THE PATEA CAMPAIGN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 224, 21 September 1868, Page 2

THE PATEA CAMPAIGN.

To thh Emtob of thb Neisoh Evbnihg Mail. Sir—l agree with many of ' Dyke's ' observations; but would ask, in the absence of bushtrained men, what chance have raw recruits in coping with Maoris in the bush? He saya that what is cover for a Maori is also cover for an Englishman. Granted, provided he knows how to make use of it; but if not, what then? WeU, it is simply leading men like so many sheep to the slaughter. . _ 'Dyke' talks about baihfightmg . at Taranaki, but that bush Is a ume bagatelle compared with

the bush at Ngatiruanui. Has he ever been into that bush ? I liave been, long, long ago, 20 toileS back into it with the Maoris, and he only needs to become acquainted with it to find that, in the absence of thoroughly trained bushraen, I have some reason for my view of the matter. Has he ever entered even the outskirts of that bush, say, from Tumaha, inland of Manawapou, to Turangairere? If not, then all I can say is that he can* not form a correct estimate on this subject. 'Dyke' objects to a Fabian policy, &c., on account of the expense. What has expense to do with it provided it succeeded? Would not the' colony as a whole rather bear a little extra,, or even a large extra expense than mourn over brave men fallen and the wounded tortured and butchered in cold blood? I will state my reasons fot advocating a Fabian policy. In the first place, it is absolutely necessary that the Maoris on the coast should have free access to the bush. All their cultivations (kumera excepted) are there; and in summer there are tens of thousands of piharau (lampreys), besides a vast quantity of eels that go up the rivers* , these are caught in immense quantities, and brought down in canoes to the coast and dried for their winter store, besides tame and wild pigs in immense numbers. In fact, the bush is the granary for all the Maoris on the coast; and to shut them out of it for three months at this season would create such a panic amongst them, that the probability is, that they would be the first to rise en masse, and either drive the Ha'uhaus from tbe country or bring them to terms. Yours, &c, W. HOUGH. Nelson, Sept. 21. — «»^^ —_■—__