THE WEST COAST CAMPAIGN.

West Coast Times, Issue 130, 16 February 1866, Page 3

THE WEST COAST CAMPAIGN.

(From tho Wellington Independent, Fob. 8.)

Last Sunday General Chute had reached Waingongbro, on his return march from Taranaki. Our information of his progress, tliough scanty, speaks of continued success following his energetic tactics. The much talked ofstronghold at Warea was sought out and occupied on the Ist instant. It was unfortified — for why should the Maoris fortify an almost inaccessible inland position, seeing that they have had undistuibed" possession of the country for j'ears, with free license to shoot every man who strayed a few yards beyond our camp. Our loss was one man killed and four or five wounded, but that of the rebels was, as usual, unknown ; there were only four bodies found.

Information has been circulated amongst the neighbouring Natives, giving a day or two to the rebels to come in. It rests entirely with themselves to say whether they do or do not propose giving the General a little more work to do. They must be pretty certain by this time that his offers oi clemency are not those of v man who is obliged to make a virtue of necessity. They know well enough now that the General's willingness to receive their submission is not an excuse for his incapacity to hunt them out aud punish them. Te Ua, the Ilau Ilau high priest appears to have submitted to the Native Contingent, and is to be sent down to head-quarters. This is tho man v#ho a year ago wrote tho celebrated song, ascribing the lizard-like sea coast march of General Cameron to his incantations ; but now both his own glory has departed aud lohabod is written on the hopes and aspirations of his deluded followers. All their known strongholds have during tho past four weeks been taken and demolished, their dwellings, pas, and cultivations burnt and uprooted, their horses and cattle driven into camp, and not fewer than two hundred of themselves killed and wounded.

All honor to General Chute and tho troops whom he has so successfully fired with his own determiued spirit. They have in four weeks redeemed the character of the service, aud shown us what might have been accomplished had the spirit of this better soldier than "the best soldier Lord Clyde ever knew" been earlier evoked. In a few more days his return to Wanganui will have nominally finished the campaign, though it will depend much upon the pluck of the officers commanding the scattered posts as to" whether the war is to be entirely finished this summer. If for tho next few weeks they emulate tho General in seeking out the whereabouts of stray parties of rebels, and chastise them in person and property, we shall hear little of them afterwards.

But while we render most cheerfully the honor due to the General and his troops, wo must not for a moment forget that the Civilian Hangers aud Friendly natives havo formed an equally active aud meritorious' portion of the field force — on the West as on the East* Const the Colonial arm has shown itself one on which wo need not be afraid at any time to lean. Nor ought wo to omit tho obligation the colony is under to Dr Foatherstono for thp self-saoFiflpo, ho Jiaa mad.o, nj ho ]m»

ever been willing to make, for its benofit. Although thoroughly knocked up by the bush march to Taranaki, and desirous of tho rest which the steamer afforded' for returning, ho readily gave way to the request that he should continue in chargo of tho Contingent during its homeward progress to Wanganui. It has been felt from tho commencement of tho campaign that the conduct of the Nativo Contingent would do much to make or mar its success — that it has tended so much to make that success what it has been, is owing in a very largo degree to Dr Featlierstone's presence and influence. His return to Wellington may bo looked for daily, tho forces having reached Waingongoro last Sunday, as already stated.