The Express.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

HIGH WATIM AT LONDON 11/IDOI

TIM DLY LTrariktagi.Bh. Om— .1111sreeet. 9h. Ves
Te-soakow —Mamba, ft. 61m.....ATharaOsi. 106. no.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JUNG 14.

THE conclusion of the unfortunate war in New
Zealand seems still remote. If all the fight-
ing Maories in the Northern Island were in the
field they would scarcely number 5,000 men, but
as some of the tribes are friendly to the British
Government, and others are not under arms, it is
probable that the enemy to be subdued amounts
only to some 3,000. General CAMERON has not
lees than 10,000 men under his command, including
the local troops. But the difficulties arising from
the nature of the country are so great, and the
skill and courage displayed by the Maories are so
remarkable, that the advantage incident to supe-
riority of numbers is by no means so great
as it seems. Indeed, General Ciliates labours
under precisely the same sort of difficulty as
General Gamer and General SHERMA-•f in
America. The country is thickly wooded,
and without roads. So long as a river affords
the means of penetrating the country and trans-
porting troops and provisions in safety, those who
have river steamers are tolerably sure of success ;
but when it become& necessary to advance by land
the facilities for offering resistance are so great
that a very few armed men can effectually delay
the advance of disciplined troops.
The scene of military operations in New Zea-
land is the most northerly of the three islands.
Auckland is on the north-east coast of that island,
and is tolerably protected, because a few miles
south of the town the waters of the Manukan
Harbour on the west, and those of the Tehmaki
Channel on the east, almost unite, leaving an
isthmus scarcely a mile broad. But south of this
isthmus the island expands, and is covered with
flourishing farms and prosperous settlers. This is
the district which was attacked by the hostile
tribes, and it is to prevent these incursions that
it has become necessary to inflict a severe chastise-
ment on the rebellions Miseries. It was not
thought sufficient to build a series of redoubts
along this frontier, and to treat the Maories after
the manner in which the United States
Government treat the Indians on their
frontier. It was determined to penetrate into
the Maori country. How was this to be done
The country, as we have said, was thickly wooded,
and there were no roads. But there were rivers.
A line drawn from Auckland southward will strike
the Waikato River at about 30 miles south of
that town. This Waikato River takes its rise in
the centre of the island, at Lake Taupe, and after
a course of more than 100 miles turns westward
and falls into the sea. In its coune it receives the
Waipa River, which, flowing nearer the western
coast, joins the Waikato at Ngaruawahia, which is
about 30 miles north of the point where the
Waikato turns westward. Now, the plan of
General CAMERON was to make these rivers, the
Waipa and the Waikato, his roadways, by which
he might penetrate through the forest, and by
occupying a series of positions gradually obtain
possession of the whole country. The invading
column would never be further from the west
coast than 20 or 30 miles, so that the General
would always be able to establish a new base of
supplies, whilst between the Waikato River and
the east coast the parallel River Thames offered the
same means of penetrating the country.
As General CAMERON advances up the river he
finds that the Maories have selected some strong
positions on the bank, which they have carefully
fortified. The main fortification, or pelt, gene-
rally consists of a wide and deep ditch enclosing a
work strengthened by earth and timber. The pah
is often constructed on the edge of a swamp,
whilst the front is protected by rifle pits.
The only mode of taking such a work
is by lauding troops, if possible, in rear
of it, and either working up to the
edge of the ditch in the regular way, or by starving
the garrison, which seldom exceeds 500 men.
Attempts have sometimes been made to carry these
" paha" by assault, but they have repeatedly ended
in failure. By the mail which has just arrived it
seems that Brigadier CAREY attempted to perform
this feat, and suffered a reverse. General CAMERON
having compelled the Maories to evacuate a series
of these positions—Mere-mere, Rangiri, Tauriri,
Ngaruawahia, and Paterangi—had advanced about
20 miles up the Waipa River. Leaving Brigadier
CARET here, he himself marched eastward with
2,000 men to Maungatautari, on the upper waters
of the Waikato River. It seems that one of
General CarzaoN's reasons for adopting this course
was, that the east coast tribes and the Upper
Waikato's, with the Maori King Marrarzaa, and
the leading rebel chief WILLIAM THOMPSON, were
in position at that place on the eastern aids of the
Delta formed by the Waipa and the Waikato rivers.
Brigadier CAREY soon found that the :glories were
erecting defences near his front at a place called
Orakou, and on the 31st of March last he
marched all his available troops to that place.
Having reconnoitered the pah, be discovered it to
be a strongly fortified earthwork, protected by
palisades and a ditch. He determined to storm
it. But no scaling ladders had been provided,
and the men were twice repulsed. " Out of the
" fourteen who led the storming party, only seven
a remained alive. Some vainly attempted to climb
" the parapet, but the gallant fellows were
" either shot or had to desist, seeing how hopeless
" the attempt was." Indeed, it was not until
General CAMERON brought reinforcements, and
the place was approached in the regular way, that

I the Maories would abandon it. Even it this there
seems to have been a strange mismarriage. The
garrison was only 300 strong, but when they
saw themselves surrounded, they " mad* a
" rush en mane from the south aide of
" their works, and dashing through the
" lines of the 40th Regiment, who it
" would appear were taken by surprise, and made
"no effective resistance, escaped through the
" swamp, flying for their lives." However, as
many as 160 were either killed or taken prisoners.
The capture of the pah at Orakou does not seem
to have been without its effect ; for the natives at
Maungatantari evacuated their position and re•
treated into the interior. It is said that General
CarmeoN does not intend to advance further into
the interior this season, for want of transport. If,
therefore, further advance must be made, it must
be deferred for the present. In the meantitoe the
settlers at Hawke's Bay, on the east coast, and
those at Wellington, on the south-west coast,
begin to be alarmed lest the rebellions natives
abandoning the Auckland districts should make
incursions into the southern towns and settle-
ments. The sudden attack made upon Captain
LLOYD and hie reconnoitering party, nearTaranaki,
shows the danger to which small parties are ex-
posed if they venture to go any distance into the
country, and the atrocities committed upon the
dead bodies prove the bitter spirit of hostility
which animates the natives.

It may be that the military authorities find it
essential to march through the northern island.
If this be so, the people of this country must
make up their mind to a prolonged and expensive
contest. Undoubtedly, it is not the policy which
was adopted with the Indian tribes in America ;
or which could be adopted except in an island like
New Zealand.