The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-17 00:00:00

Commencing at Eight.

THEATRE ROYAL HAY MARKET.—
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, FINESSE; or, Spy and i'ounter Spy:
Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Buckstone, Chippendale, Howe, W.
Farren, Braid, and Gordon ; Mrs. Dowton, Miss L. Angel,
Mrs. Alfred Wigan, 3liss Wright, &c.
After which, CHARLES THE TWELFTH : Messrs. A
Wigan, Buckstone, Compton, Howe, and Miss L Keeley.
Concluding with THE GALLICIAN FETE.

isolated and defenceless settlers. The present aspect
of affairs is certainly not encouraging, for the atti-
tude of the natives is calculated to give rise to grave
uneasiness. There is reason to fear a general up-
rising of the tribes, and the fact of more than seven
thousand of such crafty and relentless enemies hav-
ing arms in their hands, is sufficient of itself to
excite alarm. Their leaders have been known to
declare their intention to " slay and spare not,"
armed and unarmed alike, and when once these sav-
age tribes commence hostilities there is not much hope
of conciliation or compromise. Stimulated by
native prophet and encouraged by therds them
hesitatingbythe and
timid policy hitherto pursued towards
gEautrhoperei
na au
allt ht
ho re iitri efse,r tehe
se
fAelra oerin ee s sgereamn
dt o have
se
h e
mbeen
gathering all their forces for one grand scheme of
th
ha
ev e u
nb ed ei
sup
us
tue rd-
extermitnhaeti
prised, settlers ers Aucklandmu
murdered, ed, and was to
supremacy of the Maories secured once and for ever.
Sufficient indications of their temper have been
themurderof thete n
settlers at
andat Druirny,thinte
shhoewn in
subsequent assault on the
many savage and unprovoked murders committed
when the victims were quietly labouring in their
own fields. The colonists are fully alive to the
danger, and so at length aro the authorities. The
most active steps are being vigorously taken, and the
greatest enthusiasm and unanimity prevail. The
defence of Auckland has been very wisely entrusted
to the second class militia and volunteer corps, who
have been hurriedly called out, and after a few days'
drill placed on the active service list. The first
rank of militia and volunteers are reckoned among
the regular forces, and the whole of the assistance
thus rendered by the province of Auckland alone
amounts to over 4,000 men. It cannot, therefore,
be said that the colonists in this instance have left
the task of defence to the Home Government, On
the contrary, the greatest promptitude and zeal
have been manifested. The townspeople and the
out•settlers alike left their employments at the first
summons, and large numbers joined the volunteer
corps at the very first rumour of danger. Complete
confidence is placed by all parties in the General
appointed to the chief command, and the acts of
the authorities appear to have been well received
by the people. There was one exception which
does not much surprise us. The Government hav-
ing consented to place arms and ammunition in the
hands of a party of natives professing friendship
were forced to retract their gift by the discontent
of the populace, the naval brigade who were to
have acted in concert with these men refusing to
proceed on the expedition with them if they were
armed. Such conduct may appear to us strange
and disorderly, but we must remember that the
lives and fortunes of the colonists are in the scale,
and they have had too much cause to distrust the
good faith of the Maories to be influenced by the
desire for conciliation generally felt by the Govern-
ment. Still, notwithstanding the eager spirit of
the colonists, the energy of the Government, and
the ability of General CAMERON, the great want
remains. The Europeans are totally insufficient in
numbers to cope with the Maories, and conse

queatly the war will be protracted through a long
course of tedious, harassing, and cowardly assaults
unless put down at once with the strong hand.
However wise and just it may be to regard the
rights of the natives, to pity their ignorance and
to attempt to win them over by kind and concilia-
tory measures at the first establishment of a settle-
ment, that day has long gone past with the
Maories. Hesitation they interpret into fear, re-

luctance to engage in hostilities appears to them a
sure indication of want of po iver, while their
treachery and cruelty have been too painfully evi-
denced for any reliance to ba placed on their pro-
fessions of friendship and goodwill. There can be
no doubt that too much leniency has been shown
to them by our governors, and the colonists are
now reaping the fruits of that mistaken policy.
We have made the velvet glove so soft that the
iron hand could no longer be felt inside it, and the

deluded natives now probably think that the exter-
mination of a British colony is a task easily accom-

plished. This error they are likely to be convinced of
by the settlers themselves, and by their brother colo

nists. Australia, who is never lacking in public

spirit, has come valiantly to the rescue. The latest
intelligence from Melbourne tells us that, at the

meeting of the Assembly, the Government had an-

nonnced their intention of despatching the whole of
their troops, with the trifling exception of six drill

instructors of artillery, at once to New Zealand.

This resolution excited the unanimous approval of

the press and the public, and the Australians have

also supplied the New Zealanders liberally with

arms, ammunition, and stores. Added to these

important services, a large body of volunteers is

likely to be raised in New South Wales—an assist-

ance no less valuable than the Armstrong guns,
which the generous sister colonies have already de-

spatched to their imperilled neighbours. This is
the epi►it in which the danger should be met, and
the New Zealanders have done wisely in appealing
to such powerful and open-handed friends. The

native minister of New Zealand has, we learn

visited New South Wales for the purpose of en

listing
help, and an English officer, when the mail
left, was in Melbourne, for the purpose of raising
1,000 men there. Our readers will remember that

we suggested this resource some time back, and we

are not surprised that the colonial authorities should
have arrived at the same conclusion. It is reported
that S:r GEORGE GREY has appealed most urgently
to Sir HENRY BARELY for help, telling
him, at the
same time, that he had already called out for active
service, in the disturbed provinces, every male be-
tween 16 and 40 years of age, while many over 50
years were employed in the towns. There is, in
fact, unfortunately no doubt of the urgency of the
crisis, and the best we can hope is, that the Maories
maybe read a severe lesson with as little delay as
possible, and the future safety of the settlements be
thus effectually secured.
If sk"

.ill in putting;.e most favourable construc-
tion upon actions
a r
better
c i r,
, then
' anserinvia
a read • .
appearnwny ay
awkward
mcitatuse y Wit in explaining
Si ROUN ELL
PALMER has certaienaull:
—(knee, e_
Sir
eke et
othe h worsepresents
curious to notice in
a double view of
done good •
his address
vernment, of which he is an
port. One thing is ornament
___,
ao u a sup-
notice p -
to the electors, that he
American affairs, or what
The public or general viewlni be called so.
almostgthhtatv._ .
he gave is
different from the official aspect. Tn b very
speech is distinguished by that eases his
mos:ler:thin, which
is his chief characteristic. There is much
that
really expresses the state of public opinion in many
parts of his address. For instance, when he
says
that " nobody can help feeling some sympathy
for
men who maintain a gallant contest against great
odds." Thence he correctly explained that the
South had a large share of public sympathy. When
Sir RoUNDELL PALMER maintained that those who
were in favour of the independence of the South
might yet consistently declare themselves in favour
of the abolition of slavery, he gave utterance to
wise and sound statements, There is nothing so
absurd in the way of argument, or so unfair in the
11743' of retort, as to assert flit those who have in
any Way advocated the cause of the South, or as-
sill" it in its efforts for ii:d :pendence, ere the '
up'
that
up-
holders of ~,' _
eipies
eavery,
hould rule and thus derogate from the prin-
tZe actions of 138.1ishillent ,