The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 193, 17 October 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1866.

The lafe successsfnl action with the natives near Ketemarai, whilst reminding us that the war is not yet over, proves clearly that it would soon he brought to an end, if a few such men as Major M'Donnell were allowed to have their own way. The sum set down for the defence of the colony is something fearful, and there will be no end to the drain upon the pockets of the people, unless means are takeu to settle the native question iv a more siimmary way than has lately been pursued. No doubt the native insurrection is suppressed in the' main.-' The great chiefs having lost heart, resistance is now confined to a few hundred fanatics," who think themselves'invulnerable, and . concealed in their almost inaccessible fastnesses imagine they can for a long time defy the British power. The great majority of the natives must see the folly of further measuring their strength with us. They see the European population increase in proportion as their own diminishes, aud nono but the most savage of the HauIlaus will continue to risk the loss of life and territory, that a protracted struggle with a superior force is sure to cause. Nevertheless, it is painful to find that the hostilities have not ceased, that ever and anon our brave men fall before the savage foe, and that all the evils of the strife seem destined to continue till the few remaining fanatics have been devoted to a destruction to refuse all offers of escape. Major M'Donnell's late success proves what has been asserted over and over again, that to cope successfully with the natives, the opposing force must be-adapted to bush warfare, able to follow them into their retreats, and act with greater rapidity than is shown by the natives themselves. It is not necessary to abuse General Cameron, and underrate the British army, as has beeu done, in order to account for the failure of that general and his troops to extinguish the native rebellion. Besides the unwillingness of the general to risk the lives of his officers and men in a war wliich he considered was caused by the bungling of statesmen, and carried on for the benefit of contractors and land speculators, thero was the positive inability of an army fettered by routine and condemned to act only in a certain way, to contend with the natives in the harrassing style of warfare they adopted. The dashing campaign of General Chute was an improvement ou the management of General Cameron, but then the former had the advantago ofthe latter's experience, and was powerfully supported by the colonial troops aud native contingent. The successful result of Major M'Donnell's recent expedition proves, in addition to a hundred former proofs, that a well disciplined and lightly equipped party, led by an active commander, following the natives to their secret haunts, aud dashing at them in the most approved style of guerilla warfare, will soon bear down all opposition and terrify the few remaining malcontents into prompt submission. The papers of the district where the war is now carried on are loud iv their request that the Government will not interfere or interrupt the work' which Major M'Don.nell has so well begun. Not long ago he said he would crush in six: months all the Hau-Haus betweeu Taranaki and Wanganui, if he were not interfered with, and Avere properly supported by the Government. There is reason to fear that the attempts at negotiation have produced the ill effects they always have, inducing the natives to treat us with contempt, enabling them to gain time, and producing a feeling of depression and disgust in the minds of the gallant men, who if left to

pursue an uninterrupted course, would soon make short work of the expensive and inglorious struggle. No doubt it is commendable on the part of the commissioners who represent the Government to endeavor to save from destruction any fragment of the misguided native rebels, but if after repeated efforts at negotiation they are resolved to try conclusions with the colonial forces, the sooner they are allowed to do so the better. So long as the war cloud casts its darkening shadows over the country, so long will ifc be a source of political and commercial embarrassment. If the natives will fight they must be subdued at once, as it is evident they would be, if left in the hands of such men as Major M'Donnell with his small but determined band of bushrangers. In such a case negotiation is folly, and delay to strike an effective blow is treachery to colonial interests. We detest the lire, ruin and awful butchery of war, but if compelled to resort, to it, let us make short work of it. If twere done when tis dsne, Then twere well, it were done quickly.