The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-02 00:00:00

An unexampled budget of horrors comes in the shape of
intelligence from the Pacific. The telegram from New
Zealand announcing that fifty European families have
been massacred chews how formidable the rising of the
Maories has become, and how complete is the disorganisa-
tion of the colonial forces. The miserably small and ill-
equipped body of police which was raised as a substitute for
the British regiments has been defeated and demoralised,
and the country is left practically defenceless. The Maories
have reoccupied many miles of colonial territory, have
burned the homesteads and driven off the cattle of the
settlers, and, emboldened by success,'have at:length perpe-
trated a wholesale massacre. There can be no doubt as to
whom the responsibility of these events must be attri-
buted. It is not the incapacity of Colonel M`Donnell, or
any other officer, but the negligence of the Colonial
Government, that has brought about these disasters.
The authorities entered upon a policy of aggres-
sion without any means of upholding it. They con.
fiscated, says the Times, native territories in the plenitude
of military superiority which the pres nee of ten British
regiments gave them, and then they dismissed the troops
which had inspired them with confidence to exact such a
penalty from the rebel tribes. They proposed to raise a
force of 1,500 men, but in reality the number never ex-
ceeded 300. The rising will ultimately be put down ; the
English so greatly outnumber the natives that a little
organisation must speedily ensure the defeat of the
Maoris. But this is poor satisfaction for the disasters
which have already been suffered, but which might have
been avoided.
A letter from the Times correspondent says that Colonel.
Whitmore has taken the chief command, and is vigorously
reducing the demoralisation of the colonial troops. But
this has to be effected by disbanding a considerable num-
ber, and filling up their places with raw recruits, who can
be more readily disciplined ; and whilst this is being done
the natives appear to have carte blanche. The general
rising which was feared had not taken place at the date of
this letter, but the Maori chief had been greatly reinforced.
The natives divide themselves into several bodies, make
raids wherever they please, burn houses, destroy crops,
and carry off stock. They can be met only by a force
which is trained to similar tactics, and this requires time.
Th.a-Alenists have little confidence in the Government.
Their beet course would be to organise themselves in
small bodies, and put an end to the war by force of
numbers. This, we are told, they are doing in some
measure.

The leaders of the Maorics nave tone everything to
excite a general rising, though happily without the success
which was expected. They have even, says the Wellington
Evening Post, forwarded to the inland tribes some potted
meat made of the flesh of the soldiers who fell in the
recent encounter. The object of this horrible and scarcely
intelligible practice is to inflame the ferocity of the interior
natives. The treacherous massacre of five French soldiers
in New Caledonia completes the dismal intelligence from
the Pacific

The Times New Zealand correspondent notes that there
has been much discussion lately, both in general and local
synods, on the subject of Christian union, many of the
clergy desiring to break down the exclusive barriers
between themselves and the ministers of other denomina-
tions, which are so marked in the old country.
Uniformity amongst the sections of the Protestant Church
is not hoped for, but co-operation in all that pertains to
their common work is both desirable and possible. Whilst
the Synod was sitting at Auckland, a soirde in honour of
a Wesleyan Church anniversary was attended by several
dignitaries of the Church of England, including two colo-
nial bishops, an archdeacon, and a dean, who all addressed
the meeting.

SPAIN.
The news from Spain is much more satisfactory. Ina
assurance from official sources that the interest both on
the External and Internal Debt will be paid, proves that
however great may be the financial difficulties of Sefior
Figuerola, he has triumphed in part over the legacy of
embarrassment left him by Isabella. It is further stated
that the leaders of the two great parties, the Monarchists
and the Republicans, have agreed to seek the success of
their policy, as is their right, without disturbing the
peace of the country or interfering with the equitable
decision of the elections. They have likewise determined
to unite against any attempt of the reactionary party.