NEW PLAN FOR TERMINATING THE WAR.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2153, 12 March 1870, Page 3

NEW PLAN FOR TERMINATING THE WAR.

i m °° OFFERED FOR THE CAPTURE 1 OF TE EOOTL

PVom the « Southern Cross," March 4.] ffart le !P that on Wednesday last Te Pokiha chS. v wh » and otherß of the Arawa defin!» i °- a f c at P resent in Auokland were amtel, informed by the Hon. the Native ittfom * nCe Minißter » henceforth the fo-1? of maintaining a native force on pay ijL;, p k Urßuit of T « Kooti will be disconfcren»L* tbafe the Government will be tt_£« rr? ay a lvm P Bum of 5( >0O iiClll , Kooti » d™* or dead, whether in a short or long period. fcoori *? oposal the chiefs very tntnM de . murred » representing that the %BJ.ft uS*™ WOuld not bo willin g t0 °° n - tW "gfnng without daily pay, and that teyj 3 m d^ ot consent to attempt the cap- #££!* .5 n the more Prospect of ib «?r«f f? 00 ", if successful. Tbey urged fe SS C f Ul^ 8 of «"» country, and ~a ttendant u P° n an expedition *«fcinnl ,r !! y foe MTe Kooti » and oa the decidedl y disinclined to accept wKE»w *i pre . sent ifc a PP ea ™ hi s hl y , the Arawas will decline to U8 My longer, unless kept on pay. It

unfort™ °1 be sf P ° n W ad unfortunately the reeources of the colon] are not eqaal to maintaining a large arnn of natives m the poeition of peneioners, it order to preserve their neutrality. Moreover, .he suspicion is rapidly gaining ground, thai vhe system of keeping up a large standing army of natives ie a mistake, and that so lone as it continued the natives would—all othei things be,ng equal—rather not hurt Tt llooti, who, it must be confessed, has been a great source of profit to them. We are glad to learn that the Government have taken this bold step, for it U one which we feel sure will have the approval of the majority of the colonists. Whilst on the subject we may state that the report that the Government had in contemplation the entire disbandment of the European forces in the colony, is a mistake. We believe the ceasing to employ the Armed Constabulary only extends to future operations against Te Kooti in the Urewera country, the natural difficulties of which are so great as to render pursuit by a European force a matter of extreme difficulty and hazard, independently of the heavy expense it would entail. Moreover, complaints have been made by the Arawas that their acting in conjuction with European forces impeded their movements against the enemy. Wβ believe there is some probability of a larger sum being offered to the Arawas than £5000, should that be shown to be inadequate.