THE NATIVE QUESTION.

Southland Times, Issue 1023, 18 September 1868, Page 2

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

(•$& THE Et»rtG» Qj? tlftfi &rtJtS£*Ks TXMSfi>) I Sib,~» The Northern $ews il of a taosfc depressing oh&raote?. There is scarcely a ohapter m the history of previous s\wcess#a bf the rebel natives, that can he compared to this last engagement far the autaber of oaaualties that befel our forces, And tU completeness of our defeat, tt is impoaßiSle' for any one to read the 'account of the fatal encounter at Kuaruru, without bristling with indignation, and thirsting for revenge. The colony has suffered a sad blow. The loss of five brave officers and nearly a score of men, besides nearly twice that number wounded, and then our men compelled to retreat, is iiK deed a humiliating defeat. The death of Major Von Tempsky will be universally regretted. All who knew him held but one opinion ; that he was a brave and I skilled soldier, and a gentleman. He* was looked upon as the man who was ( destined to terminate the Maori war, and New Zealand could but ill afford to loose him at the present time. It would be folly to sentimentalise over the death of those who have been sacrificed, they fell while nobly doing their duty, and their deeds will long be remembered. But it is necessary that we should seriously con ! aider what will be the effect upon the Maori mind of this second defeat of the Colonial forces, and inquire what policy should now be pursued to crush put the sanguniary rebellion. The Maories, elated by success, will become more daring and aggressive. To a very considerable extent those who escaped from the Chatham Islands have hitherto been acting on the defensive, but th*y will now, no doubt, give themselves up to all the savage modes of warfare preached by the blood-thirsty Hauhaus. The neutral and wavering tribes will, it is most probable, be disposed to join the rebel ranks, and thus the colony will be forced to face another war as fierce as any that has preceded it. Is the Government prepared for this ? It is not. I believe that the colony has within itself the men, and the will, to stamp out this barbarous rebellion, but the Government muat realise | the necessity for sharp and determined action, to a much larger extent than they appear to have done as yet, before there will be the slightest hope of success. I cannot but censure in strong terms the conduct of the Defence department. Colonel Haultain, is either ignorant of the power with which the Colonial forces have to contend, or he is indifferent as to the success of the Colonial arms. In either case he is censurable. Passed experience should have taught him that the Maories could muster a larger number of veteran warriors well armed, reckless of life, and regardless of the amenities of civilised warfare, than the plucky but insufiicient force he sent to the front was able to overcome. It was a fatal blunder that I fear will lead to the most disastrous results. To send so small a force to attack the strong- hold of a centralised body of Maories, was muiulj — DO —^wu.i- to liliu >lu~U- — -llu— t£ — e^wnrbravest men, and the bitter humiliation of the colony. I hesitate not to affirm, that had the Government adopted a decided and large minded native policy — a policy that, while carefully guarding the outposts in the disaffected districts, was only defensive, and aggressive measures not taken until the colonial forces had been concentrated and augmented, to an extent sufficient to give hope of success, I should not now have to regret the great calamity that has befallen the colony. Will this last tragedy awake the Government to a sense of the imperative necessity for taking prompt and well matured action, will it lead the General Assembly to cease for a time their pa^ty squabbling, and enter upon this question in serious earnestness ? It is the question that should take presidence of all others. There is nothing I should more regret than the colony having to again sue for aid from the Imperial Government. I believe in the cultivation of a selfreliant spirit, and I have faith that such exists, and will be displayed if the Government adopts a defined and vigorous native policy. We have thousands of volunteers in the Middle Island provinces, ready and willing to aid in protecting their northern neighbors, and terminate the war, but before they volunteer for active service outside their own province, they require some assurance that the war is to be carried on with spirit and discretion, and that in case of aggressive operations, an adequate number of men, and the means for the perfect work will be provided, and that the old system of suspending operations the instant the Maoris express a willingness to " talk, and not to fight," is is for once and ever abandoned. This native difficulty must be at once grappled with. There are only two courses open, viz., either to determinedly and relentlessly obtain the object — submission of the rebels — or the abandonment of the North Island. I believe a majority of the colonists of the Southern Provinces, if the Government would boldly express a determination tc fight steadily and wisely until the Maori difficulty waß finally settled, would not begrudge money or men — that if upon,-|;hiß understanding an appeal was made tfrthe various volunteer companies, two thousand trained men would offer their services. tfntil, however, a definite policy is enunciated by the Government few will volunteer to run the risk of being sent to almost certain death, as was the brave Yon Tempsky, and his sturdy followers. No matter who may be at the head of the Government, whether it be a Stafford or a Fox, the public should, with one voice, demand that the native policy should be sharp and decisive. If this is done the war may soon be ended, if this is neglected, black indeed will be the future of New Zealand. I remain sir, yours, &c, VOLTJNTEEB. ' Invercargill, 17th September, 1868.