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

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIDIES.—We haverlo announce very disagreeable
news from New Zealand. The hostility of the tribes
in the Northern Island has broken forth in open re-
volt, and we are once again at war. The country
about Auckland, one of the most earliest settled and
most flourishing districts of the islands, is the scene
of atrocities which lead one to doubt whether a
quarter of a century of Christian preaching has had
much effect on the cruel and perfidious native.
It was in the middle of July that the events
took place, the account of which has just reached
us. For some time Rewi, a chief who has long
been the leader of the malcontents, and who is
suspected of having instigated some foul murders,
had been endeavouring to rouse the Maories
in the neighbourhood of Auckland to rebellion.
Hie object was to make a general rising of the
Northern tribes, particularly the Waikatoes, a war-
like race, whose country is close to Auckland,
and then by a sudden movement to exterminate the
settlers. The first act which he contemplated was
the murder of some white men on the Waikato
river. However, the plot was discovered, the
troops were withdrawn from the Taranaki district,
where they had been watching some ill-disposed
natives, and preparations were made for anticipat-
ing the outbreak by a movement against the Wai-
katoes. While this was taking place the natives
began the struggle by murdering two settlers at a
place called Drury, about 20 miles from Auckland.
This was on the 15th of July. The murderers fell
upon the unfortunate men, who were cutting tim-
ber, killed them, and hacked their bodies savagely.
Two days after an escort was attacked within a
short distance of the same place. Capt Ring, with
50 men of the 18th Regiment, was escorting some
waggons, when he was fired upon on both flanks
and in the rear by a large body of Maories who then
then rushed upon the little detachment and endea-
voured to cut off a portion of it. The soldiers
fought with the utmost bravery, driving the natives
back into the bush. Finally the escort made good
its retreat to a neighbouring house, where it re-
mained until'reinforeed ; but the loss was no less
than four killed and ten wounded. After this it
need not be said that both Government and people
were at the last advices preparing for war on a
large scale. The first military movement was made
by General Cameron, who, with 500 men, advanced
against the natives, who, to the number of several
hundreds, fought with considerable skill, making a
stand at every favourable point, and defending
with the greatest obstinacy certain positions which
they had fortified with lines of rifle pits. These
people belonged to the Waikato tribe, which, from
its proximity to Auckland, seems to have be-
come proficient in the arts of warfare, if in no other
kind of civilisation. The natives, however, were de-
feated with considerable loss. This was the only
military event which had taken place up to the de-
parture of the mail, but the preparations for a deter-
mined struggle were in progress. We are happy
to find there is no doubt of the spirit of the colonists.
They have sprung to arms with an alacrity equal to
that which the mother country would exhibit if
threatened with foreign invasion. The Volunteers
and Militia of the province of Auckland amounted
already to 4,000 men, fully armed. There is a
permanent colonial corps of cavalry, which will be
actively employed. Drill was going on every
where ; the first-class Militiamen and Volunteers
had been sent on to the front, while the care of
the city had been left to the second levy. The
protection of Auckland, which it has been part
of the plan of the natives to surprise, is committed
to the citizens, and the arrangements are said to
be excellent. In the meantime, the Australians
are energetic in support of the sister colony.
Except six drill instructors, every British soldier
on that vast territory has been sent off to New
Zealand, and the local duties will be performed
by volunteers. Besides this, the Australians have
supplied the New Zealand settlers with arms
and stores, and a considerable number o volun-
teers are likely to follow. On the whole, the
temper of the people is such that we can have no fear
of the result. Roused by the treachery of the
natives, they are now determined to carry on a war
which shall settle the question of English or native
supremacy for ever. Those who accused the colonists
of apathy in past times should remember that the
Home Government has affected to stand as a media-
tor between the two races, and has rebuked and
repressed the settlers whenever they have attempted
to deal firmly with the natives. If the Colonia:-
office chose to take the Maories under its protec-
tion, the least it could do was to prevent them
from committing outrages on the settlers, whose
hands it had tied. Hence the necessity for a large
and permanent force of British troops, entailing
heavy expense on the mother country, and failing,
after all, to give security to the colony. This
policy will now we trust be abandoned. When the
early citizens of Massachusetts and Virginia de-
fended themselves against the Red Men, and showed
that c urage and self-reliance which are contrasted
invidiously with the behaviour of modern colonists,
they were at any rate left unfettered by the mother
country, which had not yet learnt to place the
interesting barbarian on a level with its own brave
and struggling children. Give the settlers the
liberty of bringing this war to a close in such a
manner as shall effectually prevent Maori conspi-
racies for the future, let a told and energetic soldier
have the command of the British troops, let no inter-
ference from home interrupt the work until it is
thoroughly done, and we have little doubt that quiet
will speedily and securely be restored to the island.
R is time that those 40,000 English men and women
whose lives and properties are every day exposed to
the vindictiveness of their savage neighbours should
cease to be hampered in their defence by the fancies
of people on this side of the globe. The colonists
are now in arms to protect themselves against one
of the most cold-blooded schemes of extermination
that was ever devised. The plot has been long
hatching, and the crime is so patent, the danger
so great, that even Bishop Selwyn, one of the most
earnest friends of the Maories, has no word to say
in their defence. What is required now is that
such an example should be made of these Auckland
tribes as shall deter the natives from any future con-
spiracies. It is hardly probable that any large rein•
forcements will be required from England. We
think it, indeed, the duty of the colonists to provide
the main defence of their habitations. But even the
United States do not leave their backwoodsmen to
fig`at without assistance against the Indian. Their
army used always to be stationed in detachments on
the frontier to aid the Western settlers by the pre-
sence of regular troops. If the colonists be hard
pressed, we must reinforce them. Shoulu, however,
any additional force be required, two or three thou-
sand Sikhs would cost far less, and be perhaps more
efficient, than British regulars. The future pro-
sperity of New Zealand will depend on the event of
this war, which has so long menaced it, and nothing
should be spared to make the operations effective
and the victory complete.
IHs Pli
agOnhSdTcs, •hn Tsmhfiose "
formed
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the
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0 totfhtehieoLn
lonian
o
source of comment in our columns,ongtime a periodical
athat its appear-
ance from henceforth can hardly be regarded with
any other feeling than that of regret. We ehail miss
it, as we miss the face of an old familiar friend, to
whose presence we have become accustomed and
whose habits and actions we have been wont to
criticise, freely indeed, but in no unfriendly
spirit. We turn accordingly to Sir Henry Storks'
last missive with all the interest which attaches
to whatever we see for the last time, and are
glad to find that what we may now term his
farewell address is distinguished by the same
studied moderation and the same practical good
sense which have been conspicuous in all his former
effusions. The lonian Parliament had been dis-
solved with the express purpose of affording to the
various constituencies an opportunity of expressing
in a constitutional manner their views upon the
question of the cessation of the Euglish protectorate
and the annexation of the islands themselves to the
kingdom of Greece. With a wise audacity, Great
Britain had resolved to divest herself of responsibili-
ties which had been originally imposed upon her by
others, and the discharge of which has been but a
thankless'task, and to bid the " way ward sisters go
in peace," without an attempt to control what we
may think an unwise choice, but what we cannot
doubt to be a deliberate one, upon their part. Such
being the case, the members ot the new Parliament
whic has just been elected are reminded that it is to
the Queen of Great Britain they owe the opportunity
which has been given them ot deliberately forming
and " expressing their opinion on a question so in-
timately connected with the national interests."
What that opinion is, is of course notorious, but it
has yet to find its legitimate expression in the con-
stitutional form of an address from the newly elected
Assembly. It is this, accordingly, which Sir Henry
Storks invites them to prepare, and to bring to his
official cognisance at once the views of their consti-
tuents, and the decision of those who represent them,
upon the question of annexation. Into the wisdom of
what is well known t I be a foregone elnelusion Sir
Henry Storks prudently abstains from entering. But

he very properly reminds them of the various ar-
rangements for which, in the event of their reply
being in the affirmative, it will be requisite to provide.,
These arefive in number, and have reference virtually
only to obligations which have been already con-
tracted,and from which the country could not honour-
ably recede. In the first place, there must be a formal
resolution of the Legislature placing, until a new
constitution shall be promulgated King George in
every respect in the position at present occupied by
the protecting Sovereign, or by the Lord High Com-
missioner as her deputy. This is, in fact, merely to
declare that no interregnum shall take place, and.
that the present order of things shall continue until
it is replaced by a constitutional substitute.
Secondly, it will be necessary, upon the cessation of
the contributory payment for military protection,
and of the civil list of the Lord High Commissioner,
to substitute for it an annual payment towards the
civil list of the new Sovereign. This, it is proposed
to fix at a sum of £lo,ooo per annum, which will,
of course, constitute a first charge upon the lonian
revenues. Thirdly, Parliament is summoned to
recognise all past engagements "entered into by or
on behalf of the lonian Government," and " all
equitable claims" which may be still outstanding.
The latter proviso is one which may appear to need,
and which will in all probability acquire, defini-
tion in the course of the debate to which the mFs-
sage must give rise. Fourthly, solue provision is
to be made for the "preservation and safeguard "
of the British cemeteries. Lastly, the terms must
be settled upon which Great Britain will grant a
discharge to the Confederation for the unliquidated
arrears of the military contribution, amounting in
all to a sum somewhat upwards of
£90,000. Sir
Henry Storks then reminds the deputies that, even
after a formal vote has been passed in favour of an-
nexation by the Assembly, it will be necessary to
invite the concurrence of the Powers party to the
Treaty of November, 1815, "and in conjunction
withlFrance, one of the protecting powers of Greece,
to make such arrangements as may tend to the
future welfare of these States, and the permanent
interests of Europe." It is, however, sufficiently
notorious that the consent alluded to will not be re-
fused, and that the European Powers, Austria in-
cluded, are willing to give their consent to the pro-
posed arrangement, provided only it be bona fide,
and that sufficient guarantees are forthcoming for
its permanence and stability. We think thatthere
can be but one opinion as to the disinterestedness of
the part which England has played in the matter.
Having firmly refused to give her consent to the
change so long as Greece continued a prey to
anarchy and misgovernment, she has yielded at
once the very moment that there was a prospect of
better days to come. Daring her protectorship the
inhabitants of the lonian Islands have enjoyed a
far larger share of the blessings of good govern-
ment than has fallen to the lot of any of their com-
patriots. Life and property have been rendered
secure by the firm hand of English rule. They have
had protection abroad and tranquillity at home. If
internal improvements have not advanced at as
rapid a rate as could have been wished, it has been
due to the' ignorant impatience of taxation" which
has been so often manifested by the lonian Parlia-
ment, and not to any absence of urging or sugges-
tions on our part. In giving up our protectorate
we leave the lonians a free people, in the enjoy-
ment of equal laws, of enlightened institutions, and
of liberty of speech and of religion. Whether they
are wise in wishing: so soon to emancipate them-
selves from tutorial supervision, and in embarking,
under the guidance of an intelligent bat youthful
monarch, upon the proverbially stormy sea of Greek
politics, is a problem which can only be solved by
the repult. The sole wish of England has been, as
Sir Henry Storks well expresses it, that they
"should be guided to a wise decision, and that the
national happiness and prosperity of the lonian
people may be secured on a solid foundation."
, Time, and time alone, can show whether the object
in view has been substantially obtained. But what-
ever result may attend so hazardous an experiment,
the responsibilities of its having been made at all
will rest not upon England, but upon those who
have been so pertinaciously clamorous for permis-
, sion to "$y alone."

COVNTRY MARKETS.

- -

BIRMINGHAM-THURSDAY.

Daring the present week transactions have been of a re-
tail character in all articles of the trade. at no quotable
vlriati nin price. To-day wheat was in less supply, and
no reduction was submitted to on any description of Eng-
lish or foreign. Barley tending downwards. Oats were 6d
to is per qr lower than last Tbursday's prices. Beans held
for previous currencies Peas quite as high as last week.
English wheat was sold at 44s to 488 for white, and 405
to 44s per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting, 368 to
42s per qr ; grinding, 265 to 308 Oats, old, 24s to 30s
per 30 stone ; Irish, 21s to 255. Beans, 40s to 44s per qr.
Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone.