MAORI WAR.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 403, 14 November 1868, Page 6

MAORI WAR.

Br telegraphic correspondence, which we published yesterday in an extra edition, and which we re-publish today in another column, we have the sad news of one of the moat cruel and complete massacres that have ever occurred in the civilized history of New Zealand. In the dead of night, the unarmed, unoffending, and wholly unsuspecting settlers of Poverty Bay were aroused by a stealthy incursion of the Maoris, and, with lire and sword, were " done to death," or driven to the open bush, some to perish, others to escape to tell the tale. The narrative, even in the bare form of a telegram, is one which cannot fail to provoke strong comment, and still stronger fecliugs, throughout the colony, and, as well, throughout England itself, for even in the Indian Mutiny there were few episodes so shocking as this savage massacre in Poverty Bay. That it will also provoke to action—to measures extreme, extensive, and, as we might say, extermiuative—cannot be doubted. Public opinion has halted between the two policies which were advocated, of allowing the Chatham [aland prisoners to go quietly to their homes, or of following thcin up with the sword ; but there is now no question of policy. Thequestionis not one of attack but of defence. It is possible that within a few weeks the whole population of Mawke's Bay will be called upon to fight, not so much for their country as for their lives. And should it subsequently come to be a question of attack, it must be an attack more serious in intent and character than any attack that has yet been made in the name of Colonial or Imperial war. The present position of the colony is one, however, which makes oven the question of defence, not to speak of attack, one of very great moment. It is too apparent, from the latest accounts which we have from Wanganui, that not only was the last engagement a fell disaster, but that even further disaster is imminent in the enforced evacuation of Patea and. other places of defence ; and, with the limited force at our command, the protection of both sides of the country, at one and the same time, and under such circumstances as the present, seems almost impossible of achievement. Verily, Sir George Bowen, in succeeding to the Governorship, has not found his lines to fall in pleasant places. Let.it be hoped that, without the fate of Governor Eyre, he may be a 8 truly found to be a man thoroughly equal to the occasion.