ARRIVAL OF THE "AIREDALE."

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 313, 19 October 1860, Page 5 (Supplement)

ARRIVAL OF THE "AIREDALE."

news from taranaki to

OCTOBER 8.

COLONIST OFFICE,

Friday, 5 p.m.

The Airedale" arrived this afternoon, with the provincial mails. The news from the seat of war appears to be of that disheartening character, to which we have now become accustomed. A despatch from the Home Government, in reply to the application for troops, is also of the most chilling not to say heartless character, merely promising, instead of three or fonr thousand men, one regiment to relieve the 65th, which latter is to remain for a time if required; and following this up by a long dissertation on the share of responsibility devolving upon the colonists. "We take the following from the " Lyfctelton Times" of the 17 th :~ SHAMEFUL RETREAT OF THE TROOPS! The s.s. "Airedale" arrived in this harbour on Monday night, about 7 o'clock, bringing intelligence from Auckland up to the 3rd, Taranaki to the Bth, Nelson to the 11th, and Wellington to the 14th instant. We extract the following from the Wellington Independent of Oct. 13: — "All was quiet at Auckland when the 'Airedale' left Manukau on the 6th instant. There had been several fresh military expeditions at Taranaki, but without any result. On the 29th ult., Colonel Leslie, with 500 men of the 40th Regiment, were engaged filling in the rifle pits of the pahs destroyed by General Pratt's expedition on the 11th ult., when they were attacked by the natives. The soldiers ' were fired npon first at long range, and, finding it led to no return, (the strictest order having been given that no man should fire without'an order from the Colonel,) the natives came out of cover, and hunted the retreating troops over two miles of open country ; the rear-guard, at last exasperated to madness at seeing their comrades fall, and to save themselves (the natives being within a hundred yards), wheeled about and fired in defiance of their commander." We understand that the soldiers had their grog stopped for this act of insubordination, and were told that they would have to pay for the ammunition they had expended. We know not how to comment on this shameful retreat of the troops, the particulars of which are so indignantly described by our correspondent. The last arrivals from Auckland brought the public statement of the Attorney-General in the Upper House, that General Pratt was perfectly unfettered—that he had carte blanche to follow up the war. If this statement of the Government is correct (for they have made so many statements which have been belied bp the facts, that we know not what to believe), what are we to think of the result. General Pratt, though not fettered himself, must have given instructions to Colonel Leslie, or otherwise he, as an experienced Indian officer, would never have sanctioned such a dastardly retreat. Whether the instructions to General Pratt to form Volunteer Companies for bush service, which an Auckland correspondent, writing [on the 30th of last month, assures us the Governor had determined to issue, had reached Taranaki we do not know, possibly not; but if they had, and General Pra'tt fetters his officers in this way; we forebode the worst for the future conduct of the war under such a commander. The men, as proved by their recent conduct, are no cowards, and would follow their officers any where they choose to lead them. When the steamer left, Major Nelson was reported to have made an attack at Waitara. Would that he were in the chief command!