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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1016, 23 January 1869, Page 2

The Tactics of the Goveenment. — The Wa/nganui Times thus remarks: — After the slaughter of the settlers at Poverty Bay, the local force, consisting of Europeans and friendly Natives, if promptly and properly set to work under j Mr. M'Lean, Superintendent of Hawke's j Bay, could speedily punish the miscreant I assassins. When, eventually, that force j was put in motion, Mr. M'Lean's operations, so successfully carried on, were retarded, his projects thwarted, and at length, when, in spite of the opposition of j the Government, he had gained victory after victory, and was upon the point of finally crushing the enemy, the Government again stepped in, and, for the purpose of reserving that honor for their protegee, Col. Whitmore, despatched him witlialarge force from the West Coast at a great exSense to the colony, so as to compel Mr. I'Lean to retire, and leave Colonel Whitmore to enjoy the credit of a final victory, that would be more easily gained without him, and at a saving of at least £20,000 to the colony. Again, here upon the West Coast our local European force and friendly natives, if properly orgauised and well commanded, could have driven Titokowaru and his cannibal followers beyond our settlements, but the action taken by the Defence Minister has enabled him to advance from post to post to within 20 miles of Wanganui, and no steps must be taken to drive him hence unless under the supreme command of the protege Whitmore. That is our actual position, a position which the colony can never again be placed in after the present Ministry is expelled from office. Employment of Native Tboops. — The D. 8. Gross of the 7th iust. says :— " We have said before that we thought the employment of European forces a mistake whenever native forces were available and could do the work. In spite of the advantageous position in which Colouel Whitmore seems now to be, and in spito ofthe success which we hope he will soon achieve, we are of the same opinion still. The victory of the troops now engaged against Te Kooti will be an excellent thing, no doubt, but it will not alter the fact that victory could have been gained quite as certainly and much more cheaper without them. The interference of the European forces and their commander did not hasten, but to all appearance seriously delayed, the final victory over To Kooti. But even if this was not the case, it is very certain that they seriously increased its cost. Thundeb-Storm in Auckland.—During the storm which passed over this city and neighbourhood yesterday evening, the flagstaff in front oi' Mr. Holmes' Hotel, North Shore, was struck by the electric fluid, and for two-thirds of its length j shivered to atoms. On examining the spot afterwards, a round hole in the earth, some four inches in diameter, was found near the foot of the pole. f Several of the splinters were flung to a distance of thirty yards. — JV. Z. Herald, Jan. 16. H.M. 18th Regiment.— We are informed from private sources that his Excellency the Governor has received a dispatch from tho Colonial Office, requiring that the only regiment now in New Zealand, should be sent Home at once. This order was of course written before the news of ouv more recent disasters, the cruel cannibalism of the Maoris, and the Poverty Bay butcheries, could have reached the authorities in England.—NeZson Colonist, Jan. 12.