GENERAL CHUTE'S LATE EXPEDITION.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2683, 21 February 1866, Page 4

GENERAL CHUTE'S LATE EXPEDITION.

We desire to give the following letter the prominence it deserves: — " To tlit Editor of the Daily Southbrk Cross. "Sir, — As a subscriber to your paper I have for this last week examined the Cboss with considerable interest during the past week, with a view to ascertain the correctness of a report which has been largely circulated in Auckland respecting General Chute's operations in his late return southward, from Taranaki. "It is said, that having on his way arrived at the settlement of neutral Maoris who had rendered great assistance at the wreck of the ' Lord Worsley,' he fired into the pa, though urgently requested not to do so, killed six or seven innocent men, destroyed their cultivations, and sent the rest (npwards of 200) into the forest amongst the rebel Maoris. , "It is added also, as a proof of his intention to commit the act, that he refused to allow the interpreter, Mr. Parris, to accompany the forces. " This report has been brought not by civilians only, but has been largely circulated by the military, and will no doubt be soon on its way to England. " Why the Cross has taken no notice of this statement has given rise to surmises that are not creditable to its character for impartiality and independence ; and others besides civilians have said that it was only a confirmation of Mr. Gorst's charge against colonial papers, that they suppress facts that may damage the cause they advocate. "If these be facts, they cannot be suppressed, and an attempt to cover or palliate them will do more damage than [a frank admission of them, with a manly disapproval of an act so unworthy of a civilised man. " I for one could never approve of the statements sent home respecting the conduct and motives of the colonists in this war. I have felt that the Maoris must be subjugated and must be punished. But I feel that, unless the colonists disown approval of such x proceeding that a cry of execration will be raised through the civilised world. — I am, &c, " Philo -Maori. ' We regret that ' ' Phili-Maoro" should, on insufficient grounds, have brought such an accusation against General Chute as he has done in his letter. It would have been more manly if the writer had given his authority for the imputation, instead of sheltering himself by saying that " the report has been brought, not by civilians only, but has been largely circulated by the military, and will no doubt soon be on its way to England." In the first place, no authentic intelligence respecting the southward march of General Chute could have been published in Auckland last week, or could have been known by any one, civilian or military, not actually with the force. So much for the rumour, and the statement that "Philo-Maori" had "examined the Cross, with considerable interest, during the past week, with a view to ascertain the correctness of a report which has been largely circulated in Auckland respecting General Chute's operations on his late return southward from Taranaki." The steamer • Welliugton,' which arrived in the Manukau on the 14th, brought up a detachment of the 68th L.I. from New Plymouth, but they knew no more of the General's southward march than " Philo-Maori" did, and he was in Auckland ; and the fact that the surrender of Te Ua was not reported by them, is proof of this. "Philo-Maori" is therefore guilty of bringing a grave accusation against General Chute, of an " intention " to shoot neutral natives, who were living peaceably in their pa, and who had rendered assistance to the Europeans wrecked in the 'Lord Worsley,' upon a mere idle rumour ; and he likewise brings a serious accusation against us for not publishing what we could not possibly know. We don't care to inquire the kind of " assistance" rendered by the natives to the crew and passengers of the 'Lord Worsley,' but we do say that the imputation against the General, as it stands, falls little short of that of murder. Whilst protesting against the intentional unfairness of the accusation against ourselves, let us inquire whether there is any foundation for that against General Chute. We do so, because the position of our correspondent, and the intimation that the accusation " will, no doubt, be soon on its way to England," renders a public refutation oEthe charge absolutely necessary. It would have been more satisfactory to all parties if "Philo-Maori" had appended his name to his letter ; but that is of comparatively little consequence in view of the use which he intimates will be made of the "report." Now, is there any truth in the report (which, by the way, we never heard of before), that General Chute ordered the massacre of six or seven innocent men, destroyed their cultivations, and drove 200 of them into the bush to join the rebels? Is there any truth in the statement that General Chute planned this massacre before leaving Taranaki, and executed it, " though urgently requested not to do so ?" Is

there a word of truth in it from beginning to end? We say, having made inquiries on the subject from an officer who held a command in the expedition under General Chute, that there is not a word of truth in the accusation from beginning to end. It is entirely without foundation. " There was not » shot fired (says the officer in question), in the southward expedition! except at Waikoko, apa between Warea and Opunaki (six miles from the latter place, and over fifty from New Plymouth). The pa in question was garrisoned by over 200 natives, of the very worst of the Sauhaut, of whom a fair pro* portion were Waikatos. It was here that the attack was made, which resulted in the death of several natives, and the dispersion of about 200 into the bush; and wag the stronghold of the rebel fanatics. Te Ua lived at his village, - near which the 'Lord Worsley was wrecked, He gave himself into custody. There was no injury inflicted on him, or on any one of the people of his village." We have quoted the words of the officer in question, and we believe them. We have inquired as to the facts of the case from other officers, and find that the accusation of " Philo-Maori " ii absolutely untrue. There was no shot fired, except in the one place ; and it was apa that ought to have been reduced. Furthermore, the detailed narrative in the Taranaki Herald, which we published yesterday, and the account in the Wanganui Times, whioh we have read, corroborate the facts as ire now give them. In conclusion, let us hope that in future "Philo-Maori '' will be more careful, and truthful, in his epistolary communications.