Wellington Independent TUESDAY, 21st JULY, 1868.

The details of the attack on Turu Turu Mokai are now more complete than at firstj though some points in the affair still need further explanation. The account given by an occasional correspondent, which we publish to-day, adds some facts to those contained in the Wanganui and Taranaki papers, and places the matter in a clearer light than before. Briefly told, the story is that the twenty-five men who occupied the redoubt were surprised and attacked ; that in the first shock of the encounter a panic seized some of them — who jumped from the parapet and fled for their lives— but were all slain except three ; and that an angle of the redoubt was held by four brave fellows, who, with rifle and bayonet, prevented the natives from getting over the parapet, and made good their position till Von Tempsky and his men arrived to aid and save them. The heroism of those who stayed to fight, in Borne measure relieves the feeling of shame which the ignominious flight of the others must create. It is, however, possible that we do not yet know all the circumstances, and something may yet be explained, which will palliate an act, which appears to have been one of gross cowardice. Altogether, this affair must create both pain and dissatisfaction. It is evident that the state of discipline amongst the men who occupied the redoubt, was not what it should have been. The watch kept must have been careless ; or the natives could not have approached the redoubt, got into the trench, and remained long enough to cut regular steps into the side of the parapet, by standing on which they were enabled to command the inside. An examination of the redoubt after the attack showed that this had been done, and our correspondent therefore assumes that the natives must have been at least a quarter of an hour in the ditch before the alarm was given. Then it seems strange that Captain Koss should have been sleeping outside of the redoubt in a whare, and that his men — the occupants of an advanced post in an enemy's country — when called to instant action, should, divested of clothing and arms, be sleeping in as much fancied security as if occupying a garrison in the heart of a civilised country during a time of p eace. It is to be hoped that this deplorable occurrence, which was in a great measure due to an absence of proper precautions, will serve as a warning and a lesson. Let us speak nothing but good of the dead. Poor Captain Koss has paid the penalty of his imprudence with his life. A-nd indeed he was a gallant fellow. "When suddenly waked from sleep, he found that' the enemy was upon him and death inevitable — he never flinched, but, like a brave man, sold his life as dearly as possible, and ere falling in the gateway, mortally wounded, had killed two of his assailants. It is needless to lament what cannot now be retrieved. Had the proper precautions been taken and the men been on the alert, it is not too much to assume that the attack on the redoubt would have failed and many lives been saved. Let us hope that another reverse like the present will not again be experienced from similar causes. It is stated by our correspondent that the body ef poor Captain Ross was cut open and the heart torn out, and that one of the natives whom he shot was recognised as a man who had been in the redoubt on the previous day selling potatoes and drinking tea with the men. It is satisfactory to know that this treacherous spy has met his deserts. Treachery indeed is the leading characteristic of the native character, and if the report be true " that the Native Contingent, among whom were Katene and Kaho, have gone over to the enemy, taking with them their carbines and revolvers," we may have yet bitterly to rue the day when we put faith in their words and arms in their hands. The statement, however, as yet, lacks confirmation, and it may be untrue. If Katene has gone over, it is' certainly a • pity that we did not keep him when we had him. This same Katene was in ctis-

tody at "Wangarmi a fortnight ago, on suspicion of the murder of. Trooper Smith, but for some reason or other he was liberated. Sad as this affair is, it makes it more so to know that had the cavalry under Major Hunter come up in less time to the aid of the men attacked, fewer lives would have been lost on our side, and severe reprisals made against the enemy. If it be true, as stated in the "Wanganui papers and by our correspondent, that Major Hunter, after hearing the firing at Waihi, ordered the horses to be fed instead of instantly starting with his men, then his conduct was of the most reprehensible character, as the delay which ensued through his orders had the most fatal results. Such conduct is almost too incredible for belief. How could any man, in command of a troop of cavalry, hearing firing at a slenderly garrisoned outpost, only three miles distant, hesitate for a single instant in starting to their relief ? Yet we have the ugly story told that although his troop urgently demanded to be led on, and got into their saddles for the purpose of starting off at once, the commanding officer "put them through sundry evolutions, and then ordered that the horses should be fed," while his men hooted him for his caution and prudence ! It was only a three miles' ride from Waihi to the locale of the fight, and good riders, with fresh horses, could have done the distance in twelve minutes ; yet plucky Von Tempsky, with his men on foot, had reached the redoubt and given succor to the four brave fellows who held it, long before Major Hunter made his appearance. Well might the men openly condemn this unwarrantable delay — well might the four gallant fellows who had held the redoubt, exclaim to Major Von Tempsky : "Oh had you been but ten minutes sooner, how many lives might have been saved !" But Major Von Tempsky did the best that could be done, while the cavalry, with " gallant" Major Hunter, came up after the slaughter had been done and the slaughterers had escaped unpunished. If only the cavalry had been up in time, the butchery might have been in a great measure prevented, and such a lesson taught the assailants of the redoubt, as w.ould have had the most salutary effect. Whether this is a mere isolated and local outbreak, or whether it is part of a general movement about to be made by ! the natives, in which the Waikatos will take part, we can scarcely yet judge. Still sufficient information has from time to time been received by the Grovernmentto show that a general rising this year was talked of by the natives, in which the principal tribes were to take part. | Then it is a suspicious circumstance that, almost simultaneously with the outbreak on the West Coast, the Chatham Island prisoners should have risen, bound their guard, escaped from the island in a French whaler, and landed in New Zealand at Poverty Bay. There is no doubt but that the Captain of the French vessel was a willing agent, and it is possible the vessel had 'previously been at Poverty Bay, where the arrangement was made for its employment. If a general rising were contemplated, it was easy enough for the rebel natives in New Zealand to send the necessary information to their imprisoned countrymen and urge them to make an attempt to escape from bondage and rally again under the old flag. However this may be, it is clear that on the West Coast we have already a war upon our hands, and that on the East fighting may begin at any moment. The time then has come for action. Impoverished and bowed down with debt, as our adopted country may be, we must punish and, if need be, exterminate those turbulent and murderous savages, who render its progress impossible. There must be no more maudlin sentimentality about : the matter — no more account taken of 'what Exeter Hall or the Aborigines j Society may say or do. When the Imperial Government first hampered, and then altogether put an end to the policy of war and confiscation of July 1863 ; — when it left us saddled with a load of debt, which had been incurred in vain ; — when it finally withdrew all aid, either in money or men — then it left us to deal with native outbreaks in our own fashion. We are content to do so ; and on the head of the natives be their own blood. The operations to be carried out must be short, sharp, and decisive Within the rebel districts no mercy should be shown ; Ino prisoner should be taken. It should |be a struggle a Voutrance. Let a price I be put upon the head of every rebel, and let them be slain without scruple wherever the opportunity is afforded. We must smite and spare not. Kindness, conciliation, bribes and threats have alike failed. We have tried to civilise these people ; we have given them Magistrates and schools ; we have filled their bellies with flour and sugar ; we have clothed their backs with blankets. They accept our kindness and murder the donors. They are determined to fight, and we, in self protection, must treat them as a species of savage beasts which must be exterminated to render the colonisation of New Zealand possible.