The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 20, 1860.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIV, Issue 829, 20 October 1860, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 20, 1860.

Nine long weary months have elapsed since we were first startled with the news that war J had broken out between the Government and: natives of Taranaki, and during that period each successive mail has been the bearer of intelligence more painful and depressing than the last. ■ In spite of the abject incapacity displayed in the opening scenes of the campaign, in spite of disaster and defeat following each other in sure and rapid succession, every circumstance that held out the slightest chance of amendment was eagerly seized upon by the public mind, ever ready to anticipate from any change, however bare of promise, a Tbetter state of things. It would be an idle task to relate what every one has learnt from time to time with feelings of the bitterest grief and resentment, how all these hopes have been scattered to the winds, and these bright anticipations become food for disappointment and disgust; how the presence of a powerful force of brave and experienced troops, aided by those who have volunteered to defend their hearths and homes with the spirit which such a cause never fails to inspire, has totally failed, not only to disperse the enemy, but to prevent a series of insulting raids and pillaging excursions being carried on under range of the outposts and within sight of the exasperated settlers, compelled by their leaders to be silent witnesses of the des-; .truction of the hard-earned results of years of toil and anxiety. As from time to time the distasteful task of publishing these records of imbecile folly has been forced upon us, it has been difficult to restrain the desire to give vent to the feelings of grief and indignation which were naturally roused by their perusal. The hope that a change of commanders would inaugurate a healthier state of things, and that some definite plan of proceedings would take the place of that miserable state of chronic inaction which characterised the command of ■Colonel Gold,.restrained us from giving expression to the just and universal feeling of complaint which prevailed through the length and breadth of the land. These hopes it is now no longer possible to entertain; the last state of matters at the seat of war is clearly worse than the first, and to maintain a silence any longer on the subject would be as useless as it would be criminal.

Among all the disgraceful exhibitions of weakness and irresolution, of which this memorable Taranaki war has been so fruitful, none has been more remarkable than that which it was our task to publish last Wednesday. It is a tale which may well make an Englishman

" Weep to record and blush to give it in."

On the 29th Sept. 500 men of the 40th Regiment under Colonel Leslie proceeded -to Huirangi to fill up some rifle pits and entrenchments which had been used by the Maories for offensive operations. While carrying on the work, the enemy opened a . distant fire, from the cover of the bush, upon the men, which was not returned. Gathering . courage from this fact, when the order to retire was given, the natives closed upon the 1 rear guard and kept up a heavy fire at a dis- , tance of about 100 yards. Still no order was given to return the fire, and the soldiers were ' pressed to retreat till the ordinary pace was changed for the double quick march. Dur-

ing* the retreat, which for a distance of two miles was across open country, five men were wounded, and at last the troops unable to stand the provocation any longer, wheeled round and fired upon the enemy without orders, who immediately turned tail and gave up the pursuit. For this act of disobedience, we are informed, the men were punished by having' their grog* stopped, and were fined to the amount of the ammunition expended. Comment upon such an affair would be out of place. The fact is ot stronger significance than anything that could be said of it. But that it may be appreciated as it deserves it is necessary to state that the British force at Taranaki consists of about 2,500 men; that the town itself is now strongly intrenched; that the troops are aided by engineers and are well supplied with artillery; that they are amply furnished with stores and ammunition, and have an efficient transport which is materially assisted by the meansof communication by sea; and lastly that the commander in chief is known to be entirely unfettered in his actions by any instructions from the head of the Government. Moreover it must be remembered that the greater part of the Maories have retired, some to the north others to the south, for the purpose of getting in their potatoes, and that the few hundred men who remain with Wi Kingi are known to be short of provisions and ammunition, and to be suffering severely from disease. Though the past history of the war has been little but a recurrence of disasters, casting their deep shadows over the habitual gloom of inaction aud marking its annals with foul spots of shame and dishonour, still the evil might be endurable could any signs of hope for the future be discovered—could any confidence be felt that experience had taught its sad lesson, and that at last the fruits of that bitter teacher were likely ■to be realised. But where are we to look for the prospect of better things, and how can the most sanguine discover any signs of improvement ? True, on the day the mail left Taranaki a still larger force was to take the field upon an expedition in search of the enemy. Can any one suppose the result in this case will differ from the last, or that more decided measures will characterise the proceeding on this occasion than on former ones? It would be an insult to common sense to entertain such an idea. There is no sign to be discovered of. any imr provement as expedition after expedition leaves the precincts of Taranaki, to return from its inglorious mission disorganised in spirit and covered with dishonour. We gather no hope or consolation from the fact that larger forces are to be employed when we know that the head to direct them is utterly wanting. The force is more than sufficient for the work, but we look in vain for the power to handle it. Senile imbecility holds the reins, and, sad to tell retains just power enough to restrain the spirit of enterprise and action. While the power of conducting the war remains in hands so evidently unfit to wield it, no hope can be entertained for the future, and we must rest content to see a force, which ought to be employed in quelling rebellion and punishing murderers, frittered away in expeditions calculated to prolong the war by exciting a justifiable contempt for our power in the minds of the enemy.

It is difficult to exaggerate the evils which are certain to result from the pursuance of such a system. Already signs are not wanting that these futile expeditions are producing their natural fruits in an increasing spread of daring, and contempt for our weakness, on the part of the enemy. It is currently reported on good authority that Wi Kingi has written to his followers to return and renew the war, stating that he now " has the game in his own hands," —a fact which unhappily we have too much reason to endorse. The Waikatos, who have returned from Taranaki laden with the spoils of the plundred settlers, have declared their intention of returning to take part in the second act of this humiliating drama, and the Ngatiruanui robbers have signified their intention of doing the same. At the same moment, if other proofs were wanting to show the evil effects of the loss of prestige on our part, the attitude of the northern Maories about Auckland is declared to be uncertain and threatening. If we turn to the condition of our own forces, we find that want of success and the opportunities for ensuring it are producing their natural results in a spirit of insubordination approaching to mutiny; that the troops are dispirited and the militia and volunteers utterly disgusted; that mutual ill-feeling has taken the place of cordial co-operation, and that taunts and recriminations are freely indulged in, while deep and ill-suppressed dissatisfaction is prevalent among both officers and men. Incapacity on the part of their commanders, has produced in a few short months a complete state of disorganization among a body of men who commenced the campaign ma high state of discipline, full of a self-reliant determination to add to their laurels by victories gained on the battle fields of Taranaki.

. We aye loth to.believe that there is no remedy for so serious an evil, one too which threatens the existence of the British power in the North Island, and envelopes the future in doubt and dismay. Can it be that our troops must be utterly ruined and disorganized ; that the flame of rebellion must be allowed to spread throughout the Maori nation, and the existence of the colony be thoroughly imperilled, before it is considered proper to remove a commander who is pursuing a course which must inevitably lead to these disastrous results? Surely His Excellency will think proper to exercise his prerogative and remove from the command an officer so palpably unfitted for the task he has to perform. But if from scruples of delicacy or want of decision he should fail to perform this necessary but disagreeable duty, we cannot doubt that it is the duty of the people's representatives and of the people themselves to petition both the Governor and the home authorities, that our interests in this war may no longer be confided to the care of one who has proved himself so thoroughly incompetent to carry on active operations against a nation of warlike savages as the present commander-in-chief.