REVIEW.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 843, 24 July 1879, Page 2

REVIEW.

THE WAIKATO WAR, 1863-4— No. 1 * We have lately received a pamphlet, with the above title. It contains a fair map of the Waikato country, and a likeness of Rewi, chief of the Ngatimaniapotos, which alone is well worth the price charged for the number, viz., one shilling. It consists of 24 pages, demy Bvo size, and punted m clear type, will be issued monthly, and will contain a clear account of the operations of the Imperial and Colonial forces from Kuheroa to the Gate Pa and Te Ragna. The preface is so readable and informing as to the object and intentions ol the writer, that we here present it to our readers : — "Sixteen years have glided like phantom ships on the vast ocean of time, aud have one by one disappeared below the horizon of the past since the Waikato War convulsed the Province of Auckland. Hundreds who took part m that campaign have since died, and many hundreds are still living, not a few being amongst us at the present time m this Province of Auckland, but the middle-aged have become grey and wrinkled, and the young men middleaged, whilst those who were at the time of the War but mere children, knowing nothing, understanding nothing, of the dread pomp and circumstance of war, are now our young men, the flower and hope of the country. To this class of reader a history of the campaign m which their fathers were actors will no doubt be specially interesting. The numerous enquiries both from England and m this colony for a work on the Waikato War have induced the writer co attempt the present task. One or two works ou the subject written by Imperial Officers have been published m .ek gland, but they are very scarce and cannot now without some difficulty be obtained, and, although they are excellent from a military point of view, as detailing the operations of the Imperial Forces, they have almost entirely ignored the services rendered by the Colonial Militia Volunteers. This important omission the author has endeavoured to rectify, aud has given full prominence to the services of the Colonial Forces wherever found worthy of notice. "Since the War all has changed. Townships have sprung up wjiere clustered the Native wharo, and cultivated fields have taken the place of barren wastes. The paddle steamer beats its way against the swift running stream of the Waikato, aud the shrill scream of the railway engine startles the pukeko (awaraplien) as it rushes aoross the morass, over creeka, and through deep cuttings, taking a few hours on its journey when before the canoe took i uays. All has changed. "In placing this history of the Waikato War before the public, the author has nut attempted to dive into the political history of the campaign. To do bo would cause muoh time and trouble m gathering details from musty old Blue Books, and would not greatiy interest the general reader. What the author has endeavoured to do is to give an authentic history or detailed account of the operations of both the Imperial and Colonial Forces that were engaged m the Waikato. War of 1863 and 1864, obtained from the dispatches of General Cameron, the author's own personal observations and various other authentic sources. The author takes this opportunity of thanking the numerous friends who were present m the campaign and have kindly placed their memoranda at his disposal, thus enabling him to lay before the reader many interesting incidents connected with the War that have hitherto been known only to a few." So far as the present number discloses, the writer does not appear to have any political bias, or to have any other object to serve than that set out m his preface. In writing of the circumstances which led up to the war, and m treating of the desire of the Natives to provide themselves with arms, <fee, Mr. Featon says : — " A strict Arms Act was m force, but there were few if any convictions, and to this day there are, no d^ubt, some who stalk proudly amongst us, with abold front, m the full glare of the noonday sun, who live on the fat of the land purchased with their blood money. Their face is fair, but the brand of Cain is upon their brow, although invisible to human eyes. " When bullets and caps could not be obtained by the Natives, old lead, matches, and boxes of brass eyelets were eagerly sought after, and were used as munitions of war. The heads of the matches were placed m the brass eyelets, which fitted on the nipple of the gun, and made not a bad substitute for caps." The calling out of the Militia is desscribed, and a copy of the notice requiring Natives to take the oath of allegiance is given, as well as the manifesto, dated 11th July, 1863, from the Governor, Sir George Grey, to the chiefs of Waikato. The pamphlet before us treats m a fair and impartial manner of the stirring scenes of sixteen years ago. It is well written, and extremely interesting, and should be obtained by every person whodesires to be informed about the history of the country he lives m.