CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 188, 26 April 1860, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle. Wanganui, April Sir, —War has at last broken out between the two races, and a war that will probably last until the maories are entirely subdued, and made to feel that we are as much their superior in strength, as in civilization. % And all who take an impartial view of the question must own, that they have brought this evil on themselves, and richly deserve to be chastised. That if government are at all to blame it is because they have been too iudulgent, and consequently spoiled the maories. I These people can complain of nothing; : not an acre of land has ever been wrested from them ; the government have patiently [waited until it suited their will and pleasure | to sell their lands, and although tbo progress

of the colony has been much retarded be- ' cause government were unable to obtain land .fast enough for the requirements of its. settlers, yet they have rather allowed the settlers to suffer, than press the natives to parr, with lands that were useless to them, and which they could not themselves occupy. They have in various parts of the island had free schools and hospitals provided for them, nor were they at onee compelled to conform to our laws, but by a patient forbearance on the part of the resident magistrates, they have been gradually brought to understand,

and partially to obey, our laws. And to what do they attribute all this forbearance, and indulgence ? If you ask the majority they will tell you that it is to a conciliating policy on our part, prompted by our fear of them ; gratitude they have none.; they do not know the feeling ; they have no word to express it in their language. 7’lie Wairau massacre, and the forbearance used by Governor Grey during the last war have induced. them to believe that we fear them, and the lesson, will have to be a severe one that alters their conceit ; to shew this, they attributed their defeat and losses at Waireka on the 28th ult., to their having broken Bob E. Itangi’s tapu, ’and not to

our superiority. Long and patiently Governor Brown put. up with the want of land to satisfy the demands of the New Plymouth settlers. At last Te Teira sold his portion of at Waitara, and in consequence of Mr. W in. Kingi’s obstinate and armed opposition to th Government’s taking possession of the land thus sold, Governor Brown was compelled to go to war, and now he seems determined to show them what war is. His first step acting

meanwhile on the defensive, has been to send for large reinforcements, and when he obtains these he will act on the aggressive. This policy is much opproved of at the seat ot war. And all the settlers who see the bad effects of the half-measures Governor Grey had to adopt (for want of a sufficient force at his command) will agree with the Taranaki settlers in approving of this governor's policy. And if it is approved of by us I > think we have now good reason for decidedly and publicly showing our approval. It is said that Bishop Selwyn, and Archdeacon Hadfield have so far forgotten their duty to His Excellency (as the Queen’s re-

presentative), as to be actually influencing the natives against him, and that because Bishop Selwyn cannot lead this Governor by the nose in native affairs they are using their. i influence to get him recalled. These men? are too unpopular among the settlers to have any influence with them—but their influence iis great among tbo maories. The maories .throughout the island are at present in a very ’ exciteable state. Those friendly are very i well, and no doubt some have stuck well to ' us, but still they are fonder of themselves ■ than of the pakeha ; there is secret sympathy for ’William King, that they do not show, and they are ready enough to think that ho is in the right and Governor Brown is in the wrong, without being told so by such influential men as the Bishop and Archdeacon. Hadfield. This conduct on the part of thesemen may bo defended by some under thocloak of mistaken zeal or duty, but the consequences will be that they will cause man} 1 ’ maories tc turn against us that would otherwise remain our friends or stand neutral.

In war time-we must act with decision, and promptly. It appears to me Mr. Editor that we ought to-hold a meeting to take this subject into consideration; we ought to show the natives that the settlers agree with the Governor and feel no sympathy with William King. 7’he result of the meeting could be published in maori, and circulated amoug tho natives. I do not mean that Wanganui alone should meet, but let us set the example, and there is no doubt of other settlements doing the same. If our settlers generally approve of the Governor’s policy, we could at the same time get up a memorial to the home government praying that our Governor may be well supported with supplies to carry out bis plails. All this published in

maori and circulated would help to counteract the influence of these two missionaries,, would also show Governor Brown that we are willing to assist them, and thus give him more confidence. It might also be the means, of his being better supported by tho home government. Earnestly hoping that our settlers will lose no time in .taking step 3 to counteract the effects of Bishop Selwyn’s and Archdeacon Hadfield’s influence with the natives, and at the same time showing, that toe have not forgotten our duty to the representative of our Queen, by assisting 1 him to carry out his, policy, I remain, Yours, &c., P. G. Wilson.

To the Editor of the Wanganui Chronicle. April 23, 1860. Sir, —From all I have seen and heard, the military, in their encounters with the natives,, have almost invariably not had the best of it.. The reason is, obviously, their perseverancein military stiffness, instead of adapting their discipline to native tactics. Therefore I would suggest, that in all future engagements with the native.?, a soldier and a militiaman be made one file, one occupying the front and the other the rear rank; aud so they would advance together or alternately, according to the nature of the ground or the disposition of the enemy they had to contend with. 'The soldier could theu give his experience in judging distance, taking advantage of cover, &c.—-all which he has boon taught; the militiaman, on the other hand, coal! vr&.rtt v

his friend tub soldier of every nook, hole, and corner capable of concealing an ambush. The officers would act similarly, according to their position. This would lead to fraternal feeling, and an unostentatious emulation between the arms. In this way the soldiers may enter any bush (although it swarms with hostile natives), and traverse it within a circle of thirty miles from the centre of any settled district—-every gully, watercourse, rock, and even particular tree in which is known to the militiaman. As an old military man, and injustice to the 65th, I cannot help remarking, that it will bear comparison with any regiment in her Majesty’s service for coolness and courage. It would throw rut its skirmishers in presence of an enemy—deploy into line/under the most deadly fire from artillery—-during the critical juncture of a deployment receive an unexpected charge of cavalry---- call in its skirmishers — advance and charge—reform half, quarter distance or close column—and so proceed to act wherever its services might be further required on the field. But all this wont do with the natives. Tkere is no use in calling on them, in the name of military science—“ Come out of the bush and fight tis in fair play.” They •went do it—being slow creatures to understand what does not answer them, or the nature of the country, the exclusive sovereignty of which they are apparently fighting for. In conclusion, in respect to the aspersion thrown on the commanding officer for withdrawing his soldiers on the evening of the notion fought at Waireka, strange as his conduct may and does appear to civilians, he could not have done otherwise, except at the risk of his military reputation, and commission perhaps. There is not a braver, and at the same time a more humane officer iu the service. 'I here must be something done by the authorities to loosen the strict formula of military discipline in tlj B field, or the soldier will coutinue fit for little else than keeping garrison, and remain tfie standing butt of the natives.

I am, tdr, your obdt. servant, A Settler in the Bush. AUCKLAND. The Committee of the Auckland Young jVlen’s Christian Association have great pleasure in stating that the sum of twenty guineas has been placed at their disposal by a friend of the Society, for the best essay on “ The Moral Welfare of New Zealand,” to. which they have added five guineas as a prize for the second best essay on the same subject. The following conditions are subjoined for the guidance of the writers 1. essay not to consist of more than 200 pages of manuscript, letter size, 25 lines in a page, to be legibly written on one side oflly,

2. To be competed for by young men residing in New Zealand, not exceeding 36 years of age 3. To be delivered free of expence to the Secretary of le Auckland Young Men’s ■Christian Association, Durham street, on or before June Ist, 1860. 4. The essays to bear a motto and to be accompanied by a sealed latter giving the name and address of the writer, which letter will not be. opened until adjudication is made. 5. The prizes will awarded to the successful competitors at the Soiree of the Association, held, in the month of September, 1860. 6. The successful essay to be the property of the association; rejected essays inay be had on application to the Secretary.

A Reward i-;or good Conduct and long Service.— On Wednesday last Staff Serjeant Atkinson, lately belonging to the 65th Regt. was. presented with a medal and gratuity, for long and meritorious services, in the presence of the detachment 65th Regiment assembled on parade, in the Albert Brx*acks. Ensign Butler, 65th. Regiment, commanding the detachment, in giving him the medal, said Serjeant I feel it a great pleasure, that the duty has devolved upon me of presenting you with this medal, for long service and good conduct, and I regret that, there are so few men present to witness it; more particularly that you did not receive this medal from the hands of the Colonel commanding the regiment. I feel certain that, having well earned this honourable distinction,will be not only a source of pride to yourself but also to. those belonging to ycu. It will be a a sign and a, token to all men, that during your long service, you have not only upheld the well known character of your corps, but also have proved a credit to your profession, the noblest in the world—that of a British soldier.— -New- Zealander, April 7.