THE NELSON EXAMINER. SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1860.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 24 March 1860, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1860.

Journals become more neceitary at men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that they serve only to lecure liberty: tney maintain civilization. Ds Tocqubvillb. Of Democracy in America, vol. v., 330.

The intelligence from Taranaki, which was brought down to us by the Airedale, and which our Supplement of to-day contains in full, is of a nature to render most other topics, at all events for some time to come, of very secondary importance and interest.

As, according to the Eastern proverb, "a wild cat in the chamber is more to be feared than a lion in the desert," so is any serious outbreak among the native inhabitants of these islands a matter which concerns ourselves much more nearly, and is fraught with much more serious consequences to us personally, than a war between two great European States, or a battle between armies where the killed and wounded alone exceed our whole adult male population.

True to our national character, we have long refused to believe in the possibility of such an event ; we have found abundant reasons in our own growth and prosperity, as well as in the reported decadence of the native race, to confirm us in our incredibility; we have expected to the last moment that the mere appearance of our troops and the display of our power would be sufficient to prevent any positive breach of the peace ; and we have expected that, after a certain amount of bluster on the one side, and of conciliatory negotiation on the other, the quarrel might be somehow adjusted, more or less satisfactorily, and the critics and carpers of the newspapers left to wind up the affair by showing how terribly everything had been mismanaged, and how much better everything would hav*e gone, if exactly the contrary policy had been adopted.

We were therefore to some extent taken by surprise when we found that hostilities had actually commenced; that blood had been shed ; and that, as if to show the real nature of the warfare, and the combination of the settlers with the military and naval service in carrying on operations, the first three who fell were a volunteer, a soldier and a sailor. But although surprised, let us add that, so far, we have been true to another national characteristic, and have showu no want of disposition to meet the emergency, or, if necessary, face the danger, and accept all the responsibilities of the situation. It could hardly be expected that our Superintendent or his Executive should venture to act for us in a matter so much beyond the ordinary scope of their duties, or incur any responsibility in doing so without some assurance that the public feeling would support them ; but they readily complied with the request to hold a public meeting, aud expressed their willingness to act upon the suggestions there thrown out and unanimously agreed to. Unfortunately, the state of the weather, and her stock of fuel getting low, prevented the Airedale steamer from waiting to ascertain what the communication was which was telegraphed to her as " important ;" and we therefore were more in the dark as to our proceedings than was altogether desirable ; but we .learned to a certainty that nearly one thousand women and children were in a situation of some difficulty and danger ; and the feeling of the whole j settlement was embodied in the unanimous resolution of a crowded meeting, that if the whole body were intrusted to us, neither fathers, husbands, or brothers, should have reason to complain of our care. Again, it was at once perceived that under certain contingencies, such as the presence of a large body of armed natives, between the town and the Camp at the Waitara, about twelve miles apart, the services of our little steamer, the Tasmanian Maid, might prove invaluable. Her light draught of water would enable her to enter the Waitara with ease and safety, and thus keep up a ready and expeditions communication between the troops and the town, as well as with the larger vessels in the offing. Without waiting, therefore, for requests, or holding back for applications, it was recom-

mended that our Provincial Government should engage and send her off at once ; if not required for the military operations, she could still bring back with her a first instalment of our guests ; whom, under any circumstances, we may still look for by the Airedale, on her return from the North, and for whose reception aud accommodation our Committee is doubtless already making provision. That serious events are in progress there can be no manner of doubt ; as, when the Airedale was leaving, heavy firing of both artillery and small arms was distinctly heard. The natives, if they have really succeeded in forming a combination among the tribes, can undoubtedly bring a large force into the field ; in which case we must look for a war of some duration.

We are fortunate, however, in having for our head at this juncture, an old and tried soldier in Colonel Gore Browne. He is not only accustomed to warfare, but to savage warfare ; and was with Sir Robert Sale in the gallant defence of Jellalabad ; that one bright spot among the reverses of the disastrous Affghan campaign. The incidents of hostile operations against such a foe are therefore doubtless familiar to him ; and he will adapt his tactics to the irregular and desultory character of the attacks to which he will be exposed. The Affghan mountaineers are, physically, among the finest races of the world ; athletic, brave, excellent skirmishers, deadly shots, and altogether a much more dangerous foe than he has now to meet. We feel confidence, therefore, in his meeting any emergency with promptitude, decision, and forethought. Should he require their we believe there are scores of volunteers who would willingly come forward ; and should the struggle assume larger dimensions, and, which God forbid, become a war of races, to result in the expulsion of one, or the extirpation of the other, there are thousands of hardy miners in Australia who would desire no better fortune than to conquer a home for themselves in New Zealand, and hold their farms by rifle tenure, at all risks and against all opponents.

As we see that our contemporary pleads infancy in bar to our action, and acknowledges that be has not yet arrived at years of discretion, we are content to allow the plea, aud trust his natural guardians and protectors will look better after him in future. Children of such tender age should not be harshly dealt with, though they should not be allowed to go quite uncorrected for their puerile offences.