THE WAR TROUBLE IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 116, 5 July 1873, Page 6

THE WAR TROUBLE IN NEW ZEALAND.

(From the Melbourne “ Leader.”) The latest advices from New Zealand are decidedly ominous. Those admirers of the present adventurous administra tion, who asserted so confidently that Maori wars had become things of the past, seem doomed to disappointment. The war with the Waikato tribes, which since 1869 has been staved off with difficuty, is now on the point of breaking out. The telegrams and extracts from New Zealand papers from time to time publised in our columns will have put our readers in possession of all the facts of the recent outrage committed in the Waikato country by a party of “ King” natives, who murdered a European named Sullivan ; but as much confusion prevails in the minds of many inhabitants of Victoria respecting the relative positions of Europeans and Maoris in New Zealand, we will endeavor briefly to state them. The hostility of that section of the Maori race which refuses to acknowledge the supremacy of European law dates from the unfortunate Taranaki war, commenced in 1860, and was caused by the advice of Mr Donald M £ Lean to Governor Browne, relative to a land purchase. The movement for the establishment of a Maori king, made long before the war, was harmless in its inception, and was looked upon without disfavor by the Government. The Constitution Act ignored the aboriginal population, and the more intelligent of them, perceiving the defect, took to speculating on the position in which they were placed. They did not fail to contrast the rapid alienation of their lands with the slow improvement of their social condition, and feared that their land would all be gone before they had attained equality with their European neighbors. Despairing of obtaining civilisation from the European Government, they made an attempt to civilise themselves. Their object in setting up a king was to supply that local government which the Europeans seemed unwilling or unable to afford. The land league which they formed was to prevent the further alienation of that land with which they considered their existence as a people was bound up. The promoters had originally no intention to interfere with the Queen’s supremacy, but simply, iu the words of Colonel Browne, the then Governor of New Zealand, “ to secure by their own efforts some organisation on which to base a sytem of law and order.” Since the control of native affairs has passed into the hands of the colonial Government, legislation has been adopted which secured to those Maoris who chose to avail themselves of them all the benefits they sought under the sway of a king of their own election ; hut the Waikato tribes, gradually drawn into the Taranaki war, and by the consequences of that war estranged from the Europeans, have clung to their king, and disowned all allegiance to any other power. In 1868 a proclamation was issued by Sir George Grey, confiscating certain portions of the Waikato lands, and of course driving the occupiers and owners of those lands to join the insurgents already in the field. A large force of English and colonial troops was then in the colony, who waged war for several years with the dispossessed natives and their allies. The results attained were incommensurate with the means employed, but the confiscation was maintained, although not on the scale originally projected, in consequence of Imperial interference. Military settlements were formed, and a white population settled in the places of the old inhabitants. When the war lulled, the survivors of the Waikato tribes returned to occupy territory was left them, principally guided in their conduct by theirgreat chief William Thompson. For a time he entertained the belief that he could cajole the Government into giving back the confiscated lands, but he found at last that the attempt was vain, and died, as was said, of a broken heart. Since his death, which occurred in December, 1866, the Waikato tribes have remained in a state of sulky isolation, refusing to hold any unnecessary intercourse with Europeans, and although not openly assisting other tribes which have been in rebellion under Te Kooti and Titokowaru, yet allowing them shelter, and refraining from molesting them. As the first king

Potatau was merely a puppet in the hands of William Thompson, so his son Tawhiao is in the hands of Rewi and Manuwhiri, the real leaders of the disaffected tribes. During all the years of their seclusion the Kingites have had their thoughts directed to the recovery of their lost territory, and all offers of treaty and accommodation have failed because that impossible condition was not accorded. Efforts on the part of Mr Vl'Lean, the Native Minister, to establish cordial relations with them have been unceasing, but futile, even after they had murdered Mr Todd some eighteen months ago. That murder it suited the purpose of the Government to ignore, but it is impossible that a similar course can be pursued in the present instance. The colony seems determined that the men who killed Sullivan shall be delivered up to jus tice. Although it is difficult to form a correct estimate, it has generally been understood that the King party could bring together 3000 men. What com binations they -might form with other tribes it is impossible to say. It is supposed that they possess a large supply of ammunition, as they have been saving for years. The force at the dis posal of the Government consists, first, of the Armed Constabulary, the peace strength of which is about 700 of all ranks, and which will no doubt be considerably increased. This force is composed of picked men, and is excellently drilled, although as yet untried. Second, the militia and volunteers, which comprise nearly all the able-bodied male population ; and third, the friendly natives, of whom about 3000, armed and equipped, could readily be brougnt into the field, and who in the skirmishing warfare suitable to a rough mountainous country, are fully equal to the same number of Europeans. The breaking out of war at the present juncture will be a grave calamity for the Vogel Ministry. They boasted s<> loudly to Parliament of their success in dealing with the natives that many of their faults were overlooked, and they have used their utmost efforts to inculcate the belief in Europe that New Zealand was as peaceable as London The news of the possible imminence of war will of course check the tide of iin migration which was setting in so strongly; and if war is to last for any lenth of time, where is the money to be procured ? The millions borrowed for reproductive works are spent faster than they come j the current revenue is insufficient to meet the ordinary strain upon it, and it will not he found very easy for the colony, burdened as it is, and with its credit damaged, to raise a loan for such a very unproductive work as fighting. New Zealand has suffered her affairs to beconducted, and her resources to be squandered, by a class of politicians whose only aim was their own aggrandisement, and she is now reaping what she sowed.