WAR NEWS-ABANDONMENT OF THE WAIKAREMOANA EXPEDITION.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1064, 9 July 1869, Page 2

WAR NEWS-ABANDONMENT OF THE WAIKAREMOANA EXPEDITION.

Lii.uT.-Co_. Herrick arriyedrin Napier on Wednesday evening from Waikaremoana, to confer with Mr. Ormond as to the course to be pursued with regard to the operations there. We gather that the enemy was believed to be in some force at three or four points on the Lake — the main position being a pa called Whakaare, situate on a peninsula running out into the Lake with high ground. lin its rear. The position was reconnoitred by Lieut.-Colonel Herrick from a whale j boat, and was made out to be a strong pa j with palisading &c. ; but, owing to the abrupt and rocky nature of the shores of the Lake, the landing places all round it are few and far between and the water is deep to the very edge of the cliffs. This waa the case at Whakaare, except at the landing place, which was sure to be defended and rifle pitted. It was evident from the preparations going on that the rebels intended to defend their position so long as it suited them to do so ; but, from the number of canoes they have at 1 Whakaare and the other pas, it would have been impossible to prevent the escape of the enemy when he chose to retreat," as Colonel Herrick had not boats sufficient for the purpose. Had, therefore, the operations against Whakaare been proceeded with, our forces would in all probability have found that, after, all the labor and risk of life attendant upon an attack upon a fortified, pah, the enemy would, so soon as the fire got too hot for him, have taken to his canoes; and the most that could have been expected under the most favorable circumstances, would be the destruction of one or two of them; while, on the other hand, our losses must have been very considerable. Supposing our forces to have continued the work of attacking the enemy in position after position upon the Lake — a task at this season of the year and in that inclement climate of no trifling difficulty and risk — the end would in all probability have been that the Hau Haus would have retired upon their, fastnesses in the Urewera country ; and ] the difficulty of following them to covert was lately demonstrated by the failure of Colonel Whitmore with the large force | with which he attempted it at a less unfavorable season. Such are some of the considerations which appears to us required to be weighed in deciding what was to be done at Waikaremoana ; and we are not surprised to learn i that the Resident Agent has resolved upon withdrawing the expedition. Indeed, this is nothing more than was expected when the operations were first commenced, it having been evident at the time to every man of common sense that such would be the result. Serious as is the sacrifice of the vast expenditure that has been incurred upon this expedition, which, numbering 800 men, has now lasted nearly two months and has achieved nothing, we still think it a wise and prudent step to withdraw from operations which could have had no favorable result, and might have involved us in calamitous consequences. For this expedition— its ruinous cost and its unfavorable termination, we have to thank the late Government; and, unfortunately, it is only one of several costly and abortive movements which were commenced by that Ministry when it was almost in its death's struggle, in the vain hope of securing sueI cesses which would have given it a longer | lease of office. Those movements were the last throw of the gambler, but, unfortunately, the gamblers do not pay the cost ; the colony is the sufferer. We learnt by telegraph last night that the expedition under Major Brown, which was sentt 1 ) out two weeks ago to the West Coast, . 1 1 9 ii eh the late Native Minister told the House of Representatives was to result in the capture of the noted Titokowaru, has returned to New Plymouth, having failed to achieve the object with which it was despatched. Let us hope for more prudent and wise actions from the present Government. The Sturt arrived yesterday forenoon from Matata. Part of the colonial forces being still in a state of mutiny, the whole of the money on board was not taken deUvery of by the Paymaster there. The St. Kilda, with Colonel Herrick on board, steamed for Wairoa yesterday afternoon the Sturfc being intended to follow, i with the object of taking the Ngatiporous to their homes, pending more suitable weather for military operations. Owing to southerly weather, however, the St. Kilda put back.