The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-18 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18, 1865.

The troubles in New Zealand have been of long
standing, and to the original elements of discord
and confusion has been added the evil of a divided
authority. The dissensions between the Governor
and the General have certainly not tended to ac-
celerate the conclusion of the war ; and the general
feeling of dissatrsfaction and contradiction is
strongly contrasted with the unanimous expression
of confidence and courage which despatched Gene-
ral CAMERON to his first campaign. It is difficult
under such complicated circumstances to say where
the blame lies ; but it is chiefly due, no doubt, to
the divided counsels. So long as • the inether-
country took the whole expense of the colonial wars
it was natural that the direction of affairs should be
left almost entirely to the head military authority,
but now that the colonists are called upon to pay
half, they think, with some show of reason, that
they have a right to have a voice in the manage-
ment. In many respects it would seem to be the
best and simplest way of settling matters to leave
the affairs to the colonists. They are quite able to
subdue the natives, and if the war were pushed on
with a vigour and unity of purpose, there can be
no doubt that it would produce much more satis-
factory results. Nothing can be more harassing
and vexatious than one of these long, uncertain half-
fought wars, which drag their slow length along,
causing death, disease, and suffering, besides press-
ing heavily on the taxpayers, and retarding the
social and commercial progress of the people and
the development of the country. The manner in
which the war has lately been conducted has been
most unsatisfactory, and it is well known that the
Governor and the Generals have been at open
variance on several points. Some of the differences
may have arisen, and probably have done so, from
misconception of orders, but it is quite clear that
when they have reached the stage of the Governor
stating in his address to the. Assembly that the
Imperial forces were precluded by their orders
from taking an active part against the enemy
on a recent occasion, and the General denying
this statement in the Auckland newspapers,
it is impossible for the joint system to
-work any longer. The Home Government in
sending out the troops placed them under the sole
government of the General, and left the option of
sending any of them home in his hands. The•colo-
nists, though grateful to England for her prompt
assistance, have lately arrived at the conclusion that
the warwould be more effectually carried on by a colo-
nial force which would penetrate the bush, which is
always the Maories' stronghold, and which they well
know the regular troops will not enter. General
CAMERON, when urged to send home some of the
Imperial forces, declined to do so, and the alteration
in the whole system is mainly due to the resolute
attitude adopted by the WELD Ministry, Mr.
WELD and his colleagues informed the Governor
that it was their intention to resign as soon as'they
had stated the case to the assembly, but the Gover-
nor having represented the state of affairs to Mr.
CARDWELL, the power of removal was transferred
by the Home Government from General CAMERON
to Governor GREY. Consequently the Governor
expressed his readiness to accept the advice of Mr.
WELD, and five regiments have been ordered home.
The capture of the Wereroa pah, which has long
b2en so long a formidable obstacle in our path, has
no doubt encouraged the advocates of the Colonial
system, since not only is a bugbear removed from .