POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 784, 18 June 1864, Page 5

POLITICAL—GENERAL.

We are unable to state that any progress has beeu made in the objects of the w»r. Ths campaign on the Waikato ended in the driving of the rebels to the East Coast. Here they for a time made a stand, an<l one result of tapir tactics was the disastrous engagement at the Gate pah, the particulars of which were detailed in our last summary. After tint engagement the rebels evacuated their positions in that neighborhood, and the various fortified positions which they had prepared were either occupied or destroyed by the troop 9. The most important circumstance during the past month has been a cor flict Detween the friendly and rebel natives in the Wanganui district. The ficts are detailed in another column, but we may briefly state that, a nmnber of rebellious natives, acting under 'he influence of a singular superstition, determined to attack the Wanganui settlement ; this attack wa' repulsed by a number of Memlly-dispo»eii natives, and the result was the total defeat of the rebels.

Immediately on the receipt ot the intelligence of this outbreak reaching Auckland, reinforcements were despatched both to Wanganui and to Napier, in which latter place r.ffairs seemed warlike. Mr Fox the Golnmal Secretary, proceeded to Wanganui, and alter making arrangement* for the defence of that district, be visited the West Coast tribes, and bad the good fortune to induce one of the most influential chiefs of that district—and who bad hitherto been a declared Kingite—to sign a declaration of all© giance to her Majesty. This circumstance is considered to be of very great importance as the chief in question, Wi Tako, h«u for a lmg time been regarded as a staunch rebel. _ Our Wellington co-respondent, however, in his letter (which appears elsewhere) describes the circumstances in connection with Wi Tako's submission, and sliows that this chief, at least, acted from a fl'-ra cmviction of the untenable nature of the native rebellion.

The war is, to all intents and purposes, at a complete standstill; and it is not iikely any important movements will be made until the Spring. But it is our painful duty to add, that the objects of the war appear to be as f1"1 off as ever. Although the greater part of the Waikato territory is in our hamfs, no definite steps have been taken towards establishing the military settlements which have been regarded as the grand solution of the difficulty. Whether the delay in the formation of these settlements has resulted from the want of accord between the Governor and his advisers or not, it is difficult to say. hat such is the fact—nothing has vet been donefrwarrls securing the advantages whioh the successes of the troops have placed at the disposal of the Government. The memorial of the Aborigines' Protection Society to the Governor has called forth a reply from the Colonial Secretary, whioh, if not conclusive, is at least a fair defence of the course the colony has adopted towards the natives. A much better <-ase might have been made, and it is unfortunate that the Ministerial memorandum is so weak in some points. Whilst we cannot endorse all the statement's of Mr Fox, -we think no one wno knows the facts will deny that the present wax was perfectly justifiable.

■ There are good reasons for believing that strong pressure is being brought to bear on the Governor and Ministry in favour of peace, but nothing is more certain than that peace, or anything1 like a firm basis, is at present impracticabl •. No doubt the rebel natives are heartily sick of the war, and so is the colony, but as yet no terms have be^n proposed which would ensure the permanent pacification of the colony. It is a melancholy truth that at present, after a twelve months' war, the settlement of the native difficulty is as far off as ever. But nevertheless such is the case, and until the scheme of military occupation of the conquered territory is carried out, there is no security for future peace. At the same time it is only Tight te add that there are many difficulties to contend against in carrying out the Bystem of military settlements, not the least of which is the unforeseen claims to the land by tribes which are now friendly and against whom it would be impolitic to enforce the provisions of the Military settlements Act. An instance of this has lately been afforded-Wi Nero, of Kaglan (a loyal chief), having laid claim to the greater portion of the ■ conquered Waikato territory, he alleging that his ancestors were driven off it by the tribes from whom General Cameron has jast conquered the The rumor of the resignation of the Colonial Ministry is unsubstantiated by the information we possess, and although it is notorious his iixcellency and his adviseis difler materially in certain points of policy, it is uulikely that the difficulty will result in any important political crisis.