Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1868.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 977, 12 September 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1868.

The news from Patea, received from Wellington by telegraph, and further details of which appear this morning, tells of a sad reverse to the Colonial forces— we had almost written, terrible disaster, for such, we fear, it will prove. Although the stronghold of the enemy was attacked in the day time, its full strength does not seem to have been calculated upon, if one may judge from the terrific loss on the side of the troops — five officers and twelve men killed, twenty-five wounded, and two missing; in addition to which, five friendly natives were killed. The engagement seems to have taken place in a thick forest, and the leading files of the attacking force to have rushed upon certain destruction. The fate of such men as Von Terapsky and Buck, the latter well known in Napier, will be felt deeply throughout the Colony. One effect of this disastrous event, following rapidly upon other rebel successes, will be to inspire confidence among the disaffected throughout the Island, and to incite to fresh rebellion in hitherto unsuspected quarters. It would take very little indeed to set the whole Northern Island in a blaze. This province, in particular — being exposed to the inroads of the fanatics let loose on its shores by the criminal negligence of the authorities, and being open in another direction to the raids of war parties from Taupo or Waikato — is in a very critical position, more especially the northern portions of it, and abutting territory in the province of Auckland. We refer mainly to Wairoa and Poverty Bay. Either of those places lies in close proximity to the camp* of the escaped prisoners, who, well armed and provisioned, and receiving plenty of recruits, might, any night, come down in force and sack whichever town they pleased. The Government is well aware of all this, yet, instead of taking precautionary measures, it actually withdraws from the province the small mounted force under Major Fraser, the presence of which was so all-essential to the safety —the very existence of some of our out-settlements. We grant thata serious state of things has arisen on the West Coast, and that a veteran aud thoroughly disciplined corps, such as that of Major Fraser, may do much towards retrieving the aspect of affairs. But, surely, the way to mend matters is not to leave a large settled district at the mercy of a formidable enemy — quite as much so as that which has worked so much havoc among our troops on the West Coast. The people, with one voice, denounce this act of the Government as one fraught with the most dangerous consequences to this district.