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Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2845, 10 June 1879, Page 2

It was said by Washington that "To be prepared for war is one, of tho most effectual means of preserving peace," and tho Government at tho present juncture appear to be fully impressed with the wisdom of that saying, and is therefore making ample preparations for any emergency. Our telegrams to-day state that there is a detachment of 60 Armed Constabulary garrisoning the redoubt at Oakura, and 80 at Opunake, besides volunteers under arms numbering 580. The Government is amply furnished with Suider rifles, ammunition and Cohorn mortars, the latter being most offective. against riile-pits and earthworks. Our Wellington correspondent, who is well inform«di declares that the Government have come to a fixed determination to promptly ' punish any outrage committed * upon the settlers by the! tanatics who have trespassed upon farms,' thrown the .district into a state of alarm, and entailed considerable expense upon the, country. A knowledge of thisfact is likely to exercise a deterrant effect upon tho; Maoris,' especially when it is also knownj that a contingent of Ngatipordus can be' thrown into th« district at short .notice, to, be further augmented by Ngapulli auxil-i liaries, whojare prepared to cost their weight into tna.Bcale if pacific fofbejaranceis e^iiausted.'•.We think, hovyover, that native aid should only be accepted at -the* last extremity, and held in terrorem ,ove* Te Wbili. Our telegrams state that the adherents of the prophet are considerably,embarrassed at the_ farm attitudo of the Government, which indicates a disposition on their part to back down, so that there is' groutid for hoping that after all, a peaceful solution of existing complications may be possible. Should the natives retire to fortified positions in the bush, and perserve in the present carefnlly premeditated plan of throwing upon the Government the onus of: striking the first blow, it would not be wise .to rush, into tho traps prepared,for us. Perhaps the most prudent course would bo) to employ the colonial forces in the construction ol: main roads mid other works to open up the Waimnte Plains, throwing back upon the natives the onus of attempting to, rcaißt permanent occupation of the liiud.