THE PATEA CAMPAIGN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, 17 September 1868, Page 2

THE PATEA CAMPAIGN.

To the Editor or tue Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — I could nofc but be struck with Major Hunter's remark given in your issue of last night, that ' it was madness on tha part of Col. M'Donnell to take his men iuto the dense bush, where surprise by a rebel picket waa so easy, aud retreat so difficult,' &c., for ifc perfectly corroborated what I have stated to many people here; that to take men iuto that bush was simply to lead thera to destruction. I have stated repeatedly to ray friends aud others that, if iv possession of that bush with 150 tho-roughly-traiued Maoris, I would guarantee not only to resist, bufc almost decimate a whole reginunt. Why I have spoken so positively is because I know it well, for between 20 aud 30 years ago I was io the habit of going through that bush inland about every three- weeks, from Patea to what I conceive to be Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu, which is a new kaiuga, erected since I left; aud a more dense or impenetrable bush it is impossible to conceive, aud not only so, bufc there are so many deep gorges and gullies, impenetrable almost to auy but thorough! y-traiued Maoris, with so many angles and serpentine bends, that they would at one augle be prepared to fire a deadly volley into the ranks of those in pursuit of them. The m«n would then doubtless rush forward, look down, see the smoke of their guns and fire down into ifc; but in the meautime the Maoris would be behind another angle, charging their guns and preparing to give auofcber deadly volley from another quarter, and so on ad infinitum. You may follow them into the bush and your brave troops may be decimated, but all to no purpose. Ifc appears to me that the Fabian policy in this case would be the best. We have got all the open country extending from Patea to Heretoa, a distance of 30 miles in length and. miles in width. Then take possession ofthe whole, protect fche settlers, and shoot every Maori that shows his face outside the bush. Do this for twelve months, or more, if necessary, and the rebels will be conquered. I am aware thafc in summer they cannot be starved out, but in winter they cau. Allow no Maori to • go into nor yet to come from the bush; let it be understood that all Maoris either going into or coming out of it will be shot; shut them out from all communication with the Maoris on the coast, and cut off all chance of. either provisions or ammunition reaching them, and I believe the^end will be gained. Yours, &c, One who has a Son theee. Nelson, Sept. 17.