The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-16 00:00:00

VIE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

One of the most interesting and remarkable Bluebooks
published this year refers to the war in New Zealand. It
consists of copies of correspondence between the Colonial
Office and the Governors of New Zealand,
referring to the recent disturbances in the colony,
besides numerous other documents bearing on the
same subject. The manifestoes and addresses of the
Maori chieftains are also given at length, and the late
battles and massacres are fully described. Atogether, this
official publication contains a complete history of New
Zealand from January 1867 up to July 1869. Some of
the most interesting of the documents are the copies of
the declarations and messages of the New Zealand
chieftains. They are written in figurative and simple
language, not unlike that made use of in the Scriptures. One
friendly chieftain writes to the Governor, Sir George
Bowen :—" 0 Father ! salutations to you and your
wife and children. Do you make some arrange.
ment about this war. We have made two
attempts to attack Titi Kowaru's pah, but could not
get at it from the badness of the roads, and he refuses to
come out. If there had been a good road we should have
extinguished his pah (the original literally is 'put a lid upon
it as upon a saucepan'). The order was given by Colonel
Whitmore, and assented to by all the Maori chiefs."
Tito Kowaru, one of the rebel chiefs, writes to a friendly
leader :—" Cease travelling on the roads. Stop for ever
going on the roads which lead to Manga Manga (the camp
of the colonial forces) lest you be left on the roads as food
for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the field,
or for me, because I have eaten the European trooper
Smith as a piece of beef. He was cooked in a pot ; the
women and children partook of the food. I have begun
to eat human flesh, and my throat is constantly open for
the flesh of man." The replies of the Governor to the
friendly chieftains are couched in this language- persons
well-skilled in the Maori tongue and in the native customs
and feelings being appointed to draw them up. Thus part
of the English translation of a letter sent by Sir George
Bowen to the Maori King runs thus :—" 0 Friend! I
am very much 'delved to hear that your sword
is sheathed. Mine also is sheathed ; but it has
not been lifted against you or any other persons who are
living in peace with the Queen and in friendship with
their neighbours. I did not come here t) fight ; I was
sent hither by the Queen to bring words of peace to all
men. Enough of this. Te Kooti and Tito Kowaru turned
upon me, and what could I do? Such men must be
punished ; men who murder unarmed men, women,
and young children. Cannibals must be punished, and
men who burn houses, and destroy everything that comes
in their way." After more explanation of this kind, the
letter goes on to say :--" In May next (the date is
January) the Queen's son, the Duke of Edinburgh,
be in Auckland. If you are willing to welcome
him, it is well, I will present him to you ; and you may
depend upon this, that you will be treated with every re-
spect and courtesy, tor you are the son of that great chief
who never fought against the Queen, and who was the
friend of all the Governor sent here by the Queen up to
the day of his death."
Numerous maps and plans illustrate this valuable
history. One of the most noteworthy of these is a sketch
of one of the pahs or native strongholds. The skill and
ingenuity, as well as military strategy, which have con-
tributed to the construction of these remarkable places
are really remarkable. They are usually square in shape,
with projections like towers at each corner. A double
fence of palisading surrounds them, perforated with
holes for firing. Inside the second of these fences are pits
and platforms. Those natives who take up their position
in the pits fire nearly on a level with the ground; those
tiring from the platforms will be elevated to the
eight of a man's head. Behind these pits
end platforms are covered houses, like bomb-proof
casements, covered with roofs of corrugated iron. Outside
the pah, on the tops of lofty trees, are established look-out
platforms. Inside and outside some of these fortifications
are huge rata trees, from which a deadlyfire can be poured
down upon an approaching enemy.
Much of the contents of this book has a retrospective
interest, and the descriptions of battles have, of course,
teen anticipated. But some of the despatches throw
'ight on matters of policy. It will be remembered that
until a few weeks ago there was one British regiment
left in New Zealand. On the 22nd of June
an appeal was made to the Colonial Office by
Mr. Waterhouse, in order that this last British
regiment might be left. Mr. Waterhouse stated
that the regiment was of great service, even though it was
not actively employed. It represented the might and
Majesty of the British power, and its withdrawal would con-
vey to the native mind the idea that British sympathy with
the colonial Government was at an end. The rebellion would
probably be strengthened, and lukewarm natives driven
into the ranks of the hostile Maories. To this appeal Mr.
Monsell returns a refusal. In a letter, dated July 3rd,
;,he Under Colonial Secretary observes that the troops
had probably left New Zealand by that date, but
even if they had not Earl Granville would not
think it right to reverse the policy adopted by
her Majesty's Government after the fullest considera-
tion. The issue of positive orders for the withdrawal of
the last regiment was not an unforeseen circumstance, but
one for which the local Government have been prepared
for years, and in reference to which they have had
repeated opportunities of making such proposals as they
considered necessary for the good of the colony.

ELEPHANT AND CROCODILE.—A curious circum-
stance occurred very lately at Cuttack. An elephant
belonging to one of the Rajahs went into a tank to drink,
and in doing so put his foot either on, or close to, a
crocodile, which at once bit it very severely; this so
enraged the elephant, that he trod about until he got his
adversary firmly beneath his feet in the mud, when he
trampled his life out. Still, however, his rage was unap-
peased ; he refused to leave his post, and it was forty-eight
hours before he could be enticed out of the tank, when the
dead body of the crocodile floated to the surface.
THE SUTHERLAND GOLDFIELDS.—The number
of diggers now at work at Kildonan is only 85; but
they are select hands, and are believed to be doing
well. At Suisgill, especially, many of the old claims
are turning out well, and in a good many cases the
weekly findings of the diggers amount to from to
£3 value of gold. Their success at this burn has
led them to think of changing the course of the stream,
so as to bring the water alongside of their claims, and thus
to facilitate the working, which had previously been very
much delayed through having to carry the washing a dis-
tance to the burn. This will cause them to stick to the
work for some months to come, and it is said they have a
pledge that the diggings will not be put a atop to for 10
loot three or four pptlio,--ltrorthern Ensign,