THE NATIVES.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1171, 15 December 1868, Page 3

THE NATIVES.

To the Editor of The Colonist. Sib, —I see by the Examiner there has been a meeting at Wanganui, attended by Colonel Haultain, and that one step has been decided on in the right direction at last. That is to offer a reward for Tito Kowaru, and other Maoris, according to their relative value. Now, had that been done at first it would have been a much better proceeding, and would have saved a great many lives, and a great deal of money. But it appears to me that if our Government do a right thing, they generally do it in the wrong way, or why are those wretches to be brought in alive ? Won't they bo much harder to capture, and will they not often kill those that attempt to take them alive ? I must say I can see no reason for taking them alive, unless it is that wo manage our prisoners so well! Perhaps the Government think that by mating them prisoners, and afterwards letting them go, they might knock up another Maori war again in a few years, for Ministers have neither said nor acted as i it were to be finished. Apologising for troubling you at this time. I am, Sir, Yours, &c, Noettt.

From the Sydney Herald we learn that H.M. s.s Challenger, Commodore Lambert, may shortly be expected at Wellington. On Sunday, December 6th, a man was fired upon by an ambuscade within five miles of Wanganui, and between foe two posts Westmere and Stewarts',