THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1026, 27 February 1869, Page 3

THE WAR IN NEW ZEALAND.

. (From tTiVf'T^ranaici Herald.")- \ We have noticed with regret that the "journals of this .Colony hare adopted the stereotyped heading of "War in Now Zealand," to all news that has any reference to the disaffection of native tribes. Nothing could be more unwiso than their doing ,|o ; for they will intimidate many for some time from emigrating to this Colony. We are not at war with the natives, we are merely trying to subdue a few rebellious Maoris, who will persist in breaking our laws. As well might the Sydney newspapers, when the mounted police were attacking the aborigines of that Colony ; or when they were engaged in chasing Gardner and his band of outlaws over the country, havo headed the accounts of the different engagements with 11 War in Now South Wales." As an in- — *" stance of the injury this misnaming our native outbreaks has done the Colony, we give an extract from a letter reoeived by the Provincial Secretary of Auckland, (Mr. Creighton) from a Mr. A. A. .Riddel, Emigration Agent at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, dated 7th December, 1868, in which the writer states that he has had very few inquiries about this Colony, as unfortunately the news of another "war in New Zealand" had just reached Canada, and the journals there were only too ready to re-echo the terrible announcement. " Can't you prevail upon your editors," says Mr. Riddel, "to give a bigger or more horrible name than ' wa/r ' to these little native outbreaks ? The greater the noise made about them, the more afraid will peoplo be to emigrate to your country. In Canada we get up as fierce wars now and then at elections, which some call rows, while the chair styles them riots. The next Maori war you have on hand, put all your newspaper correspondents and editors in the front, so that they may be got rid of as soon aa possible. For the truth of the matter is, if you don't kill them, they'll kill their country by the bloody wars they so frequently talk about." Mr. Riddel may be satirical in his remarks, but what he says about the journals "killing their country by the bloody wars';', as nevertheless very true. The journals *aro bound to publish true accounts of any fight that may tako place with tho Maoris ; but that is no reason why they should be dished up in a more horrible form than is necessary. This is ono of the reasons why we object to the style of writing used by Colonel Whitmore in his despatches. They are couched in language similar to that used by a commander-in-Chief of a lai'ge . army ; whereas they should be worded more as a report coming from a Commissioner of the Police. An attempt was made, by the formation of the Armed Constabulary, to knock out the military element from our Colonial forces. It, however, was no good ; Captains, Lieutenants, and Ensigns were gazetted by dozens, and the military continues now as strong as ever; while this lasts, we cannot expect to see any other than military terms used in tho despatches written by Colonel Whitinore. But were the Colonial forces officered with persons bearing only titles such as Commissioners, Inspectors, or Sub-Inspeotors, the terms used in their reports would have to be considerably. modified, to preven£*their appearing ridiculous. . The account of any fight would really be more correct than if the strong words, or highsounding titles were usecl, which only deceive those at a distance, who will imagine that every little skirmish with .the natives resembles a Solfer.ina.or. an Iftkermann. '. \\ ," ;".'-'-.Z- '. ■ '