The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-15 00:00:00

SERIOUS AFFRAY AT THE BAY OF ISLANDS.

We deeply regret to say that the long expected collision be-
tween the Europeans and the natives took place on Tuesday,
the 11th instant, at the Bay of Islands; in another column we
give full particulars. Too much praise cannot be given to
Captain Robertson, of her Majesty's sloop of war the Hazard,
his officers and men, for their most gallant conduct; with un-
feigned sorrow we add that Captain Robertson was severely
wounded while defending with undaunted bravery a dan-
gerous pass, having only 25 sailors and five marines to
oppwe a force of 300 natives (whom he kept in check suffi-
ciently long to enable the inhabitants of the Bay to reach the
ships in safety.) The Block-house which Mr. Philpot's de-
scribed in his dispatch as the key of the position of the Euro-
peans, was, by a most extraordinary species of conduct deserted
by Mr. Campbell of the 96th Regiment, the officer having the
charge of it, who, together with seventeen out of the twenty
men left to protect this mo.t important point, proceeded to some
other part of the place. It is scarcely possible to reprehend
with sufficient severity misconduct so unmilitary ; all the la-
mentable disasters at the Bay may be said to have arisen from this
cgriroastsimd
setraenl lacrtai o nshoofudl
du duty. He
hl
eo ul
egfht thtio have
s post. knownlti
ssaidthat ut
hnade rno
tsir.
Campbell hearing firing considered it his duty to proceed in the
direction of it. hut as an officer he might readily perceive the
extreme danger of such a course. We dare say Mr. Campbell
is a bravo man, but it was unpardonable to give so young an
officer so important a trust. Of Lieut. Barclay we say nothing ;
it is, however, reported, but we trust without any foundation,
that both he and Mr. Campbell were in civilians' clothing, we
however do not believe this possible. One block-house hiving
been taken by the natives, and the other blown up, the position
occupied by the marines and sailors being no longer tenable,
they returned to the Hazard. We cannot avoid feeling that if
the bmvery of the Hazard's officers and people had had the
assistance of the gallant Maier Bunbury and his officers, a diffe-
rent result would have ensued. .

The melancholy destruction of the town of Kororarika, the
oldest settlement in New Zealand. by the natives, fully bears
out our predictions as to the result of the policy which has been
practised towards the natives ever since the British Gov srn-
ment took possession of these islands. We must, however,
acknowledge the Governor has been placed in a very awkward
situation, without any power to uphold the dignity and su-
premacy of British law, he has been compelled to resort to the
mischievous temporising expedients of protectors, backed up
with divers threats and promises, mingled with a few compli-
ment. and presents. But while we make every allowance for the
weakness or she Government, we do certaitly think the Go-
vernor was wrong Jer the partiality he has ever shown to the
one-sided and biassed opinions of the missionaries and protec-
tors.; while the old settlers ( who,, commercial intercourse with
the natives must necessarily have given them a more correct
idea of their real character) have never been consulted, or at
least their opinions have been treated with contempt. His Ex-
cellency's speech at the opening of the Council this session, be-
trayed his profound ignorance of the native character ; subsequent
events have in some degree no doubt tended to change his views
on the subject, but prejudices are not easily removed, and if his
Excellency returns to the corrupted source of information with,
which he has hitherto been supplied, good bye to New Zea-
land ;if we escape with our lives it will be a wonder. The
opinions of the arch-traitor Williams, served up in the garb of
sanctity. and echoed by the sycophantic multitude of sub-pro-
tectors, have constituted the only source of information con-
sidered worthy of notice by the Governer—but we trust there
is now an end of this nonsense. We hope a strict inquiry
will be made into the conduct of the Rev. H. Williams, the
false Prophet who cried Peace, peace, when there was no
peace." It is not a little remarkable that this reverend impos•
for publicly declared upon Kororarika lyach that there was no
danger only the night before the attack, and derided the in-
habitants for packing up and shipping their goods; this wily
deceiver having at that time taken care to ship all his own
goods off, which are now safely landed, with Mr. Kemp's, the
Protector's, at Mr. Grahame's stare; while the deluded in-
habitants, misled by his perfidious advice, have lost every
article they possessed. Does not this speak volumes?