The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-16 00:00:00

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

The Southern Cross of the Ist of August supplies
the following resume of the war news of the month •
The storm which has so long been brewing has come at
last; we are now face to face with the great native difficulty
in its legitimate form of a war with the tribes of 'Waikato,
the most powerful, nearly the most warlike, and quite the
most disaffected tribes in New Zealand, The course of
events has been very rapid since the first intimation of war,
which had not taken place when cur last summary Was
issued. At that time the only movements indicating the
events so soon to follow were the facts that the Govern-
ment had seen fit to call out the militia for drill, that a
corps of 400 volunteers had been called for by the Govern-
ment from the militia, and that General Cameron was gra-
dually pushing on his forces towards the advanced posts on
the Waikato River. On the 9th of July, however, a decisive
step was taken which warned all the settlers who knew
the native character well, that the time for action had really
arrived at last. The Government, on that day, called on
the natives c Mangere, Pukaki, Ihumatao, Te Ririki,
Patumahoe, Pokeelo, and Tnakkan, living in the Manukau
district and the Weill,:to frontier, immediately to take the
oath of allegiance to her Keiesty the Queen, and to give UP
thelr arms to an officer appoinN by Government for that
purpose.
It is only necessary to explain that there were near-,to 500
fighting men in the villages mentioned in the proclamation
to make it evident how impossible it was for the
Gene-
ral to proceed into the Waikato country with these people
of doubted fidelity, and every means of offence untram-
melled in his rear. The trial was, as was expected, too
severe a test, and the natives with almost one consent re-
fused to give up their arms. Only six took the oath of alle-
giance and laid down their arms. These who refused to do
so, however, did not think good to comply with the other
condition of the proclamation, and instead of leaving the
Auckland district, collected in considerable force from the
different villages, and on Sunday, the 12th, took up a Peel-
tion of considerable strength upon the range of wooded hills
that run towards the Waikato river, at right
angles to it,
I end on the eastern side of the
great south road of this pro-
vince, at a distance of about 23 miles from Auckland'
This threatening position they were allowed to occupy
for some time before the Government thought it necessary
to act as though they were there in defiance of the procla-
mation, and it was not until the native Minister had made
an attempt to bring them to reason, partly by means of
arguments, and partly (unfortunately) by
a slight return to
the old sager and flour policy, and had found them firm in
their obstinacy, that it was determined to oust them from
their position at Kerikeri by force of arms. This duty was
entrusted to Lieut.-Colonel Murray, of the 65th Regi-
ment, who by some mistake failed in doing his work pro-
perly. Some misunderstanding or misman tgement pre-
vented the troops from surrounding the natives at once,
and the only effect of the expedition, which,
had it been
executed as well as it was planned, would have proved a
great success, was to scatter some 450 armed Maories in
small parties through the forest, exasperated at the result,
and smarting for the loss of the great quantities of stores
which they had left behind, and which of course fell into
°he hand of the authorities.
911 the afternoon of the same day the news was brought in
that two bodies had Leen discovered, those of an old man
and a child, who had been brutally tomahstwked while mend-
ing a fen ^e on their farm, about 30 miles from Auckland.
Upon inquiry it appeared that the old gentleman's name
was Meredith ; that he and his son, a boy
12 years of age,
had gone out in the afternoon of the day before to put up
the fence on a distant part of the farm near the forest; that
he had not returned, and that, although search had been
made for him he had not been discovered until, in the morn-
ing, both the bodies were found, partly stripped, close to the
place where tihey had worked. They had evidently been Bur-
pi iced, as no marks of a struggle were apparent, although
they had been kille d by the blows of a tomahawk.
These murders were' taken by the people of this province
as a proof that the natives of Waikato intended to carry on
war in the same savage spirit shown formerly by their
brethren at Taranaki; and it was at once the signal for most
of the settlers in exposed and unprotected places to send in
their wives and children to Auckland. Of course these
statements only apply to the southern frontier of the pro-
vince, as there is perfectquietness towards the north, and no
settlers have been alarmed.
The position of Auckland itself, which is scattered over
a considerable acreage, and is, therefore, difficult to guard
against single natives or small parties bent upon doing mis-
chief—such as firing the town, still chiefly built of wood—
induced the Government to issue notices requiring all
friendly-disposed Menzies that they abide within their
houses from dust in the evening until daybreak. It was
also notified that every Maori found on the streets of the
town after dark would be apprehended.
The decidedly
hostile and even murderous attitude now
exhibited by the natives appears to have decided the Govern-
ment upon taking the course which seemed indeed the only
way to give them power to carry on so arduous and so very
expensive a struggle as that evidently impending. It was
urged also upon them by those acquainted with the native
race as a means of inducing natives who were (as many
teibes wee known to be) in a state of hesitation between re•
be3lion and a neutral position,to keep quiet at present. That
course was the confiscation, or promised confiscation, of all
the lands belonging to those tribes found in arms against
her Majesty's troops. This the Governor, with the advice
of his Executive, did by proclamation, which explains in a
few words the grounds of his movement upon the territories
of Waikato. War having been thus in effect begun by the
natives, and its conditions pointed out by the Government,
the latter made considerable efforts to meet the emergency.
The measures taken by Government upon finding them-
selves fairly embarked in a war beyond recall were vigorous
and many of thetu well-timed. The first-class militia and
the volunteers, forming in all a corps not far short of 2,000
men, were placed upon active service, the volunteers offer-
ing their services to a man. The second-class militia were
likewise called out and after a few days' drill placed also
',Pen the active service list, altho7gh only required to guard
and patrol in the neighbourhood of their own homes. The
second-class is more powerful than the first in point of num-
bers,:e there being probably not lees than 2,500 men liable to
as
ge
srvwith. These steps were taken with promptitude, and met
•%
e.
call of duty;
who it:ft
their ready
lwork or business uncomplainingly at the first
largo
response of the settlers and townspeople,
first
tewarning numbers indeed having joined the
Volunteer corps on the
h the Government, was
wtuhreatened
danger to the provientirely
opposed to the feeling of province.
The next
act, however '
of
the
public, and was accordingly
met with the spirit of independence which the free institue
tiona and manner of life irae
deter. A party of natives from e colony tend so much to
of the island, had offered their services near the centre
ry
fight against their old enemies, thseetriicbeses to Government to
vernment accepted their services, but of Waikato ; Go-
to the great satisfaction of the public,who
refused to arm them,
most extreme distrust upon all natives southlootok with the
Au Auckland.
expedition to destroy rebel mum; PRA the Mar.q.