'QUI FACIT PER ALTE UM FACIT PER SE."

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 309, 8 November 1864, Page 6

'QUI FACIT PER ALTE UM FACIT PER SE."

The following passages are extracted from a letter written by a young man formerly en,ployed on the Eait:m Province Herald, Cape of Good Hope T , nm „- a ■ », , . -Auckland Feb. 1, 1864. m Adelaide three months (during Z thLk7J"T T a , da - V ' 8 work ). I began v• ?. ' llno to raako a move, as my prosDects jrcro no brighter than on the day of my arrival so T vhhhl FcTZ e r the har i que ' Se * She] V veteni 2£i U ;£ ( J S S J Si i 3f forA uc ki d Kew passage of seventeen days. I ffo t an m , r a .• m« I landed, on " by every m y au!amaj ' B °Th h i lf H ozen t co?ieß , of the Monlhl y ancl •% Sh Srta kr°- £& fia *■ ?£?£*&% attack Meremere, the great stronghold of''the natives. Well, after spending some £20,000 or £30 000 in making preparations (don't laugh) the "attack" - a 9 Tt the Genora l his Slant force to take the place, when it was accidentally d scovered that John Maori had taken up his bed and walked. The cage was there, but the " bird j hid flown ! Yes; Meromere was evacuated. N cx t day it was amusing to read the accounts in the dif ferent papers, more especially the headings, some of "nil ch ran in this style:—",' Glorious Victory "Fall of Meremere, the Native Stronghold!" " A Blood less Victory!" 4c. Thoyhave got an immense number of troops in this colony, but.not half the number they want The General, I believe, hardly knows how to keep his ground, the troops are so spread about; bnt he is still advancing, and in a day or two we expect to hear of an engagement, for whici great preparations have been made. It is' to be hoped it will be a second Meremere or Bangirin. The former whs found |

evacuated—th» latter lost tm -many a good officer. In this last engagement I believe tho troops hung back Fearfullj'. Although this is kept as quiet us possi be, ft is a well-known fact, and if tho Maorics mnko a Stand this timo it is foarcd ouv loss will bo great. My opinion is that this war will not be settled as long as tho " friendly Maorics" are allowed to Como hi anil out of Auckland, which they do at present, to make purchases of flour, sugar. See. Then; is 110 knowing what these treacherous wretches carry away with them, or where thny carry it to. It is well known that the Maorics who wore engaged in the present •ivar como into Auckland (under the pretence of selling fish) whenever they think proper, and cany away almost anything they have a mind to, and I believe that until that is put a stop to, the Maori will linrrass our troops as long as lie thinks /it. At the bat tle of Kaugariri we took a number of prisoners, but after they were secured, tho question arose, " What's to be done with them ?" AVe can't call them prisoners of war, for thi<> rebellion; ar.d we dare not shoot them as rebels so our kind and considerate Government had an old hulk that was lyins; in the harbour fitted up for the "poor Maoris," where they are now quartered and well fed by the Government! There are some sensible men connected with the Government of New Zealand ! Sir George Grey is anything but a popular man horo. lie is looked upon as far too tenderly disposed towards the Maori, tie is not the man Iro was u few years ago. 110 has greatly altered fi)r the worse, and looks careworn and troubled. I forgot to mention a little affair that took place at Taranaki a short li'.Yie ago. 1 mention it to show you that our tl-oops do not fight with con/idenee iti New Zealand, and, I am sorry to say, that it will not redound much to the credit ofthe British arms. About 500 of ouv men attacked a Maori pa with about 12i .Maori? in it, and, after firing a shot or two, retreated If this is not disgraceful, 1 don't know what is. I