The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

TEE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Gazette of last Evening.)
WAR-OFFICE, APRIL Q. •
A despatch and its enclosures, of which the following are
copies, have been received at the War-office from Major-
General Pratt, C.B.

Head Quarters, Camp Waitara, New Zealand,
31st December, 1860.
Siet,—Referring to my despatch of the 10th inst., I have
the honour to report, for the information of his Royal High-
ness the General Commanding-in-Chief, that the excessive
rains which had swollen the rivers, and rendered move-
ments impossible, having ceased, I was enabled to move out
from New Plymouth on the 28th instant, for the purpose
of attacking a large body of the enemy whi had occupied a
very strong position at Metal ikoriko, on the left bank of the
Waiters, and not far from Huirangi.
My force, after being joined by parties from the Waitara
Camp and the other posts, amounted to 900 rank and file
of all arms (as per accompanying detail), which was all I
could collect. After leaving the town and other posts in a
degree of security, and further required some assistance
from H.M.'s S. Cordelia, and ll.M.'s Colonial S. Victoria,
and I think it due to myself to mention this, in consequence
of the great misstatements which are circulated in this
colony as to the amount of force at my disposal for ag-
gressive movements.
Having halted at the Waitara Camp, now rity base of
operation, I marched from thence at half-past three o'clock
in the morning of the 29th inst., and reached Kajrait, oppo-
site the Matarikoriko Mound and Pah, and about 900 yards
distant from it, at half-past six a.m., and proceeded to
throw up an entrenched camp for the security of the
troops during the subsequent operations; this was
being dote without moles ation until nine o'clock,
and the troops were getting well under cover, when a
very heavy fire was suddenly opened upon us f:om a line of
skilfully-constructed rifle-pits, extending for about 600
yards, and not more than 100 yards from us, and running
along the edge of a deep ravine between us and the Pah,
having very precipitous banks, and at the bottom of which
,his sw in
as thepro hnifphity fern,re-
was a dense forest of high trees, and a deep swamp ; firing
upon
u sfrom
skirznisper
ownas althreealso
ofsordensed tentrenchment.
turned.by our skirmishers, the main body of the troops, and
with shells from the 24-pounder howitzers; and a parti-
cularly heavy fire was kept up incessantly on both sides
until six o'clock in tae evening, by which time our redoubt,
which was constructing the whole time, having been com-
pleted, it was garrisoned by 450 men, and the remainder of
the troops returned to the Camp.
Next morning (30th inst.), at daylight, on my troops
reaching the redoubt, I found that the enemy had kept up
a continued fire during the whole night, which had been as
promptly returned ; but firing had ceased, and they had
hoisted a white flag on the pah and rifle-pits, and I em-
ployed the troops in heightening and strengthening the
redoubt during the day.
On the 31st inst., at 31 a.m., P again marched out; but,
from information which reached me on the road, that the
enemy were leaving the Pah and long line of rifle. pits, and
that, if not immediately occupied, they might be takenpos-
session of by a party of the enemy known to be moving up
from the North, I'at once sent an order to Colonel Wyatt,
65th Regiment, commanding the entrenchment, to ascer-
tain the fact, and to take possession without a moment's
delay. This was done by a party of 200 men of the 65th
Regiment, and Naval Brigade, under Colonel Wyatt
and Commodore Seymour, and on my force sighting the
Pah, I had the satisfaction of seeing the British flag float-
ing where the Marriking flag had previously been.
The result of these three days has been, that the proud
Waikatos, who had boasted that they would drive us into
the sea, have instead been themselves driven from one of
the most formidable positions I ever saw, chosen by them-
selves, and that too with singular sagacity, into the dense
bush; and we occupy positions to keep them there in this
portion of the line of forest.
Our casualties have been 3 killed and 22 wounded (re-
turns appended), which is small, considering the perfect
shower of bullets which was poured upon us for such a
length of time, and it will be observed that most of them
belong to the 40th Regiment, who took a very prominent
part in the action ; and to that corps, with a detachment of
the one-twelfth Regiment Royal Artillery, under Lieu-
tenant Macnaghten, and Royal Engineers, also fell the
honour of holding the new position during the night, and
under continuous fire.

I cannot as yet ascertain the exact loss of the enemy, but it
must have been very great to induce them to suffer the loss
of prestige, and the mortification of abandoning their Pah
and strong position without another struggle. It is known
that at least five chiefs have been killed, and the graves and
appearances in the rifle-pits show that our fire must have
been very destructive.
I have now to bring to the notice of his Royal Highness
the conduct of the Naval Brigade and troops of all arms;
their duties have been prolonged, laborious and incessant ;
skirmishing through fern higher than their heads, fired at
by unseen foes, and carrying on the work of entrenchment
under heavy fire, too much cannot be said in their praise ;
and, indeed, little is known bf the difficulties of carrying on

. -
war in such a province as this.
I have also to bring to his Royal Highness's notice the
conduct of the officers, and to name for his approbation those
in command and at the head of departments. Commodore
Seymour, assisted by Lieut. Battiscombe, H. M.'s S•
i. M.'s Coloniall
Fe-
lorus, and Lieut. Woods, Chief Officer,
S. Victoria, performed their duties in their usual gall
sh with the
manner. The Artillery also, under Capt. Stroveort
Macnaghten, threw their shells and case
Colonel Mould,
greatest precision into the line of rifle-pits: conducted
assisted by Captain Mould, Royal A: fll
nwanner, whilst the
their department in the most efficient d Lieut.
der Capt. Miller,
Colon Leslie, as-
detachment of the 1-12th Regnimeenant,
the 40th Regiment, under Lie :
and ifyatt, were all handled in.
C ptain Messenger, and the
sisted by Major Nelson
65th Regiment, under Colone
to of the staff.
the moat excellent manner• the officers
I am also much in Adjutant-General was he
Lieut.-Col. Carey, DePu Yf his bravery and -' -as
c
ch assistance from Ca tain
ptainPaul,
and I also received La u- .
BriS°de-Major, and Lieut. Forster, Royal
always is, most conspicuous or
6.5 th Regiment, Bri
ervices of Captain De
Artillery, my
ed Corps and Lieut
Aide-de-Camp. The s •
Nrceux, Mount
also) enant King, Militia
ware most useful, whilst those of
General of
Deputy
inspector-Hospitals, Dr. Monet, C. 8.,
Der
an Deputy Commissary-General Stanley Jones, were all
that could bo wished.
I had hoped to have sent a tracing of the ground, which
would render this despatch more intelligible, but I have
Aide-de-Camp,
not as yet been able to obtain it; it will be forwarded here-
after.—l have, &c.,

(Si4ned) G. S. PIUTT,
Major-General Commanding.
To the Military Secretary, Horse uuards,
London.

THE PL AGUE (9) AT LIVERPOOL.—Tho Medical
Times and Gazette says It seems quite clear that a
contagious fever has spread from a ship arriving in an
English port, to inhabitants of that port who have gone on
board the ship, and also to others on shore. This is
exactly the danger against which Quarantine regulations
are framed to protect our people. But it is left to the
pilot (1) who brings a ship into port to report whether a
ship is in a healthy state. In this case he did not report ;
but he died himself of the fever. It is quite clear that in
all our large ports there should be a Medical Police—or a
Quarantine Board, if the old term must be used—to secure
the public safety, by taking the necessary measures for
preventing the extension of contagious disease from the
crews or passengers of ships arriving
in harbour to the
healthy inhabitants ashore,"

THE WELLINGTON, 160, PICCADILLY.
—Gentlemen are respectfully informed that the
SALOON DINING ROOMS are now OPEN for the Supply
of LUNCHEONS and DINNERS, from One to Nine o'clock
THOMAS PRICE, Superintendent.

THEA TR g-ROYAL, HAYMARKET,
Lessee. Mr. J. B. Backstme.

THIS EVF,NING, the performances will women/4e with
A DUKE IN OIFFICULTIES. Mrs. Stirling, Miss F.
Baydon, Mrs. Wilkins, Miss Fanny Stirling, Mr. Buckstone,
Mr. Compton, Mr. Howe, cte.
After which, will he revived, with entirely new scenery
and effects, and all the original music by the late Sir Henry
Bishop, the melodrama of THE MILLER AND HIS MEN.

Commence at 7.

THEATRE-ROYAL LYCEUM,
Bois Lessee and Directress, Madame CELESTE.

Decided Success of the Two New Dramas.

THIS EVENING, LOVERS' QUARRELS.
After which, a new original comic drama, written by Sami.
Lover, Esq., entitled MAC CARTHY MORE ; or, Possession
Nino Points of the Law. John Drew, J. Johnston, Forrester,
J. Rouse, Medlin ; Misses Rawlings, Hudspeth, &c.

To conclude with a new drama, NEW YEAR'S EVE ' • or,
The Belle of the Season. Messrs. H. Neville, Villiers, Jas.
Johnstone, J. Rouse ; Mrs. Wlnstanley, Miss Ma ilda Heron
Miss Willard, &c.

ROYA L PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Lessee and Manager, Mr. A. Farris.
THIS EVENING, THRICE MARRIED. Messrs. Shore,
Meadows, Garden, and Miss C. Leclercq.
Followed by HAMLET. Hamlet. Mr. Fechter. Sup-
ported by Messrs. Ryder, He rMaffil Veen, Graham, Shore,
Meadows, &e. ; 3lisses Heath, R. Leclercq, and Elsworthy.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.-
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, AN UGLY CUSTOMER. Messrs. J.
L. Toole, C. Selby, and Warde ; Miss K. Kelly, and Miss E.
Thorne.
To be followed by the new drama, MAGLIORE, THE
PRESTIDIGITAI 0 Messrs. B. Webster, J. L. Toole,
D. Fisher, &,e.; Miss K. Kelly, Miss H. Simms, dm.
Atter which, OUR GAL. Miss Julia Daly, Mr. Romer,
Mr. Eburne, and Mr. Warde.
Doors open at half past B—Commence at 7.

CANTERBURY-HALL CONCERTS!!
Westminster-road.
Proprietor ........C. Morton.
A Grand Selection from Verdi's new Opera,
IL CORSARO,
(This opera has never been produced in this or any other
country, except at these Concerts). having met with that de-
tided success which charactise the most popular works of
this great Master, will be performed EVERY EVENING ;
together with a Selection from LA FIGLIA DEL REGGI-
MENTO, by Donizetti,
Principal Artistes—Miss Russell, Madame Maria, Miss
Tyrrell, Mr. H. Herbert, Signor Tivoli, H. Drummond, and
C. W. Bernard. Director, Mr. F. Jonghmans.
The Comic Department oomprises Messrs. E. Marshall, A.
B. Hollingsworth, J. Blanchard, F. Bell, W. H. Welland, and
the Brothers Conrad.
John Martin's 'three celebrated Pictures will remain on
view a short time longer in the Fine Arts Gallery of the
Establishment.

HIGH. WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tats DAY.—Morning, 2h. Bm.—Afternoon, 2h. 24m.
To-mounow.-Morning, 2h. 38m.—Afternoon, 2h. 56m.

THE WEATHER.-SUN OYFICZ, APRIL 10, 1861.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
48—highest since noon yesterday.
35—lowest this morning and during the night.
4S—this day at noon.
BanoxtnTEß-30.58.
WlND—Northerly—light; with fine cool weather.!

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TIIE SUN.
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 18M

The news from Warsaw of this morning will be
a shock to Europe. The details and explanations
will be awaited with impatience, and with fears for
the worst, What does it indicate of the past ?
What does it mean for the future ? Have GORTS-
CHAROFF and ALEXANDER 11. really been pursuing
the atrocious policy of CONSTANTINE and NICHO-
LAS, thirty years ago ? Has there been a studied
design to lure and provoke the Poles to deeds which
should give a pretext for a policy of blood repres-
sion ? Have the haughty taunts and " gracious"
promises which have mingled strangely in the
Imperial and official communications been in-
tended to embolden and irritiate into what
despots call disorder? We are unwilling
to believe ALEXANDER a NICHOLAS, though
we do not forget the uncalled • for severity
of his language when the Polish nobles presented
their address on his first visit after his accession to
the throne. We own ourselves perplexed by the
apparent folly which could perpetrate the bloody
outrage which we have to record this morning.
From the slight accounts yet received, there ap-
pears to have been nothing to justify it. The po-
pulace were excited, it is true, and were assembled
in large numbers, but they were entirely un-
armed. They would hardly have given the
provocation which ,could require armed men
to act against the unarmed. The immediate
occasion appears to have been-the forcible suppres-
sion of the Agricultural Association ; because, as a
combination of the most respectable citizens of the
• Kingdom orPoland, although its object was so
purely social, it yet was a body unconnected with
the Governmentt but a body of great social in-
fluence. - It was, however, a thoroughly orderly,
prudent; and Peaceful body, and might well have
been made use of by the Government for the best
of purposes. That the people should resent its
suppression, and also that of the Delegation of
Citizens who undertook to preserve the public
peace, was natural; and it would seem that nothing
but mere blood-thirstiness could resolve on the
bloody revenge which followed the popular mani-
festations of displeasure.
It is not easy to see what the CZAR can hope to
gain by writing kind things and doing barbarous
ones. Having commenced the emancipation of his
Russian serfs, and joined the Polish nobles in their
plans to emancipate their own ; having promised,
to the ear, to restore Polish nationality, education,
and, at least, municipal Government, having
declared his intention to act " as a father" towards
Poland, what can this sudden act of brutality mean?
It must render far more difficult any amelioration
of the civil institutions of Poland ; and it must
leave heart-burnings where better hopes were begin.
ing to be cherished. But how will it tell on the
Governments of Europe ? The Russian represen-
tatives to them have just been authorised to apprise
them of the gracious intentions of the CZAR towards
his Polish subjects ; what a horrible comment will
this be on their communications. What will France
do P-- France—to whose consul at Warsaw the
Poles resorted after the seemingly more casual
cruelty of February. LOUTS NAPOLEON must,
from his recently assumed position as the friend of

nationalities, at least remonstrate ; and the talked

of Alliance with Russia will become an
. impossibility. Can it be that the CZAR and the
HAPSBURG understand each other, and that the
former means to give the latter an example of the
'way in which he must deal with the Hungarian
Diet should it prove too unmanageable. View the
Painful intelligence from Warsaw how we will, the
deed seems as cruel as we hope, in the present state
of Europe it
will prove useless and foolish for the
purposes
of despots. Even if all Europe should be
so heartless as to stand by and witness a repetition
of the atrooiti,a
of NICHOLAS, deeds like these will
revive, not crush out, the spirit of Polish nation-
ality. and.will coralr
ul the growinit opinion that
the iightS of nation% and •--
tn,c2t: the bloody suppre,s-
of these rights,
suppres-
sion
'—only Enc.., for stab.e

peaco n Eurz,pe.

Monday evenlag •Pext tho or n
otn-
mons is to listen -to Mr.•GLAbsloNes net financial
•
statement. More than one entire tweive)3lo„thliaa
now elapsed since the first of his many Budget 0.1
last year, the Budget, the notorious Budget of the
10th of February. vrir..l be remernb;.rdd only too
painfully vat a wonderful displayi d financial