REVIEW OF THE WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 299, 27 October 1864, Page 6

REVIEW OF THE WAR.

[From tlio -Ye/*on Jtxaminpr, October 20, lSGd.j Amidst the sound ol tvuiupLts and the clash of arms tlii! session ol 1 -S( 3 was opened—ii\o and a ban n O libs after tin! war had commenced. The " Roy frpjoch." :is might have ljecn expect, cl referred to liale save the native war, to which the Governor alluded in tins following paragra; lis — "The resumption of a block oi' land by my orders at Taratuiki, which bad long previously to the late war been peacefully occupied by our settlers, but which the continued threats of the natives bad since proven! cd their return to, was followed by the entirely unprovoked murder of nearly the whole of a small escort oi her Majesty's troops. -'This murder arid directed by the tribes of Waikato ; the sn'ino tribes who bad already expelled from their own districts their missionaries and till other Knropean residents ; forcibly taken away the half-caste families of the latter, anil evinced ill in iv ways their determination to provoke u war of r. c:s. They have for some time past been endea- j ve ir.ng to form a general combination of the natives, having for its avowed object- the indiscriminate slaughter of the Knropean inhabitants of the colony. " J heir plansof attack upon Auckland and its neighbouring settlements have been frustrated by the defensive measures adopted ; but they have assassinated 0 it-settlers, and soldiers engaged on escort dutv. " No effort to guinovorthesetribes has been omitted. Every endeavour has been made to remove any even apparent ground of complaint; to do them the fullest .justice, and to promote in every way the'r welfare and improvement, "let no means have been found ellectual to induce them to relinquish their schemes of conquest anil plunder. They have deliberately resolved upon war, and to try their, strength with the British race. " in accordance with this desire to deprive the natives of every pretext for rebellion, and prevent, if possible, the (hen threatening insurrection from becoming general ; in the hope, also, of securing unanimity, and the cordial support of all classes of her Majesty's ]• nropean subjects, 111 the war thus forced upon us ; and for other reasons detailed in the papers which will tic laid before you, i thought it mv dutv, notwithstanding some obvious objections to such a course, to declare my intention not to attempt to complete the purchase of the block of land at the "Waitara. " When, from the assassination of officers and io.diers, it was clear that the war, which such cfior's had been made to avoid, was inevitable, the imperial Government was immediately applied to for additional military assistance. The promptitude alid liberality with which that, application has been responded to demim.l your special recognition; and I feet confident that the aid thus given bv iuiglaud tathe colony in its time of danger and dillicnltv, will strengthen those sentiments of loyalty and "affection towards the mother country which have always animated the settlers of new Zealand. " 1 he neighbouring colonies, to which I applied for such military aid as they could aflbrd, have rendored every ;(s-wtunce in their power, and mv thanks are! in a special liiannerdue to the Governor"of Tasmania f"r the givut promptitude with which cverv available i so'dier was despatched thence to (his colon v. " Meantime, active measures had beer, taken in the eolcny itself for the defence of the settlements of the j Northern island. The Militia and Volunteers have been called out, armed, anil trained, to the number of upwards iJ.OLIO men. Volunteer companies, both 01 horse avid foot, have been formed in the different provinces swnii of them in Auckland and Taranaki —II" the especial purpose of scouring the forest cot ntry. Mounted forces, under the Colonial Deiem.- j'orcc Act nl Inst, session, have he n raised and stationed in Auckland, ilawke's liny, AVcllmgton, and \Vangle -i. A steam gunboat, adapted for the navigation of shallow rivers, has been built and brought oyer fro... Sydney, for especial service in the Waikato river. No exertions have been spared by the colony in contributing to the utmost, extent of its power towards its own defence. "'io provide in the most certain manner for the future protection of the settlers ; to leave the regular tmops more lree for offensive operations, by releasing them from a part ion of their garrison duty ; as well as to enable the Lieutenant-General Commanding to undertake these operations at an early period ; 11 Ittrie number of Volunteers have been introduced trom Australia and the Middle island to serve for a certan period as Militia, and eventually to form mil.toy settlements in the interior, on condition of io-e.ving free grants of land for their services. The fine body of men that have thus volunteered to assist in fighting the battles of the colon} 1 will greatly facilitate the prosecution of the war. # « # " A large expenditure lias been incurred in making provision for the dclence of the country, which the urgency of the crisis rendered immediately necessary. Measures will be submitted to you to enable the colony to meet this outlay, as well as that which, tlllf< r unatelv, will still have to be made on account of the war. ' " The measures to which your attention will be principally directed, wilt be "those which have for their object the suppression of the present, and the prevention of future rebellions. I relv with confi-ueii'-e on your cordial support in my endeavours to ct r y on the present war with vigour, and to make it, il po.sible. tie? last which shall afllict the iutropean and aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand. To do thb to provide a material guarantee for the preservat on ol peace—such measures will be necesserv as will future insurrections of the natives hopeless. iho most obvious and effective of such measures are (he construction of roads through the interior of the -Mtntry, and (lie introduction into tho disaffected di trie s especially, of tin amount of armed population sutlieient to defend itself against all aggression, it should be distributed in military settlements a'ong the irontiers of the settled districts an.l elsewhere, so as to afford protection to the inhabitants of these districts. A considerable number of volunteers for such settlements have been introduced, as 1 have already stated, and hills will lie submitted for v our consideration to iiuthi r.se and make provision for (he cartying out of fh-se objects 011 an extemive a scale as seems practie- ; bio at present. This will necessarily involve the oc(Upation ol a portion of the waste lands of the rebellious natives: but while ample land will be lelt for their own requirements, it is only just that tliev should I e made to feel some offhe evil conseipienees of plunging the country, by wanton and unprovoked aggr. ssions, into the expenses and miseries incidental to civd war; itis hoped to afford a warning 1 to o hor tribes to abstain from conduct which will be ut:uncled with the kind of punishment they are i are n.O<t apprehensive of it." J This was the fiivt author.-iiivo annrui cement to the 1 people of New Zealand of tho critical po.-ilion of tho j ! colony, and of! ho momentous character arid condi-i I tions oi the eoi t -st which had been entered into, in <

accordance with the Governor's speech, the attention of the with tout few • exceptions, conlificl to the consideration of tho one absorbing subject—the Native War—-what, had, spyung oit of it, and what, consequently, it behoved to do. Within a day or two after tho session was opened—bcf>re an opinion had been expressed—tho Ministry then in oliicc resigned, from an inability, as was understood, to act together. , ---» o, nprgency lli Ayliicii llie. eoilntfy wiis then placetl; tlie iirsfc dim of the fcegisiatttfo was ta have in officea Ministry that would bp able to work out efficiently such measures as. might be determined to be expedient under tho existing circunjstanccs. With this object all party'.and personal feeling, which might heretofore, havp existed was set'aside, in order that a Ministry able to command support from all parties might be formed. After some negociation Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Gillies, along with Mr. Russell and Mr. Wood, who had been members of the late Ministry, consented to take office. This Ministry embraced tho exponents of opinions which in tines past had widely differed. To enable it to be Conned, much forbearance had been shown by those who for years had opposed each other; but it was felt that the time required the exercise of such forbear mce. All difference bf opinion ou previous questions was now iiierged ih the desire to act with unanimity in the existing critical condition of affairs. When the now Ministry was announced to the House of Representatives, satisfaction was expressed on all sides. One of the first questions to which the attention of the Legislature v.a; called was that of the relations j on native affairs which were for the future.to subsist between the Ministry and the Governor.. Up to that time tlii' rule, established in 135G, witli respect to native i ffiirs, \v:is in force, namely—that.on. all. subjects ccii.iected with, the natives, .while jhe Colonial Ministers could tender advice; the Governor alone should f >iallv decide. Up to that time for all that was doi 0 in native matters—and it was much, and ealcnlatt d serious'y to all'cct tlie future of tho colony tho Representative of the Crown was alone responsible. Sir George Grey had, a short time after his arrival, reeominondcd, in a. despatch to the Duke of Newcastle, of the 30th November, 18G1. that the Colonial Ministry should have tho same iesponsibilitv and power as to native matters which they had on all other matters of government, llis Grace gave his sanction to this; assigning in his reply, as one reason, the failure of the Home Government in keeping the management of the natives under its control. It had consequently, after the receipt of His Grace's reply, been proposed to the colonial Parliament in the session of ISO 2, that it should accept tho responsibility of tho government of the natives. This proposal was negdived, and ultimately addresses to ; the- Queen were adopted by both Houses oi\ the subject which mav be summarized, shortly as representing in effect —that the Imperial Government had always jealously retained the management of the natives— that it alone therefore was responsible for the native anarchy which prevailed—that, to replace this-anarchy hy habits of law and order, was a task which should not then be transferred to the colonists—but tliat, when tranquillity, and the Authority of ( lie lfl\'. _ sjfould lie established, it would be wise and just that the Colonial Government should have the responsibility and power of governing the natives. The House of Representatives further expressed its conviction that, as the maintenance of her Majesty's Government required the presence and active help of the military power, it was essential (hat the Government directing the policy should have the control of that military ] over, and, therefore, that without that control, any pioiosal to get rid of the divided responsibility hiwierto existing in the colony, and to unite the Government under a single administration, was a proposal in name rather than m fact. Many members foresaw that, however the Home Government might profess to hand over tho direction of native policy o the colonial Ministry, when an emergency occurred whieli necessitated the employment of the military, (lie Home Government would interfere Subsequent facts have amply confirmed the correctness of this foresight. In replying to these addresses of the Legislature, the Duke of Newcastle seized the opportunity to administer what was virtually a didactic lecture to the Colonial Parliament for presuming to hold different views from his Grace as to the state of the colony ; the relations between the Government, the natives, and the colouists ; and the duties which devolved upon the latter; and signified that his previous decision should be adhered to. Both Houses now consideri' g it useless to protract tlie discussion, regarded 1 1; Grace's decision as conclusive, and accepted, m good faith, the responsibility thus thrust upon tho colony, fearfully aggravated as was the " Native difficulty" at. the time. In support of the policy adopted by the Governor before the Parliament had met, tho Suppression of Rebellion Bill and the New Zealand Settlement -Bill, wine submitted to the Legislature. The first proposed to establish a peremptory martial law over the whole colony ; the second to enable lands to be taken tor military settlements, either from Europeans or natives, on giving compensation for lands taken whore it did not belong to persons who had been in It was also calculated that the sale of some of the lands to be taken would replace a portion of the very largo sums required to meet the expenses ot iiir George Grey's policy. The Governor aiso sent down a message enclosing a bill for raising a loan of three millions to provide for tlie expenses of the war, and the planting of military settlements. These proposals thus to give 'o ;islative effect to tho Governor's policy, caused a profound sensation amongst members. Tho measures were both exceptionable in chanetor and;constiuetion, and tlicy made a gigantic den and on the means of :i colony not containing at tho Mine more than ono hundred and fifty thousand souls ! No community of people of tho same number had cvor before been subjected to such a demand, or to such pressure—a pressure increased from the fact that u largo proportion of the population were (some of them for nearly four years) taken away from their avocations as settlers, and compelled to perform military duties. But if these measures were exceptional, so were the times. A life and death struggle hud been entered info. Tlie Legislature could scarcely refuse to give effect to the course his Excellency had adopted without placing itself almost in a position of rebellion against her ilajesty's representative. The Colo nial i'urliament had loyally supported Governor Grey's peace policy ; it with e lual 1( y iltv supported his war policy, 'lite bills sent down to it were passed ly large majorities of both houses. Some members believed the policy was just and wise; some, with no very strong opinions, thought that as Sir George G rey hail failed in his measures of peace, there was no alternative but to pursue his measure of war to a conclusion. A small minority of both houses protested against, the policy and the measures. The Speaker of the House of Rei resentatives, in presenting the money bills to Sir 'George Grey at the conclusion of the session, referred to what tlie Legislature had done in support of his Excellency in the following words: — j "The Legislature has not failed to bear in mind your lixeellencv's suggestions that the steps to be taken by it should be such, as, while sufficient to extinguish an existing rebellion, should at the same time render similar risings for the future in the highest degree improbable. •' The Legislature has found it necessary to authorise the laising of no less a sum of money than three millions, in anticipation of future revenue, and while it has placed large resources, in the way of monev aml men, at the disposal of the Government, it has at the same time passed an Act by which the hands of the Kxeeutive and of tlie military commanders are strengthened by the possession of powers of a very large aiul untisal character. 'L liese Acts indicate tin; recognition of a serious and impend.n.; danger, which is" to be averted by no milder measures ; and they have been agreed to by tlie Ja'-Ure in the confident expectation that the lai-go j-ow,-rs thus bestowed will bo wielded with an amount «t' cautions forbearance, limited only by a due regard for the attainment of the essential objects for which they arc designed." On this subject the Governor, ii "nis prorogation speech, remarked :— '• It is highly gratifying to me that fie measures which I have adopted for the suppression of the re- . bcll'.ou, tlie maintenance of lier Majesty's sovereignty, and the protection of the peaceable inhabitants of fhi so islands frum lawless aggression, hare met with yonr hearty approval and support. tc The signal success which ha: attended tho operations of 1 er Majesty s military and naval forces, cai.not but bo a sttl .ject of great congratulation. The decisive defeat of the Waikato tribes by General Cameron and the coinbinedforces under his command, at liangiiiri, and the occupation, of Ngaruawahia, by her Majesty's troops, under the (iueeti's flag, will, I think, convince those tribes that the cause of tho Maori king is hopeless, and will, 1 trust, induce them to become peaceful subjects of her Majesty, and yield obedience to the law.

" While fully recognising the responsibilities of tha colony towards: the . Maori nice, I shall not relax ia following up our successes with.such he necessary, to reduce to obedience those who nmV still offer resistance to her Majesty's authority.''" I The Governor did not resell o the " Rebellion Bills" for the signification of '• ■' - T,, lf I " - o ptcaauto, a v.-; B avo cne Koyal assent to them at once. Well might the Governor thank the Legislature for what it haa done 5 It had strenuously supported the' ctfurse whiefi the Gov&rnor haa thongihtlight to.take, fortho maintenance of tlie authority., of tho.CroVa._ Jxi doing so' it had sacrifices .Yith?ut precedent for sj>, infant a Community; sacrifices which.it li^.d: same right to heiiove wcrlld be at icast recognised in the mother country. thisbelief inerely an extravagant dream ? During the session, both Houses passed a series of resolutions protesting against the arguments and statements by which Governor Grey had sought to account for his surren' <?/ of the Y/aitara, but declining to re-open the question, being satisfied with the opinions expressed by the Duke of Newcastle in commenting on it. the <rat ivas being pushed oh. Meremere, atj mdoned bt the natives, was taken passession of by.uic troops, who •were next ihored agitiiist the native stronghoil at Bangarivi. After a fierce contest, which lasted for some eighteen hours, and in which tue gallantry d'splayed by all branches of the service was fully e\idenced by the losses sustained, the place was token; upwards of one hundred and eighty natives being taken prisoners, amongst them the inflafe'ritiai and 1 highly-connected Chief Takerei Tc Ban; and otWf chiefs of nbte: . r . • .. . : l Tile heavy losses which the na l ,j.yes had sustained* an 4 especially tlie capture of so mmy chiefs of note, were severely ielt by :(hem. .For die timei hostility werfc suspended, and correspondence took piaco tat\vccn the prisoners and others of the insurgent nativ 8, and > s ir George Grey : the character of which will be gathered from lha following letteis :— Letter i-'iioir Native Prisoners to Wiremu Taiiihana and Othebs. Rangiriri, November 21, 1863. i • 0 William, and those witlvyou, O Tribe!— Salutation ! Friends, those of jou ■nh"> are. alivo—in number, ltu —we are sent to '.lie . ueen's redoubt. Peace is made. Our guns are given up to the General. Be you like unto us : let peace be made. These are (the terms of) lasting peace :—»tana of the island, let it be put down ; let the muna be given up to the Governor. Do not devise any different plan of action. Join with, us in oue the same plan in reference to peace. Let your letter (in reply) be quick, immediately on our young man with our letter reaching you. Consent to this. .Be quick as soon as our lettcf reaches yoit. Enough',.... Letter from Wi Te Wheoko to the Governor. Ongarahu Pali, November 23, ISO.'!. 0 Father, O Governor Grey!— Salutation! This is to tell you Waikato lias fallen. The survivors ■ have, been brought to the Ruato—rl'77 in numberi— 1 and the chiefs Takerei Te Rati, Wi Eumete, Waikatq , Te Tawliaiifi, Te Tapiliiihn Tirrhra, Tioriori, Kihi I Taiporutu, Pairoroku Tuhikitia, Reihana Tepoki, aid many other chiefs. The «uns have been given up to the General. Word has come from the chiefs who escaped, that Mr. Gundrv, the Interpreter, and I, should go and arrange the terms of peace. They have consented to the words of the prisoners, that peace be made; to do away with the king, and give up the land. White flags have been hoisted at their places. 1 have said to the General that I and Air. Gtindry, the Interpreter, should go. He did not consent, it is for you to say if you are willing that 1 and g Government Interpreter should go. But you riiiist give the word. . .. .• . The General has Tamiliana's were in token of Enougli. From your loving son, Wi Te Wheoeo. To Governor Grey, Auckland. Letteu fboii Pene Wiiarevu to His Excellency i this Governor. Ngaruawahia, November 25,1863. ; O Friend, O Governor ! —Salutation. This is to ; say toy. >n the fight has been fought, and some arc ; dead, si mi alive. Restore to us Waikato. Let it , suffice for you the men who are dead. Return to us I those who live. Enough; , _ , s Froiii your friend, r Pexf, Pukewhau. From all the Chiefs of the Waikato. 1 To Govi i> ior Grey. t. " . : Letter fsox Pene Pukewhau to His Excellency THE GOVERXOII. , . r Ngaruawahia, December 2, 1863. , f O Friihl, C) Governor ! —Salutations. 0 .friend; we are waiting the reply to our letter. Can i". havo t reached you or not ? These are the words of that r letter :—Restore the Waikato men; suffice for you i the dead. iinough. s From the Chiefs of Waikato, i From Pene Pukewiiau. i f Lett eh from His Excellk.vci' the Govek.vok to 1 Pene te Wharei'u. 1 Government House, December 6, 1563. t O all you Chiefs of Waikato, O Pene Pukewhau,^* t Your letter of the 2nd December has reached iito. , Sons, my words to you are these :—The Gener.il 2 must go uninterrupted to Ngaruawahja 1 ; the flag of - the Queen must be hoisted there. Then I will talk t to you. 1 (Signed) G-. Gre-t, * Governor.' 1 Letter. >Rom Pene te WhakH-b to Hi; Excklusct L ' the Governor. r . Te Kauri, December 9, 1863. 5 O Friend the Governor — Salutations ! Your 1 letter has reached me. William Te AVhooro brought I it to me. It is right. Yes. Let the Queen's flag - bo above. Yes. I am pleased at it. Now let us talk. 1 lie first letter you wrote* to me I have not ' seen. This ends my letter. From Pene is WHARErr. > v [Note]. —He is under a mistake; I did not an : I swer his first letter.—G. G. Telegram i-roii General Cameron, anxofncisg the Hoisting of the Queek's Flag vt XguojaWAIIIA. . . he Queen s flag is flying at Ngaruawahia. Adimsioii of 000 men uuder my command was conveyed up therher in the 'Pioneer,' and landed at Ngaruawahia about four p.m., without opposition or seeing any natives." I'heso letters evidence that the natives were at the time deeply sensible of the blow they had recently leceived, and wished to confer with the Governor r °| brencc to the fituation. The representative ot the Crown promised that if thev would not oppose the inarch of the troops to Ngaruawahia—the Maori king s residence—he would go there and talk with tneui. lhe natives did not oppo.se the march of the roops to N garuawahia. Sir George Grey then announced that he was going there to have the promised 1 Man j persons thought that a conclusion to tha wai would follow. The colonists anxiously expected iereault of the Governor's journey ; can it be doubted mat tiie insurgent natives awaited it with at least equal anxiety. The ministry forwarded relays of horses to convey tlie Governor to Ngaruawahia, when he suddenly changed his mind, and declined to go. Again had cause for profound mistrust of Sir George Grey been given! —