The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-19 00:00:00

-----..------"--"------LMER, Q•. ana MX.— dealings with us to be iusolent, turbulent, and en-
SIR .Ry oie Ud
eN
cD E
rLpLa r P
L.
ANapoleon—Fashionable Litchi- ctc aching. We have met such conduct alternately
Lg
ence—in FUN this week. One Penny. with vacillation and with injustice, or rather with
___.----------
mismanagement. ln dealing with se.ch tribes care
should be taken not to leave room for future dis•
turbances, as in the case of the disE aited block of
land. A strip of territory which inter vened between
Taitamara Block and the settlement was allowed to
be claimed by the natives, whereas whatever flaw
existed in the earlier transaction, when it had once
become a subject of warfare, and the IF,nd had been
conquered and reconquered, the inter vening space
should have been also occupied, if it was intended
to avoid further contentions. We are, of course,
bound to act upon our principles, whatever construc-
tion may be put on them, but it should never be
forgotten that savage tribes are apt to mistake hesi-
tation for weakness, of which they are never slow
to take advantage. If, therefore, alas hope to keep
them at a distance, and at once to preserve the in-
terests of our colony, and to spare the lives of the
Maories, we should take care that they respect our
rights and fear our anger. It is a. most mistaken
kindness to shrink from taking decisive measures
at the outset of the strife, since by
unwise vacilla-
tion and a timid and hesitating policy, outbreaks
stronggrowsuffered
be the case in the present instance. Sir
into formidable wars. Such happily will not
GEORGE GREY, although one writer accuses
him of having 6, procrastinated, conciliated,
and yielded until he had exhausted at once the
natience of the colonists and his own," is now
adopting measures whose vigour and promptitude
will, we may hope, speedily produce considerable
effect. Under the able leadership of General
CAMERON, an attack has been planned on the native
s, pah," or foil, which has been completely success-
ful. The Maories have been dislodged from their
stronghold, many of them killed, and the colonists
' have plucked up hope and courage under the pro-
I mising aspect of affairs. The numbers of the con-
' tending parties and the lists of the killed and
' wounded appear strangely small after the whole-
' sale slaughter of which we are continually hearing.
' An encounter in which less than a thousand men
' are engaged on both sides, and the deaths are
' reckoned at four on the one side and twenty-four
' on the other, does not appear at first sight to have
' been of very formidable dimensions, and it seems
strange that the colonists should attach so much
importance to it. On further inquiry, however,
we shall find that the attendant circumstances added
very greatly to its consequence. It was the first
step taken in the actual warfare, and the natives
were completely outwitted. For once our men
succeeded in surprising them in their encamp-
ment, in spite of their keen watchfulness, their
quick wit, and the assistance of professed friends
of the colonists who haunt our quarters and pick up
what information they can. Means were taken to
elude the vigilance of such observers by mislead-
ing them as to our movements. Instead of
arriving at the native encampment after
much toil and labour to find the enemy
decamped, General CAMERON and his men were
able to take them by surprise ; and exactly one day
month after the commission of the yet unpunished
crime the Maories were taught a well-merited les-
son, and defeated on their own ground. It was
necessary to surprise them, in order to prevent their
hasty retreat, it was also indispensable to take a
sufficient body of men to ensure the assaulters
against all risks. These seemingly incompatible
conditions have been successfully secured, and the
position in which the enemy had so strongly en-
trenched themselves has been wrested from their
grasp. The plan of the works constructed by these
natives was by no means despicable. Their party
assumed a position at the foot of a hill, with a river
in front, and honey-combed the ground around them
with zigzag rifle pits. The storming parry was
divided into two divisions, one of which went along
the road up the cliff from the beach, protected by
the guns of the Eclipse; the other ascending the
river,:sshich they crossed there, rushing on the rifle
pits. The plan, which had been skilfully laid down,
was boldly carried out, and the result has infused
fresh spirit into the colonists. As a proof of the
danger and difficulty attending this species of war_
fare, we are told that when the encounter was stip_
posed to be over, a party of men were standing
carelessly over a pit in the ground that had been
covered by a hurdle, when a Maori from beneath
endeavoured to stab one of them. On further exa-
mination six natives were found concealed in the
pit, all of whom refased to yield, and consequently
fell in the struggle. , The strife was short and sharp
for an hour—after the first attack all was quiet.
The natives were pursued by a detachment of
skirmishers who, it is said, killed many of them, a
fact which must be taken into account in reckoning
the enemy's losses. A general enthusiasm animates
the colony. Volunteers are forthcoming in any
number that may be required, and the regular and
irregular forces act most harmoniously in unison.
We trust that the authorities wilt keep up the
spirit in which they have begun, and endeavour to
bring matters to a speedy close; for however much
they may deplore the bloodshed and expenditure
inseparable from a war, it is manifest that neither
life nor property Was secure under the old
regime. Regiments are being summoned from
Australia, and an ironclad turret gunboat of light
draught is also to be forwarded from that country.
It is satisfactory to find that notwithstanding these
unhappy dissensions the fortunes of the colony are
thriving, and,that it is better able to contribute its
share of the demands of the war, both in men mad
money than it was two or three years since. The
gold fields of Otago have greatly expedited the do.
velopment of its fortunes; and,as the Auckland and
Nelson gold fields continue to improve European
enterprise is not likely to suffer itself to be checked
by Maori caprice or assumption. An interesting
feature in the intelligence is the announcement of
an intercolonial exhibition which it is proposed to
hold at Otago in January next. It is to be open to
all branches of colonial ndustry, and to such
articles of British or other origin as are likely to
benefit the colony. This is a sensible and spirited
proceeding, and speaks well for the prospects of
New Zea'and. We sincerely trust that the colonists
may be able to enjoy the gathering in peace and
comfort, and that these vexatious and frequent con-
tentions with their unruly and dangerous neigh-
hours may
long before that time be set finally at
i rest.

NEIV THE A:111E-11.0 Sr AL, AD ELPHI.-
Sole Pronriotor and Manao.o.r, M 7. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, THE IRISH TIGER.
After which, at Eigh OR,clk, a new drama, entitled VIE
HAUNTED MAN ; T ~E GHOST'S BARGAIN, in
which will be exhibited Professor Pepper's adaptat!on of
'he Great Spectral Illusion. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips,
efton. C. J. Smith; Mrs. Alfred Mellon and Miss H. Simms.
Followed by anew Burlesque, entitled ILL-T RE ATED
IL TROvATORE. Messrs. Toole. P. Bedford, R. Phillips,
14:13nrne, C. J. Smith, Romer ; the Sisters Nelson, Carry and
Sara, and Miss K. Kelly.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, HIS FIRST CHAMPAGNE. Mr.
Leigh Murray.
Followed by (27th time) THE MOTTO, "FA ALL
THERE." Messrs. Honey, Turner. E. Danvers, Collier,
Clifton; Mesdames Ada Swanborough, F. Josephs, Maria
bimpson, Wallace, and Jenny White.
To conclude with TURN 11131 our. Mr. Turner, Miss
Thorne,

It is much to be regretted that more caro is
not taken with
regardnistotratthioensawlehoefnpopiusorcnhsa,
saendd
also their due admi.
Last week there were two cases of a very distress-
ing nature, in which 1-
wee were lost through
sheer carelessness and
ignorance. One victim
was a lady at Liverpool, who sent to a chemist
for a blue pill and a black draught. Instead of,
the latter mixture the chemist sent laudanum.
Tho servant who procured the medicine stated
that the shop was all in confusion • , owing to some
alterations going on. The lady observed that the
draught tasted very peculiar, but no notice was
taken of the circumstance. Nothing unusual was
discovered until the next evening, when all as-
sistance was unavailing, and she expired. In the
first place, during any unusual arrangement of a