THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 60, 18 October 1864, Page 3

THE WAR IN THE NORTH.

(From t&e Southlajjd Times, Sept. 27.) "What is being done in the North ? " is a question asked every day, but to which no satisfactory answer can be returned: Since the surrender at Taiiranga,- there has been no fighting whatever. At short intervals small bodies of natives have come in, delivered up their arms, and declared themselves submissive to the Queen's authority; ; Others^ again, are known to.be engaged inreultivating the ground, but nowhere, so far as we are aware, in the Province of Auckland, are any of the natives, actually inarms. Throughout the Province of Auckland the^ Maoris may be looked upon as and never again likely.to measure their strength with the" -Europeans. The lesson they have, received . has been a ■very severe one, and, the task of ruling them for the -future: -will. be s proportionately easier. The next part of th|& programme wtich ministers had- to carry- out to ensure tranquillity and: safety^ was/the laying out of sites ..suitable : for the pror posed military settlements, : and the solcier-cblonißts on their land. , This was ■'"'set"/ab6 : u r t, arid'. has-- 'been: partially ■ ac^ompiisiied. The allotments , ha^p;b^en au^eyed^andya portion .of -the Volunteers Jiithertoi serving, against/the -Maoris Mve already explianged the &?■ the

3pade. They have met with no opposition, although at first, it seems, some threats were made use of towards the surveyora. It is proposed to introduce a large number of settlers from England, to whom it- is intended to allot land on ■similar, conditions to those by which the military settlers already enrolled hold, or are to hold, theirs ; but it appears to us that Government, or its agents, has behaved very badly in this matter to intending emigrants. The terms have not been fairly stated to them, and the hardships and danger have been very much under-rated. Eour hundred and sixty-nine souls are already on their way to Auckland, and others are soon to follow. So far, then, the government has carried out its scheme for mastering the native difficulty. In Auckland, the enemy is beaten and the semi-military settlement of the Province begun, and if Auckland embraced the whole of the Northern Island, we might congratulate the Ministry on the success of their policy 5 but, unfortunately, we have but to cast a glance towards Taranaki, and the pleasant dream that the war is over is at once dispelled. Not only are the Taranald natives in rebellion, but the white settlers are, as it were, in a chrome state of siege ; and both the so-called Maori King and his general are at large in the Province. The settlement, once one of the most prosperous little places in New Zealand, is all but destroyed. Houses and farm buildings burnt, fences torn down, and the cattle, wh'en not taken by the savages, left to wander at will. Th epicture cannot be painted in too gloomy colors. Want and misery, and, in too many cases, a violent death, have overtaken the Taranalci settler. Some have left the Province for ever, seeing no prospect that its future would be any brighter than its past, and others are dragging out a miserable existence, dependent often on the assistance of more wealthy friends, unable to go on to their own land ; unable to obtain work from others ; and unwilling, and perhaps not having the means to leave a spot where at one time they possessed comfortable homesteads, and flourishing farms. As it exists at the present moment, Taranalci is ruined, and it might reasonably have been expected that no time would be lostin taking active steps for inflicting such a punishment on the Maoris as should render them at once and for ever peaceable neighbours. That course has not been pursued. Ever since the great fight at Tauranga, the troops have been standing at ease, and the only signs of life amongst tbe military, have been displayed, as we above related, in the case of the volunteer military settlers. Nor has any attempt been made to ascertain the general feeling of the natives by calling a conference, a proposition which was mooted some time since in one or two quarters. The only time that Sir George Geey met any of the Maoris was after the fight at Tauranga, and the lMative3 assembled were, to all intents and purposes, prisoners of war. But it might have been worth while to find out what effect the treatment they experienced has had on those still in rebellion. The Maoris, no doubt, are not without sources of information as to the doings of the Government ; they are probably aware by this time of the terms accorded to the Tauranga men; but they cannot possibly know what terms would be offered to themselves, were they to give up the contest and come under the law. It was in order to place the terms of peace on an nnmistakeable footing that we, in common with others, advocated convening a meeting, to which all the chiefs should be invited, and where the Governor Avould have an opportunity of addressing the natives. But, as yet, there is no sign of activity. There is no fighting in Auckland ; a very few troops are being removed to Taranaki ; and there seems to be no likelihood that there will be a conference. TVe are compelled to look at the present state of affairs in the North as very unsatisfactory ; not because Ministers have failed in what they have attempted, but because their energy, their power of action, seems to have deserted them at the moment of victory. Inferring, as we are entitled to do, that negotiations are not being carried on with the Maoris of the Province of Taranaki, the present lull in hostilities is much to be regretted for several reasons. In the first place the Taranakis are the most treacherous and blood-thirsty amongst the numerous tribes we have hitherto come in contact with ; they have inflicted more injury on the settlers than other tribes ; and they have received no punishment for their offences. "What must be their opinion of the boasted power and prowess of the Pakeha, when he permits one of his choicest settlements to remain in the hands of his enemies, and the murderers of his fellow-colonists to escape altogether without the merited retribution of their crimes. We are sure that eventually that retribution will be awarded, but it may be lesa effective, and will cost more the longer it is delayed. We have hitherto spoken as though no diminution in the strength of the military in the Colony was in contemplation — as though we might at any time recommence the struggle with a force of 10,000 troops thoroughly disciplined and inured to bush warfare. But the truth is very different ; within a short time the great body of the regular troops is to leave the colony. The subject is pressed on Sir George Geey by the Secretary of State for Colonies in every mail that reaches New Zealand. By some means or other Mr. Cardweli. has made up his mind that the war -might and should be brought to a termination almost immediately, and if not. the colonists will have to bear the whole burden of the expenditure themselves; Is it hot strange, then, that the settlement of the Maori question in Taranaki is delayed for; an, hour ?, \ We j cannot itliink: that the fault rests with General Cameechs", ; but are inclined to lo6£".!for--"a; solution/of the; problem Jo the ahte^lepteH o£ Sir^; Geqe^ (^ex m.Ma -de(dings&wi^ the fact thaitj wider the power* 'njbentiy

given, him from home, the .movements of the troops, and the actions of his responsible Ministers, are altogether under his control. It is not unlikely that Sir Geoege GI-eey would be glad to patch up a peace at any price, or to allow the war to die out of itself, things" again reverting to their old footing. So long as he could leave his Government with the prestige of having settled the Maori question, he would care but little whether the future bore testimony to his sagacity or not. There is yet time for a brisk "campaign during the summer months, and unless obstacles are thrown in the way of Genpral Cameeon, we are greatly mistaken if he does not take advantage of his opportunity. Anything is better than the present uncertainty, which, besides its injurious effects out here, is of necessity doing great damage to the credit of the Colony at home.