WELLINGTON.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 7, 6 June 1848, Page 1

WELLINGTON.

The despatch of Governor Grey, on the subject of the Wanganui disturbances, published by us a few days ago, demands a little consideration. We have never read a despatch which afforded us so little pleasure, and never one in which could be traced such a cold callousness as to circumstances as the one referred to. A mother and three children bad been murdered, a father and daughter bad been dangerously wounded, and the settlement of Wanganui had been virtually destroyed, when Captain Grey sat down to write the despatch in question. But murder aud robbery appear to have created little impression on the mind of the Governor-iii-Chief, forhescarcely bestows a passing thought on the sufferings entailed on the settlers by a band of armed ruffians; and such is the confidence entertained in Captain Grey, that tbe Government and the Press of England were firmly convinced that the disturbances were effectually suppressed at the date of Capt Grey's iespatcb, and that the event was to be treated as a matter of little importance and of or. dinary occurrence, though, at the time, tbe journals of this settlement, and all thinking men, predicted what came to pass. 'Tis idle, 'tis worse than folly to cloak the trutb, and assert things to be facts when the contrary is the case. After perpetrating a variety ot enormities, which ought to have been staled when Captain Grey wrote the despatch, tbe rebels fought the troops under Colonel M'Cleverty at St. John's Wood, aud were not defeated. For some little time after tbe battle, the enemy remained in force within a sborl distance of the stockades, and ultimately retired up the river, for the purpose of planting arrop of potatoes. Now, what benefit has been reaped, what good has resulted, what in the whole affair is there to be proud of, or why should attempts be made to glossover and smooth down startlin" acts of aggression, tbougli committed by an ab" | original race J Are not the settlers of Wanganui ruined—many of them irretrievably—have not I the former residents been scattered in all directions—did they not live at the risk of their lives, though within a stone's throw of the fortifications? These questions are, unforluntelv, buttoo easil) ansn ered. Life was taken, ptopei ty sacrificed, aud bouses burned, and jet the Wanganui war is treated as a common New Zealand outrage, and the sufferings of the unfortunate and ill used Europeans, are passed over with all t..e sang froid imaginable. Beloie th e disturbances did break ont, and when the selllers, anxious about their position, applied to be removed. Captain Giey promised protectien t 0 those who chose to remain. Cer taiuly a military force was stationed st Wanganui, but th e mo ment the soldiery landed at Petre, the Natives looked upon tlmt circumstance as a sign ot war. It became therefore the duty of the Executive, not only to protect theinhabitantsfrom evil disposed Maories, but to punish those who committed aggressions. The Natives who for so long a period held the settlement, as it were, in their hands, are at large—unpunished— and the rebel chiefs who ought to have been captured, havelearnt to despise theprowessof those against whom they cartied their arms, simply because no effort was made to convince the insurgents that England was ail powerful. We say, then, that Captain Grey treated tbe matter too lightl),and expressed too little concern for the sufferings of his countrymen, aud he will vet find that uuless uncivilized men are>punished for crimes committed against society, aggressions of a still more frightful character will result.— lndependent, April 15.