THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1873.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 2908, 24 May 1873, Page 2

THE New Zealand Herald. SPECTEMUR AGENDO. SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1873.

The public appears to have but a very faint idea of the magnitude of the crisisinnativealTairs that is impending. Never, since the settlement of the country, has there been so great cause for apprehension, becauso never before lias the note of danger found us in so unprepared a state. While our settlements have extended into what was once Maori territory, and the settlers have bceu steadily pursuing their peaceful avocations, acquiring property and inceasiug the fixed wealth of the State, the Government has been engaged in the great work of opening the country by roads, establishing telegraphs, and multiplying facilities for travelling in remote places. The natives, meanwhile, have been apparently settling into habits of industry, and the King party even gave promise of accepting the "consequences of their own acts, and living at peace with their European neighbours But recent occurrences have dispelled all these expectations. The King part}- have not abandoned their hope of recovering the confiscated territory, and to that end are endeavouring to establish a reign of terror. The occasion is most favourable to them. InHawke's Bay an agitation has been fomented bv Europeans-—some of whom should know much better—which has attained to such dimensions that it is not improbable that an attempt will be made lo drive tho settlers off their lands, and appropriate their property. The Hast Coast natives have taken up the cause of their Hawke's Bay countrymen, and it is said that they are in constant communication with the King. While, therefore, the Maori people are being drawn together from a variety of motives, in the hope of enriching themselves by despoiling the settlers, we are, as a people, unprepared to resist any combined movement. We say this advisedly. The Armed Constabulary are not in a position to do more than hold the posts they now occupy. They are good for defence, but are nob in sutlicient force for offensive operations ; and, moreover, in the event of actual hostilities occurring, it will require a considerable accession of strength to keep the roads open and furnish the redoubts with supplies. "We are not alarmists ; and what we write is not intended to create alarm. But we would not be doing our duty were we to refrain from stating explicitly what we know to be the case.

Let lis take the Waikato as an example of what we mean. It lias beeu said, over and over again, that there is no l'ear of the Waikato : that it is ail open country, and the settlers can delend themselves. This is true, 110 doubt, if the settlers were in a position to defend themselves ; but they are not in that position. They are without arms and ammunition, and are peculiarly open to surprise. A great deal has been mado of the cavalry force. Well, it is creditable to the settlers to say that so many of them parade daily at Cambridge to protect the Armed Constabulary quartered there, and who are barely sufficient to hold the redoubt and defend the ammunition in case of attack. But the cavalry does not usually muster more than a score of men, and these have to ride daily from eight to twelve miles to drill, and the same distance back again, in the meanwhile leaving their own homes unprotected. What kind of defence, wo ask, is such a force for the population on the Waikato delta ? because we regard Ngaruawahia and Hamilton as in much greater danger at this moment than Cambridge. It is simply absurd to say that the cavalry is an efficient defence force. It would be of the utmost use in keeping up communication, and affording aid in tho event of any sudden emergency, but there its usefulness would end.

We hare received several valuable suggestions from a gentleman who has recently returned from the Waikato, and who is thoroughly acquainted with the exact position of affairs. He states that there are no men in the Waikato who can be spared in the event

of war. The settlers are in that unsettled state that the first atrocity — the first murder of any settler, or attack on a homestead—would be the signal for a general abandonment of their homes by the women and children, and such of the heads of families as did not choose to risk their lives in the struggle. We agree with our informant in saying that this is to be avoided at all hazards. It involves the ruin of the province for many years, and a bill for compensation against the colony largely in excess of what would be required to ensure the safety of the settlers and their property. Our informant suggests that the colonial force in the Waikato should be strenghtened, and that farmhouses in exposed positions should j be garrisoned by a few men sufficient to defend them, and go to the relief of their neighbours in the event of an attack. They could communicate with each other by clay by means of flags, and at night by rockets. By adopting this plan, the settlers would be encouraged to remain on their farms, and pursue their usual avocations; aud the small garrisons might also, during the day, be usefully employed, unless when on military duty. The plan of defence adopted at Messrs. Douglas aud AValker's station is indicated as one to be generally copied. There, a covered way communicates from the farm building to a fortified place, a short distance off, which is loopholed, aud may be held by a dozen against a large force. There are always from ten to a dozen armed men on the premises; aud Ihe natives are likely to give it a wide berth. It would be some homestead in which no such preparation was made that would bo attacked, most likely in the absence of the males of the family at parade or muster somo miles away. About three hundred men would be required to do this work thoroughly; and certainly, sucli a force could not be better employed than in consolidating our settlements on the Waikato.

But, in addition, a flying column should bo organized to march right into Tokangamutu, and root out the King and his nest of supporters. AVe cannot permit the King Hag to fly so near our borders, as a rallying point for every desperado in the country. Tawhiao lias sown the wind ; he must bo contented to reap the whirlwind. And this brings us to another point worth consideration. While our settlers are without arras and ammunition, the natives are armed to the teeth, with the most approved weapons ; and they are not slow to mako requisitions on the Government, uuder the guise of friendship, for fresh issues of weapons. But the position of the friendly natives is such as to cause great uneasiness. Those who have had recent dealings with them know that the first shot tired in the Waikato, and the bulk of the Maori people, Kupapas included, will rally round the standard of Tawhiao. The friendly chiefs are very much annoyed at the attitude of the Government. They never anticipated that any notice would have been taken of the murder of " a inero dog"—a common labourer—when no notice was taken of the murder of Whiteley and others It is quite clear if they could have foreseen that the murder of a " common fellow" would have created such a commotion, they would have restrained Purukutu ; but the deed has been done, and they find themselves drifting into a position from which they cannot extricate themselves. It is uow well known that the murder of several influential settlers, and of men familiar with the King country, was resolved upou ; and that for want of anything more stirring to do, they resolved to slaughter Mr. Walker's working party, who were visible to them daily for weeks from their place of residenco. liewi is, like all the other natives, anxious about his own possessions, aud would rejoice to-morrow at our discomfiture, aud share the spoil. Let us not lure ourselves iuto any false Security on Kewi's account. His position is one of greater embarrassment to the Government than to the Kingites, who thoroughly understand it.

Ouh "Waikuto telegrams are significant. From Alexandra, our wellinformed correspondent states that Purukutu and his followers will not be surrendered ; but he adds that Mr. Mair has been instructed to aslc that Nuku, who assaulted Mr. Mackay, shall be handed over to the civil power, and he infers that the murderers of the late Mr. "W hiteley and others will likewise be demanded. Perhaps it is as well, for form's sake, to make these demands, but we do not think that auy attention will bo paid to them. We are glad, however, that Wuku's offence has not been lost sight of, for it is quite as heinous, and much moro serious in a political sense, than the murder of Sullivan. It this a deliberate attempt to take the life of a Gorernment agent, planned after long debate at a meeting of over eighty men, for the purpose of precipitating a war of races. Our Alexandra correspondent, we perceive, applies the same test to Itewi as we had previously done. If he is sincere, let him come inside our lines with his tribe, and separate himself from the Kingiles. Otherwise, we have little faith in his professions. "We were aware of the tribal grievance between Ngatimaniapoto and the "W aikatos, to which allusion is made. Doubtless this has considerably more influence on Kewi than abhorrence of any act of violence the Waikatos might commit.

Prom Hamilton we have important items. The European settlers and friendly natives are reported as disposing of their surplus property and stores. There is a sense of insecurity abroad in the Waikato fatal to all progress. Everything in at a standstill; and no one cares to expend a shilling more than is necessary until the issue can be plainly seen. Another significant hint comes from Hamilton, to the effect that a diversion is planned by the PiakoHauhaus,

by a flank attack 011 the Waikato settlements, should our forcc be engaged in the neighbourhood of Cambridge or across the frontier line. This eontin-, gency is not at all unexpected; but - were the measures taken for defending the settled districts in the Waikato, which we liave suggested in our leading article, a flank attack would prove a disastrous failure. Our complaint that the settlers are unarmed is strengthened also by our Hamilton correspondent', who tells us that Te AVheoro's native contingent, (Lower Waikatos.) is detained at Hamilton from want of ammunition. Who is responsible for this state of ! things ? A great calamity may be averted by a timely issue of arms and ammunition. . Two redoubts are beiug built on the Moanatuatua swamp, and are to bo garrisoned by Te AVheoro's men. "We really cannot see the strategic importance of these redoubts. The natives will not attack them, if they can help it; and there is 110 " loot " to be had in the event of their capture. They are likely to go where there is the greatest chance for plunder and the least chance for bullets. Mr. Mackay, we learn from Cambridge, lias gone to Alexandra, to meet messengers from liewi. It will be recollected that he sent a message to Rewi, to the effect that his letter evaded the questions put to him by the King; and that he must have a distinct reply. It is to that message that he now expects an answer. One may readily guess what it will be. AVe perceive that the Thames Volunteers are determined not to be caught napping. Their drills are well attended, aud a rendezvous has been fixed in case of alarm. AVe would still suggest the utility of a nU'.lit patrol. The Thames population cannot be too cautious, exposed, as they undoubtedly are, to an aggressive movement by natives.

Yesterday, wo alluded at some length to the occupation of Kawliia, and the propriety of establishing a line of posts from that harbour to Waipa. The distance may be stated to be about twenty-five miles. Assuming that a redoubt was built and garrisoned at Kawliia, with which regular communication could be maintained by sea, block-houses might be built at intervals of two miles, along the line from the redoubt to our outpost station on the "Waipa. These would require a force of about ISO men to hold, independent of the garrison at the principal post. The presence of such a force in the heart of the King countiy, would be a " material " guarantee" for the good conduct of the natives, aud would tend to the permanent settlement of the territory. Of course, if the storm blows over withoutbursting.there wouldbe nooccasion for this ; but should it come upon us, it is well to consider the most effectual methods for attack aud defence.

An esteemed correspondent has furnished us with several valuable suggestions bearing on these points which, lie assures us, were brought before the Government some j'ears ago. His plan is substantially the same as that described, with considerable minuteness about two years since in our leading columns. It is an adaptation of the French system of blockhouses, which had such a " paci- " tying effect" in Algeria. The proposal is to build a chain of blockhouses, at distances of say two miles apart, after the French pattern, and garrison each one with fifteen men. From the method of construction, plans and details of which were submitted to the Government, there can bo no doubt that they could be held by that force against hundreds, as long as the ammunition held out. We need not repeat the details : suffice it to say, that at a very moderate expense indeed, and without an aggressive movement from the Waikato, which would involve our settlers in trouble, the King party might be effectually crushed. There would bo fighting no doubt; but is it not better to carry the war into the enemy's country rather than desolate one's own ? It was the fearful " requisitions " for the German troops in France that caused the late war to terminate in such a disastrous peace for the French; and were our suggestion in another column, with regard to placing the means of self-defence at the disposal of the Waikato settlers carried out, in conjunction with an armed occupation of the line from Kawliia to Kopua, we are satisfied that the cost in money and loss of life would be infinitely less than if active hostilities were conducted, with Waikato as a base. The entire force, independent of the men on duty iu the Waikato district, need not exceed three hundred ; aud they would be able, by means of semaphores, to keep lip an uninterrupted system of communication, which would bring succour in case of sudden emergency. Moreover, the garrisons in these blockhouses could act as covering parties to men employed clearing and forming a dray road.

A. special meeting of the City Council was held yesterday, a report of which appears elsewhere. We invite the ratepayers to peruse it carefully. The action of the Water Supply Committee appears to be inexplicable ; but not more so than the conduct of some of the members at the meeting. We have no hesitation in saying that the committee exceeded its powers- by advertising for tenders for a water supply, or causing any such advertisement to issue ; but what can be thought of a proposal to employ an engineer to send in plans and estimates for awater supply, and to conceal the amount of the estimates from the ratepayers, whose sanction it is first of all necessary to obtain, before any tender can be accepted ? Mr. Isaacs made this strange proposal. We cannot suppose for a moment that he considered its effect; but the bare fact of its having been made is quite sufficient to warrant the ratepayers keeping a strict watch upon the Council in regard to this question of water-supply.

We want to know from the Council what they expect to obtain from Mr. McGregor, for the £100 wliich he is to receive for his plans and estimates, in case his tender is refused ? He will throw no new light upon the subject. He tells them that hewill make no fresh surveys ; he will simply avail himself of the data in the possession of the Council, and send in a tender. Doubtless Mr. McGregor is a competent professional man ; but if he is a business man as -well, he must form an extremely low opinion of our City Council. We wish it were otherwise; but somehow, the City Council is far inferior to the old City Board in practical ability. We doubt not that the Couucil could obtain a score of tenders, quite as reliable as Mr. McGregor's, by next meeting. As £100 of the ratepayers* money is to be spent to satisfy a foible of the Water Committee, however, Mr. McGregor may as well have it as anyone else. It may induce him to speak kindly of the Auckland City Council; and if it does this, it will not have been altogether spent in vain.

Our Southern telegrams inform us that a proclamation has been issued dissolving the Otago Provincial Council. A fierce contest is anticipated An attempt has been made to induce Judge Gray to contest the Superintendency with Mr. Macaudrew, but he has wisely declined to take any part in politics. The rival candidate to Mr. Macaudrew has not yet been named.