TARANAKI. THE SOUTHERN REBELS.

Otago Witness, Issue 496, 1 June 1861, Page 6

TARANAKI. THE SOUTHERN REBELS.

(From the Taranaki Herald, May 4 )

The refusal of the Ngatiruanuis to allow the transit of the Southern mail through their district, coupled with the information from Wanganui contained in another part of our paper, proves that a large majority of the natives between here and Wanganui are not at all disposed to submit to the Governor's authority. The Taranaki natives, our more immediate neighbours, are understood to be willing to make peace; and this is but natnral, for with them the war has been a losing game, and, presuming that the peace with the Ngatiawas will . be a lasting one, they are shrewd enough to foresee that they will have to hear the brunt of any future military movements here. Nor has their past experience of the war been such as to encourage them to engage in it again : for, whilst they have suffered far more than the Ngatiruanuis, they have not gained anything. The spoil taken from the settlers has been appropriated by their powerful neighbours, whom they have also had in a great measure to maintain ; self-interest, therelore, would prompt the Taranaki natives to abstain from war for the future.

Bnt with the Ngatiruanuis the case is very different. They have had the lion's share of the plunder, are farther removed from our territory, and, from the conduct of the war hitherto, may well suppose that their country cannot be successfully invaded. They are not convinced that we are a match for them in warfare; and until this conviction has been forced upon them, we can scarcely expect that they will withdraw their pretensions and submit to the Governor's authority. Throughout the late campaign the Southern natives were permitted to do nearly as they chose : with the exception of the battle at Waireka, and the destruction of their pahs at Kaihihi (in both which cases the Taranakis were the principal sufferers), they were left unmolested, and gathered a large harvest of spoil from the settlers, at very trifling personal risk. If the Waikatoß have been taught by experience the folly of resisting our power, and are tbef^by induced to submit to the Governor's authority in good faith, it is possible that their example may induce the Southern natives to eubmii also ; or in the event of the war being carried into Waikato, end successfully prosecuted there, the same result may ensue ; but until the natives are thoroughly convinced that we are undoubtedly the stronger power, we cannot expect them to submit to our rule, particularly the Ngatiruanuis, who have always evinced a strong feeling against Europeans, and would exterminate us if they could. We trust no attempt will be made to persuade the Ngatiruanuis to accept the Governor's terms. These terms are exceedingly liberal, hut they will only be faithfully accepted when the natives are convinced that we have the power of enforcing them. For the future security of this settlement we should prefer that the southern natives should learn our power from their own losses rather than by the experience of their northern allies.

The mail despatched last week to Wanganui by one of Hapurona's men passed through the Taranaki district, and, on reaching Katotauru, Waimate was stopped oy Tamati Oraukawa, a Ngatiruanui chief. The mailman was ordered to return forthwith to town, and informed that if the authorities despatched another mail it would be taken and destroyed. The Ngatiruanuis also intimated that neither Europeans nor stock belonging to them would be permitted to pass through their district. A rumour is current that Hapurona has proceeded to Waikato.