MANAGEMENT OF NORTHERN AFFAIRS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1047, 11 May 1869, Page 3

MANAGEMENT OF NORTHERN AFFAIRS.

(From the " Press," April 27.) The latest news from the North — which will not we think, take any oho by surprise — is that almost immediately on tbo departure of Colonel Whitmoro for the East Coast Titokowaru has again made his appearance, none the worse for* recent mishaps, and is moving down upon the districts from which he has been expelled at the head of a force said to number 500 men. He is expected to occupy Waitotara, in which case Patea will bo again abandoned. Really, if ifc were not for the important consequences involved, tbe way in which the war is carried on would be exquisitely diverting. Ifc is a perfect game at bide and seek, with the advantage to tbe hidersthat they can never be caught, since if tbe colonial troops do have the luck to surprise a fortified ,pa in the middle of the bush, by a strange.coincidence the occupants turn out to be devotedly loyal. The combatants advance and retire like the man and woman in one of those old-fashioned contrivances fpr showing the state of the weather. Enter colonial forces, exeunt Maoris. The Hauhaus go before, tho Constabulary follow after; presently the Constabulary are wanted elsewhere, and no sooner are they offthe scene, than, presto, the Hauhaus are back again. The story of a campaign might be told after the manner of the stage directions in Shakespeare's Henry VI. " Scene— the West Coast. Enter Col. Whitmore, with his forces, marching Alarums. Excursions. Exit Titokowaru." And so on with variations. But there :is no sign yet of tbe closing scene being at hand. All this might be very excellent comedy ifit were played gratis ; but unfortunately the colony has to pay for it at the rate, so says report, of £1000 a day. Nor does there Seem any prospect of the performance coming to an end. For anything we can tell to the contrary it may go on ad infinitum. Colonel Whitmore may succeed in driving back Te Kooti (or his successor, if To Kooti is really dead), but meanwhile Titokowaru will have it all his own way on the West Coast. When Colonel Whitmore returns to repel Titokowaru, Te Kooti in his turn will get the upper hand in the East. This cannot be allowed to continue. At the present rate of progress the war may go on for ever. We bave now been fighting for some nine months, and seem no nearer a conclusion than when we began. No sooner is tho enemy repulsed in one quarter than be breaks out in another. It is plain tbat there must, be a complete alteration of system. The Government must understand that tliere are two distinct seats of disturbance in the North Island, and must take tbeir measures accordingly. The East and West Coasts must be placed under separate commands, and operations carried on on both sides simultaneously. There need be no difficulty about doing this. Tbe men are ready and the leaders. We believe that the reinstatement of Mr. M'Lean as General Government Agent, with full power to employ at discretion the native allies and whatever European force the Government could place at his disposal, would be the first step to a complete suppression of insurrection on the East Coast. Without any disparagement to Colonel Whitmore, whose services to the colony we gladly acknowledge, there is no man in New Zealand who, from local experience, intimate acquaintance witb the natives; the confidence reposed in him both by tbe settlers and the Maoris, .and tried administrative ability, can advance any claim whatever in comparison with those

' ! of Mr. M'Lean to be entrusted with the , charge of affairs on that side of tbe island. . If the entire management of the war ;• on tho East Coast were committed "to^Mr. . M'Lean, and Colonel Whitmore left free : to pperate against Titokowaru and tbe Ngatimaniapotos who are said to be assembled in force in the Upper' Waitara. the enemy would be encountered on both , his strongest points ab once,- blows would ' be dealt right and left; full upon the centres of rebellion, and any success could be followed up unremittingly. The present desolutory step of warfare, in which the field is continually being changed, an advantage here balanced, by a reverse, there, . and -no advantage pushed home, would be exchanged for one which would be sharp, short, and decisive. It appears to us the simplest and yet the most; effective disposition of the colonial forces that could possibly be made.