THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 35, 27 January 1864, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Ai\qus). j The progress of the war in New Zealand eoutiuues to be entirely satisfactory. The advance of General Cameron into the enemy's country has hitherto met with no check since the fall of Rangariri. The vigorous steps taken by the General to follow up his suecessess. even more than the capture of the "Waikato stronghold and the occupation of the royal village of Ngaruawahia, seem to have struck a panic into the hearts of the Maories ! and it is now probable that the war will close without any further stand being made By the insurgents. The great tribe of the AVaikatos, beaten and disheartened, arc. already suing for peace through their foremost chief, William Thompson. the Kiugites have been dispersed, and the King is a fugitive. What is of more importance still, the tribes are no longer under the influence of a common feeling of nationality, but arc divided among themselves. The Waikatos are incensed against the Ngatimaniopotos for deserting them in their hour of need, and are not indisposed to join us in punishing their faithless countrymen. The rest of the tribes do not appear inclined for any further trial of strength with the Pakehas ; and the chiefs of the populous native district of Napier have already sent in their submission to the Government. The Ngatitnaniopotos alone, who inhabit the country on the western coast between Kawhia harbor and Taranaki, may be said to be the only enemy actually in the field, and their subjugation cannot be a work of much ditiiculty to the powerful force now under the command of General Cameron. It is gratifying to perceive that the measures taken by the local G-o---vernment to preserve the future peace of the colony, partake of the energetic spirit in which the G-eneral has conducted his short and brilliant campaign. The influence of the philo-Maori and peace-at-all-price party, is scarcely perceptible in the now policy which is being pursued by the local Government. Even Governor Grey is said to have abandoned, at the earnest remonstrances of the General, his original feeble purpose of permitting the Maories to retain their arms. A general disarmament is to to be insisted upon as an essential preliminary to peace ; and there is power enough in the hands of the General to enforce such a decree. The lesson we have already taught the Maoris would be incomplete were we to leave them means of raising another such insnrrection as that we have quelled. Other measures for preserving the peace of the colony are about to be adopted, of the success of which there can hardly be a reasonable doubt. The disturbers of the Queen's supremacy, will be made to pay for the trouble they have occasioned, after that plain and simple fashion which will carry certain conviction to the Maori mind. The makers of the war are to furnish the cost, — the shedders of blood to pay the legal blood penalty, as understood both by English and by Maori law. The forfeiture of the conquered lands is indispensable for the pacification of the Northern Island ; and the most fanatical advocate of Maori claims will hardly deny that we , have now acquired a perfectly legal right to do what we please with the territory of the beaten enemy. The exercise of such a right need not be attended with any hardship to individuals, or want of generosity to the enemies who have fairly fought us, aucl have been fairly conquered in the field. In extinguishing the tribal right, we need not refuse to acknowledge the rights of individuals; and it is certain that even those who have been takon prisoners

of war, will receive c 1 w»'y possible consideration that a sens; 1 3iclf ihmnanity can' suggest. They have > tdhosen their lot, I however, and they cai \ mot grumble at the dispensation. TheL \ wads hitherto occupied by the insurgent \ motives are enormously in excess of th \ ci?. 1 'requirements; and their possessic ', >& 'by ns is indispensable to the advancement of the colony as well' 1 as t> P asie tme interests of the Maories they , Bseives. .It was impossible that the Britis "fcSSßihorit v could be maintained, and the resources; of the Northern Island dsv fitted, solong as four-fifths of all the ric -kest-ftgri-cultural soil remained a wildv , fcniess, in the occupation of a handful c-of;half-savages, who could not — if thi ij -.weald — cultivate and turn to use ahu Jafee&th part of their property. The difficulty has now been scAiv-eil by the action of the Maories them-V selves, and it will be our own : htilt- ill' there is another war of races i: 1 Mcv?! Zealand. The policy of confiscation is not only expedient, but just and l&tid-: able, if the peace of the island is' to*be ■ maintained ; and we are glad 1 3 per- ■ ceive that the local (xovernraei) fc is-- at last thoroughly awake to the duties 1 which the war has imposed u\>on it. The victorious march of "G-eneral Cameron has thrown into oil' 1 hands the whole of the rich Waikato ? alley, lying along the banks of two na ngable rivers, every acre of which pro L ably i.V fit for the plough, when cle a red of timber. Ou the eastern coa t, also., all the fertile country waterer I by the estuary of the Thames, and expending to the Bay of Plenty on one si de, and I to Boto-rua, the delightful tc of the lakes and hot springs, oii"th z other, ! has come into our possession i h rough the fortunes of war. Proper means have been taken to preserve a ad utilise the fruits of the wja% by the foiTnatibn of military settlements on the conquered lands, and any feeling ot sentiment which we may have iv favor of the former proprietors must giv 3 way to the obvious desirability of -extending British colonisation southward ovi?r the beautiful forests and vailey.s oX the Northern Island. It is a little hard, perhaps, that the brave Wa'katos should suffer the chief penally of the insurrection, but it is; hardly worth our while to protract the war morely that ! we may include tho other tribes m their punishment. At the same time, ! the work of subjugation ca,n scarcely be said to be completed so loag as any ■considerably body of Maoris ia able to keep the field in defiance -of British authority. It is absolutely necessary tor both the European and ihe Maori that the whole island should be brought *mder the Queen's dominion. ; and the Ministry of Messrs. Whittaker and Fox is clearly right in insisting that no terms shall be made with tho Maories so long as any of the tribes remain in open rebellion. A perfect subjugation o£ the entire race of Maories is the only guarantee for the lastirss; peace oi' New Zealand ; and the more effectually the work is done now, the more bloodless will our path bo in future. There is T3ot room in the island for a double i authorits, but there is ample field for the Maories as we'll as for the Europeans, to live peacefully -together as one race and one people. It would be a great calamity if the Maori race, with all its rare and high qualities, were to porishaltogether; and the best chance of its preservation and of its ultimate amalgamation with our own people, lies in a con quest so decided . and thorough as to leave no further question of rivalry between the two races.