making reprisals when such were necessary; and (2) the “front” nearParihaka, where we would be acting on the offensive Wtd defensive, harmssing the enemy in every direction. We do not write in this ■strain as feeling that 'a war is certain. It may be that no war will take place. But, if such is forced upon ns, then we shall be prepared for it; and woe betide those who have forced the Europeans to 'make an appeal to the sword and carbine, the bayonet and the rifle. Once roused to action, the West Coast Volunteers : and the Colonial Forces will utterly crush and almost exterminate Te Whiti, Tito Kowarn, and their deluded followers. We deprecate a war, we deplore a war, ! but if such is to come, let the contest be 'short, sharp and decisive, bringing about ’the result of utterly crushing the hostile -Native power from Wanganui up to New ■Plymouth. And should such a war be •forced upon the people of New Zealand, they will know after it is over how to deal with the confiscated lands.