The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1868.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 277, 20 June 1868, Page 4

The Westport Times AND CHARLESTON ARGUS. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1868.

Some serious news is to hand from the Patea, and it is quite certain that the Exeter Hall style of tiding over the Maori difficulty will never be effectual. The latest accounts from that quarter tell us of the brutal murder of a militia settler—Sergeant Cahill, in the above district, on Sunday last, and the day after, three men named Clarke, Squires, and Smith fell victims to the accursed, bloodthirsty, and treacherous Hau-Haus. The Maori cannibal propensities seem to have broken out afresh, for poor Smith was not only killed but his extremities were severed

from his body, and the head and trunk carried off to form, in all probability, an adjunct to some of their horribly revolting feasts. Asmay very wellbesupposed, the news has created no little consternation in the Province of Wellington. Colonel M'Donnell went direct to the authorities in Wellington, and demanded a car'e blanche as to dealing with the assassins and sufficient forces to carry out the punishment effectually. Without doubt there is not a man m New Zealand better fitted for the task of vengeance, and this should be full terrible, and complete; so complete, in fact, as to instil terror into savages of the same kind, and afford some degree of security for white mens' lives. It is to be hoped that there will be no shillyshallying in the matter —no pseudo philanthropy in dealing with the Maori difficulty in its present phase. If one white man murder another the law metes out to him the doom of death—if twenty assist in I destroying one life the same fate awaits the whole band. Why then should any distinction be made between Maori and other murderers. If Colonel M'Donnell gets what he requires, we have no fear that the poor fellows will not be fully avenged, if he does not the Government of the colony deserves the outspoken execration of every resident in New Zealand. According to the latest advice it was supposed that the Government would do nothing ; should such an atrocious course be resolved upon, the settlers will without doubt take the matter into thoir own hands, for the people of New Zealand are not likely to wait patiently till their turn comes to be slaughtered. Whether this outbreak is the commencement of a general struggle, or whether it is only the act of an isolated few remains to be seen, but the former is by no means improbable, inasmuch as recently another candidate for Maori sovereignity, a Hau Hau priest named Hakaraia, has put forth his claims and threatens to depose the existing king. He belongs to the extremely violent Maories, and it is quite possible that the above atrocities are only the beginning of the end. If such is the case, the sooner the conflict is commenced the better, and surely the colonists of New Zeaand will not again permit a farcical war ending in nothing, but will exert their utmost strength to put an end at once and for ever to hau-hauism in every shape and form, if the native race, or a portion of them rather, will not accept the olive branch. If the assiuation of innocent and unoffending persons is to be an article of their faith, self-preservation dictates stern measures in self-defence. If it is to be a war of extermination, so let it be and other than that, we fear, will never give New Zealand peace. No effort can be too great, no sacrifice too heavy under the circumstances, and if the white race are not prepared to make both, they might as well abandon the colony altogether, aad resign the fair lands of New Zealand to the cannibal and the savage. We shall wait with no little anxiety for the next news.